A CANADIAN RUSE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 252, 15 July 1915, Page 2

A CANADIAN RUSE.

GERMANS CLEVERLY TRAPPED. LURED TO FRONT TRENCHES. THEN HEAVILY SHELLED. Th© official “Eye-witness” with the Canadian forces states that after the battle of Langemarck the Canadians rested until May 14, and then moved to the southern section of the British line. Following is an examle of the result of our citizen army not keeping to the Drill Book rules. The Canadian battalion arranged that its artillery should open a heavy fire on a section of the German trench,', wlbibe 'the infantky made an ostentatious parade of fixing bayonets and rigging trench ladders. The Germans promptly retired to the supporting trenches, leaving the storm of shells to rage along the front, but ready to rush back when the fire stopped to meet the Canadian charge. The guns were duly lifted from th e front trenches, and shelled the supporting trenches, as the Drill Book states, to prevent the Germans coming up. The Germans nevertheless returned. The Canadians did not move, and, instead, th e artillery shortened the range. A blast of fir e fell in the crow, ded front trneches. Next day the German wireless announced that a desperate attack had been repulsed, but the real fact was disclosed by a German who, entering the trenches for th e night watch, cried out, peevishly, “Say, Sam Slick, no dirty tricks to-night!” The Second Brigade attacked the fortified position called “Bexhill,” on May 21, and captured a section of the trench. A detachment of British troops next night, including King Edward’s Horse and Strathcona’s Horse, took ovdr th 0 trenches, both serving as infantry. This was their first introduction to warfare.

The 23rd passed without incident, though the enemy threatened to attack King Edward’s Horse, but broke in the face of heavy artillery fire. The Canadians again attack at daybreak on th e 24th, captui’ed positions, dug themselves in, and hung on, assisted by a ring of shrapnel, while the heavy guns distracted the German artillery. Colonel Seely, ex-British Minister for Wi.c, now assumed command, and the position was held, the total losses of th e brigade in connection with the Bexhill fight being 55 officers and 980 men, “Eye-witness” describes many deeds of bravery, including the following in connection with the Ontario Regiment's frontal attack on a trench railed Stony Mountain, near La Bassee. Private Vincent, a lumberjack, mounted a. machine-ghn Qfi his back in default of a base. Privat 0 Smith, son of an Ontario Methodist minister, was buried by the explosion of a mine, but dug himself out and crawled to the front line fivetimes to supply bomb-throwers with bombs. The German fire was so hot that he had to lie down and toss the bombs to the men in. the captured trenches. When the supply of bombs was exhausted, a Canadian, whose name is not known, was seen standing on the parapet of a German trench, leaping with rage, and hurling bricks and stones at the enemy until he was killed. The remnants of tihe Ontario Regiment were finally forced to evacuate the ground won. Out of twenty-three officers attacking Stony Mountain twenty were killed or wounded.