THE WAY THE FRENCH FIGHT

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 211, 18 May 1915, Page 2

THE WAY THE FRENCH FIGHT

HEROIC STRUGGLE FOR A HILL. THREE DAYS' BATTLE NORTH OF ARRAS. PARIS, May 16. An officer wounded north of Arras states that the troop s at sunrise on Sunday received warning of an attack on the 'hill. Shouts of joy were raised. The artillery battered the Ger man trenches with terrific effect, hurling men and eitrth high in th e air. An advance was ordered at 7 a.m. The French crept to the wood on the outskirts whereof we|r e the first German trenches. A hail of bullets from mitralleuses burst on the attackers. Orders were given for a bayonet charge. At one rush they caifried the trenches. and then the second. The suddenness of the onslaught bewildered the Germans, and most of tjhem fled in terror of th e bayonet. The remainder were swiftly despatched. The French swept onward and breasted the hlil. When half-way up a dreaadful 'rifle fire from the crest checked the charge. The Frencih sought cover, but obtained little. They suffered terribly, but the

~7 s's" reropened, silencing 'the fire and tearing up the entanglements. The charge was resumed, under a murderous flanking fire, to the ruined entanglements, where there was a fresh terror. Holes were dug every yard. In each was a bayonet. The French paused, weary with four fours' up-hill struggle. Th e enemy rushed up masses of reserves. The French artillery made gaps, but the Germans swarmed the hill-top. The French carried another trench and pressed on a ■hundJ'ed metres. A fresh storm broke from the mitrailleuses. The French fell bark and rested for the night. They refought for the hill-top on Monday all day long. Victory came on Tuesday, when a double turning movement reached the goal.