Scottish Gallantry.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 August 1918, Page 6

Scottish Gallantry.

' „ GERMANS PUSHED BACK. MAGNIFICENT FEAT OF ARMS. LONDON, August 2, i Describing the Scotsman’s attack at Buzancy, Mr. James Campbell states that the Germans wore holding on like grim death in order to protect the - .western gateway of the Vesle, the Oarcq, and the Crise Plateau. The struggle developed frightful •violence, and bayoneting in the streets was common. The fighting was typified by the case of a German officer and a Scotsman, who were found locked in a death embrace. The officer was holding a revolver, with which he had shot his antagonist, while the Scotsman was holding his fiayonet, which was deep in the officer’s body. The district was stiff with machine guns, which the Scots faced with unsurpassed gallantry. The enemy resisted- to the last. Tanks and guns Were found ringed with dead or wounded. In an earlier message the correspondent, describing the work of the Scottish divisions in Mangin’s army between the Aisne and the Ourcq, emphasised their heroic courage and endurance. The division had been in the Arras sector for seven months, and the men being sent to the Marne had to make a night march of 10 miles to the front in unknown country to relieve the Americans. They arrived at midnight, and were ordered to attack at dawn. The Germans were waiting for the attack. Their guns, especially heavies, were probably more numerous on this sector than anywhere else on the battlefield, The division at midnight was in line on the Chaudun Plateau facing the Soissons-Chateau Thierry road. The plateau is flat and shelterless, except for a few small woods, which already were strewn with dead Germans, Americans, and French. The division attacked at dawn, and met the strongest resistance. The German machine guns took them in the flank, but the Scots advanced a considerable distance and consolidated their new front, despite the most vigorous opposition. The American artillery, seeing that the British were unable to move up their guns in time, volunteered to remain in the sector and help the division. The offer was accepted, and the American gunners rendered excellent service. This attack was made on the morning of July 23. For three days the division held the new line under terrible fire, and on July 28 attacked the •village park and the chateau at Buzancy. The first wave swept through the village and captured the heights beyond. The remaining waves had to clear up the village. Experienced warriors who participated in it described it as one of the hardest fights of the war. The village was stuffed with machine-guns, and was surrounded by deep caves, •which were veritable fortresses where the Germans fought to the last. The men had to scale a wall singly under machine gun fire, and to tackle machine gun nests separately. The fight was won by the evening, I with over 250 prisoners, after a terrible struggle. It was a magnificent feat of. arms, which will be remember- j ed as one of the finest annals in Brit- , ash history. ! TURKISH BEYS REPATRIATED. j , ■ GIRLS SOLD CHEAP TO SAVE FEEDING THEM. London. Two influential Turks are being sent home to Constantinople—Reshi;! Sadi Bey, who was a cigarette merchant in Bond Street for some years, and was interned by Lord Kitchener’s orders in 1915; and Ayoub Sabri Bey, who was captured at sea while trying to reach Albania. They have been helpful to us in making certain ar'raiigemOnts recently - . These two Turks were ornaments of the Young Turk party. Ayoub was vice-president of the Committee of Union and Progress, a body with little union and no progress. : Another prominent Turk now being repatriated is Zinnoim Bey. He and Ayoub are to be sent Over In a batch of 1000 Turkish prisoners who are being exchanged for 1000 British and Indian prisoners.