Evening star., 1915-05-02


trenches. After a hand-to-hand strug-
gle the last German who resisted WAS
bayoneted and the trench was won.
This trench represented in the Ger
man advance the apex in the breach
which the enemy had made In the orig
inal line of the allies. and it was two
and one-half miles south of that line:
This charge, made by men VINO looked
death indifferently in the face. saved
the Canadian left. 1t also secured and
maintained, during the most critical
moment of all. the integrity OF tho al
lied line.
Fresh Emission Of Gas.
AT 4 am. on the morning of Friday.
the 23d, fresh emission OF gas was
made. both upon the I'd Brigade. which
held the line running northeast. and
upon the Sd Brigade. which had con-
tinued to hold the line up to the pivotal
point.
THE 4sth Highlanders were dismayed
and their trench became fntoieraple.
The battalion retired from the trench,
recovered themselves and reoccupleo II.
pied it.
TT was clear that several German
divisions were attempting to crush OF
drive back the Sd Brigade. and in any
event to use their enormous numerical
superiority to sweep around and over.
whelm our left wing. The last attempt
partially succeeded. German troops
swung past the unsupported ie1t OF .he
brigade. and. slipping in between the
wood and y. Julien, added to the Tor
turing anXieties of the long-drawn-
out struggle. by the appearance, anu
indeed, for the moment. the reality, OF
isolation from the brigade base.
In the exertionS made by the so
Brigade during this supreme Crisis.
Maj. Noteworthy. already almost dis
abled by a bullet wound. was bayonet-
ed and killed. Capt. McQuaig OF the
same battalion was seriously wounded
in hurriedly constructed trench.
which he refused to leave.
Friday afternoon tho left Of the
Canadian line was strengthened by I'M
portant reinforcements of British troops
amounting to seven battalions. From this
time forward the Canadians also con-
tinued to receive further assistance on the
left from a series of French counter at
tacks pushed In a northeasterly direc-
tion from the canal bank.
Subject to Fierce Fire.
The fire of the artillery OF the enemy
continually grew In intensity" the &C
count says. 1T became evident that the
Canadian salient could no longer be MAIN
tained against the overwhelming superb
ority of numbers by which it was assailed.
Slow, stubbornly and contesting every
Sard the ue1enuSTS gave STouiiu uiti' tho
salient gradually receded from the point
where it had originally aligned with the
French, and fell back upon st. Julien
Soon it became evident that even St
Julien, exposed from right and left. was
no longer tenable in the face of over
whelming numerical superiority. The
Sd Brigade was, therefore ordered to
retire further south, selling every yard of
ground dearly. But 1t was found lmpos-
sible without hazarding far larger forces
to disentangle the detachment of the
Royal Highlanders of Montreal, 18th
Battalion, and of the Royal Montreal
Regiment, 18th Battalion. The brigade
was ordered not a moment too soon to
move back. 1t left these units with heavy
hearts.
The German line rolled over the de-
serted village. but for several hours after
the enemy had become master of the vii
lage the sulen and persistent rifle fire
which survived showed that they were
not yet master of the Canadian rear
guard. If they died they died worthily
Of Canada.