The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-23

man reinforcements from Lens and
the two companies of invalids al
ready mentioned were thrown into
| the line.
The first counter attack came over
the ridge from the northeast Of
Masnieres. The enemy advanced in
massed formation as in the early
days of the war. The British had
concentrated a large number of ma
chine guns at this point. They per-
mitted the enemy to advance to
within a thousand yards Of the line
before they opened fire. Then the ma
chine guns and artillery were turned
on the Germans and they were
smashed in a whitening storm.
At / o'clock an attack on Marco
ing was attempted by the enemy but
as in the former case, they were
caught in a heavy artillery and ma
chine gun fire and they turned back
after suffering severely.
An hour later another body of
! Germans advanced on Noyelles which
was held by one company of British
| troops. Here some Of the stiffest
| fighting of the battle took place at
close quarters. Both sides rushed up
achievements and for two hours
the battle surged back and forth
through the streets and among the
buildings. It was melee in which
the bayonet played the principal
part. The Germans fought well but
they were not good enough to with
stand the fury of the British assault
and gradually they were forced back
across the canal to the east.
Officers Captured.
Among the prisoners taken by the
British were several officers who
were. caught in the regimental head
quarters. The regimental commander
was captured and it is reported that
his advent into the British lines was
a particularly humorous spectacle.
He came tramping back clad in an
elaborate fur coat, followed by two
servants who carried more Of his
finery. He was swearing mad at the
turn Of events. The sight of a COM
pany of British cavalry threw him
almost into a frenzy and the lurid
language which he directed at the
British drew a smile from even the
hardened Tommy, who has a some
what picturesque vocabulary Of his
own.
Civilians who were released from
Masnieres today told something Of
their experiences in the last three
years. They rejoiced at their new
found freedom and many Of them to-
day still wept with joy when the
subject of their .deliverance was
brought UP. 1t was a motley crowd
which came out Of this place, peo-
pie in all conditions and from many
walks of life. Among them was the
mayor, M. Leslain, a middle aged
man who acted as spokesman. They
first learned Of the approach Of the
British from machine gun fire in
the distance. They were Immediately
thrown into state of excitement
and watched for the coming of their
friends from every vantage point
available.
First Siaht of Troops.
They had their first sight OF the
advancing forces at the Drtdgehead
and saw coming with the attacking
troops strange monsters which they
never dreamed existed. They were
the great tanks, and the people star
ed in amazement as these mighty
engines ploughed their way forward.
Only $50 Germans were holding
the town and all except few left in
the cellars withdrew FIVE minutes
before the British entered. With the
civilians who greeted the British
were two German soldiers, one from
Alsace and the other from Lor-
raine, who had deserted and were
waiting to give themselves up TO the
British with whom they sympathized.
Saved BY America.
During the three years Of their
captivity the civilians were fed by
the American relief committee. All
other food was requisitioned by the
Germans. who placed heavy penalties
on those who concealed any. For in
stance, the secreting OF a bottle of
ordinary wine called for a fine of
ten francs or a long term in prison
and there was twice as severe a PEN
atty for hiding a bottle of cham
payne. Many persons served terms
in jail for alleged violations of the
orders. They were well fed. how
ever, owing to American relief and
all appeared healthy.
The Germans stripped all the
houses OF the town Of their furni-
ture as soon as they entered. Among
the houses thus pillaged were FIVE
magnificent chateaux. All men OF
military age were arrested and sent
to Germany. Women were compelled
to do all manner of work, such as
sweeping streets. washing clothes of
German officers and waiting on Of
ficers.
The mayor declared his belief that
Germany was actually starving. He
said there seemed to be no doubt
that the civilians in Germany were
undergoing great hardships.
Three Years in Cellar.
Among the most interesting Of the
refugees was a man Of military age
who had hidden in a cellar for three
years to escape the Germans and had
been fed by his wife with an extra
ration Of food allowed her because
she had a baby. This man is IS
years old and in the ordinary course
would have been arrested and sent to
a prison camp as soon as the Ger
mans entered the town. He did not
want to leave his wife and baby and
so hid in a secret place in the cell
lar, thereby making himself liable to
the death penalty IL detected Ger
man officers came to live in his
house, and daily he heard them
tramping about above him. In ac-
cordance with the custom this house
and all others were searched every
little while to see If anyone was con-
cealed. but the Germans never dis
covered his hiding place. Each day
while the officers were away his wife
struggled his little store Of food and
water to him.
When the British entered the town
the wife, after making sure that
they were indeed British went home
and brought out her husband, who
had his first glimpse Of the outside
world since August, 1914. The Ger
mans were TO have searched the
house again the day the British cap
tured the town.
This refugee seemed to be In fair
health. Notwithstanding his confne-
ment but his nerves were badly shat
tered and he wept continually today
as his story was being related. He