GRIM STORY TOLD BY FRENCH SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 7

GRIM STORY TOLD BY FRENCH SOLDIERS.

WHOLE GERMAN COMPANY DEAD IN A WOOD. HACKING A WAY THROUGH A MASS OF CORPSES. (Received March 3, 11 p.m.) . London, March 2. The Paris, newspaper Le Petit Journal publishes the following narrative:— Three French soldiers had completed the laying of a mine at Boia de la Vauche. While returning they were buried by a , terrific explosion, and the roof of the gallery collapsed. ' For hours the men waited until their own mine exploded. Then with trowels and s their hands they began to dig a way out. Soon the narrow gallery ; began to drip with a warm liquid, which they discovered was blood. As they dug the rivulet of blood increased, and the soldiers, clawing frantically, struck a mass of human flesh. This was the first huge heap of German bodies, which rolled to the bottom of the crater after the French mine had been sprung, annihilating a whole German company. Through the mass of distorted corpses the men slowly hacked a way to freedom." . luii m .A previous message referred to the mining of a wood in the following terms:— French engineers mined the entire wood just before ft German division swarmed up. 'The French ran, feigning retreat, and'the Germans poured into the wood, yelling with savage triumph. When the French were clear the mines wcro exploded. A terrible boom, then great silence, ensued. The wood and the Germans were destroyed, and the French were hysterical with delight. .''' ''''■•■'■■'.'." '.;"? *-— ~;~ —r-—•-■./,,,' ■.; '•■.,;'<y r! -V .'<■