“SAVED THE SITUATION.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3200, 14 July 1915, Page 33

“SAVED THE SITUATION.”

GALLANT CANADIAN'S IN FLANDEIIS. HEROES TO A MAN. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 50. What the Canadian troops accomplished in the saving of A pres is clearly told in the following short War Office despatch issued lust Saturday “ The fight for the ground into which the Gormans penetrated between Steenstraate and Langemarck still continues. The loss of this part of the hue laid hare the left of the Canadian Division, which was forced to fall back in order to keep in touch with the right of the neighbouring troops. In the rear of the latter had been four Canadian 4.7 guns, which thus passed into the hands of tno enemy. But some hours later the Canadians made ;i most brilliant and successful advance, rccaptur.ng these guns and taking a considerable number of German prisoners, including a colonel. The Canadians had many casualties, but their gallantry and determination undoubtedly saved the situation. Their conduct has been magnificent throughout.” The special correspondent of the Morning Post in Northern France asserts that the Canadians have saved Yprcs. Thus: “When the great battle began they were occupying line which commenced to the eastward of Yprcs, close to the Ziiiebeke swamps, and ran north-east to St. Julien, where it turned sharply to tho north along tho Haancbcek River towards Bixsohoot, the French joining on at the Yprcs-Langernarck road. In order to support the French artillery General Alderson had sent some of Iris big guns to tho rear of the French lino between Pilkom and Hot Sas to engage the German heavy artillery which was concealed in the forest of Houtluilst, north of Langemarck. The asphyxiating gas was projected from a point between Langemarck and Poclcappclle, whence the north-east wind carried it down in tho corner of tho Allied line. All Canadians are speaking with proud admiration of tire work of the 16th Regiment, the men of Alberta and British Columbia, in the battle. With remarkable foresight General Alderson, who was holding this battalion in reserve, instead of having it parallel to his front, had it perpendicular; that is to say, facing north. When, therefore, the Germans broke through from Langemarck towards tho canal and swung south to cut off the Canadians. the 16th was ready to meet them, and to_ advance at the crucial moment to maintain tho line intact. “ his was undoubtedly tho critical part of the battle, and the heroic conduct of the men from'the Far West undoubtedly carried the day. The artillery which was cut off for a time in the first German rush consisted of most of tho French park that had boon strengthened by the Canadians, and although none wore permanently captured by tho Gormans, they were able to destroy some of them by taking away tho brooch looks. The Canadian guns were recovered as already reported.” PRAISE BY BRITISH TROOPS. Mounded British soldiers who are now in England, are loud in their praise of the Canadians. “ From Thursday evening to Friday morning,” said Sergeant-major Robinson, of the Ist Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment, “ the Canadians held on to a position which was really untenable. Their left wing was exposed, and the Germans worked round it. The Canadians re-formed to face tho enemy and keep themselves from being surrounded. The left wing was a vital point, and any weakening of the Canadians would have given the Germans an enormous advantage in the fight for Yprcs, If tho Canadians had not held on the Germans might have been masters of Yprcs to-day. We who were hurried to their support knew what they did. and the whole army ought to thank the Canadians. At 1 o’clock on Friday morning the order came for ns to move up to St. Julien, and off we set. For two hours wo held reserve trendies by the canal, and then went forward again and lay down in tho open fields waiting. Everybody knew that to the north-east the Canadians wore holding tho Germans in check, and we saw and cheered their wounded as they came back. Wo know that if any men could hold out tho Canadians would, and they did.” A sergeant of the 9th London Regiment (Queen Victoria Rifles! gave a vivid account of the fighting between Yprcs and St. Julien. “Wo had been in tho fight for Hill 60,” ho said, “ and on Thursday midday wo wont to the north of Yprcs for a little rest. We wore just going to our huts when we heard a commotion on the road and saw troops retiring. We had our orders at once, and went off and dug ourselves in on the west side of the canal. That night and on Friday the Canadians were holding out in advance of ns. Nobody can praise them too highly, and regiments like ours who were in reserve speak of what we know when we say that those Canadians were heroes to a man. On Friday I was at the canal on the high bank, and, looking across the flat ground, I saw a grand sight, lino after line of infantry advancing steadily and unswervingly under terrific shrapnel fire.” RECOVERING THE GUNS. How tho 10th and 16th Canadian Battalions recovered tho four guns is vividly ..told by one of the wounded now in Loudon: “Wo. marched towards the spot from which we were to charge the German position. It was a period of tension. We of the Canadian Corps felt that wo had to make good. That in itself was sufficient to inspire us; bur, besides that, around us wore scenes which appealed to our manhood. We saw women and children who, frightened by the German shells, were moving away as vapidly as possible from tho lire. A cry had gone forth that the Germans were coming. M hat horror it seemed to convey to the women and children. Wo saw their faces full of { CiU > nassed us. hurrying from sight, us. before ' an. ;. -u; charge. was 1 ■ ...m .v.w . m... 1 i" 1 " 1 '

tion that had lo bo taken. Wo moved quietly and in excellent order, and everything went well until "we got 'within 200 yards of the wood. Then what is impressed upon my memory is a mass of machine guns began to fire upon us. Immediately we made a rush; the cheers and shouts of our men mixed with the noise of the guns. When we were told to" advance we had been cautioned to go quietly and not. to cheer. But who could be quiet now? 'This way the 10th,' exclaimed an officer, as he led his men, and indicated the way to the wood. We cheered and shouted as we rushed forth. Men fell around me. How wo lived in front, of tho'se machine guns will ever be a mystery to me. How our guns could face such a fire puzzles me now when I think of it. But they did. We must have lost a lot. I was struck rather badly, being hit in the head, arm, shoulder, and thigh; but wo went through the wood, took the German position, and recovered the guns—three, I think, the fourth being smashed. After that the position was held." A sergeant in the Canadian Scottish added that the Germans appeared to wait for us. " and then, having got- our range, poured lead into us. Cheering, we rushed on. The Germans could not withstand tho attack". I saw two put up their hands and shout 'Monsieur, mercy, mercy.' They appeared to think we were French. I received a bullet wound in my wrist, and just at that moment in front of me I saw an officer fall. The Canadian officers led their men in true British fashion. I was going to see whether this officer had boon seriously hit when a piece of shrapnel blew my elbow oft. I crawled along for about 100 yards, and then two bullets caught me in the side. After that I could no longer take part in the. charge. I 6aw our men making a tremendous rush forward." " There were also Rome brave women about," said a private of the Canadian Scottish. He was shot through the shoulder in the charge. "When I got back to a dressing station not more than a thousand yard«s from the German firingline." he remarked, "I saw two women serving out hot drinka."