FRENCH DRAGOON'S FEAT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 February 1915, Page 1

FRENCH DRAGOON'S FEAT.

♦ GERMAN AEROPLANES DESTROYED. A French official note tells a thrilling story of how a squadron of French- Dragoons isolated in a farm in" the middle of the German lines destroyed, on the night of September 9. a park of German aeroplanes anil a fleet of motor cars between Soisßons and Compeigne. The, lieutenant in. command Qt* the Dragoons, on being told about the park, decided at half-past 2 in the morning on an immediate attack. Two t.oops of cavalry approached the Germans on foot, <irid at a distance of 40 metres opened fire, while a third troop on horseback charged at a gallop. The horse men wc.v annihilated by a machine gur. placed at the head of tire convoy of cars, but the two troops- on foot dashed to the assault and killed the German machine gun crew. A fierce fusillade ensued, the Germans, bravely returning the French tire. Meanwhile the pioneers of the two troops destroyed the aeroplanes, smashing the motors, and oil tanks with pickaxes. Tlrree waggons ■containing petrol were set on fire, ar.d lit up the scene with a lurid glare. The central car, which appeared to contain the «nior German officer, still remained untouched However, the lieuterant and three inen cTawled towards it, and rising tc their they came face to

face with two Germans, one of whom was an officer. The latter fired his Browning pistol point-blank, killins the three men and wounding the lieutenant in the arm" The French officer fired back and killed his adversary. The other German knocked down the lieutenant »rith the butt end of his rifle, but the gallant officer succeeded in crawling away, and eventuallv escaped Only ten Frenchmen -came back of the three troops engaged. They lay hidden 1 for three days in a village among the German lines. They were finally released onbeptember 13, by the entry' of a victorious division of French infantry.