Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-21

for always the horSeFnen came up to
fiji the hole until the infantry line
could be rectified and connected In a
solid front
The same tactics marked the first
use of French cavalry In the battle of
Picardy. when the French took over
IS miles of front from the British
&c permit the latter to mass reserves
at seriously threatened points of the
line farther north.
Cavalry Fights Afoot.
A French cavalry corps complete
with light artillery. armored cars and
cyclists arrived first on the scene In
PIcardy and relieved the British They
fought II out afoot until the heavy
French infantry arrived and took over
the task.
Three days later the horsemen were
on the move again. this time hurrylng
20 the front. where the enemy was
hitting hard at the Lys line. The cav
airy rode hard as the advance guard
Of the French infantry columns march
ed toward St Omar In the first
% hours. despite the long strain
Of fighting In Picardy. they covered
so miles without losing man or
horse on the way In CO hours they
had transferred their whole corps over
125 miles and arrived east Of Mont
Cassel
at was a wonderful sight," writes
the chief Of stan Of division. "The
horses were In fine condition the men
were cheerful and went singing. in spite
Of the sufferings and privations they
had to endure.
'In truth. our boys looked a little
tired, but they were all very proud
that such an effort had been asked
Of them and all were bearing II cheer
fully"
The cavalry corps stood In support
Of the British for ten days In April
after the enemy had forced the line
held by the Portuguese division. II
maintained communication between
TWO British armies and organized the
ground from Mont Cassel 10 Mont
KENNEL. while the French army
moved up behind 1t. AS the French
infantry came INTO line the cavalry was
drawn off 70 the left In NE
Mont Kennel region. and for five days
The h0rsemen. fighting afoot with two
infantry divisions, withstood the ter
rife assaults Of the Germans who
sought to hammer way through be-
hind Ypres at any cost.
They stood steady bomhar1ment for
days, and when the infantry was helm
med in on top OF Mont kemmel,
the cavalry drove forward In counter
attach and held off the shock divisions
Of the enemy while the French gun
ners got their pieces away.
Later. Mt the battle OF Locre, the
cavalry also shared fully with the In
fantry, blocking gaps in the line, and
the anal definite occupation Of the
town for the allies was accomplished
by a cavalry battalion. A sergeant
and a handful OF dragons drove 40
Germans out of the town, and at an
other point cavalry officer and 20
men backed up the infantry at a
critical moment, the officer waving a
pistol In ore hand and shovel in
| the other as he led the dash which re-
stored the situation.
Defend compelGne.
A few days later the same cavalry.
! after another long ride, met the efs'
envy advance against yiIlers-Cotterets
woods in the Aisne sector. where the
fighting today Is waging hereeis, ant
where the horsemen again are en-
gagged. When the Germans drove for
ward in their effort to get aroand the
forest to Compeigne, the horsemer
blocked the road between tine wooded
region and the River onrea.
In view OF this record for swift ant
dashing attack afoot, The cavalry ap
pears TO have established a new plac'
for itself In mo<iern warfare. The,
are the light reserves; the men VIII.
are always hurled first into the poin
OF danger to hold until the slow-mov
ing infantry arrives. They hav'
learned trewdh warfare completely
and General Foch Is making use %
! them In any move that insures ts~r
glorious chance when the day come
for the niles TO drive back all ssson
the line.