The Brftish Territorials.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 163, 16 December 1914, Page 5

The Brftish Territorials.

FINE FIGHTERS. EARN VETERANS' R INSPECT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 15, 5.45 p.m. . ri London, December 14. The, Times' correspondent in North ' France says the number of Territorials ] jat the front is much larger than is gen- 1 erally supposed. The Territorial has ' proved himself as fine a fighter as one could wish to meet. He shares with the regulars a personal ascendency over the German. The Territorials have been en-" trusted with heavy work. Many are now holding the trenches against superior odds. His high daring and fine enthusiasm act as a toniu to the regulars threatened with trench weariness. He fights with powerful restraint and selfpossession, gaining the respect of seasoned veterani, STORY OF A CHARGE. LINE BROKEN THREE TIMES. BINISHED BAYONET WORK. London, November 11. ■ "The London Scottish, who were the first Territorial regiment to taike their, place in the firing line, made a brilliant charge, and the officer commanding the regiment received the following telegram from Sir John French:—T wish you and your splendid regiment to accent my warmest congratulations and thanks for the fine work you did on Saturday. You have given a glorious load and example to all Territorial corps fightiii" m France.'" In these few words the Press Bureau gave the official information that the 'London Scottish led the Territorials in the fighting line. The gallantry of the men during their baptism of fire is strikingly shown by the following account from* one of the wounded:—"We were being subjected to a galling fire,'; he said, "not only from the enemy's artillery, but also from a large force of Bavarian infantry, which was strongly entrenched in a village ahead of us and covered by their big guns at the rear. Many of our men had already fallen victims to the fusilade, and it was evident that if we remained where we were we should soon be decimated. As we had expected and hoped for, we soon received instructions to take the enemy's position, and with the order, 'Fix bayonets—Charge!' we scampered across the large beet field which lay between us and the enemy as fast as our legs would carry us. A large number including myself, never succeeded in reaching the German trenches, falling victims to the hail of lead let loose upon us, but the remainder, though blown with the sprint over rough ground, used their bayonets with all their might and main. Wounded in the . leg by shrapnel, I crawled from the field to the shelter of some trees near by, and from there I could see our men hacking and stabbing at the Germans right and' left, until the whole was a -' mass of struggling men. Three' times ' our lines were broken, so desperate was 1 the resistance of' the enemy, who ap- < peared to be endless in noiubers, but ' our men, nevertheless, reformed on each i I occasion, and, under heavy fire, charged 1 again and again, with bayonets already dripping with blood. About this time i I lost consciousness, but lam told that • we at length took the position." The battalion, 1150 strong, which had 1 just done six hours'. marching before ' receiving the order, came under fire before they caught sight of the Germans. Forming up under cover of a wood lialf-a-mile or so away from the village, the Scottish went forward with a rush over some open beet fields, singing, cheering", and with the thrilling Scottish yell. Instantly they were met with a teri'iflic rain of shell from heavy howit- i zei-M, which ploughed the ground with deep ruts. In front was a series of open fields, with some farmhouses on the right, and here and there were wire entanglements and concealed ditches They began to fall thickly as the battalion advanced by short 'sprints, lying ' prone every now anc then to gain ' breath and take cover. As they got ' close up to the German trenches a rare I thing happened. The Bavarians pre- ' pared to charge with the bayonet! "We ' were now near enough to see the fierce ' glare in the eyes of the enemy as they ; waited for us," says'one of the wounded. ' "We gave them one great volley, and ' then bayonets were fixed, and in 'a long line we charged down on their trenches. The madness of that charge I shall never forget. There was no time to think of fear or danger. We were mad drunk with the excitement. The blood was coursing in our veins at express . speed, and our only thought was to close in the death-grip with the foe. Some of our boys yelled out, 'Scotland for ever!' and others were as silent as the grave. Their lines were strengthened at every; point, and they made a great stand against us, but we were fresh, and we slashed right and left with a will. They weakened after the first shock, and gradually fell back, fighting inch by inch, but each step we forced them back, their pace became and then they broke into a mad iace for life." So ferocious was the first charge that the Bavarians recoiled, but more and more came on. Five separate times the Scottish had to plunge into the horde, stabbing and hacking right and left in a wild medley. Rarely, stated a distinguished officer afterwards, had he scon more finished bayonet work.