The Benson signal., 1916-07-08
TERRIFIC COMBAT
IN CAURES WOOD
French Officer Pictures Fierce
Fight for Possession OF
Position Near verdun.
COMMANDER lOATH TO LEAVE
Brings Up Rear of His Troops in
Retreat, Is Cut Off by Shells.
and Never is Seen
Again.

Raf1S.-An OTnCer VINO mas returned
from the Verdun front gave this de
gcriptiOn OF the battle for the posses
sion of the CaureS wood:
"The affair Of the Chures wood is
one of the most glorious episotIes of
the battle of Vertlun. The chaSSeurS.
who were charged with defending this
Dart Of the sector. were under the or
ders of Lieutenant Colonel Driant.
at was Z :15 in the morning of Feb
ruary 20 when the Gernians be-
gan preparations for their attack. The
Commandment began with unusual viO-
ience and our listening posts. accord
ing to orders. fell hack on the first
line, where we awaited the attack.
"A storm of iron began to pass over.
1T was. in fact. more tlian a storm. il
was deluge. Our shelters, even the
best constructed. were demolished.
"About two O'Clock the effects of the
bonliIardMent were tremendous. There
did not renain single shelter worthy
of the name. The officer next In com
mand to Lieutenant Colonel iIrant
our ciaSseurS were also STRICKEN
Fought Throughout the Night.
about five O'Clock the enemys ar
tiIery Stacked its fire and we II"
longer suffered SO much. The reason
OF this was THAT tfle GeruianS were
about to huri:tlienlselveS on iiaurl0nt.
The front ranks of the enemy were
dressed in capes. somewhat resembling
ours, and they wore arlnets similar to
those on our men. This ruSe was
quickly seen through and they re-
ceived q warm welcome. However.
they were able to penetrate our first
line trenches and establish themselves
there. CounterattackS were made 10y
as during the whole night. and after
4 q hot grenade fighting our positions
were practically maintained.
con the tWenty-SecOnd the bonn
bartIment WAS resumed with the great
est violence.
Toward midday we perceived large
parties Of the enemy who after having
advanced toward the wood of llau-
with the intention of taking us in the
rear. All our teieptIOnic c0nltnunIc;-
lions had been destroyed the evening
before and we were no longer able I"
communicate with the main body OF
our troops except by cOuricrS. Alany
volunteered for this service, but nOllr
of them ever returned.
"The German attack Increased in
violence. The enemy, with very su-
pe.iOr forces to ours. including an Ell
tire new brigade. swept down upon us,
''Ai out 3 80 y. tti.. the situation sud
denly became critical. The ring was
/, Tightening, itself ;tf4Miti1i us. The Ger
nlaIiSShad even brought up Il big gun.
which was hombarling the very heart
Of our position. 1t was then that |
was called to the post of Lieutenant
Colonel Driant.
Dies Rather Than Be Taken.
~COiOneI Driunt was stationed in the
front line. which he had not left since
the opening of the attack. lie was lean
ing on his gun. surrounded 10y Com
uland.int Renouard. Captain Vincent
and Captain Ilanet. [Inergetically. but
calmly. he said to the:
"'IIt few more moments 1t will he
necessary1 to.. die, or to be taken pris-
Onpr. [le waited little while and
added: i would prefer TO die. The
tears flowed down his cheeks and we
all Wept. The most hardened of our
citasseurs present at this scene ere
overwhelmed by emotion.
"COnnandant RenOuurd assured
flttnself that there was nothing more
in the shelter which could he of any
advantage to the enemy. All our
archives and our plans had been burned
on tile twenty-tirst and the order to re-
Greslt was given.
II Captain Itenouard said: Al least
let us try to save some of these bra. te
fellows
soar retreat began DrOtec cted ON the