The Lid of Hell

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 13, 2 September 1914, Page 5

The Lid of Hell

STORIES BY THE RETURNED ... WOUNDED.

MEETING A GERMAN WEDGE.

(.Received: noon.)

London, September 1

Among the war stories is one by a wounded Highlander. Referring to the four (lavs’ battle, he says:—

“The Germans bluffed tbe French into the belie! that the main attack would lie near Charleroi. While they were'preparing lor the Germans, the latter, with a striking force of 400,000, were searching for the weakest opint, which was where the British happened to be placed. They hurled themselves at us, and before we could look round the lid of Hell was lifted. At first they advanced as though for a picnic. Wo ploughed gaps yards wide here and there. Then they realised that a funeral march would be more appropriate. When we first began to retreat on Monday, the Germans pressed all their available arms to harrass us and shepherd us into a position w here they could have driven a wedge between us and the French. Wo fought all we knew to prevent that achievement. Every man was aware that the safety of the French army depended on our firmness. The heaviest losses occurred in covering the retreat on Monday and the following days. It was then our guns were lost. Munster captured a few German horses. The last I saw was Munster and horses dragging a gun away.” BRAVE IRISH LADS. Another of the wounded states: — “I saw a handful of Irishmen throw themselves in front of a regiment of cavalry trying to cut off the horses from the battery. Not one of the poor lads escaped, but later they were finall yavenged. The cavalry came down, and the Irish lads used their bayonets.”