Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-04
RETRlEVES CHARACTER
BY BRILLIANT HEROISM
CContinued from First pagel

'N'h''Hueu from FIRST t'aEe.)
ing rain and often shoulder-deep in
water, has just come to light.
The object of the enemy was to cut
off the river route of the British. 70
the Rcnuc, with it's large quantities of
stores. and also to destroy the telegram
junction at that place for the purpose
of isolating the British columns operat-
ing against the Germans to the north
of the Camcroons.
Mayor Churcher. who was in charge
st 1bi, was specially detailed to watch
the German frontier and obtain news
OF the encmy's movements. The Ger
mans spread the report that they had
abandoned their post at kentu with its
Hill fort near the boundary, and that
they We're rctreating. but Major
Churchcr. who had already acquired
valuable information of their doings.
heard that. on the contrary, n strong
force of the enemy was ready to cross
the frontier.
OFFICERS PRETENDED
POSITION WAS SAFE
a day or two previously Lieutenant
Waters had arrived ut Takum with n
garrison at once stood to arms, six of
the eight blockhouses which had been
hurricdiy erected round the place being
manned. The time was an anxious one
as there was no Maxim Mt Takum. and
none OF the police had experienced rifle
hre hut for the sake of rcassurinE the
natives the two white officers had to
pretend that the position was really
safe.
When the Germans were seen an
preaching in strong force through n
pass 900 yards distant the British
opened fire and inflicted great damage
on the enemy, who were in close forma-
ton.
Maxim was brought into action by
the Germans, but n well-placed shot
killed the officer working It, A very
not engagement cnsucd, and firing was
continuous for six hours. the hands OF
officers and men being burnt by the
overhcatcd rifles.
The enemy made a series of rushes
hut never got nearer 10 the blockhouses
than 300 yards, and at sunset rctreated
They threw away thel.. Maxim, but left
behind n strong rear guard
The British force. for the first time
under rife fire. was wonderfully steady.
ana one native corporal expressed his
anxiety TO charge the Germans by him
Sclf The enemy suffered heavily i'm
Killed and wounded. but not one of the
defending forces was hit
AZ sunset a drenching rain commenced
10 fall, hut as il was feared that tho
enemy would he rc-enforced the Brit
ish officers ordered a retirement on the
river IN order to defend Ibi This was
accomplished in the darkness, the Brit
ISM VINO had been without food for
iwenty-siN hours and with no water
Tor eighteen hours, marching in single
NE through swamps and rivers. often
immersed 10 their neckS. until six hours
later they reached the river. Here a
position was intrcnched and arrange
Mehts were made to destroy the bridge
after the British had crossed. From
TINS point orders were sent for the
British TO be rc-enforced from Vol,
ana the new troops arrived four davs
ihtcr. Contrary TO expectations how
ever, the Germans did not pursue the
retiring force and ii was learned after
wards that the German officers had re-
pcatediy attempted to take Takum but
that thcir native troops refused again
10 face the "Jujar" AT that place which
they had found already too formii,b,e
for them