HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 2

HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE

ADVENTURE OF A NIGHT PATROL. A correspondent of Reuter, ' writing from the head quarters of the British a.rmy in Flanders, records the following adventure of a night patrol : — "Five men, including a. former Oxford professor, set out shortly before midnight to explore a certain hedge running across a 1 field, close to the German trench ; the hedge, it was thought, might conceal machine guns or defensive works. Making their way with the utmost caution aoross the rough ground separating the two trenches, expecting their presence to be revealed at any moment by a flare from the enemy's trench, the little band at last reached the hedge. Suddenly a cough was heard from the other side, and the five immediately flung themselves flat upon the ground and waited. "Another cough came in a, few minutes, and then a German head was poked through the twigs. Without a moment's hesitation the officer with the party shot the man dead on the spot with his revolver, and then, regardless of the numbers of the enemy that might be lying behind the shelter of the hedge, charged through it, followed by his four privates. Six Germans were discovered. Three were shot without trouble, while tho other three surrendered. "| "One, while being taken back to our lines, treacherously attempted to snatch the revolver from the hands of the officer. The latter^ however, managed to foil him, and, pushing his weapon into the German's chest, he pulled the trigger. The magazine had unfortunately been emptied in the_ original melee, and only a harmless click resulted. 'A desperate struggle ensued, the two wrestling and tumbling together in the darkness. Finally the officer succeeded in getting the better of his adversary, and knocked him senseless with the butt end of his revolver. By this time, of course, the enemy hod become aware of the struggle going on, and turned on a machine gun in the direction of tho noise, regardless as to whether they hit their own men or not. In the faco of the fire the officer had to leave his captive, and crawled back to his own trench."