Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-16
THIRST TERRIBLE
AMONG SOLDIERS
Sufferings of British in Defense
of Fort Vaux Fully
Described.
NO COMPLAINTS ARE HEARD
When Rainstorm Comes Sheets
of Canvas Are Spread to
Catch Drops.
NO COMPLAINTS ARE HEARD

LONDON. July I'LL Warner Alien,
correspondent for all the British news
papers with the French army. sends
the following account Of tho heroic de-
tense Of Fort Naux. one Of the principal
positions before Verdun
One Of the most heroic incidents in
the defense Of Vaux is tn" story OF the
entrcnchment to the northwest Of the
font, known as ri, which was held by
the lolst Line Regiment. No supplies
could nc brought up. and thirst began
10 be tho mos; terrible of foes. but not
word Of complaint was heard.
One night rocket was sent up to
ask the French artillery to protect RI
with curtain Of shell Unhappily,
the rocket missed fire and set fire TO
Tic supply Of rockets in tho depot
Red and green flames rose on all sides
and the trench was hidden in clouds
az smoke. The men, who did not know
whs' had happened. were a, loss TO
understand Was the enemy attack
ing, they wondered, with flaming
liquids? Had the French position been
tirned' But not man lost his pres
ence OF mind. Every ono set 10 work
to remove cases OF Grenadcs out of
danger from tho fire
When tho fire WAS under control the
weary mon who had been hghtinv II
received rccomoense for their labors
In the shape Of two gallons of water.
"hi"h had been brought from Frcmin
wood Tn" precious liquid was served
cut At once-Just mouthful for each
man
But ri was entirely isolated by the
screen Of German shells falling round
H. and thirst became a more and more
terrible enemy. Then there came n
:ainstorm. Hastily. sheets Of canvas
wr-" spread OUT q catch tho drops. and
drinking tins were set along tho edge
Of the trenches
RELIEF FINALLY CONES
F0R BRAVE DEFENDERS
The night wen, on all mex, hay. and
on 'inn" ~ T.. NJ the defenders OF
ri Were relieved
Meanwhile. at Fort NauN itself tho
situation was as follows: On the north
Of tho for. on its right and on its left,
the Germans had pushed forward de-
iachments. and then on the southern
side they isolated the fort with a cur
tain Of fire such as never had before
March the Germans never have fired
on tho for, and its immediate neigh
horbood less than soao heavy shells a
day. and this figure increased enor.
mously during the last few days. The
fort Itself was completely demolished,
but IN this hell hole "A little garrison.
under Major Raynal, continued TO re-
sIsi
thirst has been one of the most terri.
hie trials 10 which the soldiers have
been submitted. Letters captured on
German prisoners continually refer TO
1t, and the French could not escape a
hardship that was common TO both
parties. The task OF providing $50
men with water, 10 say nothing of 800
more who had taken refuge in the fort,
was beyond human power
The enemy advanced on the higher
ground but the French organized the
ruins of the buildings inside the fort.
Al every window, at every opening be-
hind the debris of wall. machine guns
were placed: picked shots took refuge,
and every German who reached the
courtyard OF the fort was shot down.
The Germans tried the experiment
OF letting down at the end of A cord
baskets full Of grenades, and when
these baskets were on level with the
windows held by the French they
dropped into them grenade with
time fuse and swung them in through
the opening To explode inside But
still the garrison fought on.
There is, however. limit 10 human
endurance. The last message sent by
Major Raynal ran as follows:
we are near the end. Officers and
soldiers have done their whole duty.
Nive, LA France"
ON the 18th the Germans announced
that they had carried the whole fort
and made certain number Of un-
wounded prisoners. In truth. they only
found few exhausted men lying in
ruins that were no longer tenabie