GERMAN SOLDIER IN ACTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2311, 19 November 1914, Page 5

GERMAN SOLDIER IN ACTION

BATTLEFIELD IMPRESSION ("Times" and Bytooy."Sun" Serylces.) (Reo. November 18, 5.45 p.m.) London, November 17. ' "The Times's" military correspondent, eays that the Prussian Guards were the Kaiser's pride. They ivere- defeated by the French at Charleroi, and again at the Marne, , and were not mentioned again for two months. They reappeared in tho attacking on the British on November 11, fresh after being rested, and when paraded made a magnificent appearance before tho Kaiser on his recent Western visit.

The British since October 20 had held out against a superior number. The German Higher Command had been able- to make an impression with a now formation, and called up tho Guards in the hope of giving a finishing blow. "They .attacked the British , with conspicuous gallantry), and, despite heavy fmnishment, penetrated our advanced ino. Our war-worn regiments immediately counter-attacked and put tho Guards to Bight. There cannot be much left of these hietorio Prussians."

Aji eye-witness with tho British Headquarters Staff, giving instances of the stubbornness of the Germans, says: "During tho fighting at Yyres a company of infantry was enfiladed by our machine guns. All were killed except six, who crawled away, wounded, after nightfall. Another compnny of Germans dug themselves in on a lino where the bodies of their comrades lay in rows. Again, some of tho enomy's cavalry at dusk charged tho French trenchee. Every horse was killed, but the dismounted riders continued the charge on foot, tho last of the survivors being slain on the vctj parapet of the trenches. '

"Whatever deteriorating material is being drafted into the ranks, it must be admitted that tho Prussian war machine lias obtained a most remarkablo result to bo able to make good its losses, and continue to deliver repeated blows with fresh men, when and where required, and to concentrate larEo forces in different directions."