"Lid of Hell."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 3 September 1914, Page 5

"Lid of Hell."

HIGHLANDER'S GJtAPHIC ACOOU-NT OF TflE SIGHTING. the Germans' intentions fully UNDERSTOOD. ' BUT EVENTUALLY FRUSTRATED. BRITISHERS' GREAT GALLANTRY.

London, September I. Among the war stories is one by a wounded Highlander. Referring to the four days' battle, he says: "Tlic Germans bluffed the French into the belief that tho main attack would be near Quirleroi. A\ liil® they were preparing for tho Germans, the latter, with a striking force of 400,000, were searching weakest point, which was \ylierft 1 the British happened to be placed. They hurled themselves at "its;-- and before" we could look round tin: lid of hell was lifted. At first they advanced as though for a. picnic, but we ploughed gaps yarus wide here and there, and they then realised that a funeral march would be more appropriate. When we first began to retreat, on -Monday, tho Germans presseil all available arms to harass us and shepherd us into a position where they could have driven a wedge, between us and tho Freneh. We fought all we knew to prevent that achievement. Every man was aware that the safety of the French army depended on our firmness. The heaviest losses occurred in covering the retreat on Monday and the following days. It was then our guns wore lost. . The guns had weak infantry supports, which did their utmost to stay tho onward rush. Bluish grey clouds of German marksmen picked off our horses, then the cavalry swooped down. The officers realised it was useless to make further sacrifices, and ordered the abandonment of the gun.?. I only saw one battery thus lost. In another case tho iSancers swooped down and killed the last men of one battery, but the situation was saved by a couple of companies of Munster Fusiliers, who rushed at the enemy with fixed bayonets and put them to flight. Later the Ministers captured a few Gcrmau horses. The last I saw was the Ministers and the horses dragging the I gun away.

Another of the wounded states: "I saw a luutdful of Irishman throw themselves in front of a regiment of cavalry which was trying to cut off the horses from the battery. Not one of tho poor lads escaped, but later they were finely avenged when the cavalry came down. The Irish lads used their bayonets,"

HOW HIGHLANDERS SURRENDER.

"COME AND FETCH US." London, September 1. Two special constables in Lftndon have bt!«) remanded for failing to regis-' t.'i' as. Germans. A private in the Seaforth Highlanders (Rossshire Buffs) declares: "It was simply grand to sec the cool way the men liliwwl away at solid German masses. Cm- company exhausted its ammunition. A German officer, under a white flag, offered to spare the company if it surrendered. The men only laughed, and to'.' him to 'Come and fet-h us.' The Gt'"!".ans crept closer and closer, and, whi-n they thought they had U6, we ruhhi'd Uicui. to show how the British i sum lidw, with tho bayonets. They I wi'. • Kinipletely taken aback, and met us with t-lubbod rifles, but' we fought on,;- wn.v out safely." :

attack wounded. MEN. ;A BRITISH BEROEAVr« ■STORY. London, September 1. jfr Donohiiu relates that a sergeant of ilia '.Middlesex Regiment, wounded at Moiim, lay helpless when the German infantry swept by, and the ■ cries qf the v, winded told him tlley were being ruth* lefvsly slaughtered. The sergeant Simula death, but as the Germans passed

!"• r.-ceived a violent blow on the chest v.-iUi a rifle-butt, which broke a rib, and another Prussian stabbed liirn bayonet. . , . 4 •!