BATTLE OF DIXMUDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 214, 17 February 1915, Page 2

BATTLE OF DIXMUDE.

FRENCH MARINES' GALLANTRY. . From all time it has been known that the marines of any country are the hardest fighters on hind, and a small company of 150 marines who, it is now admitted, practically saved the situation' at Dixmude recently, well maintained the old reputation. It was at . five o'clock i n the morning that the German batteries, by the heavy fire they pourer upon Dixmude, gave an unmistakable sign that an attack in force was con- ! templated. The fire of the guns, which was kept up from five in the morning till twelve o'clock in the afternoon, would have sufficed, by itself to have destroy- ' ed all Dixmude a second time had any ' of its houses been left standing. The French and Belgian troops, inean- ; while remained in the trenches waiting for the. attack. This camp about i one o'clock, soon after the batteries t ceased. The Germans came along in deep and close ranks, and opened fire on ' the trenches in series of three ■ columns ■ at a time. One of these mass movements got round the old mill at the extremity of the Belgian lines, and threatened to outflank. The Belgians received orders to fall back towards Dixmude, as they were largely outnumbered. This movement was. immediately followed by that of the French troops, who had evidently mistaken a partial order for a general order to fall back. , This move of theirs completely left the Ismail detachment of naval fusiliers exposed, but the French marines, who had not moved an inch, stuck to their ground land hold the road to Glerken. Mean- < while, great bodies of German troops had moved along the road to Kcyem, and also that to Essen, and finally a largo detachment came with a rush i to take the cemetery just behind the marines. , The moment was a critical one. The Germans, seeing their superiority in numbers, surrounded the marines and demanded their surrender, but the latter continued firing. For more than three hours they kept the Germans at bay, and finally, towards evening, they found a way of retreating across the last bridge left open. As they rushed out of their trenches, a, shower of bullets followed them, and many of the brave fellows fell, but not one of them was left behind, as their comrades succeeded m dragging them across to the otlier side. The retreat across the brid«e was a marvellous exhibition of pluck'.' Moving backward, the marines constantly kept their rifles turned on the enemy, 'falling back only some ten yards at a time, and then firing again. They succeeded in tlie end in holding a part of Dixmude mi spite of the enemy's repeated attacks' Broken down walls, stones lying j n the stloots, were all used as shelters from fcfn.l wind, the marines fo.pt croud™ el, and held the enemy at hay. and there they remained during the night. On the following mornin" when the rest of the Allied troops Were again in tie, lino the Germans hesitated to push their advance, and finally fell back, taking their wounded and dead with them. They buned the latter some distance outside the town. The Germans had hoped to be able to cross the river but when they saw the Allied trenches on the opposite side, they gave up the attempt. Tlie prolonged stand of Hie marines had given the other troops time to rally, and the Germans were prevented from crossing the Yser. The attack- on Dixmude had been made at a I usrlss sacrifice.