"UP, MY CHILDREN."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 179, 2 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

"UP, MY CHILDREN."

MAJOR'S COOL HEROISM IN DOUAUMONT ASSAULT.

A sergeant of sharpshooters, wounded iu the French recapture of Douaumoiit, and now in hospital at Troves, narrates an heroic incident of the fight. "About 2 o'clock on February 26," he says, '• the bombardment of eur line by the German heavy guns was particularly severe. Every two or three yards there was a crater, and the grornd was ploughed all round by the explosion jf shells.

" Under this bombardment part o 1 our line hesitated. Without abandoning the position, the men fell back a little, and. lying prone, took cover behind the folds of the ground. "Major de Fontreaux at once took a rifle, and, alone, under the rain.of lire, ,-trode calmly up to the place where the men were sheltering. Then he stopped, and, in thrilling tones, shouted, "Up, my children!" " Instantly the 'children' of Major de Fontreaux stood around their chief. He numbered them off by fours, gave the command, 'Forward, march!' and then, rifle on shoulder, led toem on to the a.-sault,

DEX.SK HANKS DECIMATED

" I have been through the whole campaign, but never s.;w anything more pure and noble. ''While our 7o's and mitrailleuses tired and decimated them, a colonel of Chasseu's noticed that two machineguns which might have caught the enemy in the flank were not firing He at nine went over and found that the men serving them had been killed. So lie took a man with him to fix the cartridge bands and he himself worked the two mitrailleuses simultaneously.

"The Boches have not stuck at forbidden stratagems. Ono. ot put on some of our blue overt oats and helmets, one using a stretcher-bearer'* armlet. Sn disguised they readied our trenches, and before we detected them, threw in some grenades. But we revenged our dead. 11 1 knew that one of our ambulances was deliberately bombed by their aviator-..

A PRAYER OK THE ENGLISH

We drew the sword- but not for selfish uainTbat we might keep our faith, and help the weak. \\ herefor<', 0 Lord, have pity -iii ..ur pain: We listen. Sneak.

And lead us forth to victory in Thy name, That once again mav peace V u ail lands, That little children starve and die no more, And where the canon stands

To nn.w down mon in ulia>tlv, bWdimt swath l -. Aiiiiin uiiiy happy peoples I'll ilie Mii' Knowing that never war-mad tyraiuV I>;i t lis >!iall lead them from their toil.

Oh. 1 =-.-,! ~>.. r..ml. Thou km.wc-t well our hearts: Thou knowe.-t thai wo r-iri\e lo do Thy will. ]fr!p u«. that wo may stout'j play mi. Darts As (its Thy p.-'|'h- -tdl. - !>wiglit Spiit-r, in the "di'ha I'; i" Number of " 1.if0." New Y.ak.