THE CHARGE OF THE GERMNN CAVALRY AT MARS LA-TOUR.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 309, 2 July 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CHARGE OF THE GERMNN CAVALRY AT MARS LA-TOUR.

"It becamo necessary at a particular moment to save the army at any sacrifice by gaining time until more troops couid come up. The general in command directed and gave to their commanding officers the orders to advance. These two were the crack regiments of the Prussian service—the regiments into which the young meu of family and position were most anxious to get. Obedient to orders, and himself fuliy convinced of the wisdom of the command, he rode up to Auerswald, the senior officer of the two commanders, and told him to advance againt the French. ' You are not serious,' the latter repled. ' You do not mean me to attack the whole French army.' 'I am serious,' was the rejoinder. ' I bring you positive orders to do so.' Auerswald bowed, and sending for the young prince of Hohenzollem, who was one of his subalterns, ordered him immediately to ride off the field. The young man said. 'I have done nothing to deserve this,' and burst into tears. Auerswald replied, ' Your family has suffered quite enough, I order you as a soldier to do your duty and obey your commanding officer.' He then directed his men to advance, first at a foot's pace, then a trot, then at a gallop. They did so, and were of course almost all destroyed. When the survivors had broken through the French, Auerswald ordered the bugles to sound the assembly. Slowly and gradually some sixty-seven were mustered. Auerswald said :—' Soldiers, I thank you ; you have done your duty. Long live the king !' and fell from his horse mortally wounded. He recovered consciousness and died the next day. About 300 only of the two regiments remained alive, but the army was saved."