Evening star., 1918-04-08

Ayette was taken wednesday say that
the casualties among the German ON
GERS and non -commissiond officers have
the offensive. The situation IL 20 bad
regarding non-commissioned officers that |
the higher command has been bringing
back into the line those previously comb
ed out because Of age or wounds.
German airman Just taken here has
proved most interesting. He was former
ly school master. He said that the
British had more and better airpianes
than the Germans and this accounts for
the fact that the British avfators did
far more work over the enemy lines than
the Germans did. He said the Germans
could not run the risk OF wasting ma
chimes In this sort Of warfare.
The soldier schoolmaster was convtnood
firmly that the war would end this year.
While he did not say 30 directly, he I'm
piled that he thought the Germans would
wear the allies out. for he declared the
Germans would keep on attacking.
Heroic Work Of Cavalry.
No finer chapter has been provided
from the story Of Britieh defense since
the German offensive began than that
furnished by the cavalry.
Never during the present war had
they had in this more or less open war.
fare and they made the most of il. They
had been here. there and everywhere,
filling In gaps. strengthening the lines and
covering the retirement of infantry. Their
work has been brilliant and they thor
oughly enjoyed every minute OF 1t, de-
spite tho grueling engagements.
The correspondent saw long lines Of
cavalry on the road yesterday. They
marks Of hard fighting. More than one
trooper led a riderless horse. But the
mems heads were up and their lances
described defiant circles. while the horses
n n fna aAxr
for moro trouble.
In the first three days Of the German
drive the cavalry fought mostly on foot
and annna aid valuable work: It ~ VS. nd, dis
Ham line on March while the infan-
try withdrew. There was terrific hght-
Ing here. One party of dragons was
cut on all night; during which they
lives. Finally they cut their way
through the German lines At Jussy by
main force.
On the 2sd the cavalry came into its
ward and the troopers began . series
OF spectacular feats.
Battle at Close Quarters.
When Noyon was nrst threatened
cavalry was sent to holdl the line Of
the Disc. west of the town. The British
infantry was forced to fall back on the
26th, and the cavalry waS pulled back
also. with the intention of occupying
the ridge near the village Of Porqueri-
court. in the vicinity Of the N6yon. The
A race developed between thS, horse
mon and the enemy infantry Naoross
the rolling ground. The Germans
reached the northern part Of the wood.
sid. Il about K. sane t,ne and 9sat
rushing through the forest against the
Germans. An intense battle IT close
quarters ensued, and the cavalry Nas
oams to fa BACK nsn IN sos order 10
cover the retirement of the infantry.
which had succumbed to pressure d
other points The troopers withdrew
from the wood and brought mp the
actions with the hotly pressing enemy.
The next big action was on March
80, when the Germans got into q wood
northwest Of Moreuil Word came from
must be cleared out The position was
nlled with enemy Infantry. who had
brought forward Efsat numbers Of ma
chine guns. which were mounted IN
trees.
Canadian Hofsemen Charge.
The cavalry vas called upon. n ~
sponded and came pounding mp to the
wood In . picturesque manner. Here
q part Of them dismounted and went In
on foot, but the Canadian horse tore
on into the forest and hurled them
selves on the enemy. AZ ons trooper
later put it. There was = hell OF .
Step by step the Germans gave way
before the onslaught until the western
part of the wood had been cleared be-
tween Moreuil and Demuin. The cav
airy held dit it until until ne. next m morning. when
On the 31st the Germans again at
tackled in force. and once more the
British infantry, although fighting gal
any pI back y the
ing weight Of the numbers opposed 70
them. During the afternoon the oav-
airy again. attacked here and drove
but tho enemy still chung to the high
ground and kept sending forward sup
porting infantry.
German Line Gives Way.
That night It was decided the cavalry
should attack again the next morning,
April !; They did and ne more splendid
than that presented whom they came
charging across the fisld ~ In the days
Of old and drove straight into the banks
Of hs ssst Guns cn:rss sc. Inc Sers sss
men q footing in the wood. They re-
and surged forward again. This
time they got to the center OF the
forest Once more they drove their
horses full tilt against the. German
line. The latter held for q little and
then sagged and broke and the British
stormed their way clear through to the
eastern side of the wood. the enemy
fleeing before them. Behind them the
ground was strewn with German dead
and wounded.
The enemy Immediately reorganised
for a counter attack and here the horse
gunners got in some hne work. An the
Germans massed in the open the artil-
Ierymen poured shell after shell into
their ranks, one battery alone firing
} 900 rounds at this magnificent target.
For an hour the German infantry was
marching under q hail of death. They
kept coming forward, but only . few
II them reached the wood. and the at
.ack was smashed easily BY the
troopers.
UP AMIENS.
TIT YC nECT