CAPTURE BY CANDLELIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 July 1917, Page 6

CAPTURE BY CANDLELIGHT.

A Canadian corporal who has just returned wounded from the Arras front tells a remarkable story of an adventure in a deep dug-out. He and a companion, having first thrown down four bombs, went forward into the darkness but, hearing voices a tthe far end of the cavern, they retired, and in a few minutes were joined by a subaltern and his orderly. None of them possessed a torch, but the orderly discovered a candle-end of his haversack, and the party decided to try again. Arrived at the bottom of the steps, they found revealed a huge, ghostly-looking cavern. Then a murmurous clamour broke out from the far end, and the advancing glimmer of light showed a huddled crowd of Huns, all standing with hans well over their heads. Then the candle went out, and the subaltern, shouted that if any man moved an inch he'd bomb them. The candle was relighted, but it was a ticklish situation, and the officer had to think quickly and act with confidence, whatever, he might feel. He ordered the Huns to advance in threes and pile their arms. By threes they were all marched up into daylight, and threes the orderly despatched them to the rear. All except four. These four were officers, and they were kept back until a proper escort could be found. Apart from these four officers, the rank-and-file numbered 103. It is to be noted that there were two rear entrances to the dug-out, yet not one man attempted to escape.