CHAMPAGNE BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16842, 28 April 1915, Page 12

CHAMPAGNE BATTLE.

SPLENDID TEMPER OF FRENCH,

HEROIC SPIRIT IN ACTION

A' correspondent of the American Associated Press, telegraphing trom Chalons on March 28, pays a warm tribute to tho French troops lately fight-

:ing hard in Champagne. Eleven thousand'German dead have been taken from the trenches won by the French during twenty days at fighting in tho Champagne country, ho says. The German losses in killed, prisoners and wounded is estimated by the French military authority as I 50.000. The Gorman wantage, they saw has been two to one compared with the French losses, bocauso the Germans would try to regain lost . ground by counter-attacks repeated 1 again and again with obstinate courage. It was in these counter assaults, supported by relatively '"adequate artillery and what the. French officers assert was inadequate morale, against the Allied troops, that so many German soldiers have fallen. Tho giaves in which they are buried by fifties and by hundreds are thick upon a narrow front of some, fifteen miles. 1 For nearlv a month now .the French, their officers declare, by tho superiority of their artillery of both large and small calibre and by a certain irresistible spirit, havo day by day gained ground, sometimes a few hundred yards of trenches; on other days a. milo of frontage and from three to five hundred yard*, deep. The Gormans are bringing up new contingents steadily. They have had in action on this segment of the fights ing lines during March five army corps, or about, 200,000 men. Yet, on the ovening of every day tho French officers assert that tho French havo hold' somewhat more of the field than they did tlio evening before. The Associated Press correspondent has been over the ground and found that this is what has taken place: The French artillery, numerous and concentrated, at times subdues the German guns and tears up parts of tho German trenchos by sustained' shell fire. Then, at a moment signalled by telephone, the guns cease ajid the men in the trenches, with reserves crowded into tho approaches, jump out and make a quick run for the trenches opposite. Then body to body fighting finishes tho attack.

Meantime a barrier of bursting shells behind the German front line prevents resorves from coming up. This is continued until the captured trenchos are put into condition to resist assaults. These assaults sometimes are successful, but the result from day to day apparently havo been gains for tho French.

FRENCH COURAGE

Tho correspondent has been ablo to see for himself tho ground' gained by the Fronch. and to compare tho positions occupied months ago with tnoso held to-day. The French commanders, who find tho courage and confidence of their troops mounting with each success, express the opinion that the Germans have been somewhat disheartened by feoling that Fronch attacks are successful and that their counter-attacks, delivered with admirable pluck, under the circumstances have been, useless. The French are employing such quantities of artillery, newly constructed and of heavy field calibre, that they are able to combine and concentrato their firo in a way not seen before in this war. Tho French officers nay their guns can dominate the adversary's positions at any time or place. Durbig the twenty days' advance inthe Champagne region the French have used a million and one-half projectiles against places occupied by the Germans. All along this front one heard narratives of deeds of individual soldiers and of officers. There was the incident of Vandal, a master gunner. He was badly wounded at the same time as one oMiis fellow-gunners, Jacques. To a comrade who was trying to bandage his wound Vandal said: 'Tfeel that I am dying. Save Jacques." Then to a lieutenant who was arranging to have" him taken to the.rear, while an enemy aeroplane flow overhead. Vandal said:'

"Do not trouble about me. Do not let them see the battery. Vivo! -Vivo la Franco!" The next moment Vandal was dead.

Private Galeski, who was tho talk of his company on March' 7 "and 8. because or his audacity and coolness in the storming of trenches, fell on March 9 in, an assault upon- Fortin Hill. When picked ui> Galeski asked: " Did you carry the Fortin Hill?" "Yes, we took it," wj* the reply, and Galeski smiled and died on the stretcher. "ON! OX! YOUR DUTY!"

Lieutenant Ecorcheville fell mortally wounded in the head near a German trench, but- continued to call out strongly to his mpn :"On 1 On! Your duty; your duty!" • ' . ■.. Lieutenant , Hersal j.'de.. ,la. Villeniarque : was fatally , wounded in ( a , trench,,under 'a violent; enfilading chine, gun fire. He shouted to the chief oF his battalion:. "Good-bye, J am dying. I,t is for France 1" General Joffre,. the French Com-mander-in-Chief, has reviewed by brigade and by division .the.troops taking part in tho Champagne fighting. One of the parades—that of a division—was upon a stretch of fields At a crossroad called Noirlieu, or Blaok Spot. Fifteen thousand men, infantry, artillery ami cavalryj who have been dismounted to fight in the trenches, were assembled there. Standing in front of each solidly massed battalion were the one or two or three men who wore to be decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honour, or the more precious Military Medal, which many a general may not gain. The only spectators were tho military attaches with tho French Army and fiv-e orriliansj JOFFRE GIVES DECORATIONS.

Sixty-four buglers sounded tho salute and General Joifre came upon the field. He had a word or two with the commanding General. Then ho walked along the lines and shook hands with each of the thirty men to bo decorated and pinned the oross or medal upon his breast. r , - » 1 One of tho men, Mathicu Jony, had Ikwi a sentinel at the entrance of a cut leading to tho main lino of trenchas.. He fired upon Germans creeping up to a surprise attack and killed six of them, but was wounded in the arm by a bayonet thrust of tho seventh German, whom bo killed, and was slashed on the head by the sabre of a German officer, wham he also killed. Jony then retreated and let his comrades, who had been aroused bv the shots, repel the attack. He won the Military Medal.. Georges Bastard wa» twioe wounded during a night charge, but sang the "Marseillaise" to encourage his comrades, his clear tenor voice rising above the sliota and the clanging of arms. KISSES A BRAVE YOUTH. General Joffre, after attaching the Military Medal to the breast of a youth.'a private soldier whose name was not ascertained, put his arms around him and kissed him on both ! cheeks and then passed' on. Iha boy I "remained strictly at "attention," but tears were slowly falling from his eyes when the touching ceremony ended. Later the Associated Press correspondent was presented to General i Joffre. ,'*,,, -j ►- "You seo how. *h« racn look," sam

the General, " after months of hard fighting, and in what fi.no condition they are, though just from the trenches. Well, it would be the same after three weeks, or three months, or three years, until there is'a definite result." TROOPS LOOK HARDY.

Tho men did look hardy and unfatigued. They wore bright-eyed and in a pleasant Inimour. They passed in review at a swinging stfep. Their uniform.*, stained and worn by service, seemed clean, oven smart looking, by the manner of tho men who carried them. The- men looked strong with purpose—so different under the. sombre nicies with the heavy guns sounding remotely, from the brilliant summer parades of Vincennes or l^ongchamps. Going on thrco logs behind one of tho battalions was a collie dog, wounded in ono leg. Me had been in every charge and a keen sentinol on night duty. ThO( review finished with two regiments of cavalry passing at full gallop before General Joffre, thirty trumpeters sounding the charge and the General standing at salute. General joffre himself seemed in perfect health. lie was very tre.nquil in bearing and smiled pleasantly in conversation. Tho men in tho army are beginning to look upon him as the most eminent soldier France has had since Napoleon. Qualities most frequently attributed to him along the front are his will and judgment.