The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-22
GER MAN LOSSES AT
ST. ELOI TERRIBLE"
British Eyewitness Tells of
Slaughter in Trenches
and Town.
GREAT BRAVERY SHOWN

wv wv
LoNpoS, March 2i.-A statement by
the official eyewitness" with the British
army in France. dated March 10, was
issued tonight by the official press
bureau 1t says that since ST. Eloi
on March II there has been no fighting
the position at 81. Eiui and the high
mound southeast of that town the eye
witness" gives an account Of the fight.
"On the evening of March H." he
SAYS. after directing an extremely
heavy artillery fire against our trenche
along the eastern and southeastern sec
tors. the e~ndeavored to rush
our line. The attempt succeeded 50 far
as the latter sector was concerned, for
the trenches had been blown In and
were untenable. East of the village,
however. our infantry made a deter
mined stand and its fire was so steady
and well directed that the losses Of the
assailants were terrible, our men stick
ing to their posts until overwhelmed by
numbers.
The Germans then rushed the sup
port uf the trenches and also IL
mound which they haG blown up by a
min n following their success. pene-
tdN'h NV ti1@ lNFfAAH 4 ~ N|' '
were not allowed to remain long In un-
disputed possession.
"Our first counter attdck took place
at 2.30 \. NJ ON March Ia and was
only partly successful. the enemy still
retaining possession of 1t. Eloi and
some br"astworks and trenches Il
another effort nearly two hours later We
succeeded IN driving him completely GU
Of the village and IN rc%capturing all the
sYa.s.4tt.G VtHAl. Lnl mot non 1gtN ~ . oil
The mound. however. still remained ii
tire hands 81 the Germans. though i
had been subjected TO So heavy a fr,
mat li'tle use can be made OF II.
The hghtIug IA st. Iloi itself was
a. usual in such cases. Of the fierces
description ON gaining the place th'
Germans had erected Darricades across
the streets. defended by machine guns
These had TO .. s:ormed one by one
our men coming on tim. after time -
gardloss Of losses until the village VA.
cleared Of the enemv
when morning dawned q search wa
carried out among the houses tor tn'
wounded. and ON this occasion TIA" Ger
mans displayed % humanity which. un
fortunately. j. by uo means AWAY
shown by them. GOT hey refrdined from
firing On our bearer parties ngaGe
in carrying away he wounded within
NAll" 'IOt' range.
During IN. day OF M1lD. - the ,icr
mans made a Last effort to recover tn.
ground ny assault. II presumably va
/ not intended as more than a forlorI
hope, FOR only zoo men participated
Few car have escaped scot free. an
The prisoners said tho losses were yer,
great The supports especially sufer.n,
severely from our shell ARE. while on
hoWhariarut on previous days had
don" much damage 20 their trenches
Is",ul'.ug 90 the akinc ~ N.uv,
'Hap'.i' the observer refers to- tn,
great casualties among the cheers.
- the shtutrl OF Tie ,gmeutl
officers throughout the fighting. I,
says. 'It ~ unnecessary 70 speak. tn,
casualty lists tell the tale Of the heavy
toll anon them. due largely to ~
fact that they are advancing over Al
Intricate" couutrN intersccted by hedge,
and bitches. Tie platoon commander
had 70 go forward and econnoitr tn,
ground and discover the best way 4
,ircumvont or cross these obstacles with
out getting the men Crowde togethe
o. narrow places. sue. As gaps in IN,
Indigenous and bridges. This uatu
. rally 'ntailed exposure. The success.
achieved and the extraordinary spiri
, shown by the troops are the best proof
OF the qualities displayed 10y the lead
ers