Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-02-03
IN DASH|NG CHARGE
ehasseurs d'Afrique Like Irresist-
ible Torrent.
french cs'ored Soldiers Win Fame In
Attack by Which Superior Force
Of Germans Was DisIodged
at Albert
BY PATRICK DE Battle.


I'd
northern France have lust OBJ
1ained particulars of the magnificent
charge OF the chasseurs d'Afrique by
which the allies retained possession
Of Albert The Germans attacked Al
sert time and again with great fe-
rocity. The busy Industrial town was re-
onceG TO q mass of ruins by the bonn
baEdment
In order to dislodge the enemy Il
was found necessary to have recourse
To a vigorous counter-attack At the
same time great masses of German
cavalry were reported to be about
five miles from Albert.
The French staff sent forward a
regiment of chasseurs dAfrique to
meet this cavalry body, which proved
to be the Prussian Dragons OF the
guard. The Prussians were threaten
ing the French line of communication
with Aveluy.
The gallant chasscurs, mounted
upon their little Arab steeds, ad-
vanced along the road to Becordel.
from this point | quote from the
words of a chasseur of the party, now
in the hospital:
I'VE all felt as calm as possible.
and were eager to measure our
strength against the dragons OF the
imperial guard At mile or two from
Las Basselle We made a halt.
The colonel turned in his saddle,
looking at us all, and, rising in his
stirrups. waved his sword as he shout.
ed in voice OF thunder:
'Escadrons, garde a vous, pour
charger, sabre main, au trot-au galop
-marchei'
"The bugles sounded the charge.
and all the officers repeated the words
OF command.
The spirit of all the men was
splendid. We all felt this was a SUI
preme moment. Off we went
Rapidly the distance between us
and the foe was diminished: it was
not long before we came in sight of
the enemy's lines. 1t was a solid, com
pact line, apparently motionless, but
which, nevertheless, was advancing
towards us at walk. as they felt GER
tain Of victory against our onrushing
torrent
we got close together and had our
horses well in hand. great cry
went up: Charge! Chargei'
From every throat came the word,
from rs all frantic hurrahs we're
shouted as we bore down upon the
enemy. Indescribable cries. the clash
ing Of steel upon steel, the squealing
of horses followed. Then began the
lust of slaughter and the grooming OF
the wounded.
The dragons of the guard fell
around us. leaving many a riderless
horse, which tore here, there and ev-
erywhere, adding to the confusion and
panic among the enemy. Like an ava
ianche we broke through right to the
rear OF the German lines, the imperial
dragons crumpled up before us. Most
of them galloped, off, the rest lay upon
the ground, dead and wounded.
Suddenly a rattle is heard: IL is
the machine guns OF the enemy open
ing fire upon us. and the German ar.
tillery is seen coming into action. We
Immediately broke out into open or
der. changing our front. and at the
same time we heard the reply from
our own artillery beginning, while TO
our left and right our infantry attack
was developing so rapidly that the
German artillery. fearing to be out
Ranked, retired upon Guillemont
Since that day Albert has no long
or been bombarded, and when our
'piou pious' pass by La Basselle they
say with enthusiasm:
It's just here we ate ND the
dragons of the imperial guard"