Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1914 — Page 3

STORIES OF INDIVIDUAL HEROISM DISPLAYED ON FIELD OF BATTLE

Germans Drop on Enemy as Though From Sky—Artillery Works Awful Havoc, But Rifle Fire Not so Good—Wounded Private Tells of Heroic Work of the “Dirty Shirts”— Bombs Success in War.

By LAWRENCE ELSTON.

London. —A guardsman who was wounded near Compiegne has given a vivid account of the fighting there and of the capture of ten German guns by the British troops. "We were in a field,” he said, “when the Germans dropped on us all of as sudden as though from the sky. The first hint we had ot their -presence was when a battery of guns on the right sang out, dropping shells into a mob of us who were waiting for' our turn at the wash tub—the _rtaer. There was no panic as far as I saw, only some of our fellows who hadn’t had’ a wash for a long time said strong things about the Germans for spoiling the best chance we had had for four days. We all ran to our posts in response to bugles which rang out all along the line, and by the time we all stood to arms the German cavalry came into view in great strength all along the -left front. “As soon as they came within range ’we poured a deadly volley Into them, emptying saddles right and left, and they scattered In all directions. Meanwhile their artillery kept working up closer 6n the front and the right, and a dark cloud of Infantry showed out against the skyline on our front, advancing in a formation rather loose for the Germans. We opened on them, and they made a fine target for our rifle fire, which was very well supported by our artillery. The fire from our guns was very effective, the range being found with' ease, and we could see the shells dropping right Into the enemy’s ranks. Race for a Hill. "Here and there their lines began to waver and give way, and finally they disappeared. Half an hour later more Infantry appeared on our right front, but we could not say whether It was the another body. This time they Were well supported by artillery, machine guns and strong forces of cavalry on both flanks. AU came on at a smart pace, with the apparent plan of seizing a hill on our right. At the same moment our cavalry came Into view, and ’ then the whole Guards brigade advanced. It was really a race between the two parties to reach the hill first, but-the Germans won easily, owing to their being nearer by half a mile. “As soon as their guns and Infantry had taken up a-posltion, the cavalry came along In a huge mass with- the intention of riding down the Irish Guards, who were nearest to them. When the shock came it seemed terrific to us tn the distance, for the Irishmen did not recoil in the least, but Jung themselves right across the path of the German horsemen. "We could hear the crack of the rifles and see the German horses Impaled on the bayonets of the front ranks of the guardsmen. Then the whole force of -Infantry and cavalry were mixed up In one confused heap, like so many pieces from a jig-saw puzzle. Shells from the British and German batteries kept dropping close to the tangled mass of fighting men,, and then we saw the German horsemen get clear and take to flight as fast as their horses would carry them. Some had no horses and they were bayoneted where they stood. Ten Guns Captured. "While this was going on there was a confused movement among the German Infantry, as though they were going to the assistance of the cavalry, but evidently they did not like the look of things, for they stayed where they were. After this little interruption the whole of the Guards continued their advance, the Coldstreamers leading this time, with the Scots in reserve and the Irish in support "Taking advantage of the fight between the cavalry and Infantry, the German artillery had advanced to a new position, from which they kept up a deadly fire from 12 guns. Our Infantry and cavalry advanced simultaneously against this new position, which they carried together In the face of a galling fire.. In the excitement the enemy managed to get away two of their guns, but the remainder fell into our hands. The Infantry and cavalry supporting the guns didn’t wait for the onslaught of our men, but bolted, pursued by our cavalry and galled by a heavy fire from our Infantry and artillery, which quickly found the range. "We heard later that the Germans were in very great force, and had attacked in the hope of driving us back and so uncovering the French- left, but they got more than they bargained for. Their losses were terrible In what little of the fight we saw, and when our men captured the guns there was hardly a German left alive or unwounded. Altogether the fight lasted about seven hours, and when It was over our cavalry scouts reported that the enemy were in retreat” Argyfla Are Hard Hit A private in i* Highland regiment, who was wounded at Mons, in the course of a letter to his parents In Musselburgh says: “The poor Argylls got pretty well hit but never wavered a yard for all their losses. The Boots Greys are de

ing great work at the front, in fact they were the means of putting 10,000 Germans to their fate on Sunday morning. I will never forget that day, as our regiment left a town on the French frontier on Saturday morning at three o’clock and marched till 3 a. m. on Sunday Into a Belgian town. I was about to have an hour In bed, at least a lie down In a shop, when I was wakened to go on guard at the general’s headquarters, and while I was on guard a captain of the crack French cayalry came In with the official report~of the 10,000 Germans killed. "The Scots Greys early that morning had decoyed the Germans right In front of the machine guns of the French, and they just mowed them down. There was no escape Tor them, poor devils; but they deserved it, the way they go on. You would be sorry for the poor Belgian women having to leave their homes with youpg children dinging to them.” Bombs Are a Success. Bombardier A E. Smith, who was wounded by a bomb dropped from a German aeroplane. In a letter to a friend In Edinburgh, says: "Those bombs have proved a great success in the war, as they find the enemy’s range very accurately. The bomb, when dropped, leaves a thick, black, smoky line to enable the gunners to take the exact range; We were In a good position, but suffered loss. The enemy could not find us until the aeroplane came on the scene. Then we had It rather hot. The gunners had to leave the guns, but later saved them all after being .re-en-forced by other guns. "The Germans have a funny way In fighting. Their Infantry, when advancing, fire from the hip and come on in masses, splendid targets for our guns. As soon as one lot gets mowed down the gaps are filled up with fresh men. They are In terrible numbers—about ten to one In some places. Nearly all the men’s wounds are from shrapnel, and heal wonderfully. Men almost cripples a day or two ago are going on splendidly since being treated here.” "Like Blue Murder.” A wounded private of the Royal Munster Fusiliers'(the "Dirty Shirts”) tells the following story: "For some reason or other we were left In the lurch, and had to bear the brunt of the whole German attack, while the rest of the brigade Tell back.

“They came at us from all points —horse, foot, artillery and all —and the air was thick with screaming, shouting men waving swords and blazing away at us like blue murder. Our lads stood up to them without the least taste of fear, and when their cavalry came down on us we received them with fixed bayonets In front, the rear flanks firing away as steadily as you please. All round *us we saw them collecting until there was hardly a hole fit for a wee mouse to get through, and then It wks that the hardest fight of all took place, for we wouldn’t surrender, - and tried our hardest -to cut through the stone wall of the Germans. “It was hell’s own work, but I can say that we never hoisted the white flag, and if the battalion was wiped out, as they say, it fought to the last gasp. The spirit of our lads was that grand that you couldn’t help being proud of them, and they accounted for a lot of the Germans. First of all, I got a wee taste of a punch In the ribs with a sword, and then I got a bullet In me, but when I was able to see what was going on the men were cutting their way through the Germans. I was floored for I can’t tell you how long, but when I got back my senses the Germans were gone, leaving only heaps on heaps of the dying and the dead, our hoys and the

IN THE TRENCHES NEAR SOISSONS

French soldier In the trenches near Solsaons going to the help of • com rode who has just been shot

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Germans being mixed up like anything. “Some of our boys who geKaway .told me that the 'Dirty Shira’ had been almost cleaned up by the Germans, but made the Germans pay dearly for thinking they could cut off an Irish regiment without having to fight" Admires German Artillery. Private Charles Dudley Moore of the Yorkshire light Infantry, who was at Mons and is now at Lynn, had the misfortune to be wounded half an hour after he went into action. "The shrapnel shells of the Germans were bursting over the trenches where we were lying, and I was struck In the foot with a piece of shell which took the sole of my shoe clean off. Five minutes later, when I was trying to help a fellow near me who had been hit In the shoulder, I was struck in the right thigh by a pellet from a shrapnel shell. I fired one more shot after that- I fired at the driver of a German machine gun and kit him. This was my first experience of actual fighting, and I can tell you it is a funny sensation at first to see the shells bursting near and around you, to hear the bullets whistling by you, and to see men being killed and wounded near you, but you soon get used to It all. It tries your serves a bit at first, but you soon get in the way of It. “I have tjie greatest admiration for the German artillery, but their infantry is absolutely useless. They fire from the hip and take no aim at all. The Germans are also badly_fed. At the hospital at Amiens I saw a wounded German officer who tolcTme he .and the others had been living on anything they could lay hold of, and that they had even eaten, grass." Do Not Like Bayonets.

Private J. R. Tait of the Second Essex regiment, who was wounded at Mons, also speaks with respect of the German artillery. Writing home, he says, In a description of the fighting: “We had several charges with their Infantry. We find they do not like the bayonets. Their rifle shooting Is rotten; J don’t believe they could hit a haystack at 100 yards. Their field artillery Is good, and we don’t like their shrapnel. I heard ourinen singing that- famous song, ‘Get Out ‘and Get Under,’ and know that for an hour In our trench it would make any one keep under, what with shells and machine guns. I have been in three battles in four days.” The following Is an extract from a letter written by Otho Bromfield of the signal section (Territorials), Royal Engineers: "I’m doing and going as Pm told, not worrying, but taking things as they come. I’ve slept in barns, wool sto-es, cinemas, casinos, dock sheds, and for a bit had the stars as a counterpane. The lighting has been very fierce and close; as one pal said: ‘Oh, ain’t it ’otl’ We are outnumbered sometimes 10,000 to 2,000-, but our boys stick to them, and have played havoc with their ‘mass formations.’ The Maxims have cut them down like corn, and when we charged with fixed bayonets, see ’em run. They will get no quarter from our ‘mob.’ Their dead were so thick that their re-enforce-ments couldn’t advance over the top. Of course, we lost, too.” Fred Wilson of the Fifth Royal Lancers, who was wounded at Mons and reached Leeds invalided, says he has seen the Germans bayonet our wounded as they came across the .field, and force women and children in front of them as they passed our guns. He reckons nothing of the fighting powers of the Germans. They were fairly peppered ,ln five charges, and when their cavalry saw us coming they whined like dogs. Our blood was up after witnessing their terrible atrocities.’”’ The British soldiers, he adds, sing and jest while bullets are flying thick and fast.

Joy Kills Him.

Copenhagen.—Joseph Felneslcs, slx-ty-four, general director of the Vienna museum art industry, died at Reinchenhall from overjoy on hearing of a German victory in the Vosges.

For Reims Monument.

Petrograd.—The Novoe Vremya is raising funds for the erection at Reims of a monument In remembrance of the cathedral bombardment

DEVELOPING LE GORE AS A DROP KICKER

Harry Le Gore, Yale Fullback, Find of Year.

Harry Le Gore, the fullback, Is the find of the far this season at Yale field.. He has been showing up well in practice and done excellent work in the games so far, and now he is showing conclusively that Pumpelly and Gurnsey will have to show much more than they have so far been able in order to get the position away from him. Le Gore is an excellent punter and combines accuracy with distance in his punting. His punts are not as

GOSSIP AMONG SPORTS

George Stallings, manager of the Braves, is now called “The Miracle Man” over the National league circuit. • « * Indians having adopted Yale’e style of football, we expect Connie Mack to, use Joe Birmingham’s system next season. • • • We hope that while the baseball powers are legislating the emery out of the ball they’ll rule against sandpaper necks. • •* * Manager Robinson of the Dodgers has a crack little third sacker In Getz. When they knock ’em to Getz, Getz gets ’em. .’ • • • When the New York Yankees beat Walter Johnson it was the first victory they had put over on him since early in 1912. • • • Nate Cartmell, the famous Pennsylvania runner, may attain fame in a new field as Olympian coach for the Australasians. • * • ■ Georges Carpentier, the French champion, now doing military duty in France, is driving an officer’s auto and is not in much danger. Winnipeg promoters are trying to arrange a match between > Freddie Welsh, the lightweight champion, and Pal Brown of Hibbing, Minn. Catcher Frank Hand, reqently. purchased by the Giants from the Perth Amboy club, had a batting mark of .313 In the Atlantic league this season. • • » Outfielder Tutwiler, who goes to the Red Sox from the Providence team, has had two previous trials In fast company as a member of the Detroit Tigers. • • • Why all this secrecy about football, practice? The popularity of the game and the size of the crowds could be Increased by letting the public in on some of the mysteries. • • * Larry Lejeune, who has been burning up the Western league in stick work th is season, and r ecen tl y sold to the Pirates, had a trial with the Superbas a few years ago. • • • Two baseball club owners have taken the stand that the newspapers cannot exist without baseball, which reminds ue of the small boy who wanted the trees cut down so they could not make wind storms. News note says that the U. S. G. A. is made up of 388 clubs, representing 500,000 players and has >15,000 In its treasury. In devising means of plastering the war tax on the sinful rich the senate committee must have overlooked this.

high as many of his predecessors* and they are harder to get down under. He is also good at kicking goals from placement, and Doctor Bull Is developing him as a drop kicker. ' But-it Is in forward passing that he is showing the greatest promise. This has been shown in the dally practice and in all of the games in which he has played. This Is his first year on the varsity squad. Last year he played on ‘ the freshman eleven.

TENNIS MATCH THIS WINTER

European War Prevents Return Gams Between Jay Gould and George Covey, English Champion. The war in which England Is now engaged is likely to make it impossible for Jay Gould to play a return match for the world’s court tennis title this winter, as he agreed to do when he won the open championship from George Covey, the English professional and champion, last March. As a consequence, this part of the agreement is virtually void and an effort will likely be made within the next month or so to arrange a match between Gould and the best American player to take place at Philadelphia. When Mr. Gould won last winter the duke of Manchester, who attended the match, announced that he was ready to match Punch Fairs, his own professional, and the man from whom Covey took his title, for a trial at the championship with Gould. The duke of

Jay Gould.

Manchester now is in New/Vork, and it is believed that he still ip anxious to match Fairs, but it is not probable that he would feel justified in taking such a step in case the war still is in progress. American professionals admit that Fairs is the only professional In the world capable of giving Gould a battle, and Baerleln, the winner of theBritish amateur championship, when he defeated Joshua Crane of Boston, Is probably the best amateur to pit against him. ' i

More Hope for Carl Morris.

“Billy” McCamey, who developed the late Luther McCarty, may assume the management of Carl Morris, the big engineer, who has been trying for several years to defend the heavyweight title. McCarney says Morris has developed wonderfully, having learned to protect himself while boxing, and McCarney thinks he win reach the top. ' i

BASEBALL GAINING IN FAVOR

Result of Games Figure In All SportJng Pages of ths Leading Papers In Three States. 1 - Reports from Australia indicate that baseball is growing steadily in popularity. The'game was greatly helped by the visit of the American professionals last year. Whereas ten years ago but two of the states of the commonwealth could boast teams, South Australia has joined New South Wales and Victoria is fostering the game. Baseball reports now figure in all the sporting pages of the Reading newspapers in three states, and what is of more moment schoolboy teams are playing, which Is a most hopeful sign. The game is played In Australia In the rainy season, and notwithstanding the air is often raw, the sky threatening and the diamond muddy, the contests scheduled among the clubs in the various divisions by means of which the players are ranked in skill, are carried out with enthusiasm. A feature, also, of the accounts of the games in the newspapers is the employment by the writers of American baseball slang. But it is rather curious to note that a shutout Is called a “Chicago, ,r which is a word practically obsolete here. As indicating the hold 'that the American natlbnal pastime is gaining upon the Australian .sporting world there was an interstate baseball carnival in Sydney from August 1 to 8, and New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia competed against each other in numerous games between boy nines and between adult nines throughout the week.

CUBANS PLAY SAFETY FIRST

Report* of Cobb’s Speed Induces Shortstop to Throw Homo Instead of i, . Getting Ty at Third. When the Detroit Tigers went to Havana, the Cuban ball players had heard so much of the wonderful speed of Ty Cobb that they really expected some supernatural being with legs like an antelope. They had been led to believe that it was impossible for a catcher to throw him out on a steal. So an , of signals was evolved to stop him. In the first game between Detroit and the Almarandes, Cobb got on first base and the Cubans were watching him with awe and suspense. Crawford hit a grounder and it would have been easy for the shortstop to have caught Cobb at third. Instead of that he shot the ball to the catcher, who held ft with a deathlike grip and finally plant-

Ty Cobb.

ed his foot on the home plate. Of course, Cobb stopped at third, but did not score. When the side was out, Cobb walked over to the man with the mask and pad and through an interpreter asked him why he did not throw the ball to third. "No, no,” replied the excited Cuban In Spanish. "I heard he was so fast we got a signal to stop him. When he Js on base, the fielder, no matter who he is, is instructed to throw the ball home, always. I get It and hold It. Cobb can make second and third, but cannot come home, for I am waiting for him with the ball. That Is what we call playing it safe.”

COLLEGES REACH AGREEMENT

Baseball Authorities of Yale, Harvard and Princeton Acquiesce on New Spring Schedule. Harvard, Yale and Princeton will play three games with each other In baseball next spring, according to a new agreement which has just been reached by the authorities of the three universities. Heretofore Princeton and Ykle, and' Harvard and Yale have played a best two out'of three games series, while the Harvard-Princeton supremacy has been decided by a single game. The championship of the three universities will be decided on a percentage basis under the new agreement tentative schedule has been drawn up as follows: May 22, Prince* ton vs. Harvard, at Cambridge; May 22, Princeton vs. Yalev at New Haven; June 5, Harvard vs. Princeton, at Princeton; June 12, Yale vs. Princeton, at New York; June 18, Harvard vs, Princeton at New York. The Har-vard-Yale series will be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday of, the following week.

Baker in Coin Business.

Frank Baker of the Athletics Is on® of the incorporators of a company formed in Philadelphia to deal ini coins, gold apd silver. Baker Is said, to be an expert on coins—world’s s®*| rles coin particularly.