SAILORS GAVE LIVES FOR VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 7

SAILORS GAVE LIVES FOR VICTORY

1 » 1 THE CAPTURE OF ST. GEORGES, BELGIUM. Paris, December 31. The self-saorifice of six French bluejackets made possible tlio capture of St. Georges, a town less than two miles from Nieuport, according' to the "Matin's" correspondent in Flanders. He writes: . \ The attackers liad driven the Germans from the. advance trencheSj but, taking refuge in the houses in the Tallage, the Germans soon placed their assailants in a difficult position. The situation of a fores of Belgians isolated on a strip of land surrounded by a flood became critical, and the artillery alone was able to effect anything against tho enemy. The British batteries at Ramscapolle tried, but their shells burst over the French. _ • "Six bluejackets then hoisted a three-inch gun on a'large punt'and poled along the canal behind tha village, running the gauntlet of the German rifles. As one was hit another took the pole and continued until he in> turn, fell stricken. The sixth man' was mortally wounded as with a last push he sent the punt to the bank, where tha French advance guard was -waiting. "The gun was quickly 'landed and a few shots at 300 yards brought the houses on top of the Germans, who retreated into the arms of a battalion, of Belgians. Tho latter completed tho enemy's rout. ■ , , . , . "Meanwhile the French column triumphantly took possession of the heap of ruins, which was formerly ot. Georges, and before night .the engineers had established a bridgehead, enabling > the Allies' artillery to debouch on the right bank of the Yser.