Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-11-27
CHAPTER K.
German. Hat. and Fear canadIans

Gormano rate ano rear SaueoiuuSs
A BOUT the fifth or sixth night Of
~ the battle the Germans broke
through Us and advanced nearly
q mile into our territory. They held
their gain about. fourteen hours, when
we counterattacked and took 1t all back
again. OF course our advanced report
center retired as the Germans advanc-
ed, but was down at the permanent
headquarters at the time, 80 didnt
get any Of the excitement Of the re-
tirement
When we advanced again our road
lay over ground that had been In Ger
man hands during the few hours they
held the ground.
A dispatch rider was coming over
this road just as daylight dawned. Two
wounded Germans lay on the side Of
the road, and as the rider passed one
of them called to him and asked for q
drink Of water. The rider stopped,
turned around and went back, threw
his water bottle to them and then turn
ed around and started on again. A.
the rider turned these two men both
fred on him, and one Of the bullets
struck part Of his motorcycle.
At the time this great battle was
raging the bombardment Of Ypres con-
tinued, and not only Ypres alone, but
all the surrounding villages and the
roads leading from one to the other
also.
I said that at the beginning Of this
battle our corps Of dispatch riders mum.
bered thirty-one In all. At the end OF
the engagement three weeks later there
were only four of US left out OF the
original thirty-one who started.
The Germans failed to break Us, and
90 the kaiser kept his word regarding
the city of Ypres. Day after day they
bombarded the place. 30 that now there
is not one single house left standing.
For some reason the Germans contin-
ued to shell the place from time to time
but they can't do any more damage
than what they have already done
The end of the battle found Us with
our position still intact, and ] don't
think they will ever come any nearer
to break through the British linea
After the battle I was. Of course, 10
neved Of my job as motorcycle dis
patch rider and resumed my duty az
orderly to headquarters.
A great deal has been said OF the
Canadians Too much praise cannot
be given them.
The first of the Canadian regiments
to come into action was the Princess
Patricia's Canadian Light infantry.
This regiment was In one Of the d.
visions In our army corps, so ! saw
quite a bit OF the men from time to
time. They were a fine body Of men
and were very highly thought Of by all
the English regiments with whom they
were associated. They were strong
men and needed strong leaders to keep
them at their highest point Of eficien-
g. Such men as Colonel Farquhar
they adored, and there was nothing be
could ask them to do that would re-
main undone. II was bis custom to
lead his men into action carrying moth.
ing but q walking stick, and little
things like this mean q great deal to
the men Of q regiment
At the time the Canadians were
brought into action we had some black
troops on our extreme left The; Ger
mans sent over gas, and these black
troops were forced to retire. Supports
were called for, and a. ours was the
nearest headquarters in the vicinity
the caIl came to us
We had nc spare troops available
right on the spot, 20 the men Of the
headquarters unit -orderlies, messen.
gers, etc.-were called upon to 80 mp
and act a. supports until re-enforcs-
ments could bs brought up. We went
up ON the dead run and found that the
blsck troops hae rst!r9d n vs went