"VICTORY OR DEATH"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2430, 8 April 1915, Page 6

"VICTORY OR DEATH"

VIVID BATTLE PICTURE

A FRENCHMAN'S STORY

The following passages are taken from a letter written by a French soldier to his parents, and published by tho "Standard":— " 'Sections by fours! Fix bayonets, charge I Vive la France!' Tho bugles shrill and the drums beat in frenzy. The 'Marseillaise' echoes over us.' We are mad, and rush on, heads down! Tho Germans meet us with fearful volley firing, making many gaps. 'Close up, my sons,' cries the commandant. The bugler iust ahead of mo is killed, with a bullet in the forehead. I stumble over his body, and roll over on the ground, hut pick myself up and regain my place in the front. We are now hand to hand. A Gorman whom I have up against a wall stands bravely enough, and makes a thrust at me with his bayonet. A classical sidestep—he stabs the air, and I pin him. He utters a cry and falls. At this moment a German officer, with nothing but a revolver, throws himself upon me, and has me in turn at bay. He fires twice, but as he is taller than I the bullets fly over my head. I pretend to give him the bayonet, and nervously press my trigger, not knowing quito what lam doing. Tho ball takes him under the chin, and he falls, saying, 'Mein Gott! Oil, liebe Mutter.' In the Thlok of It. "I quickly pull myself together, foi the bugle is sounding the retreat. The Germans are advancing in force, with sav-ago shouts. I rejoin my section, and we quickly cover the open ground, whilst tho Germans open their fire. The rally of the th sounds, and brings us together at the same place whence we started. 'Victory or death!' cries the General. We are called upon for the sacrifice, and are ready. Forward again with the bayonet for the second charge. Most of my comrades are hit. The bullets are whistling past our ears, and there are at least ten mitrailleuses concentrated upon us. At this moment the Germans try a trick on us by sounding the French retreat by their buglers. But they do riot have the proper style of tongue, and it only doubles our fury. Our captain falls, groaning 'Avcngo me I' We dislodge them, but havo finally to fall back again. I cannot even touch one of them. Those who are on the roofs pelt us with bricks, and throw down chimneys on our heads. They have placed mitrailleuses on the tops of tho houses. There is a moment when I find myself alono, creeping behind the walls, and I begin to run. My eyes are full of tears, and lam in despair. An officer of the Alpine Chasseurs comes out of the village with me. He wears an impudent air with his Tam'o' Shanter cocked over his eye, revolver in one hand and sabre in the other. 'Follow me, young 'un,' he says. Grazed by a Builet. 'We have no time to get away, as we are being fired upon. Wo hide ourselves behind a threshing-machine. Tho .lieutenant talks to me about his wife and baby, and I speak to him of you. ... I feel a sharp pain in my neck,and my kepi falls. The bullet na-s struck the peak, and shaved past through my hair, slightly burning me. The pafn was the wrench of my chin-strap. We remain for hours in this position, watching cairofully lest they should come to take us. At night tve <covo and regain the French camp.

"The third charge is oven more terrible than the first two —at one in the morning. All t-ho flashes from the rifles and the yelling make up a lugubrious scone. We havo to throw ourselves down at one time, so hot is the fire. It is enough to deafen one I We keep on shooting and crawling forward, exhausted as wo are. Suddenly the commandant springs up and leads us on again with the bayonet. I see the flag just in front of me, and it gives me courage. Wo _ press on, and a terrific struggle begins in the houses. The Germans take shelter everywhere, but we soon have them out. On all •sides the cries of the wounded: — 'Help!' 'I am hurt!' 'Maman, water, water!' It is awful to hear, whilst the stretcher bearers pick up the men under fire. We chase the Boches, who are flying in a regular rout. They abandon everything, sacks of provisions, and stolen bottles of champagne, which we drink .to their health. It is we who empty the bottles, and it is they to whom the wine gives legs to run!"