1918-02-08 — Page 7

BRITISH HEROISM. THRILLING STORIES OF CAMBRAI

BATTLES.

A PARALLEL TO YPRES

OLD ARMY - SPIRIT STILL ALIVE.

THE

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY

FEBRUARY 8TH. 1818.

routed

proxipt and skilful readjustment of this chock from Oreveour,

as the British difficult battle

to

WEATHER REPORT CUTLER PALMER & CO/S

and eent a destructive fire into the close who were defending the gun. He pollost was all red Eighty Huns were earner- monites of men. Surprised at this outed another handful of men and turned od as the bridge and the entire force,

The

February 7th 1910-Returng are burst from a quiet held, the Germans it on the enemy. For the moment estimated at paused irresolutely. Immediately an Magnières was free again, but only for

which it is lacking from Japan and Vladivostock and order flashed along their advancing line the moment. The Ceriasne,

detail

Les Rues those from the Philippines are incomplete. the new situation and their advance watched it from the housetop at Vertes was still the goal of the enemy The and Fayelone has moressed in intensity swung just ahead of this post and around Masnières, immediately sent fresh troops Our men met every rush with bayonets and d pressure la fecreased moderately over it Time was too precious to be wasted into the battle. Les Rues Vertes had to bombs. They fought from house to house, Chin and Formers The depression over

Three strong in local disputes. You must understand be taken.

in cellars, and on of the Ger made from the northink were up and down the streets, through alleys Indo-China has filled up. hise the extreme

Fresh to strong monsoon will provall over msn column which was trying to pivot sion to hold the garrison, while and outbuildings, The dead lay every the China Coast and over the N. China Sen, that this wae

tip

an-brazen stairway The PROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF

sunken roads round. MORNING POST,"]}

north on Marooing gigantic turning other drive along the south bank of the Bay very crerran with Germans. The

- Hongkong rainfall for 24 hours anding st intended to sweep us back in canal essayed to capture the bridgehead about were BRITISH FRONT, December 8th.

movement, When the hammer of the Huns swang confusion towards Harrincourt Wood. We had a number of machine guns in a apply seemed limitless. We kept on 10 today, 0.09 mmol, Teal miss. Let against our salient before Cambrai on Had it not been shortened by the oude Crevecour rond, and though the German greater, fresher numbers Flesh and 189 1

factory outside Masnières, on the killing them, and they kept apearing in faunary, 002 mones, against sn average of the morning of November 30th the British resistance of the battalions at Houde

building, blood had accompli

olished the seemingly im troops which bore the brunt of its fierce court as well as at Gouzeaucourt, they batteries kept

Able to B

were

a harassing en possible, but there is blowe suffered much and endured

flade penetrated to a much greater extent. mentary difficulties and their

narratives have given some I propose to relate as clearly as possible ther north that the swinging blow came along the opposite canal bank a fuller story of this two days battle, against another rock in our broken line. machine gunners, under the captain, were into

lumit even to the

for the honour of their country, would have been enveloped and our fronted fire against the compact 3 greatest endurance. We had to give up However shortened, it was a little fur columns moving towards Les fessorDaBores, Yet we were not forced out.

of their

iden

sherifices

the attacks

Battle rushos, easily check

The forecast for the 14 teum anding så noon osung ka autoiluma me

DISTRICT

which involved the Second German Army 4 new. Brigade met the shock well, yet ita bulwark which he on two sides, the details of the retirement. All the Hongkong to Gap Rosk

i futile struggle to retake the Hinden burg Line

1

and roll up our flank

village. They had to

had died away supported the ed A Staff offccy arrived and arranged was impossible to held their ground and thore were times during the two wounded were carried away, papers were

force, and,

ammunition "days"

it geemed as though destroyed, ordeal when

removed, or burn

The blinded they fell back.

would be inundated by sheer weighted, bridges blown up. delaying rearguard action of men. Yet

was the last man to cross the last stubi

only

The Germans had given up Les their hand-pressed colorades Ruco which again checked the impetus of the German ram, and they reached three tumbling ruin which was their

village railway between Peiziere

Yobborn

Formona Channel

Fonuget. **N.E.winds, fresh to strong cloudy, soma drizzling rain or 'wk,

North winds,

'shong,

It against such a driving, then fought they Yet they clung grimly to the Colter at five o'clock in the even BoughConni of Chius between (The same sa

a story of simple courage and blind devo tion to duty, which I hope will show that the spirit of the Old Army, revealed as gloriously in the dark days of the first

unequal struggle for Ypres, is as strong slight spurs by Faneelette Farm, near the cover, and felt the support of theiring, the regimental commander report Hongkong and Lammocks (

and Villers

in the

was untenable.

Hongrong and Hainan,...,1

No. 1

No. 12

There has not been a crisis so grave Throughout Friday night this guns throughout the battle. I heard of ing that the positionarily into the South Cons of China between ) The "sama na

little band stuck to their knolls, as emsoda of slaughter which ruins next morning, they found the place

the

concerns them. A German

the

groups of men refusing to be overcame up from the reserve depot kopt beat killed by bullets or drowned through fall the appearanced Shells began to drop

Btion.

REGISTER.

OF FEBUARY, AM,

BOH

Wind

Een Level,

Baromeler

2emperature

Humidity

Direction

Force,

Weather

in the Army of to-day.

which largely

sely When his patrols crept demanding such awift, unerring treat- the way to Vauncelette. Shorten must have been nearly a regiment inserted and completely destroyed. from Crevecœur to MOTOR CAR CHARGER A FIELD OUN ment, since the forces of Arinageddon ed again, the Gorman column for a strength was seat setted into trench warfare. When the moment abandoned the hope of reaching

The defence of Marcoing and Masnieros CHINA COAST METEOROLOGICAL cross the canal, perhaps two thirds of a

the temporary cap German legions swarned across the hills Houdecourt, and came round the southern mile to the west of the attack on Les Rues was complicated and valleys by Cambrai we faced a situa end of Villers-Gulslain, through Vertes. It was a splendid mark for the ture of British Headquarters in s tion not unlike that on the ridges of Wood into Gouzeaucourt. Gouzeaucourt machine gunners firing from the sugar quatry near Gouacaucourt. The first in-

there of

quickened pace of Flanders three years ago. The heroic ex-assured, they tried again to extend

of the first battle of Ypres were gap southward. Other battalions which factory across flats, and I am told that fimazion

at least five hundred of the enemy were the German advance seems to have been of troops from another Again we had angely duplicated.

Villers-Guislain overing back the rushes from

ing wounded into the canal as they triedactor falling eined

and olerke rallying with

heard. The Staff off- They drove the n thon Yaucelette Farm

and rife cooks

firing was rifles, officers leading forlorn hopes to Huns into a beetroot factory by the form to cross the narrow bridge.

cer reported that the Germans were ap A BLINDED HERO, victory, thinned and weary lines of fighter village, and pinned them there with German regiments in an Lewis guns. They charged into this fae.

The conceless struggle at Marcoing roaching. The General gave orders to ing men hvidual acts of gallantry tory and killed

defensive rear-guard. the garrison iron grip,

Wat and Masnières throughout Friday leave and organised the cooks, batmen, the mere recital

which sets hearts beat hayonets. As fresh enemy infantry kept Saturday had to be maintained unaided The local situation at this moment was of

Howarth them in the night they lucidents such as

faster with pride and admiration dribbling ground while their ammunt by the garrisons entrusted with that por somewhat critica

amo swift theso are interwoven in swept

tion of our new front. By noon on the Everywhere, however, the same the narrative of the German struggle for tion lasted. British grit harred the way first day the enemy had crapt close to recovery was apparent. It was shown by Vladivocal

dig the gunners who laid their held pieces Nemuros à a furiously, while his gunners red

villages for fresh assaults. yards

into the Gorman infantry before Jokic Between three and four o'clock in the carrying away the breech-locks. It was Acoht

non gasak afternoon the Germans drove again on shown even in the action of three non

Ecom Masnières south, again gained to cast and committoned officers who were off duty bagoshim

footing in the end went for an outing in a motor-car houses on both banks of the canal, and and ran into the German rifle fire, think

Gonau Aland Again were thrown back. At 4.40 ouring at first it was merely an infantry front around the loop of the canal maneuvre marked by the careless use of called the peninsula was intact

at the moment the Huns

orderlies as

Masnières. Marcelag, and the slopes of and the Germans wete uanble to get Masaieres and Marcoing, and pre- with open sights and shot at six hundred lakodato we

e, and

the bitter relentless round the funk and make good their in-

hall

LA

that raged along the ragged secure grip of Gouzeaucourt and the

battle front from Vendhuile to the gate of Cambrai on Friday and ground below it.

Saturday a

not

a week ago. I hope it may be long before military considerations permit the identity of the gallant troops concerned in this battle to be known, and the nation, will then be enabled to give them the praise and admitation which is their due.

SWIFT AND PUZZLING INVASION, Any attempt to describe the military aspect of this battle in detail is likely

FIGHTING IN PYJAMAS,

Many thrilling incidente are related of A Brigadian, the battle in this area. roused from his bed to meet the Hun. went into the fray in pyjamas. He col- lected a handful of orderlies and depot

the

#

dragging machine guns

Half ball

behind them.

It must be made clear, however, that the do not know--aupervised its adjust stultiply as fast as they were

front ran The German Second Army attacked from both ends of the salient, inforcements had reached us.

to

30.0

own

and put on full speed, escaping amoy D

•Peak ni

31

w

Wood and Graincourt. The southern at increasing. Lateau Wood had gone; one story charmed life a1 sm told that infantry came in masses over

Apparently was intended to be the chemy in waves overran the Cambraiant of that vallant figure with his for, as one said to his company bom- the greater effort froin the North was the bridgehead and envelop. Margoing soldiers to fight on, was one that none kiault was auch a rare chance to

but to pushing Massiver tions, it achieved the only success, while from two sides and endeavouring to

comp, as you

thens

Darkness found our plight serpus. I

our

finan Boabuz

Labuan

40 04-61) 21:

29.91 83

atrange loops and twists by the fluctuat, ad opened a heary bombardment, and wumbers were depleted and treou Gauche Wood they were of incalculable

workers and led them against a group an hour later. La Rues Vertes was in- Driving back throuB HALLOW of Germans. They were routed, but all

all undated with fresh, persistent troops, entered they came suddenly upon a field chang

Akiang Still in P1 Cuir men lay on the housotops, behind then in the act of wheeling into the main

street. Like the Canadian lorry driver Ganga be fell back, assembled fresh-

n his men were killed. believe he got about seventy men of all mounds of earth at street corners, and who was charging machine gun about Suanghai to be confusing to the average reader kinds-found a field gun where and how along the banks of the canal, firing the same time, their chauffeur ran into datziala in

at the MARSOS, which

the group of gunners, knocked several sharp te fighting dealt with engaged that portionment, and loosed it off point blank against

with no other casualties than the wound Swatów of our new front within the pierced Hin the enemy. So determined and vigorous No praise is too high for the

Aiborni delaide village of

Line which lies between the was the resistance of this miscellaneous troops who breasted this flood of Funsing of one non-commissioned offer in

Marcoing and

fell back in both Edition, a distance perhaps of seven force that the Germans united intrale Ay Battalion Commander, blinded upon the him the Huns attacked on the same Marking day in the north near Bourlon Wood, our miks in a direct line, but more as our tions, evidently believing that strong realock between Masnières angan men not only held their ground but Pescadores

encouraging his men. He clutche order

by the wrist and moved comly, actually improved their position, and Canton

gh a storm of bullets ho

hout during the subsequent counter attacks Hongkong... the first blew being delivered at half-past Meanwhile the situation of the garri

two held Gap Rock seven on the Friday morning against this song of Murcoing and Masnières was very

of the regiment, which has captured two howitzers and A deep bulge had been made

ing the

Bourlon Village. The wounded Macao portion of the front, the second two hours critical

wed to stay when the Wachow battle in later from the north against Bourlon in the eight mile front, and it was steadi- been a help and inspiration in mos than near

this war. I seem begged to be allowed

the est, Haihow to lead a

tokhol thalien bandaged eyes, urging the hardpressed

the beggars. Here, as elsewhere, the Tourane of will ever forget Hees still troops salved everything before they re Capebudame ... the race against time

them broken

when night fell and to Hun, tired. After constant bombing lights Aparn A Staff officer of a Division heard soon

Дадорка We

ow, both Marcoing. know,

after

dawn sinister rumours of the Ger- defeated after a day of suprene effort, in the dry bed of the canal and arou

waited sulenly for the labyrinth at Moeuvres, they Masnières, on the Escaut Canal. and

themselves with stores in order to avoid The canal follows ac erratic course for man advance. He had no touch with the slackened his fire

the dawn. scure miles south of Cambrai, and this other troops below Marcoing. Starting

It leaving anything for the Hun. I was fact had an important bearing on the for that village, the first thing he saw

was plainly impossible to hold this pa point of honour, said an officer, for tailo events here narrated. It arrives at - Latent Wood,

Iar was a mass of Germans pouring out of

The Endort had been posed position more than anothe twenty them to try to carry the last possible Jurigne coing from the north, then turns Bquare

are field. steadily enfiladed from three silce;

THE DOINGS OF THE TANES. {/ ly to the cast, cutting Masnières in two sounded in Masnières. Our troops here four hours, if that long. Our hen vere ounce.

and swerving south-weat

vest stood at the alarm posts, and were ready unequal parts.

shown their value fe Tanks have again Our line, left in in the catacombs The German guns guns bombarded them from eight

dred

their again at Crèrecœur.

yards; they were exhaused

open fighting. At Goureaucourt and

fortunes

shells ing

advance of

ells were reining on the village. When guards, cross-

the Brigade went on the roof of and ruined houses were

benefit to the infantry and dismounted ed the canal between Murcoing and

Remember this when they saw

cavalry. Despite the fain Bumilly, and enclosed the north end of headquarters at eight o'clock

tank attacts : com- solid blocks of Germans coining out of they did next day you realot

the Magnieres Thus we held a rectangular trávecœur and moving against our front aged to slip through the boabardment fenemy to deal with reperations of the set, on the laval of the sea iu inobas, tea

bank between Mar-

with bombs and small arms admunition paratively few were knocked out, and

majority of the crews thus affected ware to use their machine gun on the the canal. Germans at odd

tim to thronents,

the night, expecting a fresh

Germans profess to Plaisir Farm across the loop of the canal red and got within

was too ridicule these armoured batteries, of Brigade Headquarters surprise. The Hu

their worn out by his failure to attempt a scheme for this advance reveals whole ate before they were checked. Signallers, night attack. He drew upon is reserves holding the St. Quent westward through cooks, officere pertande, which drove at

5. FOMOR OF WIND, mocording to Banufort, Feale 6. STATE OF WATER, b blue sky, o dažanted on the infantry. Instructions were slond, d drissling rain, I fog, 8 gloomy, à Aul. 1 and Honnexcurt out and joined in the battle, which drove at Cambrai, filled Crevecou and the some respect for their strength and meadows by Banter tward

them back.

to the storm troops that special Ightning, o oreecast, p passing showers, q squat, rain, & know, t'enunder, v yiibility, w sam and that they were not to be dis(wet)

by the arrival of tanks on. the 7. Kat in inches, tenthe sud hundrada

does not Each evect

Ger The though the German line was supposed

man infantry fed incontinently whenever be only a short distance away in Bate between

Bantourelle and Vendhuile on the upper side of the narrow peninsula taneously on Masnières outposts tanks, bore down on them, and even thr

on enclosed by

fighting as they fell back. There was no fighting in this region. Our troops who held the right fant minutes after the villages. Twenty were driven in from Mon Fisir Farm,truction of few tankg by direct

W lost hite failed: that the anes watchers on the chateau

bridge west of Cravecc Trench failed to counteract motar pounded the crowded beadows roof saw the outpouring from Crevecteur

In the attack on Ganche Wood, which a time as any they had expel word came that the troops on the right slew the Huns in meas and tept the rest the Germans had filled with Infantry.

of them were falling abck, followed

by of our line intact. Two did hours of with outposts of machine guns being the Germans in waves. This retirement hear threatened to leave Les Raon Vertes, the sering kained the

ordered to hold it at all costs, there were hardy

anned the enery very no obstacles in the new Mana

inelased seasoned soldiers, and they know how to third of Masnières south of the canal. Black Cross airmen dropd from the the enemy had not time to die pita

Our

full

what pack man-

and and a narrow at Plaisir, Farm and approaching Les The troops were but the majrity stood

rip on the Cong fringe like fragment of ground between

village Masnieres

Crevecoeur. and the outskirts of Cre Here we dropped south from Mont came on

which is the portion of the

able to get a little sleep labled the

howord, woa

canal-side assembly places win freshfind recognition of ther moral

Wood towards Peizière, where the line hereafter the German blows were swiftfantry, and prepared to cry out tho slipped back into the old frunte brand profuse. The enemy were bent on the villages at all costs us on as day

orders of General vonar to stormtions had been taken to protect. treme right of our advance on November 20th did not extend much below the overwhelming. Macon Buld ally target broke Gouzeaucourt-Cambrai road. We used before the garrisons could rally or get Half an hour's bombardmat profaced his reaesurance

help. They kept attacking westward this second day of failure, Then eight

both banks of the canal against that highway freely as far as Masnières,ières, pressing down from the north waves of infantry were lauched simul.z to have had much

1%

our broad salient during the first ten

of its Occupation had as

sys of

they came into the British

ly two months

before:

They are

since

both

ground.

and

hung

bolt.

Ba

not ap-

TE. CLATTon, Director.

1. BAROMETER, rudnoad to 22 dagenes Exhren«

Lad hundredtra.

2. TEMPERATURm, in the shadó, în degrees. Fahrenheit,

1. Hvamery, in percentage of saturation, the samidity of air maturated with molabara bölay

4. Dissorzon or Wrap, to two polate."

HONGKONG TIDE TABLE.

10

From 8th to 14th Febrsary, 1916

Hos WaraL

Low Watis.

Hing

I'Long

take care of themselves in tight corners wholly exposed by The capture of the mist above asnières 115 Jouds of solid; Die line, 80815 MA

WALKING STICK AS WEAPON,

the

wire The tanka pushed out in When the drive was made they regretted bridgehead left Les Rues Vertes on the

a moment in the drifog their luck at being on the edge of rain littered with German dend.

of evening of the second day a smoking

and in response the opened such distinct to smoke, of the ville as the gar

watches in great events yet of them. M

no

German machine-gun was launched When the German attack was.

rison had not experienced before. The on the Friday morning, the brunt of the lighting fell on the wings of the front

see nothing

The air vi full of dust, Its cen aroand Masnières Again signallers and debris The artilleras knocking threatened south of Cambrai.

the dank cooks, and batmen came to the rescue, and Ire was pressed back leaving mid fought with rifles and clubs. A Staff the cottages to pieces turrets, watched them running wildy

the captain killed at least one German with GENERAL first fragmentary reports of

Little isolated encounters took and watchers on the roof of thehateau could crawl unhesitposts socing the

around Varcoing

air. The Germans

and

GENERAL'S HISTORIC HANG CRY.

the Buns had rued Les Rue.

Month

Work

∙Days

through the the age of their guns melted away into Pok the narrow loopholes of their observation Satur.

wood Our pilots, peering through

Abandoning machine guns and dropping San.

polted them with lead

their

Mean

Height

Moau

hmit in h

8 B12 3 8 1

3373m11

25 7 7. 50 441

10

Aadvancing in masses with our his walking stick, and scattered sentries A General came out of te château and rathoracely the tanke nosed up to Alch Tom K

the whom he found, picketed around a deponowne were on the anal bridge.

troops in front falling

back before them

uld keep pace with extraordin

Bry

his favourite dump, dreed of this, invasion, On the right He

first

Buch

ing up from the copses and spinnere andut

valuable

and

Their journey was at least a

over it.

our men found the grey infantry stream the hom with the iron-tipped club with signs certainty ceneral walk wood from two sides of the ward Heudecourt and bayonet. At the dare to try to use them,

long

the canal through the

in their ling, pressing

stendied

came upon intruders iPor the first time in tway four hours

hesitat there were ludicrous way ere

suddenness and ferocity that the ed

along canal bank and

the id not to only survivor

them, Keep your moment the enemy shouted as the Hung back again,

Bad the Staff cap through Les Ruds Veris, an was beaten

A

of under

their

heavy reached tain was left victorious

packsand news. Some Germans tried to rush the telephone post. olded conflict- and signallersTM

of their eyes Action he wrestled with and

This Others, who had ing reports. The last Diessage at 7.13 overpowered them

жда 39 obscure

and

and

out in maay

direcqu

wires were dead, others

us

Wed 13 20:50

Feight

tened MEER THE 1 m 10 24 150 m 49 converged on

and their pace which by the wildest fight Thorn 11 11 99 55 m 69 of German fancy could never be described rapid-suficiently deliberate to give stumbling

fair

of resistance. swinging

of the Ger waited until the tanke was an man

them out,

previous battles the tanks but as these beasts appeared to before. uttered by the commander of the lead themed lives they scattered Incon- ploughed through trenches in a heavy for

Bunker the same eadying

tinently like

of shell smoke, and their attack appealed the others

the enemy

group rifles! Don't firduntil you see declined.

Odd

e.m.from two battalions Baid: Westrayed into theotokirts of Magnières repetition the historic were clos hoping shells would knock bad ever witnessed such

moment later the Germans had surround

spectacle

are allright; we know nothine, And Tazas and gave themselves up Atlasnières us in that ther struggle. cauche Wood when the demoralization of were charging is an unbroken line gorose

Vt the halo of defect have a vivid picture of the scene in but little to the imagination. Here they

ed and cut them off.

STEMMING THE PLOOD.

the north, found themselves sur

stubborn machine gan

alive The German arew

the

end of the village street, and.

Our

arew had planted it The Englishmen rallied captain the the Hans became complete. Ar our tanke green fields, and every phase of the brist

same,

I believe, whoked the "Huns

ope

Guards and dismounted

enemy

took

all their comrades had fled or been the walking stick day before bore down on them many stood up with hight and the wild panic of the Quickly enough other then-swan tone killed, they kept it in action.

Staff re

organised the bridgehead fence with an their empty hands outstrelesed ther to stem this flood. They had become Isolated, blind units almost in the captain, with one orderished fit (he orderly and killed four (mans and cap wood and barem was a visible. from our line,

This side

few sur tered with corps In ons corner four twinkling eye, but the Division had had four orderlies killed at

of an

captain fired his revolvered them down unerringly. though dismembered, was not dead. Some in street fighting just before) and mussh cured five Bombing pates were form with running figures, and the tanks mow-over Gauche Wood. They found it lit

The orderly was shot down ammunition, but seized German fellows at a post on a slight spnr east od, the gun. 1

Esmer lain unburt. I do not think car infantry their crews heaped round them were

(Continker at foot of nee! Column.) grouped within a radius of tweurs yards. They stood to their rifles and Lewis guns, each hand, killed all the right Germans back into the village lat the bayonet

of Peiziere were caught in the torrent but the captain, swinging a revolver in and went on fighting at when ide vivors could have reachers Ging: "fattened machine guns with the bodies o

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