CAPTURE OF LAFFAUX MILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16656, 28 September 1917, Page 6

CAPTURE OF LAFFAUX MILL

CUIRASSIERS ON FOOT-

FIRST ACTION SINCE THE MARNE.

Cavalry on foot took a brilliant part in the recent attack and capture from the Germans of the Laffaux Mill, the key position of the famous Chemin des Dames, an American correspondent wrote recently. These French cavalrymen who had, during the retreat to the Marne in 1914, covered themselves with glory, while acting as a shield between the pursuing Germans and their own army, had been chafing with impatience to cross weapons onco more with the enemy. They had suffered some losses during the earlier engagements of the war, but, to all intents and purposes, the regiments remained intact. 'The military authorities considered for a long time' how best to employ the splendid fighting material composing these regiments, which were eating their heads off in comparative idleness behind tho lines for lack of opportunity to join in the conflict as cavalry. Eventually it was decided to form ,them into infantry. Officers and soldiers greeted the order with enthusiasm. The first to be transformed from horsemen into footmen wero the cuirassier regiments, and it was these dismounted cavaliers who gave such a pood account of themselves in the struggle for the Laffaux Mill, and its capture will form one of the most daring episodes recorded on their flag, which bore already the names of many historic battles fought by them in the last century. When the order to go "over tho top" was given at daybreak the improvised infantrymen leaped from the trenches with the dash of youth—for the majority of them were of the best military age, from 23 to 26—and , followed across the rising ground the barrage fire from the French artillery. The greater number of the men were natives of the districts invaded by the Germans, and their anxiety to get to grips with their enemies was great. They reached the plateau in their first dash, and then after taking breath they started forward again, their objective this time being two strong lines of trenches fortified by cement shelters here and there and with nests of machine-guns, which enfiladed the advance. The ''first line of trenches was carried without much trouble, but, in the centre of the attack, Laffaux Mill resisted, as did also several blockhouses bristling with machine-guns. The dismounted cavalrymen saw the futility of attacking these places from the front so non-; commissioned officers with parties of men filtered through between them until they were surrounded. Then a section of tankß was ordered tin to deal with tho points of resistance, which they did while the first wave of cuirassiers passed on to attack the next line. The second line was defended with the courage of despair by the German troops, and progress could be made by the cuirassiers only very 3low]y, every foot of ground having to be earned in individual combats with hand grenades and bayonets. After a fight lasting nearly six hours the cuirassiers occupied all their objectives, and the plateau.surrounding Laffaux Mill has since remained in French hands despite dozens of strong counter-attacks, in all of which the Germans have lost heavily.- The first advance of the cuirassiers over the plateau, when they captured over 500 prisoners and a large number of machine-guns, well reward"-" ll.p-v for their long period << i-m citify hehind the lines, and they are now quite consoled for what they thought at first was the" degradation of lining turned into infantry.