Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-08-11
Prussian Guard Maintains Its
Reputation for Bray-
cry,
0VILLEnS A RUBBISH HEAP
British Capture of Town Result of
Bitterest Fight in Battle of
Somme-Oogged and Des-
perate Defense.
BY PHILIP GIBBS.

With the British Army in the Field.
In all the recent fighting the
struggle for Ovillers stands out sep.
tack and defense were of the most
logged and desperate kind.
The surrender of the remnants of
its garrison ends an episode which will
not be forgotten in history. Thes'
men were of the Third Prussiah
bravery by our commander in chief is
re-echOed by the officers and men who
fought against them. 1t is a tribute
to our own troops also, who, by no
less courage, broke down the stubborn
resistance and captured the garrison.
Town Now Rubbish Heap.
Many different battalions had a
share in the fighting. All had suf-
fered and then gave way to new men
who knew not the nature of this bust
ness, but set grimly to work to carry
on the slow process of digging out
the enemy from his last strongholds.
1t was almost literally the work of dig
ging out. The town of Ovillers does
not exist. 1t was annihilated by bonn
bardments and made a rubbish heap
of bricks and dust.
But after that, when our men were
separated from the enemy by only n
yard or two or by only a barricade or
two, the artillery on both sides
ceased the fire upon Ovillers, lest the
gunners should kill their own men.
They barraged intensely round
about. Our shells fell necessarily
to the north and east, so that the be-
leaguered garrison should not get sup
plies or Reinforcement; we made a
wall of death about them. But though
now no shells burst over the ground
where many dead lay strewn, there
was artillery Of a lighter kind, not
less deadly. 1t was the artillery Of
machine guns and bombs. The Prus
sian guards made full use of the val
ued cellars and ruined houses. They
made a series of small keeps, which
were defended almost entirely by ma
chine gun fire.
Between the attacks of our bomb
ing parties they went below ground
into dark vaults. where il was safe !
enough from trench mortar and hand |
grenades, leaving a sentry or two on |
the lookout for any infantry assault. |
AS soon as we advanced the machine /
guns set to work and played their
hose of bullets across the ground |
which our men had to cover.
Guard Finally Gives Up.
Une by one, by getting around about
them, by working zigzag ways through
cellars and ruins. by sudden rushes %
bombing parties led by young officer
IF daring spirit. we knocked out these
machine gun emplacements and the
who served them. until yester-
lay there was only last remnant
II the garrison left In Ovillers.
These men Of the Third PrussinR
iuard long had been ia hopeless
POSITION. They were starving because
n supplies were cut of by our never
.nding barrage; they had no water
upply. 50 suffered all the tOrfures Of
-reat thirst. They were living ia a
harnaI house strewn with the dead
Odies Of their comrades and with
rounded men deiriOus from lack OF
rink.
Human nature could make no long
r resistance. and At last the officers
alsad the signal 81 surrender and
anne over with nearly 40 men. who
ED their hands up.
The lighting had been saynge. A. d
lose grips. 10 broken earfhwOrks and :
eep cellars. there had been no seDn-
IeDf and British soldiers and Ger.
ms had flung themselves upon each
der with bombs and any kind ~ q
eapO8s. boz nOy. when aii Wa end d
!. fbe insi ~ fbe German garrison 81
~ received Nifb fbe hODors ~ WIZ n
~ aODe ~ 0ur sOiGiers deny fbs y
.. 40