UNDER FIRE AT LOOS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2666, 11 January 1916, Page 7

UNDER FIRE AT LOOS

CUNNING GERMAN SNIPERS SOLDIER'S GRAPHIC STORY Sttatoments by wounded Eoldiers show that after the capture of Loos by the first British lino German snipers remained concealed in tho village f or a considerable time harassing the advancing force,, and such was their cunning that the discovery of their whereabouts was dangerous and difficult. They were found hidden in the cellars of houses, and two were caught peering from a. stack of small coal, both having blackened their faces to harmonise with their surroundings. . An interesting story was told to a representative of the London "Daily Telegraph" by. ?, lance-corporal, whose regiment did not take part in tho first advanco, but, with others, acted as a support. "Wo had been in France threo weeks," he remarked, "and a few days before the advance was made wo were informed that wo were to take part in the- fight. On Friday night we marched to a spot a few miles behind the first line, which was in the trenches, near Vermelles waiting for the attack.' Tremendous Bombardment. "We bivouacked for the night, protected by our overcoats and rubbersheets from a heavy donwpour of rain. Sleep was impossible amidst the tremendous bombardment which was carried on by our artillery. An encouraging speech had been made to us by our colonel, who told us of the importanco of the battle,_ and said lie know wo should maintain tho splendid tradition of our regiment. At daybreak the guns of our artillery ceased, and although w6 were out of sight and hearing of the first line we guessed that the advanco had ben'-i:. Eagerly we waited for news. It was not long coming, messages being frequently received stating that our attacking force was carrying all before it. This encouraged us tremendously. We remained there for nearly five hours after the commencement of the attack, and then moved forward. Prisoners and Wounded. "Wo had not gono far before we saw on all sides signs of the great advance. We passed the German trenches which had been taken, and saw the havoc that had been wrought by our artillery fire. Our first line had now captured Loos and hundreds of German prisoners wero being brought back, while stretcherbearers were busy conveying wounded. By many wounded British soldiers wo wero warmly greeted. Despite their injuries a large number were able to walk, and, they smiled and cheered us. We were excited at the prospect beforeus, but our excitement was as nothing compared with theirs. 'We have; got the "blighters" on the run. Go for them,' they shouted. "Passing the German trenches, we reached the open space leading towards Loos, and, led by our colonel, we began to double. German shells were bursting around us, and we lost many men. It was the first time I had been under fire, and I felt a little queer; but when I saw our chaps falling I seemed to forget all about myself. We continued to run towards Loos, and entered the village. .Around us were signs of the ter-. rible fighting that had taken place lxifore our arrival—dead and wounded, and houses which had been reduced to skeletons by our artillery.

Infested with German Snipers. "Although our first line had captured the village and gone forward, the place was still infested with German snipers. Many of our men' were hit, and the worst of it was we could not lire back, as it was impossible to see where the shots came . from. The German- artillery were also directing a heavy lire upon the village. But we continued our advance, and were a milo beyond Loos when it began to growdark. It was then decided that we should half for the night and dig ourselves in. 1 "On Sunday morning we were under a heavy tire, but we again advanced, and I had not been, out of the trench five minutes before I was knocked out by a bullet, whicli struck me in tho .shoulder, I scrambled back, and found that our colonel had also been slightly wounded, and was in the trench whioh we had just left. He gave me some water, and also something which ho said would ease my pain. Shells were bursting ajl around us, but I managed to scramble back 1 some distance, and was eventually assisted to Loos, where I was placed in an empty house with other wounded.

Arrival of Stretcher-Bearers. "The Germans wqre still shelling the •village, and we thought every minute tho house would be demolished. On the Sunday night some of the wounded who were able to walk went away, but wo oould not leavfe the place. German snipers were busy firing from their places of concealment, and one young fellow who was assisting our doctor, and who made repeated errands for water for the wounded, did so at the risk of his life. We remained in tho house from Sunday morning until Monday night, when, in response to messages, stretcher-bearers came for us, and we were borne away, amid tlio shots of the snipers and the German artillery fire. We were carried to motorambulances, then to a dressing station, and afterwards to a hospital." Reports of the advance towards Loos have already indicated tho destruction wrought by tho bombs thrown from tho British lines. A bomb-thrower, speaking of his experience, told of a narrow escape which ho had.' He had reached the second German trench, and was looking over the parapet when ho saw a German preparing to fire at him. "I had a box full of bombs under my arm," ho remarked, "and without a second thought I took the bojf-bomEs and all—and smashid It on Jlls head. He never toso again. \ I went through Loos, dropping bombs into the windows of houses whero machine-guns and snipers wore concealed. Tho fighting was terrific. > A little later I was wounded ,in tho thigh. They always 'go' for the bomb-throwers, but I think we did wood work on this occasion."