GALLANT FIVE HUNDRED.

Northern Advocate, 26 November 1914, Page 2

GALLANT FIVE HUNDRED.

REMARKABLE EX PLOITS

A remarkable incident of the war | ■omes to light with the arrival at \'a•nur on August L' 2 of about 500 men; ■>f the Liege army, says the "Morning Post" special correspondent, at An- | . werp. They rehite that at the outbreak of the war their post was be- i tween tho forts of Ohaudfoutaine and d'Embourg. They belonged to the first battalion of the 34tn Regiment. On the Wednesday night of the first week of the war orders were given to the Held force to evacuate its position. The orders never reached this battalion, which did not retire, and found itself isolated amidst the German army, out with a strong fort on each flank The Germans were aware of thehjj presence, but seemed puzzled as to their actual strength, and contented ' themselves with reconnaissance attacks, which the batitalion bravely beat off. The Belgians entrenched themselves, md for eight days and nights after the retirement of the main field force J actually held the position. They slept in the trenches under arms, and were i'ed chiefly by peasauis, who brought them beer and cakes. They also had a few oxen and with beer and flour they made a kind of bread. Under these marvellous circumstances the five hundred kept • the field, repulsing constant German attacks. Heavy German artillery came up against the forts and shells showered upon the little camp, but the men had dug themselves in well. Finally, food becoming short, they decided to try to break through the German lines. They passed South along the valley of the Ourte, found the bridge at Tiff destroyed, searched out a ford, crossed, and took shelter in the little wood of Sart Tilman, on the western side of the river. They then turned towards Boncelle but that was going back to the lion's mouth, for Germans surrounded that fort. The adventurous company had imagined that only the eastern forts were attacked. Still courageous, they passed west, taking advantage of the friendly woods, and reached the village of St. Lambert, which was occupied by Germans, but not in force. Separating, the Belgian's managed to steal through the German patrols, and, reuniting, came to a decision to throw themselves into one of the Belgian forts if possible. They got near Loncin

Fort, but were unable to goi in, and found themselves again surrounded by masses of GerniHii iroops. A slight action followed, and some ten me a were wounded. The heroic bam! lick! a council of w,i ■, at which ' a proposal to surrender was rejected, ; and they decided to make another •jffoj't to break throughThe wounded were left behind in c.hargo of the Red Cross detachment, | and the batallion marched back towards the foi'ts oi' llcllogue and Dc Flemalle. It was necessary not only to fight against the Germans, but to beware oi attack from their own forts, which did not know of the presence of any Belgians in the iield. Fortune favoured the brave, and they reached in safety Seraing, in the direction of Huy, where they expected to find a friendly force. Instead, they encountered patrols of German cavalry, whom they fought and put to (light, taking some prisoners, who told them of the presence of a division of German cavalry near by. They avoided them and reached Huy last Saturday, at noon, after a forced forced nuirch of 16 hours, fighting twice on the way with German patrols. At Huy another disappointment awaited them, for the Belgian forces nad left, and the Germans were hourly dxpected by the railway stationmaster. Again these wonderful BeL gian railways managed to make up a train .quickly, which took them to N'amur, and thus, ended 20 days' fighting and marching.