BRITISH VALOUR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2351, 6 January 1915, Page 6

BRITISH VALOUR

FEAT OF ABMS AT.YPRES.,, 'A fine story of how an English 6V tachment of eighty soldiers, separated from its regiment, captured 400 Germans is' told by the "Liberto" and' quoted by. "The Times". Paris correspondent. ' . ■■~ . ; - Tho detachment, it appears, found vfcself_ cut off from its regiment during the near Ypres on Novem-' ber 11. ,-. ■ The writer proceeds: "In vain the : detachment sought to retire, but the ! way was barred. Happily, night fell, '- and the men in khaki found a refuge m a little wood in the neighbourhood. There they hid themselves, as best they could, in the undergrowth, whilst the officers consulted together. Several solutions were examined, none, appeared, practical. The chief of the detach.rnent then assembled his men, and ad-' dressed them as follows: *My friends, we are .-surrounded, and there is little ohance of escaping from the fate which you all know. I'm sure you-will defend your liberty to the utmost'. Now let us take a little-rest.; To-morrow we will consider our position.' ' ''These proud words were' listened to with admirable *negme.\ Not a manshowed signs of fear,'and when the major ended the detachment stretched itself quietly on the ground and awaited developments. The night was untroubled by any attack, but at dawn a violent fusillade broke out near the' 7?r ~ V ofitin g bj the obscurity tho -Allies had advanced close to the German lines, and when day broke:they commenced a vigorous counter-attack • Suddenly tho major of the detachmentnad an inspiration. .'Lie down ' he said, 'and don't fire until I give the order."i Sorao minutes later the Gef- i mans were forced back upon the' little ?°° t i r /"£ the moment awaited by the English officer. "Fix bayonets Charge,' he cned. The men emerged .from their hiding-places,. flung themselves uppn the enemy, : and threw them into confusion. Not knowing the number of. their adversaries who had intervened so suddenly in the fight, themajority, of. tho .Germans threw down' their arms and • surrendered .to the - number of 400. The others succeeded m getting away;" > t