HEROIC INCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2800, 19 June 1916, Page 5

HEROIC INCIDENT

' DEFENCE OF YAUX FORT 'gallant fkench regiment By Teleffivaph-Prcs.i; on -Cqpyris'ht . June 16. One of the most heroic incidents of the defence of Yaux Fort was the defence of the north-western outer .'worksl>y the 101 st Regiment, composed/of Parisians. The semi-official story relates ..that the position was difficult,, but important, because it obstructed tho' Gorman efforts to encircle Vaux Port. -The Germans were determined to capture l the ; work at any cost. A' bombardment by 11-inch shells began on Jiinei. lj and-l'jasted all night. .. . , The regiment was isolated, supplies were not obtainable, and the water: waa exhausted: but there .'.were no complaints.- Every man stood'to'his'loophole with a stock of grenades, awaiting ail infantry attack. TJie bombardment continued .until the evening, when the infantryvadvahoed' at 8 o'clock. A hail of grenades was let loose, and the Germans, turned and fled in disorder. - The Frenoh fired a rocket askingV for artillery aid for . the defenders with a curtain-of shell fire. -.: : 1 A rocket exploded the entire supply of rockets, deluging the trench with red and green flames and the densest smoke. . The fire spread, but the regiment worked heroically to extinguish it and save the Stock of grenades. They succeeded after an hour's work.

' Meanwliilo the bombardment was. renewed. The infantry returned to tho asnaiilt at 2.30 in the morning. The defenders were ordered to let the'Germaris' come dose. Fire was withheld until they.,were within fifteen' paces away'from - thetrench. Officers and men; hurled grenades with the utmost speed; mowing down their assailants

Ono German reached the trench, and received a grenade" full in the face. Thus the second attack was beaten off, but the regiment was still isolated, and; thirst becamo almost vubrarable. They feared it more than tho enemy. Providentially a rainstorm set in, and., canvas sheets were spread, and.' even drinking tins put cut to catch the drops. The bombardment was resumed,- and all day the trench was enfiladed by machinepuns on both sides. Wave after wave, of Germans assaulted the heroic, defenders, but all in vain; and the Germans abandoned the attack. _ Ou Juno 3 the regiment was relieved under cover of night. In the meanwhile the four hundred thirst-stricken defenders of Yaux 'Port held out amid the invested ruins, and despite the pitiless bombardment. Tt is estimated that since March never less than eight thousand heavy shells fell in a day. A few- men. managed to creep out and bring in a 6canty supply of watei. Every window held a machine-gun aivl picked rifle shots, and not a German left the courtyard alive. Barricades wtre erected at every corner, and before eich lay a pile of German corpses. The Germans scaled the roofs, lowered grenudes In baskets,' and swung them, through the windows.

A stretcher-bearer named Vanir escaped through tbo grating and took out, Eaynal's last message, dated June Ot •' " :' "We aro near the end. All haw done their duty. Vive la France." ■ Tbo same day the French witnessed heavy explosions within the fort, and next day tho Germans announced tho capture.