BLOODY WORK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 12

BLOODY WORK.

11,000 GERMANS SLAIN IN 20 DAYS. BATTLE IN THE CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. FRENCH SHELL ENEMY OUT OF TRENCHES. The following article is taken from the San Francisco "Examiner": — CHALONS SUB MABNE (France), March 28. Eleven thousand German dead have been taken from the trenches won by the French during 20 days of fighting in the Champagne country. The German losses in killed, prisoners, and wounded are estimated by the French military authorities as 50,000 The German wastage, they say, has been two to one compared with . the French losses, because the Germans would try to regain lost ground by counter-attacks, repeatod again and again with obstinate courage. It was in these counter assaults, supported by relatively inadequate artillery, and what the French officers assert was inadequate moral, against the allied troops that so many Ciennan soldiers have fallen.

The graves in which they are buried by fifties and by hundreds are thick upon a narrow front of some 15 miles. Steady Gains Claimed

For nearly a month now, the French, their officers declare, by the superiority of their artillery of both large and small calibre and by a certain irresistible spirit have day by day gained ground, sometimes a few hundred yards of trenched, on other days a mile of frontage and from three to five hundred yards deep. The Germans are bringing up now contingents steadily. They have had in action on this segment of the fighting lines during March five army corps, or about 200,000 men, Yet, T>n the evening of ev-ery day the French officers assert that the French have held somewhat more.of the field than they did the evening before. * Man-to-Man Fight. The Associated Press correspondent has been over the ground and found that this is what has taken place: The French artillery, numerous .and concentrated, at times subdues the German guns and tears up parts of the German trenches by sustained shell fire. Then, at a moment signalled by telephone, the guns cease and the men in the trenches, with reserves crowded into the approaches, jump out and make a quick run for tho trenches opposite. Then body to body fighting finishes the attack. Meantime a barrier of bursting shells

behind Hie German front iine presents reserves from coming up. Thin is continued until the captured trenches are

put into condition to resist assaults. Those assaults sometimes are successful, but the results from day to day apparently have been gains for the French.

The correspondent has been able to sec for himself- the ground gained by the French and to compare the positions occupied months ago with those held today.

The French commanders, -who find the courage and confidence of their troops mounting with each success, express the opinion that the Germans have been somewhat disheartened by feeling that French attacks are successful, and that their counter-attacks, delivered with admirable pluc-lc under the circumstances, have been useless. The French are employing such quantities of artillery, newly constructed and of heavy field calibre, that they are able to combine and concentrate, their fire in a way not seen before in this war. Tlie French officers say their guns can dominate the adversary's positions at any time or place. During the 20 days' advance in the Champagne region, the French have used a million and a-half projectiles against places occupied by the Germans. Deeds of Bravery. All along this front one heard narratives of deeds of individual soldiers and of officers. There was the incident of Vandal, a master gunner. He was badly wounded at the same time as one of his fellow gunners, Jacques. To a comrade, who was trying to bandage his wound, Vandal said: —'

"I feci tyiat lam dying. Save Jacques."- Then to a lieutenant who was arranging to have him taken to the rear, while an enemy aoroplaue Hew overhead, Vandal- said: — ".Do not trouble about me. Do not let them see the battery. Vive! Vive la France" . Private Galeski, who was the talk of his company on March 7 and 8, because of his audacity and coolness in storming trenches, fell on March 9 in an assault upon Fortin Hill. "When picked up Galeski asked: ''Did you carry the Fortin Hill?" "Yes, we took it." Galeski smiled and died. . Joffre Bdviews Troop*. General Joffre, the French command-er-in-chief, has reviewed the troops taking part in the Champagne fighting. One Of the parades was upon a stretch of fields at Noirlieu, or Black Spot. Fifteen thousand were assembled there.

Standing iu front of each solidlymassed battalion were the one or two or"three men who, were to be decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honour, or the more precious Military Medal, which many a general may not gain. The only spectators were the military attaches with the French Army and five civilians.

Sixty-four buglers sounded the salute, and General Joffre came upon the field. He had a word or two wilh the commanding general. Then he walked along the lines and shook hands with each of the 30 men to be decorated, and pimied the cross or medal upon his breast. Kills Eight Germans. One of the men, Mathicu Jouy, had been a sentinel at the entrance of a cut leading to the main line of trenches. He fired upon Germans creeping up to a surprise attack, and killed six of them, but was wounded in the arm by a bayonet thrust of the Beventh German, whom he killed, and was Blashed on the head by the sabre of a German officer, whom he.also' killed. Jouy then retreated, and let his comrades, who had been aroused by the shots, repel the attack. He won the Military Medal.

Later the Associated Press correspondent waa presented to General Joffre. "You aee how the men look," said the general, " after months of hard flghtiug, and in what fine condition they are, though just from the trenches. Well, it would be the same after three weeks, or three months, or three years, until there is a definite rosult."

The men did look hardy and rinfatigued. They passed in review at a swinging step. The review finished with two rogiments of cavalry passing at full gallop before General Joffre, £>() trumpeters sounding tho charge, and the general standing at salute. General Joffre himself seemed in perfect hoalth. He was very tranquil in bearing, and smiled pleasantly in conversation.