A GALLANT ACHIEVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1915, Page 7

A GALLANT ACHIEVEMENT.

THE DEFENCE OF THE TKOYON FORT. The defence of tho Troyon fort, referred to in a cable message regarding General Sarrail, was one of the most gallant achievements of the earlier campaign. Troyon is one of the detached forts guarding the right bank of the Mouse between Verdun and 'foul, and it was) against these works that the Hermans threw the army from JUetz, early in September, in the effort to I'p.-n a new line of retreat for the Crown The garrison of Troyon had not *in;;it powder since the beginning of tii .;u\ when, on September 8, they were' »nl of the approach of a strong fry column, The bombardment open.,> \t eight o'clock, with fifteen-centimetre guns, and during tho first three hours nearly 200 shells rained on the fort, putting seven guns out of action, and causing a number of casualties. All that day and through the night the shelling continued, the works gradually crumbling under the hail. The telegraphic communication with Verdun was, happily, undamaged, and messages came that the fort must be held at all costs. The commander replied that the fort would be held to the last.

The nearest fort to Troyon was that of Leg Parodies, the guns of which could not reach the German positions, and Verdun advised the garrison that it could send no help. The morning of September 9 brought only tho reminder that the success of the greater operations west of the Mouse depended on the protection of the river, but a little later word came that Toul was sending a division of cavalry to assist. Then Verdun to send an aeroplane to reconnoitre the enemy's lines. As the morning wore on a German oflicer came with a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the fort. He was politely told that the work would be blown up before it was surrendered. A second request received the same answer, and the third brought the peremptory declaration that the Frenchmen had seen quite enough of the enemy. "Good-bye—till Metz!" added the French commandant, genially. With the departure of the flag of truce the bombardment was renewed, the enemy having in the meantime brought up Lis 23-centimetre ,guns and 30-centimetre guns. A steady hail of shells was maintained, the Germans having the exact range, and the garrison was at times forced to cellars and cave.-i, while the solid masonry was being battered. But time was found to remount a couple of guns in the fort and to repair the parapets with sandbags, and the heroic artillerymen maintained a stiflieient reply to the German attack to prevent the infantry from advancing. The fort commandant and all his officers were wounded. During the night the enemy attempted to advance, but the movement was detected and dispersed by machine-gun fire. The next morning brought relief from Toul, and the Germans were forced to retire. Of the fort proper little was left, one pillar of the main gateway alone standing. A magazine had been blown up, the garrison's quarters were in ruins, and debris filled the courtyard. But over the ruins the flag of France had been raised, and it was still flying proudly when the gallant and battered defenders were relieved. Tho defence of Troyon saved the situation, and when, later, the Germans did manage to establish themselves across the Mouse at St. Mihiel, their irruption came too late to be effective. The army of Metz never debouched west of tin: river, and by the end of September the Crown Prince was forced so far to the north that the investment of Verdun was out of the question.