THE BRAVE CANADIANS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 7

THE BRAVE CANADIANS

RESULT OF ADHERENCE TO DRILL-BOOK RULES Bj Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received July 13, 3.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. A Canadian eye-witness states; — After the Battle of Langemarck the Canadians rested until the fourteenth of May, and then moved to the southern section of the British line.The following is an example of the result of a citizen army keeping strictly to drill-book rules. The Canadian battalion arranged its artillery to open a heavy firj on a seotioh of a German trench, while the infantry made an ostentatious parade, fixing bayonets, and rigging trench ladders. The Germans promptly retired to the supporting trenches, leaving the storm of shells to rage in front, but ready to rush back when the fire stopped and meet the Canadian charge. The guns were duly lifted from the front trenches and shelled the supporting trendies, as the drill-book states, to prevent the Germans coming up. The Gormans, nevertheless, returned. BLAST OF FIRE ON THE FRONT TRENCHES. But the Canadians did not move. Instead, the artillery shortened the range and a blast of fire fell on the crowded, front trenches. Next day a Gorman wireless message announced that a desperate attack had been repulsed, but the. real fact was disclosed by a German who, entering the trenches for the night watch, cried out, peevishly: ■ -“Say, Sam Slick, no dirty tricks to-night 1” The Second Brigade attacked a fortified position called Bexhill on the twenty-first of May and captured a section of a trench. A detachment of British troops next night, including King Edward’s Horse and Strathcona’s Horse, took over tho trenches, both serving as infantry. This was their first introduction to warfare. ENEMY BREAKS, IN FACE OF ARTILLERY FIRE. The twenty-third of May. passed without incident, though the enemy threatened an attack on King Edward’s Horse, but broke in face of heavy artillery fire. The Canadians again attacked at daybreak on tho ' twentyfourth, capturing positions. They dug themselves in, and hung on, assisted by a ring of shrapnel, while the heavy guns distracted tho German artillery. Colonel Seely now assumed command, and the position was held. The total losses to the Brigade in connection with Bexhill wore 55 officers and 980 men. NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF BR AVERY. Canadian Eye-Witness narrates numerous instances of bravery, including the following, in connection with tho Ontario Regiment’s frontal attack on the trench called “Stony Mountain” near La Bassee:— Private Vincent, a lumber-jack, mounted a machine gun on his hack in default of a base. ONTARIOS FORCED TO EVACUATE GROUND GAINED, Private Smith, son of an Ontario Methodist minister, was buried. by the explosion of a mine, bub dug himself out and crawled to the front line five times to resupply the bombers with bombs. The German fire was so hot that be had to lie ’down and toss the bombs to the men in the captured trenchesWhen the supply of bombs had been exhausted an unknown Canadian was seen standing on the parapet of a German trench. He was leaping with rage, and hurled bricks jmd stones at the enemy until he was killed. The remnant of the Ontario Regiment was finally forced to evacuate the ground won. Out of twenty-three officers attacking Stouv Mountain, twenty were killed or wounded.