BATTLE INCIDENTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 207, 8 September 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

BATTLE INCIDENTS.

OUR COOL MEN. BACON AND EGGS AXD A GOOD VIEW OF THE BATTLE. An officer writes:— 1 am bitting on the battlefield w:th a good view of the battle, eating bacon and eggs! Nothing perturbs us. Even - in the midst of our consolidating the enemy trenches the postman arrived with the day's letters! Extract from a Scottish letter:--For coolness in action our Scottish troops are unbeatable. One great act of gallantry was recorded yesterday when our trench mortar battery was in action. The mortar shells, which are packed in cases, were being banded from man to man to the man working the gun. and as the shells were being passed one of the men heard the fuse burning inside a shell. Know* ing that the shell would explode in a few seconds, he calmly walked with : t in his hands jo a trench, into which he threw it. The shell exploded immediately afterwards, and by this wonderful act of bravery he saved the live* of the whole of his section. A private of the Scottish Borderers was wounded in the knee just after capturing two Germans. One of the Germans gave the Borderer a cigar, which the Scot began to smoke. Just afterwards he saw a stretcher lying on the ground near by; th's he made the Germans bringing, and, seating himself en it, them to our dressing station.

BLONDE BEASTS" TORTURE. WOUNDED BRITISH OFFICER TIED TO A PARAPET. With the British Army in the Field, Tuesday, July 11. A British officer wounded in the battle was picked up and taken into a German trench. A colloquy ensued as to what should be done with him, the popular German idea being to despatch him forthwith. Ultimately two real Hun officers won considerable approbation for a suggestion which was carried into* effect. The helpless Englishman was hoisted on to the parapet of the trench and tied, being jieeringlyi informed, "You w : l! now see what your cursed bombardment is like.' -

The gallant Huns then descended into their deep dug-out, where I trust and beleve they were bombed to extinction by our infantry who stormed the place soon afterwards and carried back the wounded officer, no further injured by the horrible ordeal. I thought of this as I noted the treatment shown to a captured Wurtteniberg lieutenant yesterday, who was asked by one of our officers whether he would like a wash, whether las servant was among the prisoners in the oute* yard, whether he was hungry or thirsty; whether, ; n short, there was anything under the brilliant July sun he possibly wanted. Truly, as a Boche psychologist has sad, "We shall never be gentlemen, and you will always be fools." Wh> will grumble at the d ; stinct''on ?—Reuter's Special.

ENEMY'S LOSSES. WHAT CAPTURED DOCUMENTS REVEAL. The following captured document» are of interest as showing the very heavy casualties which the enemy has suffered in the recent fighting:—' From a company of the 16th Bavarian Regiment to 3rd Battalion 16tli Bavarian Infantry: 'Severe enemv artillery fire of all calibres up to centimetres (llin.) on company sector. Company strength 1 officer, 12 men. Beg urgently speedy relief for the company. What rema : ns of the company is so exhausted that in case of an attack by the enemy the few totally exhausted hen cannot be counted on."

From another company of the same regiment to 3rd Battalion 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment: " Very heavy intense enemy fir.e on company sector. The company lias completely" lost ts fighting value. The men left are .-.y exhausted that the,- can no longer lie employed in fighting. If heavy arti'lery fire continues the company will soon he entirely exterminated. Relief for the company is urgently requested,"

From 2nd Battalion to 3rd Battalion i«ch Bavarian Infantry Regiment: "The battalion has just received orders from Lieutenant-Colonel Kumme that it is placed under orders of the 3rd Battalion 16th Bavarian Regiment as sector reserve. Battalion consists ac present time of 3 officers. 2 non-com-missioned officers, and 19 men." (The strength of a German battalion is from 1,000 to 1,200 men.)