DROVE BOYS TO THE ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume xciv, Issue 73, 24 September 1917, Page 8

DROVE BOYS TO THE ATTACK

GERMAN OFFICERS KEPT IN' THE REAR.

A despatch from the; French battlefront in France last month stated:— Several furious efforts to pust the French, 'from their observatories on the Chemin-des-Dames, in the Aisne region, were launched by the Germans at dawn on 10th August. They all proved abortive and resulted in Ithe attackers suffering enormous losses, especially in the vicinity of Pantheon and Chevregny, where the enemy encountered th« faraous chasseurs. A few German shock units succeeded in momentarily obtaining a footing in a front French trench, but their temerity was exjtremely costly, for none of them got away again, those not killed being captured.. The assault on this portion of the position was of the most violent character, i but the tenacity of .the chasseurs was greater than the determination of the Germans, who were simply mowed down as wave succeeded wave. The French a-rtillery worked with astonishing . precision in putting a wall of fire in front of the advancing Germans. ■ Three battalions of the 201 st East Prussian Rsgknenit bore the brunt of the attack. They were supported by the 202 nd and 203 rd Regiments. Severe artillery preparation lasted eight hours. At i.15 ,a.m. German infantry, each company preceded by a specially trained shock unit, advanced Ito assault with the object of regaining the trench, 1500 yards in length, which the same division had lost on 30th July. The men had been told they would not be relieved until the trench again was in German hands. Nearly all the German officers remained behind, the itroops being led by sergeants and sub-lieutenants. The first rush gave the Germans a slight, success in partly occupying the objective, but a rapid counter-attack thrust them, back, n.nd they left behind them heaps of bodies and seventy-three prisoners, without exception boys of 1$ and 19.