GERMAN TREACHERY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 70, 21 November 1914, Page 5

GERMAN TREACHERY.

ABUSES OF THE WHITE FLAG. LONDON, October 9. Instances of the abuse of the White Flag and other signs of surrender by the Germans are constantly cited by our soldiers engaged in pursuing the enemy after the battle of the Marne, and on the long-drawn-out battle of the Aisne still in progress. Similar stories to the officers, " non-coms.," and privates of several regiments, and that the Germans do not play these scurvy tricks at the expense only of the British is evidenced by letters from French soldiers of all ranks which have appeared in the leading Parisian and provincial papers of our Ally. Here is the story of Private Wilson, of the Connaught Rangers, now in hospital in London, who was " knocked out" as he puts it, soon after our troops had crossed the Aisne. " The Rangers," he said, " were the leading battalion of the sth Brigade, and the Coldstreams were on our right, when about one mile the other side of the river scouts brought the news that Germans were enti'enched about 500 yards away, and their artillery was about a thousand yards back, waiting for us. We were about 800 strong, and opened fire, but were greatly handicapped by the crops in the field. We .were unable to lie down, to fire, as we could not see over the top of the growing turnips, and directly we popped up to have a shot their artillery and guns opened on us. We were greatly handicapped because we could not get our artillery up the hills. However, after half an hour's.fight reinforcements came, and a bayonet charge was made. Scores of dead Germans were then found in the trenches, and quite 400 Germans taken prisoners. The enemy at this engagement put up the white flag, but when the Coldstreams went to take them prisoners they were met with a very heavy fire, and lost a lot of lWes."