DETAILS OF FIGHTING

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 698, 26 August 1914, Page 5

DETAILS OF FIGHTING

"[ STORY BY EYE-WITNESSES • » ' ■--< MARCH ON CHARLEROI Received th'is day, 11 a.m. Osfcend, Tuesday Eye-witnesses of the fighting state the Germans descended on Charleroi, preceded by swarms of scouts The latter reached the upper town of Charleroi on Saturday morning owing to the khaki detachment of Death's Head Hussars being mistaken for Englishmen as cabled The French had machine guns in an avenue and viaduct commanding the Ganappe road; others were placed at Waterloo commanding the Fleurus road The Germans captured fifteen miners coming from work and marched them at the head of the column still carrying their safety lamps. Elsewhere they forced six civilians to march at the head of the column

The German artillery were posted on the outskirts of the upper town and shelled the railway station and salient points of the lower town, trying to force a passage across the bridges of'the Sambre

Street fighting proceeded throughout Saturday morning at Charleroi. Many were killed by the quickfirera and the bodies were lying in heaps North of Charleroi the French artillery opened fire on th 9 wood. Fresh forces of cavalry charged and drove the Germans out of the wood half way between Namur and Charleroi

A battery of four French guns shelled the Germans out of the wood.

When they came the French opened rifle fire right and left,, and shot down the whole column It was a terrifying spectacle