HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 5

HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT.

ENCOUNTER WITH A COLONEL. An account of a hand-to-hand light between a Belgian sergeant, and a Prussian colonel was given by Mr. JI. 11. Donohoe, tho Daily Chronicle',, sipec; correspondent in Belgium, on August 11. Mr. Donohoe visited a hospital at Bruaeels where he chatted with maiiiyi of the Belgian and German wounded who bad tbecn injured near Liege, describing a thrilling encounter which he had with •■: ■ Prussian colonel. When a party of Lilians attempted to nish the Belgian j outpost*, many of the Prussian fell mij der rifle lire. The colonel leading them j still rode forward brandishing ibis sword vntil be encountered the Belgian troops. His horse was bayoneted by the sergeant, and as the thrust went home, the poor animal fell on the. Belgian, knocking him down. When he. regained his feet the Prussian officer, whose foot had been caught in the stirrup, had also managed to extricate himself. Then began a terrible hand-to-hand struggle, between the officer and the Belgian sergeant, which ended by in Belgian dashing out his confluent's brains with the butt of his riile. The sergeant did not come off scathless, for he received a shot in tho thigh from the officer's revolver. For hours after the end of this deKperato encounter the victor lay helpless on the iiold, momentarily expecting death at the bands of marauding Prussians. Ultimately he wa.s rescued by the Belgian ambulance. The sergeant was -very proud ami lapny, for the Kim; visited I linn and voiif'ratalated him on his bravery.