South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20
BRITISH CAPTAIN
KILLS 8 GERMANS
Hating Enemy For Injury to
Child, Officer Takes Re-
Venge Single Handed.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES

WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES
N FRANCE. Jan. 1s.-(Corres-
pondence) -The fun story Of the
heroism Of a British captain who
was so moved with hatred OF the
Germans for Gripping his child with
a bomb. that ne attacked and killed
eight Of them with a club, and with
stood a sudden German onslaught
by his inspiring leadership. had just
been received The tale has made
the captains name a byword OF gal
lantry and bravery IN the British
camp. Here are the facts.
When the Germans delivered
their tremendous assault against
Masuieres and MarcOing during their
general offensive on Nov. 10, those
two towns and the territory about
them were being held by a division
OF English troops. ON the staff Of
the commanding general there was
"a dashing captain who may be desig-
mated as Capt. Black for purposes
Of this narrative
Black was man of long service
and much beloved by all the troops.
lie had been joviaI companion
until recently. when during "A Ger
man air raid over England his baby
zirl was crippled for life by a bomb.
Black had become bitter against the
Germans and had sworn that ne
would exact full penalty for the air
mans deed
The captain little knew when ne
turned in on the night OF the 18th
az Novomb Der how soon he would be
able TO get his revenge. Next morn
ing the Germans attacked Masnieres
i'm force and the brigade to the
right Of the troops holding the town
was forced TO fall back. The brigade
On the town. however, stood firm
and fought the enemy Off Mean
while waves OF Germans had swept
Dos 10 the south OF the town and
were swarming westward.
cane Only Weapon.
Capt Black came out of his
headquarters south of Marcoing TO
ind five Germans already in posses
sion of a great dump nearby. So
quickly had the enemy advanced
that this was the first intimatiOn
that they were near. Black had
in his hand a heavy walking stick
which was his only weapon. With
out "A moments hesitation he
charged the dump alone and beat
about him SO dercely that he Drained
all i've opponents before they re-
covered from the surprise He had
made good his vow. but his work
was not finished.
other Germans appeared west of
Les Bues Nerts. "a southern suburb
of Masnieres. Black collected all the
signailers, cooks, Orderlies and other
servants available. and with two
companies OF regulars delivered an
attack towards Rues Vertes The
Germans fell back and fierce hand
tO-hdnd fighting followed Black
led his little army from house TO
house and as often as the Germans
made a stand he drove them out.
until finally the 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
orderlies had been shot down be-
side him previously ana this one
also was caught as the machine gun
was reached. Black then attacked
the Germans with a revolver in each
hand and shot down the last man
of eight This cleared BUes Nertes
OF the eneL,y and outpcsts were es-
tobiishcd about the place Black
had been wounded during the fight
ine but he held on % his command
until relief came next day.
Tell Other Stories.
This story is not the only one TO
be related of that bitter day about
Masuieres. A regiment which had
the stiiest part of the lighting i'm
the town was made up of troops
known as Orchards and they
fought all day with rifles and bay
onets at close quarters and never
gave a step i'm the face of a great
onslaught made against them. Dur
ing the fighting the colonel had been
wounded i'm one eye and SO serious
was his injury that his other eye
became useless His troops Contin-
ned Doe so hard pressed that il seem
ed probable they would give way.
The colonel knew they needed all
the announcement -.ossibIe 10 en-
able them To bear the awful strain.
He called for an orderly, and led
by his servant ne started making
round of the front line 10 speak
ENCOURAGEMENT 90 his troops. For
hours this blind man with bandaged
eyes kept up his tramp among his
men with his hand i'm that Of the
orderly who was his only guide.
This heroic example was the final
word for the Tommies They loved
their colonel and they stood and
died for him and held their line.
Masnieres produced another
thrilling incident next day The
Germans renewed their attack and
came down in waves. They assault
at the crossing az the canal bank
was particularly fierce and the Brit
ish. after sustaining the shock for
some time began 10 waver and the
general rushed 20 the spot. He took