The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-24
DARING ESCAPE OF CAPTURED MARINES French Party Taken in Rear
 by Germans SWAMI THE CANAL
Thirteen of Original Sixty Reach Op- posite Bank in Safety Despite Heavy Fire From the
 Germans
By GtsTON LERoIsE,

AaIShip, WhO put lew days back was in charge of party of French ma rines' who had been landed for the purpose of capturing Dixmude.
 My little band was charged with the defense of the northern section, be- tween the River Yscr on the left and the canal on the right We took up position in the Beeost road and hay ing dug oursclf in we prepared to re- main there for awhile. A little to the south headquarters had been erected and our commander was duo to take up situation there Behind Us was Dix nude, or rather the remains Of the place. for the place had received it's first bombardrnent early in october, and many more shells have since fall- en on the town. Another party of ma rines augmented by number Of Bel gian soldiers had taken up positions all around the ruins of Dixmude.
 At 10:S0 one fine winters morning the bombardment once more began. At
 first ordinary shells fell around the town; then came incendisry missIes until finally the enemy brought into use their much renowned 'marmites.' Nt NtTt OullScu to stay III our trenches and for nearly two hours the rain of shot and shell continued with out interruption. During this time We had no news of any of our other par ties. To send a messenger meant cer- tain death; to show oneself for a min ute was not in the. question and we had to remain without news of the others whereabouts or doings.
 Forced From the Trench
 Although at the time we dld not know it, ] afterward learned that one of our companies was forced to leave its trench hastily, owing to the violent bombardment. This explains how the Germans managed to enter Dixmude behind our backs. Of course when we left our trench at l o'clock that after noon we were extremely taken abacle to see large party of the enemy rap idly riding toward us We were only 60 in number and nothing like help was near. Rapidly entering the dug outs the men started to take their places. No fear or panic was to be noted: all was calm and prepared. At last the enemy was quite close. Dis mounting, they loaded their rifles, and with caution they opened fire and at the same time advanced
 Our little band made a heroic stand, but loss after loss was our misfor- tGiip. AL idSt WC iidu lO itdNe atu dl top speed, under deathly fire. make for a little farm in the vicinity. Fifteen out of 60 arrived safely. At short distance behind came the Germans. We managed to enter the farm and barred the doors, and, taking up places at the windows. preparations for a siege were made We were surrounded ry force of six to one. I saw that fight was useless and explained that to the xk~h n tkrif1 rl,. iIerl, of their killed comrades was still in their memory and they refused to give themselves up. Only when the enemy brought two mitrailleuses into position did the 15 marines think all was lost.
 "Waving a white necktie, we opened our doors and in military order we marched out and into the enemy's midst. Not @ word was said by the enemy or by us. By means of signs and force we were placed in single file and, with a guard with fixed bay onets. we were marched off.
 After a mile tramp we came to a little old cottage near the Yser bank. Here we were stopped and for the first time German addressed us. The man, who was a lieutenant colonel spoke to me in French and asked my rank and if I was in charge. Replying in the affirmative I saluted him. and drawing his sword, he returned the compliment In the meantime the sergeant of the company had lined up five men at a short distance from the house and these men were being given ins1ruc- tions of some kind All pointed to prep arations for shooting us.
 Asked About the Bridge
 At all costs l must gain time and let the main body of marines on the other side of the Yser know of the situation. These marines, little knowing we were present, had been keeping up q continued fire on the party the whole time, which, however. fell very far short of its mark, owing to the great disance. The range, however, was found soon and the colonel once again ad- dressed me: Tell your men to cease their firing, and he handed me a meg aphone. We are prisonersr We are captured! I said through the instru- ment. The colonel then asked me if there was not passage by means of which one may cross the Yser. l told him that the only one I knew was the Dixmude bridge There was, however, just near to us little rustic bridge, but the officer had not seen it's pres ence. How does one reach the bridge of Dixmude?' asked the officer. After long explanations the colonel decided to go to the bridge.
 In the meantime the marines had ad- vanced and we were once again sub jected to rain of missiles Tell them to give themselves up and to meet us at the bridge. I will see they are well treated and that they have the best of everything Give up, my colcnel. Why. they are over 10000 strong in the trenches just over the other side of the river. Beyond telling them to stop firing I can do no more.' un real ity their number was only 206) The officer did not wait and at this minute a number of Germans were to be seen coming to join us from the ruined town of Dixmude. During all this time our men continued firing from across the river despite the danger we ran. Two men fell alongside of me. both hit mortally by missiles from these French marines.
 suddenly an inspiration came to me- and as l was allowed to talk witt, my men at random l mentioned by idea to them. All agreed. Suddenly I fell one of my own countrymen. My men. a arranged. closed round me and pre- tended to bind up my wound A A;his- tie from me and we all made a rush for the nearby river bank. Diving in as we were We struck out for the op- poslte bank. Under fire all the time from the Germans, we crawled out and 15 managed to get to the marines alive"
 The lieutenant who recounted this very interesting story to me has been a awarded bv General JOffre fhe Iap-;o,