THE TAKING OF STEINBACH.

Waikato Times, Volume 84, Issue 13067, 7 January 1915, Page 5

THE TAKING OF STEINBACH.

IHKII.I.INf; INI IDKNTS. CKIt.MAN COMMANDKH ItKH'KKS TO KI'RKENDER. !(.■< iiv.d January li, 10 p.m. PAHIS, January 0. The (icrniun command.! at Stcinhucli. i.-plying to a French parlementaire on December HI, said he did not regard himself as surrounded. The Cernay road wu% still open lot a possible retreat. In any case, the Ktnpeior's troops might U' lulled, hut they would not surrender. The Krench npprouched the village in open columns at noon. A machine gun from a church t"W.i s\\«pt the edge ol a wood where a tarni stood. approached by cross mads. It was necessary to rupture tins defensive support ut all costs. The enemy used i ihliuiis us u shield, including a uomaii with hei huir waving and hei hands ti.-d In-luiml hei hack. The sight inflamed the Krench, who, with u l.ay<>iiet chuige, caplined the taini despite a heavy lire. The veiitilution holes ..| ,i giamuy wall loim.d |ierfcct loopholes, from which crack shots picked nil the I'ium.iii giiiiin p one by one, enabling the principal line of the uttuekmg l-'i.ueh to make a n.w advance. The Cerman infantry I hied to take the pla.es ~l the I.i 11. ti gunners, l.iit thioiigh lack ol knowledge ) I yulnal'le lime, and hy the end ..I the .ill. in..mi the I'rench column hud lin tied the enemy ■> i ighl w ing. A des|ieiate counter al ta< k b> the . licm\ along a brook north ..I th. village completely lulled 0.-imun eaw.liy, who counter-attacked on loot, were thrown into tin slieam, and ,i nund.. i ol wounded were drowned. Ihe battle continued till lh. .M.-iiuig, e\.iy him loiming an umbu»cade. and ever} cottage a fortress. Ihe ess 1., w.ll ~r .1 Ui-ullie the object ol W furious hand to hand lighting. To the .\aspeiatioii ol Loth sides, the advance of night terminated lh. Utile. French whu.t... •. taking ih.-u lues ,n ih.ii hun.l . ignited a stuUc where the Germans wen sh. It.i nig. I'he llaines enabled the ri.ncli machine mills to bo u»ed with d.udly .-ll.it mi the Hying Oermutis. The hitter's incendiary bombs blew up then ow u ammunition reserve.