DESPERATE SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 11

DESPERATE SITUATION.

COMPAXY SURROUNDED. '" ' "FOLXJHTUKE- RATS." The manner in which the OUi (ITawkc'g Bay) Infantry Company defended itself in a critical situation is described by Corporal Allan Watkins. "Since writing last," he says, "I have been through as tough an experience as can fall to the lot of any soldier. "We, the ninth, took up a position in the night, an outpost, and no. sooner were we there than the enemy surrounded us, greatly outnumbering us. The trench, liartly put up. made very poor cover, so we lost hoavilv. However, like rats we fought all through the night, with our backs to the wall. The enemy jabbered outside our trenches all the night, but were seared to hop over and wipe us out. which they could easily ■have done had tliey becn'game. So the beggars pelted us' with band grenades and rille fire. Half the grenades we pelted back, for luckily the fuses allowed about five seconds. The other half exploded either behind the trench or on the parapet, or amongst us, causing the greater part of on.r casualties, ft was good to hear the enemy suuoaling when their own I mini* were landed amongst I them. Ilefoie the night was very far advanced, we Mere very deaf, caused by the detonation of the grenados and the point-blank rifle fire.

The following day the eneim- stood off— thick scrub all round our position—and proceeded to burst awav Our slinlit cover wiih heavy rifle ffcc; but "we worked the shovel hard in replacing the earth, and were just able to replace the amount blown away aa it was done Shrapnel burst over our heads all dav mwh to our enemies' plainty-'hea-Td delight, The following evsntag th» attam*

undermined a set-Lion of our trench, but we vacated it just before the explosion. Kelief came that night, just in time. \Vc were all just done. 1 had a small piece of onion, one biscuit, and half a small tin of bully beef, and two pints of water in the 24 hours. Most of the food had been destroyed by the 'hand grenades. We helped tarty out the wounded—a peat trip, rough going and dark, with the enemy pressing behind us. Great, reception from the boys in camp, an extra issue of rum, and a'snug rest in the 'dug-out'; all very thankful. We are all in good heart "here, and, though we feel losing eo many of our mates keenly, yet it is ail in the game. They all died game t.o the end."