FOUGHT TO THE DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16538, 14 May 1917, Page 6

FOUGHT TO THE DEATH.

■■ • ■ «■ ■'■ AUSTRALIANS CUT OFF. CHARGE INTO MASS OF GERMANS. Commonwealth Copyright; FRANCE, April 30. During the German attack at Lagnicourt on April 15 there occurred an incident which will live as long as Australian history lasts. I have now seen , tho officer who actually saw the whole tiling happen. A smalJ party of West Australians was cut off early in the attack, but they managed to get a messenger through, stating that' they were bowling over the enemy liko ninepins, but needed ammunition. By the timo the message arrived it was impossible to get ammunition through the surrounding Germans. The post was visible a mile down the valley, sttil holding out, and watchers gazed on anxiously as more and more Germans debouched opposite it. All well knew that tho end must shortly come. After an hour and a-half of rifle-fire from the post, it suddenly seemed to cease. A line of men sprang to their feet and charged downhill into a mass of Germans. Bayonets were seen % working, and then tho mass swarmed round our men, who were lost to sight, Tho bodies of four or five of them, including an officer, have since been found.