BATTLE STORIES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15460, 13 December 1915, Page 8

BATTLE STORIES.

GALLANT REGIMENTS AT LOOS AND LA BASSEE. EAGER SPIRIT OF THE MEN. (mm orr. own coeresf on-dent.) LONDON, October 29. Vivid stories of tho great British victory at Loos on September 2uth, are now beginning to appear. Reuter's Special Correspondent declares that all the regiments engaged played a gallant part. Tho Rifle Brigade, in accordance with their best traditions, did magnificently. Their actual assault was led by a strong force of bombers, closcly followed by tho remainder of the attacking party. So quickly did the men cover tho ground that they found tho enemy unprepared for them. Indeed, German prisoners who were captured by the Rifle Brigade, related that tho moment the British guns lifted off tMir first line trenches—that is, tho moment our infantry attacks began— they were ordered to stand to and man tho trench, in readiness to repel an attack. So quickly, liowover, were our men over their parapet that many of the enemy wero found minus their rifles or equipment. Thus the assault was a comnletc success, and tho bombers began at once to extend to tho right and left. By G a.m. tho socond line had been taken, and our guns began to register on the enemy's third line. The. second line eventually became untenable, and by ten o'clock the Riflo Brigade were strongly entrenchcd in tho enemy's finst line where the position was maintained, and another strong enemy attack repulsed with heavy losses to him.

The Berkshires did no les3 woll. Tbo attackers made short work of tho German defenders, though some trouble was experienced with a hidden machinegun. The, piece of line they assaulted was protected by a strony redoubt, named from its shape, "Tho Lozenge." This was stormed, atid was discovered to bo lined with very deep dug-outs. One biave deed was that of a private who, with bayonet advanced waited behind a traverse behind which a number of the enemy were collecting. As they advaucod a.nd turned the corner he bayoneted seven in turn, while another man stood behind him and threw bombs. The Berkshires held their position till ordered to fall back in accordance with the general scheme.

Tho Lincolns, who also took part in tho attack, had to carry a. strong point known as Bridoux fort. Here they took 80 prisoners, and a further large number of tho enemy was killed in tho fighting in the vicinity. Ono incident will suffice to show tho spirit of tho men. A company cook, a middle-aged man, whose place was not in tho firingline became so excited by the din of the fight that ho could not restrain his ardour, and, leaving his own work, rushed off to the German trench. Here he seized a rifle and sniped a number of tho enemy, greeting each successful shoi. with a muttered "There's another of the blighters." Before leaving tho enemy's lino a sergeant of tho Lin-

coins dashed back and removed tha S bolts from all the German rifles he' c-ould see lying about tho tronch. Tfrfr undoubtedly saved many casualties among our men, as they wore going . back across tho open. One incident may be quoted which ; needs no comment. One of the Lin- '■ coins was shot through the chest before he reached the enemy's parapet, and fell, it was thought, dead, on the 7; ground. Some time later tho commanding officer, who happened to, be • standing in tho German trench near - that spot, heardgroan, and, turning, V; say a figure, minus a tunic, climbing painfully over the parapet. Such was tuo man's indomitable. courage that, though sorely wounded, ho wanted to bo with his comrades and to join in tho •. fight. Ho actually managed to stumble over into the trench beforo tho officer could help him. Ho was immediately Eicked up by stretcher bearers. ana lirried away to the firnt-aid station. Nothing could be dbno for him, however. and he died soon after; , .

"Though our attack on tho German lines north of La Basseo-on September 25th did not attract tho attention commanded by tho moro extensive operations against Loos," writes Mr G. Valentino Williams, from British Htead-

quarters, on October 22nd, "it merits "j I consideration by reason of the superb ,1 gallantry displayed by the assaulting . ; ;j infantry as well as the important work J accomplished in holding the Germans v'J here and preventing them from insc reinforcements to tho Lens region. The attack delivered by British an<fifl Iddian battalions. against the Genßtf'M trenches in front of Nouvo Chapelt* :?|f puts us in soino places in possession oJ 'M the German first line- ■ and" four subse*. quent lines of trenches, as well as the reserve line. Tb" flanks .of * the advance. however, wore held up by C barbed, wire, and before desperate Ger- ;Sjl man bombing parties we were not able to hold what we had won,' and. there- , fore, fell back to our original line.'. 7*s The operations ; n this region began with the explosion of n mine, which 3 wrought havoc with the Gorman T trenches. Well placed and well timed. ' it went' off at darfn ■ with a noise 'as of -rushing water,' and immediately after- I wards the attackinc files scharablcdout J of the trenches. "Where tho wiro had been cut the troops got through without great difficulty, and in minutes a battalion of Indians through tho German first lino and port trenches, anrl had reached precincts of the Pietro mill, a turned by the into a strong*;.'^; hold, which was mainly responsible the check to our farther advance Neuve Chapello in March. , , \ "Tho Clack Watch was among the,-'' - attacking troops • This famous wjp- : . !s ment went over tho parapet with nipers nlaying at its head. One Black Watch said to meThe; sound of tho pipes dying away iti the distance as the lines of kilts vanished U| into tho smoke will remain for me i ; ||| lasting memory of a most gallantry fi«?ht.' As tho men. bombed their along the German trenches after first rush, two of the Black Watch pipers stood upright on the paranefcj;|:|| under a terrific fire and played . 'Myiftji Highland baddies.' the regimental Jvs[k charge of this Gallant corps. stood in a terrific storm of fire bombs bursting all round them, and flung their Highland battle air to/.ttfc'ygjg breeze until one • piper fell dead the other was wounded.. A Watch sergeant killed seven with tho bayonet single-handed, the men speak with deep regret of officer who was killed after prodigies of valour at the head of his platoons That most gallant British regiment the Leicesters. who are known from * % their bailees as 'The Tigers,' checked by uncut barbed wire, fought-"" J* with most, desperate courage. After. they had fallen back the Germans came; out of their trenches at- night robbed their dead and wounded. A sergeant of the Leicesters who was ly-

ing out wounded says he saw Germans bayoneting wounded men. Ho feigned to be dead, and the marauders con- <

tented themselves with cutting the wrist-watch from his arm. After the initial rush the fighting resolved itself * into individnn] encounters between parties of bombers which In "ted forth® ( v greater part of the day. Whep. however, it became clear that the advance we "had made in one part of the liW v could not be made good all along too attacking front, our men withdrew to their original line. We captured eig** German officers and 230 men." ».»?