The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-24
TAKING Of CARENCY
Soldier Describes Horrible Fight
ing in Storming Ruined City.
Town a Regular Fortress, All the
Houses Communicated by Cellars
and Underground Passages
Kill With Hand Grenades.

Paris.-The horrible fighting which
resulted in the taking of ruined Car
ency by the French is described thus
by a soldier in letter received here:
AT 10 a. m, with knapsacks and
with our pouch bags we'll stored with
grenades and melinite petards. We left
our trenches, and along front of one
and fourth miles rushed the first Ger
man trench. We were allowed ten
minutes; it took US exactly II seconds.
All the Boches in the trench were
killed or captured. We at once cut
the electric wires. for everything was
mined.
Away to the second trench, which
is carried in the same manner. We
took many prisoners and a heap Of
spoil. The machine guns we at once
swung round and SO peppered the en-
envy with their own projectiles. We
exploded mines, which made holes 40
yards In diameter and ten yards deep
Numbers of Boches were buried. 9th
ers lay on the parapets or in the
trenches, horribly cut up-some decap-
itated, others bayoneted. They had
been taken by surprise. and could not
make use of their asphyxiating bombs.
In the evening we seized a Gene
terry. Hot fighting. We lost pretty
heavily, for the enemy fought bravely.
and made good use of his machine
guns. In the night they bombarded us
plentifully. but we lay low in their
holes. and our losses were very slight.
Monday passed in the attack of 9TH
er points and the consolidation of our
positions and investment of Carency.
which is a regular fortress. All the
houses communicate by the cellars and
underground passages. Everywhere
deep. welldefended trenches. Mitrail-
leuses in the houses and n millimeter
and one los millimeter guns in the big
farm.
"On Tuesday morning, with a rush.
We enter Carency. 1t has to be taken
house by house. No sooner was one
taken than the enemy fed into the
next. They shot at us through the
cellar gratings. We crawled up under
the walls and threw down grenades
Heaps of them were killed in the eel
lars.
AT noon the whole of Carency was
ours. A lieutenant whom we took
prisoner blew out his brains.
Il entered a lieutenant's cabin. First
of all, on top was a ten-foot layer of
earth, covered with green sods.
Twelve steps led down to the living
room. which was Is feet by 16 feet.
with a glass paneled door and cur.
tains. Enormous tree trunks propped
up the whole.
THE walls were lined with morocco.
probably lifted from some cafe, and
the ceiling was linoleum. Gilt laths
held everything fast. On the right
was a comfortable walnut bed; on the
left square table with a new oilcloth
covering; in the middle. fine lamp on
4 stand, and in the recess a Prussian
stove. Knickknacks, books. valuable
odds and ends lay about on shelves.
Boxes of cigars. hams. butter. ssausage,
beer.
The Germans, fighting inch by inch, |
ell back on Ablain. We were now be-
7ond Carency and across the water. |
All the Boches hiding there were killed
" thrown in. Six prisoners had been
AIKEN. and left under the care of a !
theatrical gentleman. We went on.
md the prisoners fell upon him and |
killed him and then 'skedaddled.'"