HUN MURDERERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16414, 7 January 1919, Page 3

HUN MURDERERS.

This is a littlo incident which happened "over there" not long ago, juot when certain minority members were begging us not to bo too hard on tho retreating Hun. It is a true story. It took place up beyond that terrible Ypres salient —the hardest contested piece of ground on the whole battle front. A patrol had been sent out to penetrate the enemy lincu and bring back certain vital information. They advanced during the night far into tho enemy linos and secured the information before the Germans woko up to tho fact, that they were in their midst. Then began a running light. The Germans tried to cut them off. Dawn was breaking, and in a few moro minutes the invaders were soen quite plainly. They retreatod, koeping back the advancing Germans by rifle fire. „ „ , . , The officer and the iSi.C.O.'s in charge of the patrol wore killed, and chargo of the remaining men wais taken by a private. Ho ordered tho others, who had the information which was so valuable, to. run for it. He himself made j for a shell-holo and, with, a small collection of bombs, began to cover their retreat. Tho Germans were coming from sev(> ral points. TVhon they approachea near enough this man began to bomb them at long. range. His missiles burst among groups of the enemy, and blew them to pieces. They began to bomb him, but -unsuccessfully. When his bombs wore finished he took lus rifle and began to pick them off, man by man. But ho had not much ammunition, and soon tho magazine wae empty. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the others of the patrol wero fast approaching safety. He had only his bayonet loft, and as tho Huns closed in on him he prepared to u<se the stoel. But he never got tho opportunity, for just thon the real nature of tho Hun showed itself. Remember, there were more than, a score against this man. One of the Germans bore on his back a flammenwerfer, a flame-thrower. This Hun advanced in front of his fellows, and with him came a. man who fumbled for a momont with the screws. And then it happened. They threw tho flaming spray at tho lonely defenderthrew it at a man who had only his bayonetIt caught liim in tho faco. It blinded him. He was blind man facing his enemies. He cried out in agony and clapped his hands to his scorched face; then he knelt down, groping for his rifle. He lifted it and threw himself automatically into a position of defence.* The Germans came at him. It was not a fight—it was a murder. He went down before them and thev passed over him. But they did r.ot get far, for from the British trenches blazed forth such a storm of bullets that the Germans wero caught in it, and moet of them wont down. _ —M.. in London "Daily Mail.