FIRST BLOW TO RECOVER LOST FRENCH PROVINCES,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 7

FIRST BLOW TO RECOVER LOST FRENCH PROVINCES,

BAYONET CHARGE CARRIES BAY AT ALTKIRCH.

Germans' routed BY a single foot regiment. Paris, August 10.

An official report of the fighting at Altkirch states that at nightfall on Friday the French advance guard arrived at Altkirch, which was defended by strong earthworks and occupied by a German brigade.

The assault was mado with magnificent pluck. One infantry regiment, with.a furious charge, carried the entrenchments at the bayonet's point. The Germans fled, abandoning even the second line of works, which they might have held.

Other accounts state that the French, with fixed bayonets, dashed forward like madmen to the very mouths of the guns and shovelled tho Germans out of the trenches.

A French aeroplane was riddled with bullets. The aviator was wounded in the thigh, but he managed to reach Belfort.

Altkirch rang with shouts of joy when the French entered. Old men who had seen 18*0 embraced the French Dragoons, who followed the flying Germans towards Waltheam, Tagolsheim and Ulfurts, inflicting heavy loss.

The French losses were not excessive, considering the result.'

Mulhausen, which was not fortified, was occupied in less than an hour, the cavalry dashing through at full gallop pursuing the German rearguards, who set fire to many buildings, especially the provision shops and fodder stores.

The Germans are now at Ncubrcisach, which is permanently forti- ? fied, and which commands the Rhine Valley. The Ministry of War desires that the importance of the Mulhausen engagement shall not be exaggerated.

The fight was between advance guards, consisting of a division apiece.

It is significant that the Germans still fear the bayonet, as in the revolutionary wars.

General Joffro, French Commander-in-Chief, writing to the Minister for War a few days ago, said the men speak not of decimating the enemy with gun and rifle, but by fierce bayonet charges. They, dream of bayonet charges.