REHEARSED FIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 November 1917, Page 6

REHEARSED FIGHT.

'FORTY FRENCHMEN BEAT ; BEST •OF TROOPS The story of the rout of Germany's model battalion of: storm-troops is told by Mr Henry Wood/ United Press Association correspondent, in describing the recent fighting on the Aisne. He writes:— Forty dismounted French dragoons were the heroes of the,fight, and this victory is the more important because the battalion was commanded by Cap--tain inventor of storm-troop fighting The forty dragoons lost half their number, but effected the complete destruction of' two whole companies of storm troops, and, after being driven ; back for 200 yards, regained all the

Airmen secured photographs of the spot where these troops were going through full-dress rehearsals of the assault on Hill 304 but it was impossible for the French to overcome the element of surprise. . iy ,\ It was at 6.30 in the evening thai the forty dragoons, holding one of the most important advancec posts before Hill 304, saw the storm troops leap unexpectedly to the attack. Their oncoming waves were formed in ail the perfected details of Captain ! Ro-hr's new tactics.

First of all, at mathematical intervals, three crews of hand grenadiers. Still further behind a line of troops armed with entrenching tools and rifles. •' -".:■>' . d i=V sria-f-:-- - Then the occupation troops, whose duty it is to organise and hold the ground conquered^ Finally, the troops bringing up the grenades, munitions, and sandbags for the fight. The first which consisted of a frontal attack, was quickly repulsed, but almost as quickly followed by a flank attack for the purpose of capturing the trench held by the forty i dismounted dragoons.

FOUGHT ON HALF BURIED One dragoon named Luduc was buried* by a torpedo in his hips. Twice two groups of four Germans each advanced to take him prisoner, and twice he forced them back with his hand grenades till his companions could come to his rescue. . With nearly all the officers quickly killed, Sergeant B'endenant took the command and began the organisation

of the trench. At every angle a crew of six men were left, two to throw grenades from above, whilst the others passed them up. As fast as each one of these groups was wiped out by the superior number of the storm-troops it was only to find itself confronted by' an equally determined grpup at the next turning of the trench Down this trench, then, the Germans fought their way an angle at a time. In the meantime two French dragoons Gouham and Lebouder, who had defended the first angle till their comrades were killed, had succeeded, although each was badly wounded, in concealing themselves, well knowing that sooner or later their comrades would counter-attack.

After three hours and a-half of this hand-to-hand fighting the French dragoons had been driven down the trench 200 yards. It was then 11.30 at night. Over half their number were killed or missing but with the first sign of weakening Sergeant Bendemant ordered the remainder of his little handful to attack the retreating Germans. In fewer minutes than there were remaining dragoons the latter had fought their way back to the original position while what was left of the storm troops and the waves of occupation melted batek into tine German lines. The ground was strewn with German bodies