FIGHT IN DRAGON'S CAVE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 46, 23 August 1917, Page 11

FIGHT IN DRAGON'S CAVE

CHAPLAIN AND HIS CRUCIFIX

A French ■military chaplain figured prominently with the French troops in a. brilliantly successful * attack on the Dragon's Gave on the Ohemin dcs Dames, iii the neighbourhood of Hurtebise. While advancing with a stretcher-beaa'er detachment, the chaplain was confronted, by tho fearsome figure of a German Officer whose clothing was aflame. The chaplain Taised a crucifix and offered religious, comfort to the' burning man, who pointed to the rear, where another German officer was creeping out of a hole.

The chaplain, still holding the crucifix aloft, advanced shouting to the Germans to surrender. The officer replied: "We are ready, but will ,surrender only to an officer.*' A French officer approached 1 and entered the cavern, where 150 Germans, including three officers, laid down their arms.

When the French attacked the position was peculiar. The southern entrance of th 6 en6rmous cavern between Grotto Farm and the monument commemorative; of a Napoleonic victory in 1814 was held by the French. The northern entrance was held by the Germans. The cavern was 50Oft long and 300 ft broad. Across it the Germans had built a brick wall. Above, on the ridge, the French and German trenches were separated by only * few yards. The French objective was to drive the Germans from the cavern and gain the observation points on the Ourface.

The German trenches were won in a, flank attack. While the southern entrance was filled with gae, which penetrated to the German section, the northern exit was shelled and showered with machinegun bullets. The operation succeeded beyond all expectations, and resulted in the capture of 317 prisoners, including a! number of officers. The prisoners came in batches with hands held high in the air, and shouting: "The war is over!" The entire French casualties during the operation were fewer than the number of German prisoners talcen.