Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-01
GERMANS PAY DEARLY
FOR THEIR SMALL GAIN
They Penetrate British, Line In One
Place, but at Heavy
Cost.
BATTLE AT CLOSE QUARTERS
In Many Cases, Soldiers Resort to
Bayonets, and Some Lay Those
Aside to Fight With Fists-"Eye-
Witness" Tells Story of Givenchy.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
LONDON. January 3l.-Thc official
press bureau tonight issued the fol-
lowing eyewitness narrative OF the
battle of Givenchy. emphasizing the
fierce character OF the fighting in this
region:
con January 25 the Germans
launched an assault against the Brit
ish and French positions south OF the
canal. and at one point penetrated our
line.
AT the same time they also attacked
heavily against our troops in Civenchy,
north of the canal. passing over our
front trenches and temporarily gaining
foothold at that place. AS their in
fantry surged forward through the
village our men met them with cold
steel, killing 100 of them with the bay
onet.
The fighting proceeded for some
hours at close quarters. and by noon
we had reoccuped all OF the original
trenches around the village. The Ger
mans showed the utmost determination
in this quarter. delivering five attacks
III the northeast corner os iivcnchy
Their losses were very heavy several
scattered bodies of the enemy which
succeeded in penetrating our line be-
Ing killed practically To man. Our
casualties in this part of the fight
wer. comparatively light.
Meanwhile, south OF the canal the
struggle was ncrcely contested
throughout the day. The Germans, adj
vancing along the main road. were
caught by the fire OF our machine guns
and left the ground Uttered with bodies
of their dead. II Is estimated the num-
her lost here was 800.
ENEMY Is SUBJECTED
TO wITIIF:tING FIRE
AS they came along the railway en-
bankmcnt the enemy also was sub
i"cted TO our machine gun fire and SUI
fered greatly. but managed to pcne-
tratc our line ut one point.
by n countcrattack. undertaken
with the cooperation OF the French
We drove them back. Although We
did not win back our original positions
we established fresh line close be-
hind IT,
The greater part Of tho area OF this
fighting consisted of brick fields Both
sides fought hand-to- hand We cap
turcd hftythrcc prisoners. including
two officers. The total casualties OF
tho Germans are reported TO huYe
amounted to considerably more than
900.
Against the French. also their at
taCks We're repulscd with great
slaughter. They showed considerable
activity ut many other points on our
front, and subjected our right centre
TO IL heavy bombardment by trench
mortars and artillery.
They also made an attack OF some
strength on the trench TO the east OF
Ypres and In the nciphborhood of
Zonnebeke. Here they were easily re-
pulsed in an aboriive attempt at a sur
prise attack, leaving 900 bodies hang
ing In their wire entanSlcments
I'm the village OF Givcnchy the fight
ing was of the most desperate nature
and at close quarters. our men. in
many cases. fought with the bayonets
In their hands. and even knocked out
many of the Germans with their Hsts
The story is told Of one man who
broke into IL house held by eight Ger
mans and bayoneted four OF them. and
captured the rest while he continued
TO suck on n clay pipe.
ION the whole II may be said that
the 25th of January was n bad day for
the enemy on this portion OF their line.
They paid dearly for the one small
gain of ground achieved"