Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1915 — IN DASHING CHARGE [ARTICLE]

IN DASHING CHARGE

Chasseurs d’Afrique Like Irresistible Torrent. French Colored Soldiers Win Fame fn Attack by Which Superior Force of Germans Was Dislodged at Albert By PATRICK DE BATHE. (International New* Service.) Northern France. —I have Just obtained particulars of the magnificent charge of the chasseurs d’Afrique by which the allies retained possession of Albert. The Germans attacked Albert time and again with great ferocity. The busy industrial town was reduced to a mass of ruins by the bombardment. In order to dislodge the enemy it was found necessary to have recourse to a vigorous counter-attack. At the same time great masses of German cavalry were reported to be about five miles from Albert The French staff sent forward a regiment of chasseurs d’Afrique to meet this cavalry body, which proved to be the Prussian dragoons of the guard. The Prussians were threatening the French line of communication with Aveluy.

The gallant chasseurs, mounted upon their little Arab—steeds, advanced along the road to Becordel. From this point I quote from the words of a chasseur of the party, now In the hospital; “We all felt as calm as possible, and were eager to measure our strength against the dragoons of the imperial guard. At a mile or two from Las Basselle we made a halt. “The colonel turned In his saddle, looking at us all, and, rising In his stirrups, waved his B'Word as he shouted in a voice of thuiSrer; “ ‘Escadrons, garde a vous, pour charger, sabre main, au trot —au galop —marche!’ - “The bugles sounded the charge, and all the officers repeated the words of command.

“The spirit of all the men was splendid. We all felt this was a supreme moment. Off we went. “Rapidly 4,he distance, between us and the foe was diminished; it was not long before we came in sight of the enemy’s lines. It was a solid, compact line, apparently motionless, but which, nevertheless, was advancing towards us at a walk, as they felt certain of victory against our onrushing torrent.

“We got close together and had our horses well in hand. A great cry went up: ‘Charge! Charge!’ “From every throat came the word, from us all frantic hurrahs were shouted as we bore down upon the enemy. Indescribable cries, the clashing of steel upon steel, the squealing of horses followed. Then began the lust of slaughter and the groaning of the wounded.

“The dragoons of the guard fell around us, leaving many a riderless horse, which tore here, there and everywhere, adding to the confusion and panic among the enemy. Like an avalanche we broke through right to the rear of the German lines, the imperial dragoons crumpled up before us. Most of them galloped off, the rest lay upon the ground, dead and wounded. “Suddenly a rattle is heard; It Is the machine guns of the enemy opening fire upon us, and ■ the German artillery is aeen coming into action. We immediately broke out into open order, changing our front, and at the same tithe we heard the reply from our own artillery beginning, while to our left and right our infantry attack was developing so rapidly that the German artillery, fearing to be outflanked, retired upon Guillemont. “Since that day Albert has no logger been bombarded, and when our ‘piou pious’ pass by La Basselle they say with enthusiasm: ‘“lt’s just here we ate up the dragoons of the imperial guard.’ ’’