A GLORIOUS CHARGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 7

A GLORIOUS CHARGE.

CANADIANS' MAGNIFICENT DASH. HOW THE LOST GUNS WERE RECAPTURED Received April 27, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 26. A Canadian states: — After our line 'was broken on the left we were sent to the northward of Ypres. We were without food or water, and in wet equipment, and each man carried 400 rounds of ammunition. We waited from early in the day until nearly midnight,' when two battalions were ordered to charge thA<m<?niy, ? who was 500 yards away. u '■■;■"■ '

Their artillery mowed us down like sheep. Two thousand five hundred Canadians were attacking 7000 Germans in a wood full of maxims. Before the attack some few shells were fired into the wood.

We expelled the enemy from the trenches in front of the wood, and went right through, a distance of about 500 yards, to the other side.

'Tlien we were almost surrounded, and retired to the captured trenches, where we dug ourselves in, and where we remained overnight, the enemy shelling us with shrapnel. We filed out to.make room for reinforcements, and in our advance Ave were enfiladed by a heavy fire from both sides.

The Prussian Guards fronting us ran like cowards. We recovered three French howitzers, which we blewup, and next we recaptured our 4.7 in. guns. We surrounded, at that point, 60 Germans, of whom \ye bayoneted 45.; One German officer blew out his brains.

We.were unable to estimate the number of Germans who •were slain. • Their-searchlights were bitsy during,the whole of the night, assisting in the picking up of the dead. - Sir John French has informed General Alderson that he had reported the Canadians for their splendid behaviour to Lord Kitchener.

The latter replied that their gallantry and determination in a difficult position had been highly appreciated in England.

Earlier messages giving .letails of the Canadians' achievement will he found in another column.