IN AUGUSTWO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 20 November 1914, Page 3

IN AUGUSTWO.

RUSSIAN VICTORY OVER GERMANS. Petrograd, October 6. A graphic description of an tpisodc during the battle of Augustwo lt»s been supplied to the Courier, by a artillery officer. "It was during the second wesk oi this series of stubborn engagements," the officer said. "The Germans were trying to occupy tho -western outlets of the Augustwo forests in order to check the impetuous attaeks of our troops, but all their efforts were thwarted.

"The. main forces of the enemy's artillery were at this time concentrated to the west, in which direction the Russian army was pushing forward in an irresistible stream. On emerging from the forests, out troops were met by a deadly fire from the Germans, wno had occupied positions enablag them to sweep the open ground in front of the trees and from the three sides of a square.

ORDERED TO TAKE THE HEX. "To paralyse the activity of the Prussian batteries, it was necessary to hold the nearest height, and the command was given to occupy the position and fire. The position in question was a high hill, the only elevated position among the marshes and lakes, and it dominated all the country round about. "Under the murderous fire of the enemy's shrapnel our first guns ascended the slope of the hill. The soldiers were full of energy and determination, the gunners and infantrymen crawling among the horses and helping to drag the heavy guns forward. All were pulling and pushing, and gradually ascending. Belts, straps and cords were all called into use, alternately piled upon the horses and being used with blocks of wood to prevent the wheels from slipping back. Thus thev slowly hugged their way up the hill, and panting and perspiring soldiers entangled together—a confused mass of struggling humanity. "At last ft gun reached the plateau, and a sigh of relief went up from the exhausted men. Far below dark groups of German troops were visible, their fire echoing the commands of a young lieutenant. Our soldiers were chuckling with delight, though the enemy was bespattering the hill with shrapnel.

BATTERY REACHES HEIGHT. "A second and a third gun were brought up, and soon tlio entire battery was on the height. There was a shrill whirr, and a-colossal projectile from the enemy burst with a deafening report, a cloud of earth was flung up and splinters n"d cVbris sent flving in all directions. Two linrnei mid fo'ir men were killed by this shot, and several were wounded.

"A gun fell on its side with a broken iwheel, but the gunners left it for a new one and continued on their work as if nothing had happened. But the fire goon yielded good results tit a distance of about a verst (two-thirds of a mile) Heaps of the enemy's slain soldiers and mans were retiring, but the quick fire of our artillery was soon thundering in their rear, and their retreat became hurried and disorderly. "Like mushrooms, our cavalry, who had been hidden by artillery, sprung up on all sides from their concealed positions, pursued and overtook the struggling Germans. Rays of sunshine pierced the thick clouds of smoke and glinted back the shining cavalry swords which were hewing paths through the enemy's regiments. "From different directions the. sound of military bands were heard, and then a tremendous 'huTrah' was raised, and

a general galloped through the ranks congratulating the troops. The cheers resounded with double force and echoed away through all the detachments of the anny."~-San Francisco Chronicle.