The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-07-14
TERRIFIC COMBAT
IN CAURES WOOD
French officer Pictures Fierce
Fight for Possession Of
Position Near Verdun.
COMMANDER LOATH TO LEAVE
Brings Up Rear Of He Troops In
Retreat 10 Cut on by Shells,
and Never 10 Seen
Again.

Pahs.-An officer who has returned
from the Verdun front gave this de-
g'rtption OF the battle Tor the posses
IOn OF the Cnures wood:
'"rhe affair OF the Caures wood Is
Iuc OF the most glorious episodes Of
the battle Of yerdun. The chasseurs,
who were charged with defending this
part Of the sector, were under the or
dcrs Of Lieutenant Colonel Driant
1T was T:l5 In the morning OF Feb
ruGry 70 when the Germans be-
gan preparations for their attack. The
bombardmcnt began with unusual VIC
lcnce aud our listening posts, accord
Ing to orders, fell back on the first
line, where we awaited the attack.
"a storm Of iron began TO pass over.
1t was. In fact. more than n storm, II
was n deluge. Our shelters, even the
best constructed, were demolished.
About two o'clock the effects Of the
b~ombnrdment were tremendous, There
did not remain a single shelter worthy
VA LHt tlhUtts Hb hAAiNFl hNAk vs. WA
mand to Lieutenant Colonel Drlant
was seriously wounded and many OF
our chasseurs were also stricken.
Fought Throughout the Night
about Ave O'clock the euemy's ar.
tillcry Stacked Its fire and We no
longer suffered 50 much. The reason
Of this was that the Germans were
about 10 hurt themselves on ilaumunt,
Tho front ranks OF the enemy were
dressed In capes, somewhat resembling
ours, and they wore armletS similar TO
those on our men, This ruse was
quickly seen through and they re-
ceiycd u warm welcome. However.
they were able TO penetrate our first
line trenches and establish themselves
there. Counternttacks were made by
US during the whole night, and after
a hot grenade fighting our positions
were practically maintained.
'ron the twenty-second the BON.
bnrdment was resumed with the great.
est violence,
''Towar, midday we perceived large
PARTIES m the ytnrrny wAe'aftar having
advanced toward the wood Of Hau.
mont turned toward the Caures wood
with the Intention Of taking US In the
rear. All our telephone cunmunica.
lions had been destroyed the evening
before and we were no longer able to
communicate with the main body OF
our troops except by courterS. Many
volunteered for this service. hut lone
ot them ever returned.
"'rhc German attack increased In
vtolence. Tho rpeny, with very su-
perior forces 10 ours, including IN en-
tire new brigade, swept down Upon VS.
About y 70 y, IN, the situation sud.
denly became critical. The ring VAS
tightening itsrlt around US The Ger
mans had even brought up n big gun,
which was ~bomhard!ng the very heart
Of our position. II was then that |
was called TO the post Of Lieutenant
Colonel prtant.
Dies Rather Than De Taken.
Colonel prtant was stationed In the
front line, wtich he had not left since
the opening OF the attack. He was lean
Ing OH hts gun. surrounded by Com
mandaut RenNuart, Captain Sincent
and Captain Hamcl. Theoretically, but
calmly. he said 10 me;
In Il few more moments II viii be
necessary 60 die or 10 he taken pris-
orer,' He waited = little while ard
added I would prefer TO die The
tears flowed down his cheeks and we
all wcpt. The most hardened of our
chasscGcs present at this scene : ere
overwhelmed by emotion.
Commandment kt0ouari assured
himself that there WAS nothing more
IN the shelter Witch coald be u any
advantage 10 the enemy. All our
archives aud our laaas had been burned
ON the iw~cuty.drst and the order 10 re-
treat WAS given.
Captain Rcnouari said: Al ieas,
let US try 10 save M OK these brave
feilows'