The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-16
IN DASH|NG CHARGE
Chasseurs d'Afrique Like lrresist'
ibIe Torrent.
French CoIored Soldiers Win Fame in
Attack by Which Superior Force
Of Germans Was DisIodeed
at Albert.
BY PATRICK DE BATTLE.

international News SerVlce.)
Northern France have just OBJ
tanned particulars of the magnificent
charge of the chasseurs dAfrique by
which the allies retained possession
of Albert. The Germans attacked AL
bert time and again with great fe-
rocit". The busy industrial town was re-
duced TO a mass of ruins by the bonn
bardment.
In order 10 dislodge the enemy It
was found necessary to have recourse
to 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 d'Afrique 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 chasseurs, 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. A: mile or two from
Las Basselle We made halt.
The colonel turned in his saddle
looking at us all, and, rising in his
stirrups, waved his sword as he shout
ed in a voice of thunder:
'Escadrons, garde vous, pour
charger. sabre main, au trot-au galop
-marche!'
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; 1t was
not long before we came in sight OF
the enemy's lines. It 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. A great cry
went up: Charge! Charge!
From every throat came the word
from us all frantic hurrahs were
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 groaning OF
the wounded.
THE dragons of the guard fell
around us, leaving many a riderlese
horse, which tore here, there and ev
erywhere, adding to the confusion and
panic among the enemy. Like an ava
lanche 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; it 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 tc
our left and right our infantry attach
was developing so rapidly that the
German artillery, fearing to be out
flanked, retired upon Guillemont.
"Since that day Albert has no long
er been bombarded, and when oul
'piou pious' pass by La Basselle the!
say with enthusiasm:
Its just here we ate up the
dragons of the imperial guard"