Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-06
CANADIAN TROOPS
WON DAY ON USER
WITH COLD STEEL
Under Whitening Fire of Shot
and Shell and Despite Poison
GUS Gases, They Fought
Foes to StandstiI|.
STRUGGLED HAND TO HAND
Valiant Hearts of Territorials
Could Not Be Broken Even
After Every Other Man Had
Fallen-Bayonets Won.
STRUGGLED HAND TO HAND

OTTAWA. ont, Can. May 3.-1'he story
u what he describes as "a great and
glorious feat of arms" the desperate
oattle fought by the Canadian division
TO check the recent German advance
near Ypres, WAS told in a cable COM
| munication from SIR Max Aitken, the
CANADIAN record officer, gwen out by
the militia department here today. The
account describes how the Canadians.
the majority of them raw recruits, met
the German rash. after the latter had
released the as%phyNiating gases, and
how. although greatly o~utnumbered,
they succeeded with heavy losses in
recovering four British guns and much
| ground.
ION April %" the continues,
the Canadian division held a line of,
pDughly, 5000 yards, extending in a
northNesterly direction from the 4pres-
Ronlers railway to the Ypres-Poelca-
pelle road and connecting at it's ter
minus with the French troops. The di-
vision consisted of three infantry brig
AIDES. in addition to the artillery brig
AIDES
After telling of the release of the gas
forcing the French backward. Sir Max
reported that this left the Canadian di-
vision with its left in the air"
Ii became imperative to extend the
Canadian lines to the left rear.
In the course of the confusion which
followed upon the readjustment of po-
sition." the account says, the enemy,
| which had advanced rapidly after his
initial success. took -four British ~
| guns. in a small wood to the west of
the village of ST. Julien. two miles in
the rear of the ORIGINAL French trenches.
Won With Bayonet.
In the course of the night of the
22nd and under the heaviest machine
the Canadian Scottish One Hundred
and Sixtieth battalion of he Third
brigade and the Tenth battalion of the
Second brigade. The battalions. after
a very fierce struggle. o the posi-
items at the point OF the bayonet. At
midnight the Second battalion. under
Colonel Watson. and the Toronto regi-
ment. Queens Own (Third battalionl,
under Lieutenant Colonel Rennie, both
of he First brigade, brought up much
needed reinforcements.
An through the following day and
night, these battalions shared the for
tunes and misfortune of the Third
brigade. An officer, who took part in
The attack. describes how the men
about him fell under the fire of the
machine guns. which he said played
upon them like a watering pot.
But the line never Wayered. When
nne man fell. another tooE his place,
and. with q final shout, the survivors
Of the two battalions flung themselves
Into the wood.
Forced to Yield Gains.
THE German garrison was complete
y demoralized. and the impetuous ad-
vance of the Canadians did not cease
until they reached the far side of the
wood and entrenched themselves in
positions so dearly gained. They had.
however, the disappointment of find
Ing that the guns had been blown ND
by the enemy and later In the same
night a most formidable concentration
81 artillery fire sweeping the wood made
1t Impossible for them to hold the po-
sition for which they had sacrificed so
much.
"The fighting continued without In
PERMISSION all through the night. At 6
/. m. on Friday, the 23d, it became ap-
parent that the left was becoming more
md more involved and a powerful Ger
man attempt to outflank 1t developed
Rapidly, 1t was. therefore. decided to
Try to give relief by a counter attack
on the first line of German trenches,
how far advanced from those originally
occupied by the French. This was car
RED out by the Ontario First and
Fourth battalions of the First brigade,
under briaadier General Mercer. in
connection with a British brigade.
Through Shower Of She'll.
at did not seem Ina any human be-
Ing could live in the shower of the shot
and shell which began to play on the
advancing troops. For a short time.
EVERY other man seemed to fall, but
the attack was pressed closer and
closer, The Fourth Canadian battalion
at one moment came Gndar a particu-
larry whitening fire. For a nj it
lWaVered. Its most gallant m
Ing officer. Lieutenant Colonel Birchall,
carrying. after an old fashion. a light
cane. coolly and cheerfully rallied his
example a infected the men, fell
dead at the head OF his battalion.
wlth a cry OF anger, they sprans
forward. The astonishing attack
which followed, p.shed home in the
face OF direct frontal fire made in broad
daylight by battalions who's names
should live forever in the memories OF
soldiers was carried to the first line
OF German trenches. After a hand tic
hand struggle, the last German who
resisted was haNcnetcd and the trench
was won.
But Left Wing Was Saved.
This trench represented in the Ger.
man advance the apex in the breach
which the enemy had made in the oripi-
nal line Of the allies. and 1t was tive
and a half miles south Of that line
Ihls charge. made by men who looked
death indifferentiy in the face. saved
the Canadian left. 1t also secured and
maintained during the n ost critical
moment Of all the integrity Of the al
lied line.
At 4 a. m. on the morning Of Friday,
the 23rd, a fresh emission OF gas was
made both upon the Second brigade.
which held the line running northeast.
and Gpon the Third brigade, which had
continued to hold the linz up to the
pivotal point. The Forty-cighth High
landers were dismayed ard their
trench became in:olerable. The hat
TALON retired from the trench. re-
II covered themselves and reoccupied II