THEIR BAPTISM OF FIRE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2613, 9 November 1915, Page 5

THEIR BAPTISM OF FIRE

GUARDS' DIVISION AT HILL 70 Bx Tolejrapli—Presa Association—OopyrljM (Rec. Novombor 8, 10.35 p.m.) London, November 8. Correspondents with tlio British Headquarters in the West, send vivid dispatches descriptive of tho baptism of tiro of tlio Guards' Division, wliicli included newly-formed Welsh Guards. The Guards had hitherto been brigaded with the Second Division, since August, 1914, but had recently been billeted and formed into a division, and thus fiocamo aware that they were reserved for a big part in the great push. Their chance came on Monday, when they were ordered to capture Hill 70, where the Highlanders earlier had gained a temporary footing. ■ The Guards marched into Loos at three o'clock in tlie afternoon, when smoke helmets were served out. Their objective was a chalk pit, which stood out brilliantly, whilo south-west from the pit was a small wood covering the ground to Puits-Fourteen, with a collection of mining' buiMings. On tho right, beyond Puits-Fourteen, was a "keep" of Square houses, whiph the Germans bad turned into a fort, bristling with machine-guuß. Further, to the right, was tho famous tower bridge ol; Loos, with a gentle slope to Hill 70 beyond. The Second Brigade leapt out of the trenohes at four o'clock. The Irisli easily reached tlio woodi, andl then turned south-east to assist the Coldstreams, who were attacking Puits. The Coldstreams, in extended order, pushed on at the double, despite a most terrific macliine-gun fire. When Puits had been' won the officer of the Scots Guards led a party on to tho Keep, where there ensued a fierce hand-to-hand light with tho enemy, who were concealed in emplacements and ruined buildings. A gallant effort enabled a platoon of Grenadiers, _ under Lieut. BoJeg. Ritchie, to storm its way into the Keep, and knock out the machine-gun on the second floor with a bomb. Tho Grenadiers and Scots Guards held the Keep until _ almost every man had either beeii killed or wounded. Headquarters finally realised that Puits-Fourteen and the Keep were untenable, and ordered a retirement to the chalk-pit, which was a sanctuary, mvjiig to the splendid work which had been done during the night with sandbags and barbed-wire. Tliey held out here until relieved on Octobar 29 by Frenchmen; , Meanwhile the Third Brigade was ordered to assault Hill 70 directly the Second Brigade had captured the chalkpit. When they reached the top tho Welsh Guards found that the centre of the position was a redoubt, which the enemy had cunningly built, not on the exact crest, but on the reverse slope. Tho Welshmen gained the top with small opposition, and were then fully oxposed to tho machin-guns in the redoubt. The men accordingly were ordered to dig themselves into cover a hundred yards below the crest, and wire entanglements were erected. The brigade were relieved on October 29.'

LIKE WOLFE AT QUEBEC

HOW VON JIACKENSEN CAPTURED BELGRADE. ' By TeleEraph—Press Associatlon-CoDyriglit (Reo. November 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 7. The "Daily Telegraph's" Nisli correspondent writes:— "The Germans' tactics in the crossing of the Danube to take Belgrade ■resembled General Wolfe's tactics at the taking, of Quebec. After thirty-six hours of intense bombardment of the islands in the Danube, the AustroGermans floated down on barges and landed troops on the island. The Serbians only had a- battalion, six j;uns, "and somo comitadjis at hand to defend the town. Two Russian guns were soon 'out of action; later two French guns went; finally, two British guns on the left, which had been twice buried under tlio volumes of earth'which was thrown up by the enemy's shells,» were unearthed and destroyed. Out of twenty British marines whp were manning the guns; six escaped unscathed.

THE FIGHTING IN THE CAMEROONS

TWO POSITIONS CAPTURED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Oopjrlgfcl ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. November 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 7. The Press Bureau reports that ill the Oameroaus the Nigerian force, ' under Major Crookenden, occupied Bamenda or October 22, and an important position at 3)auys was occupied by Briga-dier-General Cunliffe on October 24, after which action three Germans and twenty-five natives were killed. Tlio 'British casualties were four natives killed and nine wounded.