STRUGGLE FOR VERDUN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11670, 10 April 1916, Page 4

STRUGGLE FOR VERDUN.

SOME GLORIOUS EPISODESDEATH BEFORE SURRENDER. PARIS. March !?. An officer who has returned from the Verdun front gave the following description of ths battle for possession of Can res Wood : "Tho affair of the Caures Wood is one of the most dramatic and most glorious episodes of the battle of "N «r----dmi. The Chasseurs who were charged with defending this part of the, sector were under the orders of LieutenantColonel Drin nt. They have added a magnificent page to contemporary history by their unyielding gallantry. . "It was 7.15 in the morning of February 20 when the Germans commenced preparation;- for their attack. We had then been hoki'ing the trenches for four days, and our chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Driant., was making a tour of inspection. We had one battalion on tho firing line and another held in reserve at the Moron at Farm. Everybody was immediately on th? alert. Tho bombardment began with an unusual violence, and our listening posts, according to orders, fell back on tho first line, where wo awaited the attack. " A storm of iron began to pass over. Tt was, in fact, more than a storm—it was a deluge. Our shelters, even the best constructed, were. demolished. About eleven o'clock the post at which T was was destrovod by the hail of she!!.', and fourteen Chasseurs and one officer were buried in the debris. However, our men did not hesitate, butpressed forward >to the aid of their wounded comrades as if it was simply a. question of some, common accident. On the 22nd the bomlKiTolneiit was resumed with tho greatest violence. Our trenches were rapidly levelled, the communicating trenches were destroyed, and even the wood itself was mown down in large spaces. However, our Chasseurs maintained the samo impnssability. INCREASED VIOLENCE. "The German attack increased in violence. A lieutenant sprang to the head of his company to repel the enemy, He was wounded in the hand immediately. He wrapped it in his handkerchief and sprang forward again, crying, 'Forward I' A second bullet cut tho word short in his mouth. As he. fell to the ground another officer leaped automatically forward to take his place. He had gone only a few yavds when a bullet pierced his throat. The enemy, with verv superior forces to ours, including an entire new brigade, swept down upon us. From the evening before until the morning our two battalions had suffered under tho most murderous fire. The enemy was endeavouring to turn both our flanks, and we fought with all our strength against this encircling movement. About 3.30 p.m. tho situation suddenly became critical. The Germans had brought up a big gun, which was bombarding the very heart of our position. I was then called to the post of Lieutenant-Colonel Driant. . " Oolonel Driant was stationed in the front line. He was surrounded by Commandant Renouard, Captain V? nc f n * and Captain Hamel. Energetically, but calmly, he declared to us: 'ln a few more minutes it will he necessary to die or to be taken prisoners.' He waited a little while and added: 4 I would prefer to die.' The tears flowed down his cheeks, and we all wept. Commandant Renouard reassured himself that there was nothing more in the shelter that could be of value to the enemy. All our archives and plans had been burned on the 21st and the order to retreat was given. "Captain Renouard said: At least let us try and save some of these brave fellows'.' .-'.,. , "'Ah, well, let us save all we can,' replied Captain Mael. 'lt will be so many Chasseurs who will be able to fight again to-morrow.' "Our retreat protected on the flank by a detachment of Chasseurs. The heads of the.column on leaving the woods were welcomed by a cross fire from the enemy's mitrailleuses. It was of no use to attempt a reply, and the fragments' of the sections which were able to escape from that zone rallied at Haumont on the first line of our second position. " Colonel Driant had wished to set out among the last. H* remained until he'was certain that none of his men was left in the wood, and has never boen seen since."