AFTER DINANT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 177, 1 September 1914, Page 5

AFTER DINANT.

I THRILLING TALE OF RETREAT. | GHUMANS BECKLESS OF LIPB. I . ! LONDON, August 31. J The "Daily Chronicle's":. Amiens j correspondent says, that after the-battle [at Dinant, r the. Second ami, Seventh , French Army Corps, heavily, outnumbered, retreated slowly, awaiting reinforcements, French artillery, perched on wooded heights-above the Meuse, swept the German lines, and French in-v fantry, entrenched ou the right bank, ' supported by. field and machine guns, held tenaciously to each position. The Germans were utterly reckless of life," particularly when fighting for the possession of the bridges, * of which the French .destroyed thirty-three as they retreated in the Mouse Valley. - --' Twenty thousand German infantrymen at Bar'yille engaged five thousand 7 French with quick-firers. The French held off the enemy for twelve hours and inflicted heavy punishment, while suffering comparatively slightly them- | selves. " So the Germans fought their way down the Meusc to Mezlei'es. and j divided their forces at Gharlcville, by I the Mouse. Near by is the gap which lied to Sedan in 1870. This time the ! French were determined to possess the heights, and took up magnificent' positions commanding CharlevillcV three bridges. Mitrailleuses we're hidden in abandoned houses, and/ ninety-five.'"field guns' captured, from the .Germans in the fighting in the M,euse Valley-were also put in a good position." The Ger- ~ man outposts were allowed to cross the bridgps into apparently deserted Charleville. Then three bridges were blown up and'their retreat cut off. The mitrailleuses in the houses slaughtered the Uhlans. The latter had a few quickfirers, with which they fought to the ,last. ; . : When the main bodj, of*-the Germans came into the valley the French' artil- —, lery on the heights raked them. The * Germans with grim coolness built pontoon bridges until their shells forced the French. gunners to retreat. The . Allies arc now in si-, crescent line x from Abbeville, near the mouth of the Somme, " round to the south of Amiens.'.