Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-08

WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE. January 19.-The full story
Of the heroism OF u British captain who
was so moved with hatred Of the Ger
mans for Gripping his child with Il
bomb that he attacked and killed five
OF them with club and withstood a
sudden German onslaught by his in
spring leadership, has just been re-
ceived. The tale has made the captains
name byword of Gallantry' and
bravery in the British camp. Here
arc the facts:
When the Germans delivered their
assault against Masnicrcs and Marco
ing during their general offensive
November 30, those two towns and the
territory about them were being held
by division of English troops on
tho staff Of the commanding general
there was dashing captain who may
be designated as Captain Black, for
purposes OF narrative.
Black was a man OF long service and
much beloved by all the troops. He
had been jovial companion until re-
Gently when during n German air raid
over England his baby girl was Grip
pied for life by bomb Black had
become bitter against the Germans
and had sworn that he would exact
full penalty for the airman's deed.
The captain little knew when he
turned In on the night OF November 90,
how soon he would be able to get his
revenge. Next morning the Germans
attacked Masnicrcs In force. and the
brigade to the right of the troops hold
ing the town was forced to fall back.
The brigade in the town, however,
stood firm. and fought the enemy off,
Meanwhile waves of Germans had
swept by to the south OF the town and
were swarming westward
Captain Black came out of his head
quarters south Of ararcoing 10 find five
Germans already in possession OF a
great dump nearby. So quickly had
the enemy advanced that this was the
first intimation that they were nearby.
Black had in his hand heavy walk
ing stick which was his only weapon.
Without moments hesitation he
charged the dump alone and beat about
him so fcrccly that he Drained all five
opponents before they recovered from
the surprise. He had made good his
vow, but his work was not finished.
Other Germans appeared west OF Les
Rucs Vertes. southern suburb of
Masineres. Black collected all the sig
nalcrs. cooks. ordcrlics and other SER
wants available. and with two COM
panies Of regulars delivered an attack
toward Rues Vertcs. The Germans fell
back and fierce hand hand fighting
folio wed. Black led his little army
from house to house and as often as
the Germans made n stand he drove
them out, until finally tho whole suburb
had been cleared with the exception of
one machine gun. whose crew of eight
men kept pumping bullets into the
British ranks.
Black charged this machine gun with
one orderly. -Four other brave order
lies had been shot down beside him
previously. and this one also was
caught as the machine gun was
reached. Black then attacked the Ger
mans with a revolver in each hand and
shot down the last man Of eight. This
cleared Rues Vertes OF the enemy and
outposts were established about the
place Black had been wounded dur
ing the lighting, but he held on to his
command until relief came next day.
This story is not the only one to be
related Of that bitter day about Mas
nieres. A regiment which had the
stihest part Of the fighting in the town
was made up of troops known as die
hards.' and they fought all day with
rihes and bayonets at close quarters
ana never gave step In the face of n
great onslaught made against them.
During the fighting the colonel had
been wounded in one eye and SO Sc
rious was his injury that his other eve
became useless. His troops continued
TO be SO hard pressed that it seemed
probable they would give way.
Tho colonel knew they needed all
the encouragement possible to enable