VERDUN DEFENCE.
PETALN'S EXORDIUM
AFTER GENERAL ATTACK FAILS
PARIS, April 16. General Petain, after the action oa April 9, issued the following order:— " This has been a day of glory to our arms, Our infantry, artillery, engineers. and aviators rivalle'd each other in heroism, everywhere breaking the furious assaults of the Crown Prince's soldiers. Doubtless they will attack us, and therefore we must work and watch to again achieve the samo success. Courage; we shall bo at them."
THE FAMOUS 75'S,
THE MAN BEHIND THE GUN-
LIEUTENANT'S HEROISM,
PARIS, April 17. A lieutenant in the famous African Corps has been awarded the Legion of Honor War Cross for a wonderful feat at Verdun. A battery of seventy-fives was stationed on a crest flanking Douaumont. An Austrian battery during a blizzard found the exact range, and at daybreak rained shells_ of 150 calibro for half an hour, wounding the captain and putting most of the guns out of action.
Tho lieutenant in desperation pushed tho rest of the guns into a crater,and recommenced firing, himself serving one. By 8 o'clock there were only four gunners left, and by 9 o'clock two. Half an hour later tho lieutenant was alone. He watched the Germans preparing to storm the crest with the bayonet. Jle waited until they were only 400 yds distant, and then he worked tho gun at top speed. The shells tore the German masses, ploughing furrows through whole ranks. The Germans wavered, and then fled in disorder, never believing that they had to face only one man.
Tho lieutenant then spiked two of tho guns, and harnessed three mules to a couple of cannon that were almost intact, and brought them to the main position with'his wounded captain.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 16092, 18 April 1916, Page 3
Word Count
288VERDUN DEFENCE. Evening Star, Issue 16092, 18 April 1916, Page 3
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