HEROIC IRISHMEN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 68, 20 March 1916, Page 7

HEROIC IRISHMEN.

COVERING A RETREAT. THEY SAVE THE FRENCH AND BRITISH FORCES. The following communique, issued from the ;War Office through the Press Bureau, describes .the closing phase of the great battle with the Bulgarians in which the Irish Division saved the main French and English armies from being cut off by the

enemy:— I "After sustaining violent attacks delivered by the enemy in overwhelming numbers, the 10th Division succeeded, with the help of reinforcements, in retiring to a strong position from Lake Doiran westwards towards the valley of the Vardar. "In conjunction with cur Allies, ; the division is reported to have fought well against very heavy odds, 'and it was largely due to the gallantry of the troops-and especially of the Munster Fusiliers, the Dublin Fusiliers, and the Connaught Rangers—that the withdrawal was successfully accom-

plished. "Owing to the mountainous nature >.f the country, it was necessary to place eight field guns for purposes of defence in positions from which it was impossible to withdraw them when the retirement took place. "Our casualties amounted to some 1500 men." HOjW THE BATTLE RAGED. A vivid account of the battle is given by Renter's special correspondent. - Telegraphing from the British headquarters in Macedonia, he said:— The first onslaught of the Bulgarians was not pressed with vigour, and was easily repulsed, but withj constantly increasing strength and with the weather conditions in their favour, the Bulgarians soon began to

make things hot for our first line. Under cover of the mist, which presented our longer-ranged field guns registering with accuracy, they brought numerous mountain-guns to rcsitions which were impracticable for our le?s mcbi'e pieces -and opened a murderous fire at close range. Of course, the same conditions of mist told against the accuracy of their fire, but, nevertheless, the superiority in + he number of guns in action was '—'-nd to m'ake itself felt. Exposed to this hot gruelling, and N~ o ot eT ,ed partly on our flank owing to the French retirement, our position -Scon became xmtenable, and the men of the Irish Division were withdrawn to the second line, which had been prepared a long time in advance. BETTER MEN THAN THE BULGARS.

During these engagements, the fighting often became very close, owing to the mists; but the gallant Connaughts, Munsters, and Dublins proved themselves better men than the Bulgars, even with the latter's own favourite weapon—the bayonet. Probably the cold made them appreciate. almost as a luxury, this form of exercise, but certain it is that, time and again, the enemy was driven off in a series of hand-to-hand encounters in which they suffered heavy loss. But the enemy's superiority of numbers, and especially their mountain- . guns, could not fail to predominate in the long run, we being entirely unprovided with these useful and indispensable weapons; and we retired to the second line, the French having meanwhile abandoned the bridgehead of Grade tz and Hill 516. IMPORTANCE OF THE STAND. The importance of our stand in these positions is difficult to exaggerate, because had the Bulgarians suc-

ceeded in pushing through, as doubtless they hoped and intended to do, they would have cut off the retreat of the main body of the French as well as...the British, and this would probably have led to a. grave reverse. The splendid tenacity of the Irish Division, however, defeated the ene-

my's hopes ,and gave the French command, as well as our own, ample time to proceed with the withdrawal in a methodical and orderly manner.

Another correspondent states that two companies of the Inniskillings did splendid work in holding on to the ridge known as Kevis Crest and keeping back the Bulgarians. Hardly a man escaped, but their stand delayed the Bulgarians, thus giving much-need-ed time for the completion of defensive dispositions on the third line. SUGGESTED PUBLIC THANKS. The "Star" in an article headed "Let us Thank Ireland," says:—"Hi-

therto the heroic sacrifices of the Irish regiments have been masked and hidden by official secrecy. Now at last tihe veil been torn down, and Irish valour is getting its due. The Munsters, Dublins, and Connaughts fought with the bayonet to save their comrades. Irish steel met Bulgarian steel unfalteringly and unflinchingly. Our casualties amounted to some

1500 men, and of these losses it is to be feared that a great part was sustained by the Irish regiments. Let full honour be paid to the Irish soldiers. Let it be public honour. The House of Commons and the House of Lords ought to sweep aside all punctilio and precedent, and pass a unanimous and simultaneous vote of thanks to the Irish regiments. Such a vote would seal the Irish sacrifice for all time. It would solace the grief of Ireland over her fallen sons. Let it .be done, and done quickly."