PATHANS' GRIM NIGHT ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2306, 13 November 1914, Page 5

PATHANS' GRIM NIGHT ATTACK

GERMAN RANKS TERRORSTRICKEN A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION i ' (Reo. November 12, 8.15 p.m.) London, November 11. The "Daily Telegraph" says that the Pathan exploit of a few days ago created a sensation in the army. "Tommy Atkins's version is that, two thousand Pathaus took their knives in their teeth, crept into the blooming German trenches, and out the throats of twenty thousand!" "The real facts," says, the "Telegraph," "are as follows:—The air scouts had reported that a strong body of Wurtemburgers had approached. A section of the Pathans, who had been detailed to wateh the roads, returned to camp, nnd reported. that several thousand Wurtemburgers were near Hollobeke, and that they had out down their sentries. The whole battalion of Pathans then, advanced during tho night, their knives between their teeth, while bodies of Moroccans were posted on both the German flanks. The Germans'were attacked on throe sides before thoy realised tho danger. Tho Pathans terrifying leaps and tiger-like attack resulted in an indescribable fray. Tho German machine guns fired wildly, and tho infantry were utterly unable to locate tho main attack for c while.. Tho Germans rotroated in disorder, and then, strongly reinforced, were ordered to recover the ground. The Allies, with tho Pathans still in tho van, allowed them to como within a hundred .yards, and then wiped out their first detachment. Finally, tho Fnthans, followed by the Mooi'Sj rushBd kto Hollebeko, flla,u^hi^_a^j(fJicu

did not surrender, and drove ancthßr Wnrtemburgsr battalion into the Lye, where it surrendered. '"' '•

The whole fight lasted five hours, and iras the signal for a genera] offeneiTe by the Allies. . '"-■'■