Omaha daily bee., 1917-11-28


STORY OF STRATEGY.
Stories of their gallant charges
with drawn sabers against enemy
batteries and strong infantry posi-
tons have been innumerable. But
perhaps none Of them had a more ex-
citing time than a squadron of Ca
madam horsemen, who took their way
in a northeasterly direction from Mas
nieres after the eventful smashing OF
the Hindenburg line.
They swept proudly out OF Mas
nieres on their chargers with their
sabers making merry music against
their trappings. They returned afoot
and thereby hangs a narrative Of
bravery and strategy which is worth
recording.
Tanks in Distress.
For a considerable distance the
horsemen cantered along over the
rolling grasslands without encounter
ing any enemy. East of Rumilly,
however, they came upon several
British tanks which had run almost
into a German battery position and
were being fred at point blank by
great guns.
The monitors were in tight place
and needed assistance badly. They
got it. The cavalry came pounding
up in columns OF four and their
leader, sizing up the situation, sent
them swerving in on either side of
the battery. Then they charged in
straight among the gun crews, their
sabers flashing. 1t was over in a
moment and the last enemy lay
trampled upon.
This incident finished, the cavalry
trotted off in search OF other adven-
lures. Not far away was a sunken
road viii h concealed considerable
enemy forces armed with machine
guns. Cavalry scouts discovered
this trap, and dashing back, gave
the word to the commander. The
latter snapped out command and
the squadron. most OF whom were
still unaware of the presence of the
sunken road, divided into two bodies,
one of which turned to the right
toward a break in the wall OF the
road, while the other drew their
sabers and charged straight ahead.
Unaware of Danger.
The Germans, not knowing that
British cavalry was in operation in
that section, still remained in the big
ditch and the Canadians reached the
edge of the miniature precipice with
out seeing the enemy. They saw
them. in numbers, and realized for
the first time that they were headed
for drop of several feet to the level
of the road.
Not a horseman hesitated. They
took the flying leap straight down
amongst the surprised Germans and
began their work of death. Half a
hundred OF the enemy lay dead when
the remainder took to their heels and
fed toward Rumilly.
The cavalry commander then was
out OF touch with the remainder of the
advancing British forces and decided
to remain in the sunken road for a
time until he could get orders. Ac-
cordingly he sent back a courier to
carry information as TO the location
OF the squad. It developed quickly
that another force OF German machine
gunners was stationed in command
ing position nearby. These opened
a grilling FIRE on the cavalry and sue
ceeded in killing several horses within
short time.
1t became apparent that the men
and the rest of the horses must suffer
the same fate If they remained where
they were. The commander knew it
would be suicide to ride out into the
open and he seized upon an ingenious
plan to outwit the Germans. The
horses were gathered together and
stampeded with their empty saddles in
the direction of Cambria. The ruse
worked. for the Germans peering
through the mist thought the horse
men escaped.
The machine guns came into action
against the galloping horses and the
troopers meantime made good their
escape from the road. They started
back, but losing their way, at one time
were actually in the outskirts OF
Rumilly. This may have given rise
TO report which became current that
the British had occupied the village.
Charged by Germans.
The Canadians continued their
journey toward what they thought
were the British lines. AS they were
proceeding they were charged by
German officer with nine men. 1t
happened that among the troopers
was little chap who spoke German
fluently. He was sent forward with
orders to engage the officer in con-
versation until the rest of the troopers
could close in with their sabers.
The little emissary fulfilled his mis-
sion by engrossing the attention of
the officer with cock and bull story
to which the German listened because
he did not know that the British
cavalry was in his zone. He listened
a moment too long, however, for the
Canadians rushed lin and killed the
men accompanying the enemy officer.
The latter was taken prisoner and
compelled to conduct the horsemen
back to their own lines.