FOUGHT HIS WAY OUT.

Marlborough Express, Volume C, Issue 266, 16 November 1914, Page 2

FOUGHT HIS WAY OUT.

A GALLANT LIEUTENANT

Amongst the soldiers mentioned in one of General Joffre's order of the

day figures Lieutenant Verlin. The particular feat for which he has received honorable mention occurred during a fight in the valley of the Oise. Lieutenant Verlin was engaged in reconnaissance and wfib surrounded by the enemy. He managed,- however, to rejoin his regiment on- the morrow, having lost two sergeants and 87' men out of 50. One of the survivors of this adventure is now lying in hospital at a, Paris suburban railway station and gives some account of it.

The reconnaissance party was operating on tho right bank of the Oise. Its members were told that Uhlans had been seen in the. neighborhood, but there was no information about their number or the road they had followed. The 'lieutenant had decided to continue the reconnaissance when the enemy were sighted in considerable numbers. He ordered his men, therefore, to rejoin the regiment as rapidly and as secretly as povssible, but they were discovered. The section gained the wood under the fire o-r the- enemy, but without losing a single man. They were then deployed at great intervals, and took any shelter they could find. "When the enemy approached it was found to number six

or seven; thousand. The lieutenant encouraged, his men by going fronr one.:to tho other and ordered them? to husband their ammunition. If the enemy had.charged the woo<ltho little party would have been -annihilated,'- but;; it was evidently deceived by-ihe way in which the fir©7" was managed..;' ; Tb© tiny force keptits ground until midnight. At that moment only 13 were in a condition: to continue the fight. The lieutenant addressed his • men: —' ,'Mes enfants, we. must leave at any cost. Cease firo and get on the #oad. Perhaps we can get away in the dark, as the1 Germans will not dare to venture" into the wood." Before the retirement the Germans feared an ambush and hesitated to advanced In that way the little party got awaj;, and at' dawn reached their regiment, ■where the colonel embraced them.