LANCERS' DARING RAID.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 24 November 1914, Page 6

LANCERS' DARING RAID.

CAPTURE OF SUPPLIES. SMART AMBUSH SUCCEEDS. Through a cleverly-executed ambuaii during the German retreat from thd Marne, a party of British Lancers captured a whole supply column with great daring and without the loss of a single man. This great feat, says a private of the Cameronians now in the Birminghan hospital, was the cause of the starvation which a pait of the German retreating force suffered. "A party of the Royal Irish Lancers," he says, "were out scouting and patrolling one day, when a sergeant-major and a trooper who were ahead, came on a 1 long, straggling line of German transport waggons, loaded up, and a happy-go-lucky escort. The Lancers, though they did not know it, had cut into the enemy's line of retreat. Then men were got together quickly, and they moved up the road to where there was an ideal spot for ambushing the convoy. It had to pass over a narrow stone bridge that I was commanded by a clump of trees, v in which our men were able to take .shelter and hide their horses. . "The escort with the waggons were at .least five times the strength of the lancers, but that did not trouble them very -much. They waited until the head of .the column was straggling across the .bridge, and then they emptied their carbines into them along a wide front that ■ gave the impression of a largo force. The Germans were completely taken by Their horses started to rear and plunge, and many men and animals went over into the stream, being carried ■ away. The motor waggons could not be I stopped in time, and they crashed into each other in hopeless confusion. "Into this confused mass of frightened men and horses and waggons that had run amock the Lancers now charged from two separate points, setting up the most awful eries in English where they didn't know any other language, ■-but, as some knew little French anil jothers more Irish they joined in, and all that added to the confusion of the Hermans, who must have fancied that all the allied army had come down upon JJiem. The Lancers made short work of ( -the escort at the head of the column, and the officer in command agreed to surrender all that was under his direct ..control, though lie said lie couldn't account for the rearguard. When we came ,np on motors to seize a. position for • the purpose of heading off the Germans in retreat, we found the Lancers waiting there with all their spoil, and get* • .ting ready to receive the rest of the. -escort, in case it should show fight. • ■There wasn't much light left in them, •.and they surrendered at sight, giving up the whole supply column. "That's how so many of the Germans had to clear off without either food or with the allies close 011 their heels. 111 that little fight the Ger■nians lost over 80 killed, 300 wounded, and about 40 drowned, wlieras the Lan«,crs didn't lose a single man, only five wounded. Tf tho German officers had the slightest notion of the weakness of the attacking force, they could have eaten up the little force with comparative, easf. It was only their pluck and daring that carried them r through." ,

to return to their own country, as they can neither cross France nor get to any Continental port by boat. Two hundred thousand men liors de combat! This is as good as a great victory in the field. It is even better than a great military success, since the victory in this case lias boon gained without any loss, by the mere expression of will—"No thoroughfare!" THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER. To show the sincerity of Russia's efforts to reorganise her armies after the inglorious Manchurian campaign, it may be said that two refortas adopted were the banishment of vodka—Russian whisky—and the introduction of English games. Leading English footballers were engaged to teach the troops how to pfay, ad other English games spread widely, through the army. Germany long ago copied our games, and became very adept 'at them, too. Frenchmen have for many years have been trying to cultivate a passion for sport, and English games have been as great a fashion as English clothes. It is worth remembering that continental nations still regard the Englishman as their beau ideal, and frankly try to reach his pitc/i oE manhood by adopting his habits. The physique of the officers and men .of the Russian army is better than that of the Germans. The Russian peasant has colossal powers of endurance, and is accustomed to travel enormous distances on foot. He has never been much pampered bv civilisation. He likes, too, much alco .is an inordinate smoker of coarse < -M-te tobaccohe is affected by neit An ambitious military genius, look; . round for men to conquer the world, woiiM probably ask for nothing better than the Russians.

THE RAIDS INTO RUSSIA. ' The German raids into Russia which have been beaten back have served one purpose. They have shown the public that the concentration and much vaunted preparations of the Germans were matched by those of General Rennenkampf, the man who works in the dark. He has had to hold a frontier of great length, from the Baltic almost to Kalisch, against these experimental invasions, and at the same time be ready for the real German attack, which is Relieved to he imminent, Of his strength, his dispositions, and his equipment, nothing is better known. lie has drawn the censorship around him like a mantle, but it is ready that he ivas not only ready but alertly and brilliantly prepared for all eventualities. During the fighting on Niemen there appeared for the first time a new pattern of the Russian gun of a large calibre and considerable mobility. Naturally no details were issued concerning its construction and .principal features, but it is a product of the famous Putilof works. Experts who watched the performance are said to bo satisfied that it is equal in power and effect to anything the Germans have yet shown. On the Prussian frontier two of these guns silenced (tho German's batteries iry ten minutes and the German guns were afterwards abandoned in their positions. Bvcry gunner had been killed. A large quantity of German stores and transport had been abandoned on account of the state of the roads.