Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-27
WRITES OF STRUGGLE
FOR "BR|ckF|ELDS"
British Officer, in Letter Home, Tells
or Desperate Fight for Pos
session of Ground.
AN INFERNO FOR SOME TINT,
Not Only Is Disputed Territory Re-
gained, hut Further Advance Is
Made-One OF Prisoners Says
Slaughter Was Appalling.

Especial Cable TO The Times Dispatch
LONDON. March 26.-Here is an ac-
count OF the Struggle for the brick
fields" contained in Il letter home OF
an othccr now at the front:
our fellows gave tho Germans
something to think about at the now
famous hricknclds a few days ago. II
WaS not tight for the enemy while
IL lasted This piece OF ground has
ne"n II bone Of contention for long
tlme, and much lighting has gone or
mere The enemy held it and got
strongly intrenchcd there, but We
finally decided that they had been there
long enough. 80 1t was decided that
they must get the order OF the boot.
or rather bayonct
AT certain hour our guns con-
| contracted on this piece Of ground for
about twenty minutes. 1t was an in
ferno, shells continually bursting: tho
smoke and noise. not to mention the
slaughter was dreadful Then, TO n
second. every gun ceased fire, and n
Guards regiment took their sign from
the cessation Of the artillery fire. Up
they SpranS from their trenches bay-
onets fixed, simply aching for the
! fight
There was no holding them back
| on they dashed TO the enemy's trenches.
ana n fine fight resulted All the
remaining Germans were killed cxccpt
only ana VIC regain the disputed bit of
ground, hut We gained some more It
was quite successful days work
am told that one OF the prisoners
"aia the slaughter was appalling, and
/ Inc noise was SO great that no orders
could be heard, so everything WAS CON
fuslon. The accuracy of our gunners
I amazed him
one incident was rather amusing.
one OF our Tommies. in the excite
ri,
'ecth. He was frightfully FED up"
ABOUT IT. He is reported to have said .
! Them "'hastcs" OF Germans would
take the bit out of me mouth, they
would ] can't vouch for the truth
/ OF this, hut | was told It on good
! au'horitN. II sounds q trine Irish.
! doesn't il?
THE field ambulanccs are really
, wonderful tho way they adapt them
selves TO circumstances. In one of the
DIVISIONS now at rest one of the field
I hmDulances was given orders to start
! at once laundry for washing tho
: mems clohteS Of tho division
rms must have been a bit OF a prob
ZEN Tor mcdicos, should think. but
,heE didnt mind bit. They are real
~ me- hard working lot: shouldn't
like their work. but all that sor; Of
thing seems all in the days work &c
them. They set to work and organized
the whole show in n very short time
and now have fine laundry going.
number OF refugees are employed
to do all the washing and ironing. II
is really splendid idea. Tommy Is
now certain Of clean clothes. 1t mus,
be big jump to be treating wounded
one day and tho noxt debating tho he's,
driving temperature for clothes
People AZ home cant realize VIVA,
this innovation means to Tommy. AZ.
ter shirt has been worn for a montr
1T Is not at Its best. and when we are
In the trenches there is no opportunit,
Tor having any washing done 30 hay.
ing 1t done for us is ripping plan
and my word, we thoroughly appreciate
it.
THE other day as was riding along
saw certain Scottish regiment
playing ieap-fros just like q lot OF
merry schooibONs. Their regiment wa.
resting. II was weird sight to sec
them so thoroughly happy; you could
hardly believe that n few DAYS pre.
Viously they had been facing death
on! we keep up our spirits all right
never fear.