The Battle of Mons

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

The Battle of Mons

GERMAN ARTILLERY THE DECIDING FACTOR.

THEIR RIFLE-SHOOTING POOR. Received 2, 7.50 p.m. London, September 1 (evening). Wounded members of the West Kent Regiment state that South Africa was a gamo of skittles compared with Mom. The Germans came in great masses. It was like shooting rabbits, only that as fast as one was Bhot another replaced h:m. Rifle-bullets caused a very small proportion of the Englishmen's wounded,. whereas the effects of the shells were terrible.

VICTORIA CROSS HERO. GONE TO HIS DOOM. Received 2, 11.55 p.m. London, September 2 (morning). During the fight at Mons, a handful of Britisher., held a canal bridge against overwhelming odds. The Germans, a hundred yards away, were preparing to rush the bridge, when an engineer-ser-geant saw that if they succeeded a section of the Britishers would be cut off. ISo little time was there to dynamite the bridge that the sergeant was only able to employ a. few inches of fuse. He ran forward and destroyed the bridge, but the sergeant's head was blown off, and, as an eye-witness said, "another Victoria Cross was saved."

A TREACHEROUS GUIDE. -MEETS WELL-DESERVED FATE.

Received 2, <j.oO p.ri. London, September 1 (I'vening). During the fighting at Hons, an interpreter and guide in French uniform led the British advance party into many nasty situations, and eventually into the arms of a superior German force, but the British escaped. The relator saw the captain shoot the guide. HIGHLANDERS' LEGS AS TARGETS. Kcceived 2, f1.50 p.m. London, September 1. There is a consensus of opinion among the wounded in. England that the German rifle fire is extremely poor. Even their overwhelming numbers would probably not have availed but for the exeellant German gun fire.

The wounded men also state that'the reason why so many Highlanders were wounded in the legs and feet was that their legs were easily visible at a distance against the khaki.