CANADA'S DAY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15268, 3 May 1915, Page 8

CANADA'S DAY.

OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTrNG. STUBBORN DEFENCE AND DASHING ATTACK. GREAT FIGHT~7gAINST ODDS. LONDON, April 1. The London Press Bureau has published a record of the recent fighting compiled by an officer with the Canadian^

It states that four German divisions, supported by immensely superior heavy artillery attacked the Second and Third Canadian Brigades, which wero holding a front of five thousand yards from the Ypres-Roulers i-ailway to the Ypres-Poel-Capelle road. "When tho Zouaves retreated the Canadians, at a moment's notice, had to extend their line to nine thousand yards. Later on Thursday the First Canadian Brigade, which was in reserve, was hurried up and the Canadian Scottish Battalion, and the Tenth Battalion led the assault on the wood west of St. Julien, as cabled last week. They found that the Germans had blown up the four guns which they had captured during the evening of the 22nd. During the assault the fire of ma-chine-guns trained upon the Canadians was like a watering potThe situation was so critical at dawn that the commander decided that it was essential to counter-attack the German trenches two and a half miles ahead. General Mercer led tho First and Fourth Battalions, which were assisted by a British Brigade. Colonel Burchill, carrying a cane, coolly rajlied his men, who were wavering under a withering fire, and a moment later fell dead. The Fourth Battalion, of Canadians 6prang forward to avenge him, and an astonishing charge followed. It was pushed home in the face of direct frontal fire in broad daylight, and after a hand-to-hand straggle the last German was bayoneted and the trenches won. Meanwhile the Germans made several emissions or poisonous gas forcing the Montreal Highlanders to abandon their trenches. They rallied, however, and reoccupied them. German onslaughts finally forced the Third Brigade to retiro on the left flank upon St. Julien wood. ;.- Captain McCraig, of the Montreal Highlanders, was seriously wounded: in a trench. Ho might have been carried to safety but refused, and continued to command his men. When orders were received to withdraw, tho men wished to take him, but Captain McCraig resolutely refu&ed to bnrden them. He was left in the abandoned trench with three loaded Colt revolvers, waiting, racked with pain, to sell his life as dearly as possible. Seven British battalions reinforced the Canadians on Friday afternoon, but the Germane increased their artillery firo and had an overwhelming superiority in numbers. Stubbornly contesting every yard, the Third Brigade abandoned St. Jnlien. It was impossible, without hazarding a force, to disentangle two or three hundred Montreal Highlanders and men of the Royal Montreal Regiment in St. Julien. Their rifle firo was heard for hours after the rest, of the Canadians had left. If the Montreal men died they died worthy of Canada. ! Meanwhile the retirement of the ' Third Brigade left Brigadier-General i Curry's Second Brigade in the air. General Curry flung his left flank southwards as the Third Brigade had done. When expelled from their trenches by the emission of gas, General Curry oounter-attacked and retook the trencbe* a+ tho bayonet's point. This force £id not leave the trenches until the German artillery had obliterated them. General Alderaon on Sunday, commanding British, reinforcements, took up the attack. As the Britishers passed the Canadians' line they paused and gave deep-throated cheers for Canada. The German attacks were pressed co fiercely on Monday that General Alderson asked General Curry if-his shrunken Brigade was able to return to the firing line. He replied that the men were tired 'but were ready and glad to rpturn. The Brigade, though reduced to a quarter of its original strength, returned to the hottest section of the fight and held their position through Monday, and only retired from the fight on Wednesday.