Heroes and heroic deeds of the great war

UL'SB LIBRARY

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Photo. Bassano

LORD KITCHENER

HEROES AND HEROIC

DEEDS OF THE

GREAT WAR

BY

DONALD A. MACKENZIE

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED

50 OLD BAILEY LONDON

GLASGOW AND BOMBAY

1916

CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION 3

LORD KITCHENER n

GENERAL JOFFRE 30

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH 36

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 45

A GROUP OF HEROES 59

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 77

INDIANS' DARING FEATS - - 99

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN 113

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 125

HEROIC ARMY DOCTORS 140

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 144

OUR HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN - - - - 152

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 163

How THE OCEANS WERE MADE FREE - - - - 177

THE HEROES OF GALLIPOLI 187

THE NEW ARMIES IN ACTION 191

LIST OF PLATES

Page

LORD KITCHENER Frontispiece

THE KING AND QUEEN VISITING WOUNDED INDIANS - 16

GENERAL JOFFRE 37

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH 44

FIRING THE BRIDGE 65

THE CHARGE OF THE grw. LANCERS AT MONS 80
ALPINE CHASSEURS ON SKIS MAKING A BAYONET CHARGE

OVER THE SNOW 97

INDIAN GALLANTRY AT THE FRONT 112

THE "HAWK" AND THE "DOVE" 129

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 144

AVOIDING A TORPEDO BY RAPID MANCEUVRINQ - - 161

THE LAST OF THE EMDEN 176

HEROES AND HEROIC DEEDS
OF THE GREAT WAR

Introduction

Never before in the history of the world has
war been waged on such a gigantic scale.
Never before have such vast armies been
gathered together, or so many different nations
and races been drawn into conflict. It is no
exaggeration to say that the ultimate result of
this great war will affect the future of every
people on the face of the globe.

Great Britain and her allies are righting in
defence of human freedom and the rights of
small nations, and also to secure the blessings
of an enduring peace. For many years Ger-
many engaged in making elaborate military
and naval preparations to crush rival States
and found a world-wide empire which would
bring her immense power and riches. Her
leaders have openly boasted that the Germans
are the most cultured and capable people in

4 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

the world, and on that assumption based the
claim that they have a right to control other
nations. This war has revealed the violent
methods by which they hoped to realize their
ambitions. The Government of the Kaiser has
broken international laws and at least one inter-
national treaty, while the German soldiers have
committed terrible atrocities with intent to ter-
rorize their opponents. In Belgium, for in-
stance, they have destroyed beautiful, ancient
buildings, laid waste towns and villages, and
ruthlessly slain, not only unarmed men, but
even women and children.

The immediate cause of the war was the
attempt made by Germany's ally, Austria, to
coerce the little kingdom of Serbia. Russia
intervened so as to secure peace and an hon-
ourable agreement, whereupon Germany de-
clared war against Russia and its ally, France.
To strike a sudden and heavy blow at France
a German army invaded Belgium, expecting to
sweep through it with little delay. But the
Belgian forces set up a gallant and unexpected
resistance which greatly hampered the opera-
tions of the Kaiser's soldiers.

It was because Belgium was invaded that
Great Britain declared war. The neutrality
and independence of that small nation had been
guaranteed by a treaty signed by Britain and

INTRODUCTION 5

Germany among others. It was a dishonour-
able act on the part of Germany to break this
treaty, and it was the duty of our country to
take up arms against the guilty Power.

Great Britain was not prepared on the out-
break of war for military operations on a large
scale. We could send only a comparatively
small army to the Continent to assist the
Belgians and French to retard the advance of
the German millions; but the courage and
skill displayed by our soldiers served to baffle
and delay the huge forces to which they found
themselves opposed. From the outset they
have proved themselves superior fighting-men
to the Germans. In consequence, time has
been gained to gradually increase our Ex-
peditionary Force so as to ensure ultimate
victory. Meanwhile our fleet has maintained
Britain's command of the sea, and completely
suspended Germany's overseas mercantile
trade.

As soon as war was declared the entire British
Empire rallied to support the Home Govern-
ment. Offers of men, food supplies, and
treasure were at once made by the various
dependencies and dominions, and ere long
transports began to convey troops to the seat
of war from India, Australia, New Zealand,
and Canada, while in South Africa effective

6 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

measures were taken to suppress a revolt which
was fostered by German intrigues. Thus in
the hour of trial the Empire was more closely
united by the spirit of loyalty that prevails
among its freedom-loving peoples.

A wave of intense patriotism swept over the
British Isles, and all classes were moved by
the common desire to resist the military am-
bitions of Germany and to take adequate
measures which would ensure peace in the
future, so that the highest ideals of humanity
might be realized. Political differences were
set aside, and a deep sense of public duty was
everywhere aroused. Young men responded
eagerly to the call to arms, and began to
enlist in their thousands to fight for their native
land. Rich men and poor men, workers and em-
ployers, abandoned their usual occupations and
joined the colours. Business men left their
desks, workers hastened from factory, mine,
and yard, agriculturists turned from harvest-
fields, and actors, artists, musicians, and writers
became the military comrades of labourers,
eager and proud to serve their King and coun-
try. Women volunteered as nurses, or engaged
in various forms of emergency work, while large
sums of money were subscribed to provide
comforts for fighting-men and assist all those
to whom war brings hardship and suffering.

INTRODUCTION 7

To arouse the sympathy and interest of
the readers, the romantic and heroic deeds of
those taking part in the great war on land
and sea are here set forth. Four of the promi-
nent leaders are dealt with, and accounts
provided of their careers and adventures.
These are all known as silent men — "Silent
Kitchener", " Silent Joffre ", "Silent French",
and "Silent Jellicoe". The first two were in
boyhood somewhat unruly, and each was in-
fluenced by the consequences of acts of dis-
obedience to prepare for the serious duties of
life. French, on the other hand, was a nervous,
gentle lad, who was greatly given to preaching
like a clergyman; while Jellicoe inclined to play
pranks, and early felt the fascination of life at
sea, which offered to him the opportunities for
adventure he so greatly sought. But all were
similar in one respect. As they grew up, they
applied themselves with exemplary diligence to
their studies, and won distinctions among their
fellows, realizing that success is the reward of
hard work and adequate preparation. Kitchener
— whose loss we now mourn — and Joffre received
their first military experiences in the Franco-
Prussian War, and the careers of both were
afterwards of strenuous effort.

The French general spent much of his life in
strengthening the defences of his country and

8 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAP.

improving- the methods of training and leading
its fighting-men.

Kitchener attained wide experience in foreign
service, both as a soldier and administrator.
His name will ever be associated with the in-
auguration of a new age of progress in Egypt,
the cradle of world civilization, which had
long suffered from oppressive and reactionary
government. After it came under the control
of Great Britain its welfare and security were
continually menaced by the conditions which
prevailed in the Sudan. That vast area of the
ancient empire of the Pharaohs had been over-
run by robber hordes, whose operations enabled
the Mahdi to establish a fierce and fanatical
tyranny at Omdurman. Kitchener was selected
to perform the noble and arduous work of re-
conquering the Sudan and rescuing it from bar-
barism, so that the masses of the people might
enjoy the benefits of just and good laws, and
the entire Nile valley be made once again a
land of golden harvests and peaceful and pro-
gressive communities. After achieving success-
ful conquest, Kitchener devoted himself to
various schemes for the education and welfare
of the people, and showed special concern for
the needs of the small agriculturists.

The honoured name of Kitchener is likely
to be associated also with the revival of civili-

INTRODUCTION 9

zation in that other ancient land, Babylonia,
which in days of old was "the garden of
Western Asia" and one of the centres of world
commerce. A British army, strongly reinforced
from India, is in occupation of that desolated
region between the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers, which has for long centuries suffered
from the oppression and neglect of Turkey.
There is every prospect that Babylonia may
once again become what it was in Biblical times,
"a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and
vineyards, a land of oil olive and honey".

One of the notable features of the great war
is the prominent part taken in it by India,
which, for the first time in history, has sent
its native soldiers to fight on European battle-
fields. These brave and loyal men, like their
high-souled ancestors, have proved themselves
undoubted heroes, skilled in the art of warfare
and unafraid of death. They know they are
fighting for a good cause, and that when
victory crowns the efforts of the Allies the
world will be no longer overshadowed by the
peril of German militarism which has threatened
the liberties and rights of many peoples. In
no other country in the world is the desire for
a real and lasting peace more warmly supported
than in India. Its people, in common with their
fellow-subjects of the Empire and those of the

io HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

allied nations, feel that when the war is ended
humanity will be brought nearer to the happier
time dreamt of by the poet who sang:

The world's great age begins anew,
The golden years return.

The great and just cause for which our country
is striving is an inspiration to our soldiers and
sailors who are —

Gentle in peace, in battle bold,
As were their sires in days of old.

These heroes are adding fresh lustre to the
fame of Great Britain, not only by their courage
and fortitude in battle, but also by their
chivalrous and humanitarian treatment of fallen
enemies. Our soldiers risk their lives to
alleviate the sufferings of wounded foemen, and
our sailors are ever ready to rescue from drown-
ing the crews of hostile war-ships shattered in
fierce conflict. Such noble deeds are worthy
of a great people who have taken so prominent
a part in advancing the cause of civilization
throughout the world, and make us feel proud
that British blood runs in our veins.

LORD KITCHENER u

Lord Kitchener

Lord Kitchener, who for nearly two years
from the outbreak of war had filled with dis-
tinction the post of Secretary of State for War
in His Majesty's Government, was suddenly
cut off in the midst of his labours. Early in
June, 1916, he was proceeding1 to Russia on
board the county cruiser Hampshire, on a mis-
sion of high import, when the vessel met with
disaster and he was drowned.

The Hampshire at the time was steaming
along the west coast of the Orkney Islands in
rough weather. Suddenly it struck a drifting
mine and began at once to settle down by the
bows. In a quarter of an hour it had heeled
over to starboard and vanished from sight.

The disaster was witnessed from the shore,
but no immediate help could be sent on account
of the heavy gale and wild seas.

One or two rafts were launched from the
Hampshire, but few on board them survived
to land on the rocky coast. Attempts were
also made to launch boats, and the captain
intended that Lord Kitchener should go on
board one of them. Whether or not he ever
left the Hampshire is uncertain. He died, as
he had lived, a brave and fearless soldier.

12 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Survivors state that, when the explosion oc-
curred, he walked from the captain's cabin to
the quarter-deck, and there, with characteristic
calmness, watched the preparations for aban-
doning the doomed warship.

Lord Kitchener was born in Gunsborough
House, near the little town of Listowel, in
County Kerry, Ireland, but the greater part of
his boyhood was spent at Crotta House, Kil-
flynn, in the same district. His father, who
was a retired Indian army colonel, was of
Suffolk and Leicestershire stock, and had
purchased a large estate in Limerick and Kerry
which he developed and improved ; his mother
was the daughter of a Suffolk clergyman. The
other members of the family were Chevallier,
Arthur, Walter, and Millie; Kitchener, the
second son, was named Horatio Herbert, but
was usually called Herbert.

It is told that at home young Herbert
" never could be kept quiet". He often got
into scrapes, but was lucky in getting out of
them. Among strangers he is said to have
been shy and awkward, and, as he had a habit
of wandering about alone, some people looked
upon him as a dreamer. He was never good
at games, but he learned to swim with his
brothers at Bannastrand, on the sea coast, 7
miles from Crotta House. There big waves

LORD KITCHENER 13

come tumbling in from the Atlantic, and only
strong swimmers can venture to bathe when
a heavy "ground swell" is running.

For a time Herbert took little interest in his
lessons. This annoyed his father, who knew
the boy was quite clever and just required to
apply himself. With his brothers he attended
a private school, and one day, just before an
examination, his father took him to task for his
carelessness, and said: "If you do not pass
I will put you to the Dame School." When
the results came out it was found that Herbert
had failed. His father kept his word and sent
the boy to the Dame School, saying: " If you
do not attend to your lessons there I'll have
you apprenticed to a hatter." Herbert felt
keenly the disgrace he had fallen into. He
made up his mind to study seriously. In time
he made splendid progress and became good
at arithmetic. By attending to his school work
he gave himself the chance he required, and
learned how important it was to value time and
be industrious in acquiring knowledge that
would help him when he grew older.

For a period after school life in Ireland the
Kitchener boys studied in Switzerland, residing
at the house of their tutor, on the eastern shore
of Lake Geneva. They greatly enjoyed their
new surroundings, and in their leisure hours

14 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

engaged in bathing, boating, and mountain-
climbing. Having early expressed the desire
to become a soldier, like his father, Herbert
subsequently removed to London, where he
studied for the examination which admits pupils
to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.
He passed successfully in January, 1868, and
proved himself to be an excellent student.

By this time his mother had died, and his
father, having sold his Irish estate, went to live
at Dinan in Brittany. There Kitchener spent
his holidays, and waited, after his academy
course was finished, for a commission in the
army. In 1870 war broke out suddenly between
Germany and France. Being anxious to gain
experience as a soldier, Kitchener enlisted as
a private in the French army. He served,
under General Chanzy, in the force which tried
in vain to relieve Paris when it was surrounded
by Germans. His "baptism of fire" was thus
received in France.

Kitchener proved himself a courageous young
soldier. Once he made a dangerous ascent in
a war-balloon with two French officers to obtain
information regarding the enemy's movements.

The military experience he gained in France
proved to be most valuable to him. The French
army had not been properly equipped, and
everything was badly managed. Chanzy's force

LORD KITCHENER 15

had scarcely received any training. Kitchener
saw how important it was that soldiers should
be thoroughly drilled, well organized, and fur-
nished with sufficient supplies of weapons,
ammunition, and food. The French suffered
defeat because the Germans were prepared for
war and they themselves were not.

When the young soldier returned to London
he was reprimanded for joining a foreign army
without permission from the War Office. He
was taken before the Duke of Cambridge, the
Commander-in-Chief, who was in doubt whether
or not he should receive a commission. With
a frown the Duke asked: "What have you to
say for yourself? Why did you join the French
army?"

Kitchener answered : " Please, sir, I thought
I would not be wanted for a time. I was anxious
to learn something."

The Duke was satisfied with the young man
because he was so frank and showed such great
interest in his profession. "I saw," he said
afterwards, "that there was real grit in him,
and I decided he should have his commission."

So it came about that, at twenty, Kitchener
was gazetted as a lieutenant in the Royal En-
gineers. From the outset he showed great
promise as a diligent and painstaking officer.
After three years' service at home he joined the

16 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

staff of the Palestine Exploration Fund, with
purpose to gain practical experience in sur-
veying work.

His duties in the Holy Land were of an
arduous kind. He had to assist in preparing
accurate maps of the country, showing every
town and village and natural feature in detail,
and was consequently kept continually " on the
move ". Much of his time was spent in deso-
late places. High mountains had to be climbed,
and long, slow journeys made across bleak
deserts in burning sunshine. Life in the sleepy
villages and unhealthy towns offered few attrac-
tions and hardly any comforts to a European.
Kitchener endured considerable hardships, suf-
fering now from heat and now from cold, and
had several attacks of fever. On one occasion
he was struck with snow blindness — a painful
eye trouble caused by the dazzling reflection of
bright sunlight on wastes of mountain snow;
on another he had a touch of sunstroke.

Being brought into contact with the natives,
some of whom were always attached to the
party as servants, Kitchener learned Arabic,
and was consequently able to talk with them
and study their manners and customs. He
found it convenient sometimes to wear native
costume, and when he allowed his beard to
grow, and his face was tanned by the sun, he

( C 751 )

LORD KITCHENER 17

is said to have been mistaken for some great
Arab chief on making appearance for the first
time in a lonely village, mounted on a camel.

"Camels", he once wrote, "are bad beasts
for survey work. I used to keep mine at a
good trot for a bit, until he got cross, which
he showed by roaring, and then suddenly shut-
ting up all four legs and coming to the ground
with a thud, at the same time springing up
again and darting off in an opposite direction."

Now and again exciting adventures were met
with. One of these occurred in the vicinity of
Ascalon. This ancient city of the Philistines
is referred to in the Bible as Askelon. Samson
visited it, and slew there thirty of the enemies
of his country. It is of special interest to a
soldier because it was occupied in 1192 by
King Richard I of England, "the Lion Heart",
after he had defeated Saladin, a Khurd who
had become King of Egypt. The battle took
place during the course of the long struggle
between the Christian Crusaders and the Mos-
lems for the possession of the Holy Land.

Ascalon is situated on the shores of the blue
Mediterranean, and, the afternoon being very
sultry, Kitchener and Lieutenant Conder, his
senior officer, decided to bathe. They were
not long in the water when Conder was carried
towards dangerous broken water by a strong

(0751) 2

i8 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

current. Struggle as he might, he was unable
to return to the shore. It was well for
Kitchener that he had learned to swim among
the great billows on the south-western coast of
Ireland. Perceiving that his friend was in
peril, he struck out boldly to rescue him from
certain death. After a desperate struggle he
was able to assist Conder to dry land.

He saved Conder's life on yet another
occasion. They were engaged at the time —
it was on loth July, 1875 — beside the little
town of Safed, in Galilee, not far from the place
where Christ performed the miracle of feeding
over 4000 people with seven loaves and a few
little fish. Suddenly the surveyors' camp was
attacked by a mob, who shouted: "Kill the
Christian dogs!" Neither the officers nor their
native servants carried weapons. Conder was
struck on the head by a man who wielded a
club. " I must inevitably have been murdered",
he wrote afterwards, "but for the cool and
prompt assistance of Lieutenant Kitchener,
who managed to get to me and engaged one of
the club men, thereby covering my retreat. A
blow descending on the top of his head he
parried with a cane, which was broken. A
second blow wounded his arm." Kitchener,
however, held his ground until the rest of his
party had retreated, after which he made his

LORD KITCHENER 19

escape. A musket was fired, and the bullet
whizzed past his ear like a bee in flight. Then
a native ran after him, brandishing wickedly a
naked scimitar, but was unable to get to close
quarters. Stones were thrown by the mob of
cowards, and Kitchener was struck by a big
one on the left thigh. Fortunately a party of
Turkish soldiers came on the scene and the
attackers were put to flight.

After six years of hard work, which was very
thoroughly done, Kitchener was able to hand
over to the Palestine Fund Committee a com-
plete map of Western Palestine on the scale of
i inch to a mile.

When the war between Russia and Turkey
came to a close, the island of Cyprus was
occupied by Britain. Kitchener organized the
new courts there and conducted the surveying
work. He also acted for a time as British Vice-
Consul in Asia Minor, and did much to restore
order and improve the condition of the natives
who had been ruined by the war.

His next opportunity came when Britain had
to occupy Egypt, which was in a state of
rebellion and bankruptcy owing to bad govern-
ment. It was found necessary to reorganize
and train a native army under British officers.
General Sir Evelyn Wood became Sirdar, or
Commander-in-Chief, of the Egyptian forces,

20 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

and, as Kitchener knew Arabic, he was ap-
pointed second in command to Colonel Taylor
of the igth Hussars. Taylor was not long1 in
recognizing the young officer's abilities. " He's
quiet," he said to a friend in 1883, "and he's
clever."

There had arisen in the Sudan a religious
pretender, called "The Mahdi"; his chief
disciple was a man who afterwards became
"The Khalifa". The Mahdi's forces took
possession of some of the southern provinces,
and Colonel W. Hicks, known as Hicks Pasha,
who led a native army against the rebels, was
cut off and perished with his whole force. Then
General Gordon was sent from London to
Khartoum to restore order in the Sudan. This
gallant soldier soon found, however, that the
Egyptian troops under his command were no
match for the rebels, so he appealed for British
reinforcements. But, unfortunately, the Home
Government did not fully grasp the situation
until it was too late. By July, 1884^ Khartoum
was surrounded by the armed followers of the
Mahdi, and before the relief expedition arrived
the city fell and Gordon was slain. The garri-
son had held out for 337 days, and were over-
come on 26th January, 1885.

Kitchener acted as an Intelligence officer
with the relieving - force. Disguised as an

LORD KITCHENER 21

Arab, he managed to send messages to Gordon
during the siege. In Gordon's journal there
is an entry: "If Kitchener would take the
place he would be the best man to put in as
Governor-General". The story of how Gordon
watched daily for the coming of the British
troops, and how in the end he was struck down
by a Dervish's spear, was related in Kitchener's
official report.

After Khartoum fell Kitchener came home,
and was sent to Zanzibar as one of the Com-
mission appointed to fix the new boundary
between German and British East Africa.

In 1886 he returned to the Nile valley as
a Governor-General. The rebellion had spread
northward, and he took energetic measures to
restore order in the area under his control. At
Suakin he defeated with heavy losses the
notorious Osman Digna, a Turkish slave-
dealer who had espoused the cause of the
Mahdi. During the battle he sustained a
serious wound, a bullet having entered his
jaw and lodged in his neck. He was sent to
hospital and then invalided home. By this
time Kitchener had attained the rank of
Colonel. Soon afterwards he became Adjutant-
General of the Egyptian army.

The Dervishes in the Sudan were now becom-
ing more and more daring and aggressive, and

22 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

seemed determined to extend their power into
Egypt proper. Preparations had therefore to
be made to crush them. In 1892 Kitchener
was appointed Sirdar, or Commander-in-Chief,
and did his utmost to improve the Egyptian
army, which was being trained by capable
British instructors. His head-quarters were at
Cairo, within sight of the three greatest pyramids
and the wonderful sphinx. There he planned
his campaign against the Dervishes, and began
the construction of a railway towards the south,
so that the army, as it advanced, might be
well supplied with food and ammunition and
reinforced when necessary without delay. The
work he undertook required great skill in
management and constant and anxious attention
to the minutest details.

An early success was the capture of the
province of Dongola, which had been over-
run by hordes of desert robbers, who murdered
and enslaved the Egyptians and turned a fertile
district into a wilderness.

By constructing a railway across the desert
from Wadi Haifa to Abu Hamed, between
which places the Nile curves like the letter U,
Kitchener was able to shorten his advance south-
ward. Then Berber was occupied, the Der-
vishes having fled from it in panic. About 200
miles distant lay Khartoum and the city of

LORD KITCHENER 23

Omdurman, built by the Mahdi on the opposite
side of the river.

The Khalifa's advanced force took up position
beside the Atbara River which flows into the
Nile. Kitchener prepared to attack it, and was
able to bring up a brigade of British troops
along his new railway to reinforce the Egyptian
army. It consisted of Warwicks, Lincolns,
Seaforths, and Camerons.

On yth April, 1898, Kitchener was only 7
miles distant from the Dervish army, which lay
behind a zareba — an obstruction made of piled-
up thorns. A rapid night march brought the
army into close contact with the enemy, and at
daybreak the British guns opened fire. Before
eight o'clock the infantry charged and took the
zareba, the Egyptian soldiers displaying much
courage and skill in friendly rivalry with their
British comrades. Three-quarters of an hour
sufficed to destroy the Khalifa's army, which
lost about 3000 in killed alone.

Kitchener next prepared for the final blow at
Omdurman. The railway was extended south-
ward, and Atbara became a great centre for
supplies.

The Khalifa had an army of over 40,000, and
the British and Egyptian troops did not ex-
ceed 22,000. On 2nd September the opposing
forces met in conflict outside Omdurman.

24 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Kitchener had taken up position the night
before and the battle commenced at six o'clock
in the morning1. This time the Dervishes made
the attack while the British artillery shelled
them. On they swept, like foaming billows,
until at the 2OOO-yards range they met the thick
and accurate shower of rifle bullets which cut
them down as corn is cut down by a scythe.
Again and again they tried to reach the British
lines. Then the Lancers charged to clear the
way to Omdurman. They met and broke up a
concealed force of swordsmen, and Kitchener
advanced on the city to prevent the enemy
occupying it and so prolonging the struggle.

While this movement was being carried out,
a reserve force of 15,000 Dervishes attacked
the Egyptian wing of the army. This native
brigade was commanded by General Hector
MacDonald, who showed magnificent coolness
and bravery. He re-arranged his troops and
opened fire, scattering the advancing host and
completing the victory.

Kitchener had halted and sent reinforcements
to MacDonald, but success was assured before
they arrived. Then he occupied Omdurman
and Khartoum. The power of the Khalifa was
thus shattered after long years of hard work
under the wise direction of Kitchener. In time
the whole of the Sudan was rendered peaceful.

LORD KITCHENER 25

It is a vast country, about a million square miles
in extent — twice as big as France and Germany
combined. When it was controlled by the
Mahdist power Egypt was never secure.

For his great services the Sirdar was raised
to the peerage as Lord Kitchener of Khartoum
and of Aspall and given a grant of ,£30,000.
Both Houses of Parliament thanked him cor-
dially. " He has written a new page of British
history," declared a prominent statesman, " and
has blotted out an old one."

When the Boer War broke out, on gth October,
1899, Lord Kitchener, as Governor-General
and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan, was
engaged in schemes for the good of the people
who had come under our care. But towards
the end of the year he was called to South
Africa. The Boers had proved to be powerful
opponents, and the British forces had met with
disasters at Colenso and Magersfontein. Strong
reinforcements were dispatched across the seas,
and Lord Roberts was appointed to the supreme
command. Kitchener was asked if he would
act as chief -of staff to this great soldier, and his
reply by telegram was: " Delighted to serve in
any capacity under Lord Roberts ". He gave
loyal assistance to his superior officer. When
Lord Roberts was returning to this country,
after the capture of Pretoria, he said: "I am

26 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

glad to take this opportunity of publicly ex-
pressing how much I owe to his wise counsels
and ever-ready help. No one could have
laboured more incessantly, or in a more self-
effacing' manner, than Lord Kitchener has
done." Kitchener has always been ready to
do his duty for the sake of the Empire.

The tide of battle turned soon after the arrival
of Roberts and his assistant in South Africa.
Kitchener reorganized the transport service
and planned the relief of the besieged town of
Kimberley and the capture of Cronje and his
army at Paardeberg. In time the British
troops swept northward and occupied first
Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free
State, and then Pretoria, the capital of the
Transvaal. Afterwards Lord Roberts returned
to this country, and Lord Kitchener was given
supreme command.

The Boers no longer fought pitched battles,
but waged what is known as guerrilla warfare.
They scattered all over the country in small
forces, striking at the British where opportunity
offered. As they were well mounted they were
difficult to " round up". But Kitchener, by
the exercise of skill and persistence, at length
overcame all difficulties, and, having opened
up negotiations with his opponents, brought
the war to a close by the Peace of Vereeniging.

LORD KITCHENER 27

On his return home he was created a Viscount
and decorated by King Edward with the new
and distinguished Order of Merit.

He next went to India as Commander-in-
Chief of the Indian Army. For seven years he
served in this capacity and introduced many
reforms. He greatly improved the system of
training and completely re-organized the various
forces. When he left India its army was ready
for any sudden call, and was stronger than ever
it had been.

Afterwards Kitchener was sent to Australia,
where he examined the defences, and worked
out a scheme for training the Dominion's new
army of 80,000 men. Then he paid a visit to
New Zealand, the Government of which he pro-
vided with a similar scheme for its citizen forces.
From New Zealand he travelled to Canada,
where also he was consulted regarding military
preparations.

In September, 1911, he returned to Egypt as
the British Agent, and thus became chief ad-
ministrator of that country. He threw himself
heart and soul into the work. Like the great
Egyptian kings of ancient days he did his
utmost to make the country prosperous and
contented. New laws were established to im-
prove the lot of the fellah, or peasant, who tills
the little farms in the Delta and Nile valley.

28 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

" Lord Kitchener", wrote a native in 1913, "is
the most popular figure in Egypt to-day. He
has made all the Egyptians realize that he is
the friend of the Egyptians and understands
their needs." One of the many schemes he has
favoured is to reclaim a large portion of desert
land by irrigation, and to give free gifts of
5-acre farms to native settlers.

When the present world war broke out, our
great soldier and statesman was in London con-
sulting the Government regarding his plans to
develop and improve Egypt for the benefit of its
people. He was about to return, but his ser-
vices were required at home. He was asked,
and consented, to undertake the duties of War
Secretary.

It then seemed as if his whole life-work had
been directed to prepare him for this respon-
sible post. Our soldiers were to fight beside
those of our great ally, France: Kitchener
had himself served in the French army. Those
dominions of the British Empire — Australia,
New Zealand, and Canada — which resolved to
send contingents to aid in the struggle, were
familiar to him; he had helped to reorganize
their forces and their system of training. He
understood the needs of South Africa. Turkey,
too, declared war, and Kitchener knew Turkey.
Egypt was threatened : no one knew Egypt

LORD KITCHENER 29

better than Kitchener; he was familiar also
with the area through which troops attacking
it must march, having surveyed that very land.
From India came offers of help which were
accepted. Our army was then strengthened
by those brave native soldiers whom Kitchener
had striven to make more efficient when acting
as their Commander-in-Chief. And last, but
not least, the young men of the home country
who admired and trusted the great soldier re-
sponded to his call for recruits in the hour of
peril, with the result that " Kitchener's Army"
came into being.

One is reminded of the stirring little speech
he made to a gathering of representative soldiers
in South Africa after peace was signed. In the
course of it he said :

4 'What have you learned during the war?
Some have learned to ride and shoot; all of
you have learned discipline, to be stanch and
steadfast in the hour of danger, to attack with
vigour, to hold what you have gained.

"You can never forget the true friends and
comrades by whose side you have stood in a
hundred fights. Even the hardships which you
have so cheerfully endured will in the remem-
brance be only pleasures.

"Teach the youths that come after you what
you have learned.

30 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

11 Keep your horses and rifles ready, and your
bodies physically fit, so that you may be pre-
pared at any time to take your part in the
great Empire which unites us all."

Here we have the Kitchener motto, which
should never be forgotten — BE PREPARED.

General Joffre

General Joffre, the French Commander-in-
Chief, is usually referred to among his country-
men as " Silent Joffre". He never utters an
unnecessary word, but what he does say is
worth listening to. In appearance he is not
very soldierly, and certainly not at all like
Kitchener. He is of short stature and some-
what stout, and he has a habit of thrusting his
hands into his pockets. In civilian attire one
might mistake him for a shrewd and prosperous
city business man who has spent much of his
time at a desk. His jaw is broad and resolute,
his nose prominent, with wide nostrils, and his
grey-blue eyes are as kindly as they are pene-
trative. He has heavy, pondering lips, over
which droops a large white moustache, and
deep lines seam his broad forehead. You can
see at a glance that he is a man accustomed to
think deeply and long. When he smiles his
face beams with unaffected good humour.

>i GENERAL JOFFRE 31

There is nothing about him to suggest the
popular idea that all Frenchmen are gay and
light-hearted. The grave, silent Joffre is a
modest man of simple habits and manners.
But he is "as hard as nails", as the saying
goes, and always "wide awake".

The great general is a man of humble origin.
It is said that one of his ancestors, a century
ago, was a travelling pedlar in the Eastern
Pyrenees, who used to go from village to vil-
lage driving a van with all kinds of household
wares. Because he was in the habit of shout-
ing "J'offre", which signifies "I offer", he
became known as "Joffre", and his descendants
adopted the nickname as a surname. If this
story is true, the Joffre family must have had
no cause to be ashamed of their connection
with the honest broker of village fame.

In boyhood General Joffre was regarded as
being of rather daring and reckless character.
Bathing was his favourite recreation, and he
won among his fellows a great reputation as a
diver and swimmer. But his feats alarmed his
parents, and especially his mother, who feared
he would some day meet with a grave mishap.
It was his custom to have a plunge in a river
near his home every morning before breakfast.
He was ordered to discontinue it, because he
could not be prevailed upon to keep out of

32 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

danger. "Some morning you'll be drowned,"
his mother exclaimed nervously. " I have never
heard of such a foolhardy boy as you are."

The lad fretted under the restriction, and at
length began to steal out of the house before
anyone was up. So he was put to sleep in a
room in a second story of the old-fashioned
country house, and his mother locked him in
every night. The river was strictly forbidden.
11 He can't be trusted," declared his mother;
"he seems to enjoy risking his life."

But young Joffre was difficult to restrain.
He soon hit on a plan to have his morning dip
unknown to anyone. Securing an old sheet,
he tore it up and made a "rope ladder" of it.
He went early to bed, and woke with the lark.
In the grey dawn he lowered his ladder from
the window, clambered down it, and ran to the
river-side. Then he had a cool plunge in a
deep pool, diving headlong from a jutting rock,
and swam about where the current was strongest
as nimbly as a seal. Those who had occasional
glimpses of him in the water were not surprised
that his mother should feel nervous. After his
bathe he did not wait to dry himself, but scam-
pered home across the fields and climbed up
his ladder to his bedroom before anyone in the
house had wakened up.

These exploits went on for a time, until one

GENERAL JOFFRE 33

morning the frail ladder snapped, and the boy
fell heavily into the garden and broke his leg.
He lay there for nearly two hours before he
was discovered. "Oh, my dear, foolish boy,"
exclaimed his mother, "I knew something ter-
rible would happen to you one day! Will you
never be warned?"

His mother's tears hurt him more than his
injury. So he resolved to be obedient to her
wishes in future. To please her he began to
study seriously, and when he was going about
on crutches he got into the habit of reading a
good deal.

"After all," his mother remarked to a friend
one day, "this accident he has had may be a
blessing in disguise."

At the same time she felt that her son had
better have experience of strict discipline. He
had been so wayward and determined and cun-
ning that she feared he would return to his
bathing exploits again. So the boy was sent
to a college sooner than was intended, and
before he had ceased to limp as he walked.
He made good progress, and was looked upon
as a lad of great promise. In time he decided
to study for the army, and, like Kitchener,
showed a preference for the Engineers. The
ambitious spirit he had displayed in rivalling
the feats of other boys in river bathing was

(0751) 3

34 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

then given a more serious turn. He deter-
mined to acquit himself with distinction in his
military studies, and he certainly did so. Young
Joffre was pointed out as an example to his
comrades.

Before he was nineteen the war of 1870 broke
out between Germany and France. He took
part in the defence of Paris, and learned much
by bitter experience regarding the military needs
of his country. After the French capital fell,
and peace was declared, he did useful work
in connection with the reconstruction of the
city defences, and was promoted to the rank
of captain at the age of twenty-two. He was
already marked out as a young soldier of great
promise. It is of special interest to know that
as an Engineer officer he had to do with the
rebuilding of the famous fortifications of Ver-
dun.

Subsequently he saw much active service in
the French colonies. He took part in expedi-
tions in Cochin -China, where he overlooked
the erection of forts, and in West Africa. He
also performed important duties in Madagascar
and Algeria.

His promotion was rapid and well deserved.
Ultimately, after his return home, he became
the youngest general in the French army. His
interests were entirely bound up in his profes-

GENERAL JOFFRE 35

sion. He studied the art of warfare continually,
preparing himself for the struggle with Ger-
many, which, he felt fully convinced, was bound
to come in his own lifetime. In politics he took
no part. When he appeared on a public plat-
form he spoke simply as a soldier, and never
feared to be frank regarding the seriousness of
the coming conflict. In the army he was known
as a reformer. He cared nothing for display.
He worked hard for efficiency. His belief was
that French soldiers were too apt to trust to
their daring and fearless methods of attack.
He wanted to have them trained to maintain
a tenacious and enduring defensive, so that
they might wear down the enemy and strike
hard when they got them at a disadvantage.
At manoeuvres he displayed great ability as a
strategist who did the unexpected and outwitted
his opponents. Nobody ever knew what Joffre's
next move would be. He always showed him-
self strongest where his opponents thought he
was weakest. Everyone admired the clever
manner in which he handled large forces of
men. The army and the public learned to
place entire confidence in the silent, deter-
mined, and watchful General Joffre. His
character has been well summed up by one of
our own public men who paid him a visit at
the seat of war. "General Joffre", he said,

36 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

" is not only a great soldier; he is also a great

man.

• \

Field-Marshal Sir John French

It is interesting to note that Sir John French
is able to claim kinship not only with the
English, Scottish, and Irish under his com-
mand, but also with our French allies. On
his father's side he is descended from the
Norman-French family of De Freigne, or De
Fraxinis, which settled in Ireland. One of his
ancestors, Patrick French, was a burgess of the
town of Galway in the sixteenth century, and
Patrick's grandson was popularly known as
" Tierna More", which in Gaelic means "the
great landlord ". This wras John French of
French Park, who commanded a troop in the
Inniskilling Dragoons at the battle of Aughrim.
Our marshal's great-grandfather purchased the
estate of Ripplevale, in Kent, and his grand-
father became a resident English landlord.
Through his mother he can claim a connection
with Scotland. Her name was Margaret Eccles,
and she was the daughter of a wealthy West
Indian merchant in Glasgow. Sir John's father
was a captain in the navy. After his death
a Scottish uncle, Mr. William Smith, became
the guardian of the family, which consisted of

Photo. Henri Manuel

GENERAL JOFFRE

SIR JOHN FRENCH 37

one son — the future great soldier — and five
daughters, one of whom is Mrs. Charlotte
Despard, of the "Women's Freedom League".

Sir John was born in Kent on 28th Septem-
ber, 1852. When he was quite a little boy no
one imagined he would become a stern and
dashing soldier. He was somewhat shy and
nervous, and it seemed for a time as if he
would elect to be a clergyman, because he so
often dressed up as one at home and preached
long sermons to his sisters. Nowadays he is
known as "Silent French". But one trait of
his youthful character he still retains, and that
is consideration for others. Soldiers admire
him because he is not one of those iron-hearted
officers who seem to care little how they waste
human lives, and because he always concerns
himself greatly regarding their comfort. A
pretty story is told about him by one of the
old house-servants who knew him as a child.
" One morning in the depth of winter," she has
said, "when I went downstairs I found Master
Johnnie kneeling on the dining-room hearth
trying his best to light the fire. He said in
a tone of disappointment: 'I meant to have a
good fire for you, but the wretched coal won't
burn'."

His father and mother died when he was
quite young, and "Master Johnnie" came

38 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

under the care of his guardian. As he grew
up he became fond of reading about wars. His
favourite hero was Napoleon Bonaparte. But
he did not neglect his lessons. He was always
very studious, and early showed a desire to
master a subject to which he applied himself.

Following his father's example, he first chose
the navy as a career, and went to Eastman's
Naval Academy at Portsmouth to study for the
examinations. In time he became a midship-
man on H.M.S. Warrior. The ironclads of
these days were in the transition stage: they
were fitted with engines and propellers, but
also carried sails like Nelson's ships. A new
type of vessel, which was named the Captain,
was introduced when French was a middy.
Its sides rose only 9 feet out of the water, and
it had a raised "hurricane deck", with two
revolving turrets carrying six guns. The crew
consisted of about 600 men.

Great things were expected of the Captain.
It was capable of powerful gun-fire, and
afforded a small target to an enemy. But it
proved to be thoroughly unseaworthy. Having
been attached to the same squadron as the
Warrior, on which French was serving, it
entered the Bay of Biscay in rough weather.
An anxious night went past, and when day
dawned the Captain was nowhere to be seen.

SIR JOHN FRENCH 39

It had ''turned turtle" and gone down with the
entire crew. This disaster, which happened on
;th September, 1870, greatly impressed Mid-
shipman French among others.

After four years' life in the navy the young
officer left the sea and joined the 8th Hussars,
in which he received a commission as a
lieutenant. A month later, on nth March,
1874, he was transferred to the igih Hussars.
His fellow-officers were not greatly impressed
by him. "Why," exclaimed one of them,
"he looks like a soda-water bottle." For a
long time they nicknamed him "Soda-water-
bottle French".

But the shy lad of low stature soon showed
his worth. He was a most painstaking and
studious soldier. He was quick to learn, and
never forgot what he learned. Besides, he
always did his duty promptly and thoroughly.
His promotion was rapid, and he deserved it,
for he worked hard.

He first saw active service in Egypt in
1884-5, when he took part in the operations
against the Mahdi. He was then a major, and
served under General Sir Herbert Stewart, who
was pressing southward towards Khartoum to
rescue Gordon with a force of less than 2500
men. At Abu Klea, Stewart was attacked by
an army of n,ooo Dervishes, and a fierce battle

40 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

was fought. The little British army formed a
square, and although it was penetrated by the
enemy, the savage desert warriors were driven
back with great slaughter. It was in this action
that Colonel Burnaby, a famous British cavalry
officer who was fighting as a volunteer, met his
death from an Arab spear.

The British pressed on, and next day fought
another action, in which Sir Herbert Stewart
was slain. About three weeks later Sir Redvers
Buller arrived with reinforcements, and enabled
the column Stewart had commanded to retire
after a message had been received from Gordon
saying he was not able to hold out much longer.
Buller made special mention of French in his
dispatches, adding that the force owed much
to him. Shortly afterwards French was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, having
proved himself an able and distinguished leader
of cavalry. He commanded the igth Hussars
for six years, and then went to India as
Assistant-Adjutant-General of Cavalry on the
staff. Two years later he was transferred to
the War Office, and carried out important re-
forms. He created a revolution in the training
and tactics of cavalry.

When the Boer War broke out French was
made a full major-general and given the com-
mand of the Cavalry Brigade in the Natal

SIR JOHN FRENCH 41

field force. He proved himself to be a superb
and dashing leader. His first success was at
Elandslaagte, where the Boers had cut the rail-
way line and taken up a strong1 position. He
commanded a mixed force, and after a stiff
struggle drove back his opponents and cap-
tured their artillery and camp.

The main force of the Boer army afterwards
pressed forward and began to surround Lady-
smith. General Sir George White resolved to
defend the town, and gave French important
dispatches to carry to Sir Redvers Buller, then
the Commander-in-Chief. He travelled by the
last train which left the town. It was attacked
by the Boers, but French escaped the showers
of bullets that swept through the carriages by
lying under a seat of a compartment, where he
made himself as comfortable as possible and
calmly smoked a cigar.

He afterwards fought several actions which
retarded the advance of the Boers, and showed
remarkable skill in adapting himself to the new
conditions of warfare.

Early in 1900, after the arrival in South
Africa of Lords Roberts and Kitchener, General
French was placed in command of a mounted
force between 4000 and 5000 strong, including
seven batteries of horse artillery. His orders
were to relieve the town of Kimberley, which

42 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

had been surrounded and besieged by the
Boers since October of the previous year. On
1 2th February he set out from Ramdan. " I
promise faithfully", he said to Kitchener, "to
relieve Kimberley at six o'clock on the evening
of the 1 5th if I am alive." De Wet was
watching this great mobile force and attempted
to intercept it. As French was crossing a ford
of the Riet River a shell burst near him, and
he had a narrow escape from death. It seemed
that he bore a charmed life. Strange to relate,
French has never been wounded, although oft-
times in danger.

In advancing upon Kimberley, French made
quite a new use of cavalry. He attacked
strongly entrenched positions held by infantry
and artillery and passed right through between
them. In doing so he opened out his squadrons
into very widely extended formation, so that
the Boer fire could not be concentrated against
them, and dashed on at the gallop. Before his
opponents quite realized what was happening,
the great cavalry leader had passed behind and
beyond them on his way to Kimberley.

The weather was burning hot, and this mobile
relieving- force suffered alternately from dust
storms and veldt fires. Still the advance was
continued according to French's "time-table".
On the I4th Klip Drift, an important strategic

SIR JOHN FRENCH 43

position, was successfully occupied. Next
morning the men were up early and in the
saddle, riding forward at a brisk pace. Kim-
berley was sighted at half-past two in the after-
noon and messages were sent to it by heliograph.

The Boers occupied two kopjes, and French,
again extending his squadrons, charged through
and round his entrenched opponents, with the
result that they found it necessary to abandon
the siege and effect a safe retreat. At six o'clock
in the evening the gallant general entered the
town with a small force and received a stirring
welcome.

On the following evening, after engaging in
several hours' heavy fighting, French received
orders to hasten eastward so as to head off
General Cronje's army, which was retiring
from its strong position at Magersfontein, and
making for Bloemfontein. This difficult task
was performed with skill and success. The
Boers were held up at Paardeberg while
Kitchener advanced with infantry and artillery
and completely surrounded them. After a
brave and desperate resistance, against over-
powering numbers, Cronje and his army of
about 2000 surrendered.

On the march to Bloemfontein, and after-
wards to Pretoria, General French distinguished
himself as a cavalry leader. It was greatly due

44 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

to his rapid and clever movements that the
Boers had to evacuate position after position.
The hardest fighting took place with General
Botha, who proved himself a leader of great
resource and daring.

After Pretoria was occupied, Kitchenerplanned
his wide sweeping movements, which were
called "drives", to clear the various districts
of their mobile bands of fighting Boers. The
greatest "drive" was carried out by French in
the Eastern Transvaal. Afterwards he operated
in the disturbed parts of Cape Colony. When
the peace treaty was signed, on 3ist May, 1902,
it was recognized that French was without
doubt the most original and brilliant leader of
cavalry in the British army. Both Roberts and
Kitchener praised him on several occasions,
but none thought more highly of him than the
soldiers under his command. They learned to
trust him with absolute confidence, and they
loved him because of his unassuming and kindly
manner. He was always so cool, so resource-
ful, so simple and quiet. The brilliant general
never posed, as it were, "to the gallery". A
boastful word never escaped his lips, and he
was generous to a fallen foeman. He always
showed great concern about the men under his
command, and went about his work as coolly
and efficiently as a city man in his office or

Photo. Reginald Haines

LORD FRENCH

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 45

warehouse. The really great and clever men
are often the most humble and considerate.

Sir John held various high military positions
at home after the Boer War. In 1913 he was
raised to the rank of Field-Marshal. When
war broke out with Germany he was appointed
to command the British Expeditionary Force.
For seventeen months he discharged his re-
sponsible duties with distinction and then retired.
In recognition of his great services he was raised
by the King to the rank of Viscount. Sir
Douglas Haig, a younger and no less brilliant
leader, was chosen as his successor.

Matchless Fighting-men

One thing which has been proved by the great
war with Germany is that the soldiers of the
British Empire are unsurpassed as fearless and
determined fighting-men. At first the Germans
despised them. In an order said to have been
issued to his troops, the Kaiser made reference
to "the contemptible little British army".
But, soon after the fighting commenced, our
gallant soldiers showed they were as bold and
brave in battle as their heroic ancestors in days
gone by.

The first meeting of British and German
troops was in the vicinity of Mons in southern

46 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Belgium. Our soldiers were extended along
a line about 28 miles long.

The conflict began on a Sunday afternoon,
and, owing to the rapid advance of the Germans,
it opened suddenly and unexpectedly.

Among the early arrivals at the position
selected by General French were the West
Kents. The weather was warm, and after
digging trenches the men felt tired and hungry.
While dinner was being got ready, a number of
the jolly Englishmen proposed to have a bath
in a canal which was in the vicinity. In a few
minutes afterwards they were splashing merrily
in the cool waters.

" I -say, this is just fine," you could hear a
man exclaim as he sprayed a comrade. " After
that long march and digging the trenches, I
wanted a dip badly. How do you feel?"

"A bit all right now," came the usual answer.

At first some shouted challenges to swim with
friends for a hundred yards. But as more and
more men entered the water, raising torrents
of spray, the canal became too crowded for
competitions.

" Come on now, you men who have had your
dip," shouted a sergeant on the bank; "get
out and allow some others to get in."

It was a lively scene. Dozens scrambled up
the slope to run for towels, and others dived in

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 47

with splash and splutter and shout. One might
think the men were on holiday and not out to
fight against fearful odds.

Those who had bathed, and got dressed,
seized pannikins and filed towards the camp
kitchen to obtain their rations. Ere long groups
of hungry men were squatted about devouring a
hot meal with relish, some of them at the same
time watching the cantrips of the bathers in the
canal.

Then suddenly the storm of war broke forth.
Several German batteries of artillery had crept
up through a wood in front of the British lines,
and opened fire with shrapnel. The shells burst
over the West Kents in dozens, and immediately
there was excitement and confusion. Just as
people scamper from the streets when a thunder-
plump of rain comes down, so did the bathers
and diners scamper for cover. Some soon got
into position in their trenches; others had to
snatch up towels and clothes and then race for
their rifles, drying and dressing themselves after-
wards in the narrow ditches they had excavated.

In other parts of the long British line, troops
came under fire as soon as they arrived. They
had to dig their trenches as they lay flat on the
ground — not an easy task — but they did the
work all the same. Late arrivals had no oppor-
tunity of using the spade at all, and took cover

48 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

where it could be found : behind hedges, bushes,
or boulders, or simply in shallow depressions
formed by floods.

The bright sunshine was dimmed by the drift-
ing smoke of the guns on either side. Bullets
and splinters from the German shells came
whizzing downwards, after each shell burst with
a crash overhead. But the British soldiers re-
mained cool and collected. They even made
merry about the surprise they had received.

"What a dirty trick!" called one man.
"They might have waited until I had finished
my dip. I wonder where's my cap!"

"And my tunic," another exclaimed.

"The Germans have no manners," remarked
a third. " They chucked a dirty bullet into my
pannikin and spilt my soup."

"What a mess I'm in," growled a big fellow
who was but half dressed. "I had just dried
myself after a nice wash, when a shrapnel landed
in a pot of potatoes and spattered me all over
with mash and skins. My, but I do feel sticky ! "

"They wanted to give you a German light-
ning lunch," a friend suggested, with a grin.
" Don't you know there are hundreds of waiters
in front of you?"

"Here they come," shouted man to man.
"Aren't they pretty? Glad to see you, my
lads!"

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 49

The German infantry had begun to advance,
believing that the British had been demoralized
by the artillery. But the shrapnel had been
less effective than they realized.

On came the enemy, charging in close order
and in numbers far greater than the British.
Their blue-grey uniforms made their dense
masses look like waves sweeping over the green
fields. And like waves they broke when they
came into range of the rifles. Hundreds fell
before the shower of well-directed bullets. For
a few moments the attackers paused after the
first shock. But their officers urged them for-
ward, and they poured on again. In front of
them the British troops were invisible, crouch-
ing in their trenches, disdaining the crash and
scream of shrapnel, and taking sure and accurate
aim. Whole companies of the Germans were
mowed down.

"This minds me of harvest work," a British
soldier said. " It's like reaping a field of
barley."

"We'll soon have the whole crop cut,"
answered another.

On came the Germans, shouting and singing
to keep up their courage, over ground strewn
with the dead and dying. Many crouched up
their shoulders and turned their faces sideways,
as if they were walking against a fierce shower

(0751) 4

50 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

of hailstones. But they could make no head-
way against the bullet-storm. So quickly did
they fall that in some places the dead were
piled up 5 feet high. Still the German officers
cried: "Vorwarts!" (" Forward!"), and the
dazed men in the blue-grey uniforms attempted
to climb over the "walls" of the dead.

"Disgusting, I call it," remarked a British
soldier.

"It's not fighting," a comrade said; "it's
like shooting game."

"Are there any left?" asked a little man,
reaching up to peer over his rifle.

"Thousands of them! thousands of them!"
someone answered. "They seem to be rising
out of the ground — coming out like rabbits
from their holes."

The Germans were trying to overwhelm the
British, but the khaki-clad troops never flinched.
Hour after hour went past and the terrible
slaughter continued. Battalions rushed for-
ward and were shattered, and the survivors
scampered away. But other battalions hastened
to attempt the crossing of the blood-drenched
ground. At some parts of the line the pressure
was terrible and constant. Now and again
British cavalry went out and set hosts of Ger-
mans scampering. Here and there the machine-
guns made gaps in the massed troops "like

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 51

red-hot iron thrust through packing-paper", as
a British soldier put it.

Desperate fighting took place at a cross-road
held by English, Scottish, and Irish soldiers.
Sometimes, after thinning out an attacking Ger-
man force, they leaped from cover and charged
with the bayonet. The sight of the glittering
steel made the enemy run.

It was only once at Mons that the Germans
faced the British attackers. They had almost
reached the trenches of the South Lancashires
when out leaped these fearless Englishmen and
dashed on the closed ranks of the Kaiser's
warriors. They stood it for a few minutes, and
frightful havoc was done. The Germans, how-
ever, were no match for the Lancashires and
fled before them as fast as they could run.

" Rabbits don't like ferrets," a laughing
Englishman exclaimed.

4 'And puppies hate running up against
hedgehogs," added another.

All this time, and until darkness came on,
the artillery roared on either side without ceas-
ing. The noise was deafening. Maxim guns
rattled like sewing-machines, howitzers bellowed
like thunder, rifles snapped out their fire like
thousands of riding-whips snapping together.
In the distance the big guns sounded like
slamming doors. Shells crashed in the air, on

52 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

the ground, and dropped into the trenches or
burst in front of them, causing them to collapse
and bury brave men alive.

Aeroplanes skimmed below the clouds like
giant eagles, spotting guns and trenches and
signalling the range. Sometimes one of the
machines was struck by shrapnel, and tumbled
down like a bird with a broken wing.

Meanwhile the courageous members of the
British Medical Staff Corps attended to the
wounded and removed them to the rear. When
the disabled warriors related their experiences in
hospital they had many thrilling stories to tell.

On the third day of the fighting a magnificent
charge was made by the 2nd British Cavalry
Brigade, consisting of Lancers, Hussars, and
Dragoons. Nothing like it has occurred since
the Light Brigade won great glory at Balaclava.
They rode out to silence the German big guns,
which were doing frightful havoc at one par-
ticular point in the British lines, but before they
could reach them they had to pass through
the fire of about twenty machine-guns, which
emptied many a saddle. Their advance was
also hampered by barbed-wire entanglements.
But they rode onward fearless and resolute and
unstayed. When they reached the guns they
cut down the gunners; then they damaged the
guns so that no further fire might come from

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 53

them. Having accomplished this they rode
back — "all that was left of them".

Both on their way out and on their return
they encountered German cavalry. One of the
Germans who was taken prisoner said: "We
were stronger in numbers than the Lancers,
and thought we would hold them back, but
they cut through us like cutters snipping barbed
wire. I am sure each one of them speared an
opponent. We were thrown into confusion,
and just when we were trying to rally they
wheeled round and dashed at us again. I can
hear them shouting still. Our men and horses
were cut down right and left. Ach! it was
dreadful, indeed. Back they came once more,
and they did not leave us until we were all
scattered. Never again do I wish to meet a
charge of the terrible Lancers."

A Middlesex company engaged in a most
extraordinary struggle with the enemy. The
men were engaged digging a trench, and while
doing so an aeroplane flew overhead.

" I wish I had my rifle here," exclaimed one
of the Englishmen, "so that I might have a
pop at that fellow."

The company had left their arms behind :
they were to be brought up by their comrades
who were getting ready to take up position.
It was hot and sultry, and they worked hard.

54 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Suddenly the sergeant saw advancing a force
of German infantry with fixed bayonets. The
airman had signalled for them.

They were close at hand before they were
noticed, and came on at a rush. The trench-
diggers had no time to retire. Some stood up
to defend themselves with shovels; others used
their fists. A good many fell, dying like
heroes; but a remnant kept the Germans at
bay, and those who got possession of the
enemies' weapons set up a desperate fight until
a British force came to the rescue. This was
the Connaught Rangers. The dashing Irish-
men attacked the Germans as Irishmen can,
and drove them back, slaying many and making
prisoners of those who had thrown down their
arms and were unable to escape.

In another district the South Wales Borderers
were hastening into action when they came
against a regiment of Uhlans attacking a
convoy. The gallant Welshmen at once took
up position and opened fire, causing many a
horse and man to fall. As the fight developed,
however, the German cavalry was reinforced
and an attempt was made to surround the
Welshmen and cut them up. It was a desperate
situation.

"They have cornered us this time," a private
exclaimed.

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 55

" They'll get it hot till the bitter end," re-
marked a companion.

But it seemed when he spoke that the end
was not far off. The Welshmen were out
numbered by their swiftly moving opponents.

Then suddenly the glad news was whispered
along the lines: " Reinforcements are coming!"

"Who are they? Who are they?" many
asked.

' ' Look ! look ! " exclaimed a sergeant; * * here
are the Scots Greys and the ist Lancers."

It was a splendid sight to see how the British
cavalrymen dashed against the enemy, wheeling
round, striking on left and right, retiring and
charging again. The Welsh infantry fought
with renewed vigour. But still the British force
was outnumbered. For six hours the fight was
waged with great fury. Gradually, however, the
Germans' encircling movement was shattered.
Here the Uhlans were compelled to retreat;
there they were thrown into confusion. English-
men, Scotsmen, and Welshmen fought as fear-
lessly and as well as their sires of old. In the
end the Germans were put to flight, after about
1500 had been either killed or wounded.

Outnumbered — in some places by ten to one
— the British army had to retreat from Mons
and district and fight what are known as rear-
guard actions, so as to prevent the Germans

56 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

from surrounding- them. To allow the retreat
to be carried out successfully, comparatively
small forces of our troops had to hold back the
enemy at various important points.

One night 150 Coldstream Guards were
guarding a road, waiting for a French regiment
which was expected to come to their aid.
Through their spies the Germans came to know
of this and tried to deceive the British. A
number had stripped the French dead of their
uniforms, and, having put them on, advanced
from a wood. One of the Germans called out
in English to the Coldstreams: " Do not shoot;
we are the French." He walked boldly forward
in advance of his fellows, but suddenly stabbed
a British private who offered to shake hands
with him. The officer in command at once
gave the signal to fire, and the sham French-
men were driven back with considerable loss.
But they soon returned again heavily reinforced,
and an attempt was made to overpower the
small British force by sheer weight of numbers.

The Guards were prepared for them, how-
ever. Maxims were posted at commanding
points on either side of the highway; some
were on housetops near by. Lying on their
stomachs, the dauntless British riflemen poured
an unceasing shower of bullets into the enemy's
ranks. Germans fell like dead leaves from

MATCHLESS FIGHTING-MEN 57

trees before a sudden gale. Again and again
they came on; again and again they were
driven back, stumbling over prostrate bodies
of dead and wounded.

The moon came out and lit up the terrible
scene. Then the fighting waxed more furious
than ever. In time the Germans drew up a
field-gun and opened fire with shrapnel. They
were certain the British force could not resist
the devastating shell which began to burst
before and behind and above them.

Would the Guards have to retire? If they
did so the consequences would be terrible.
Behind them a considerable British force lay
asleep, thoroughly exhausted, and if the Ger-
mans got through they would decimate it.

The major knew this, and when he observed
that the Guards' fire was slackening before the
shower of shell splinters and scattering shrapnel
bullets, he cried out: " For God's sake, boys,
don't fall back!"

No sooner had he spoken than the Guards
recovered and renewed their vigorous defence.
Then a marksman damaged the German gun
with a well-placed bullet, and put it out of
action. That lucky shot changed the situation.
The Germans were advancing again in close
order, confident of victory, and the British
Maxims and rifles caught them at short range

58 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

and mowed them down in scores. The sur-
vivors fled confusedly, leaving the Guards in
possession of the ground they had so gallantly
defended. Over 1400 Germans were put out
of action, most of them having been killed out-
right, on that night of carnage and slaughter.

A single man may sometimes perform a deed
of heroism which will save the lives of many.
A canal was crossed by the Middlesex regiment,
who had to keep back the advance of a horde
of Germans strongly supported by heavy artil-
lery. The bridge which spanned it had, how-
ever, to be blown up. If the enemy succeeded
in rushing over it they might be able to over-
whelm the gallant defenders. A charge of
gun-cotton was placed beneath a girder and
the fuse set alight. This work was carried out
by a few members of the Royal Engineers, who
suffered greatly from the attention paid to them
by German snipers. But, as luck would have
it, the fuse burnt out, having been severed by
a bullet, and the bridge remained intact.

Perceiving this, a sergeant of the Engineers
rushed forward to relight the stump of fuse
which remained. It was a perilous task, be-
cause he might not be able to run back far
enough before the charge exploded. But he
never hesitated. He knew many British lives

A GROUP OF HEROES 59

would be saved if he successfully performed his
duty.

The Germans opened fire on him with rifles
and field-guns. A shrapnel burst overhead as
he caught the shortened fuse and ignited it.
Then he turned round and ran a few paces. A
shell swept over the canal and struck off his
head, and in another second the gun-cotton
exploded and blew the bridge into fragments.
The Middlesex soldiers were thus enabled to
hold their position, and before the time came
to retreat they punished the enemy severely.

So confident were the Germans of victory
that a message was telegraphed to Berlin, say-
ing: "The British army is surrounded". There
were rejoicings in the German capital, but these
did not last long. Step by step the dauntless
soldiers of our country retreated, fighting with
courage and success, until the tide of battle
turned and the Germans were driven back pell-
mell towards the River Aisne.

A Group of Heroes

A thrilling deed of heroism was accomplished
by a Highland soldier in the vicinity of Soissons
on the River Aisne. About 150 men of his
regiment were told off to guard a bridge in
case any Germans should attempt to cross. It

60 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

was not expected that a strong attack would be
made at that particular place.

The day was warm and pleasant; sunlight
twinkled on the river and birds sang- among
the trees. But for the booming of guns in the
distance there was nothing to suggest war and
bloodshed in that peaceful spot. The High-
landers chatted about home and the harvest-
fields, and enjoyed the rest they were experi-
encing after long, weary marching and heavy
fighting. One said: " If I had a fishing-rod
I should like to try that shady pool yonder.
There is a nice ripple on the water."

He had hardly spoken when the "spit-spit-
spit" of rifles rang out in the silence. A strong
force of Germans had crept through the wood
opposite them, and were evidently going to
rush the bridge. Several Highlanders fell, and
the rest took cover and opened fire. When the
Germans made their appearance their ranks
were swept by a Maxim gun, which cut them
down in dozens.

For a time the attackers were held back.
Then a strong column of Germans came in
sight, hurrying along the highway to cross the
bridge. The Highlanders were outnumbered
by about seven to one.

" It will take us all our time to hold them
back," one muttered.

A GROUP OF HEROES 61

"The Maxim will shatter that column in a
twinkling," answered another cheerfully.

But suddenly the Maxim became silent.
Snipers lying concealed in the wood had shot
down, one after another, the men who had been
working it, and it stood there unattended on
its tripod among a heap of bodies. Meanwhile
the Germans approached closer and closer to
the bridge. The rifle-fire was not of sufficient
volume to keep them back. It looked as if the
little group of British soldiers would be exter-
minated.

A gallant Highlander who took in the situa-
tion at a glance leaped up, and, throwing down
his rifle, ran towards the Maxim gun. The
German snipers tried their best to hit him, but
he seemed to have a charmed life. Bullets
whizzed past his head like bees swarming from
a hive; but he never faltered. Reaching the
Maxim, he swung it, without detaching the
tripod, across his back as coolly as though he
were a fisherman lifting a creel of fish; then,
instead of returning to his comrades, he ran
across the bridge and placed the gun in front
of the German column advancing along the
highway. The belt which revolves to " feed "
the Maxim was well charged with ammunition,
and the Highlander opened a withering fire.
' * Rat-tat-tat" sounded the deadly gun as the

62 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Highlander crouched down, working it expertly
and coolly. The Germans were unable to ad-
vance against the terrible hail of bullets, which
thinned their ranks faster than it takes to tell.
So they scampered to find cover, leaving heaps
of their men dead and wounded on the road.

Meanwhile the snipers continued firing at the
gallant Highlander, who kept the bridge like
the Roman Horatius, but against more fearful
odds. Again and again he was wounded, and
just as he succeeded in putting to flight the
attackers, he fell back dead, and once more
the Maxim gun was silent.

The Germans began to re-form to renew the
attack. Ere they could do so, however, the
surviving Highlanders heard reinforcements
hurrying up from behind. As soon as they
reached the river bank the fresh troops opened
so vigorous an attack on the Germans that they
were forced to fall back. Their retiral was a
hurried one.

When the British soldiers crossed the bridge
they found that the dead Highlander who had
routed the German column, and given his life
to save his comrades, had over thirty bullet
wounds in various parts of his body. He will
be remembered as one of the great heroes of
the British army.

A GROUP OF HEROES 63

A similar act of splendid daring- was per-
formed by Lieutenant Dimmer of the 2nd
Battalion of the King's Rifle Corps, whose
home is at Wimbledon. He took part in the
trench fighting in southern Belgium when the
Germans endeavoured to break through the
British lines and reach Calais. For some weeks
the issue hung in the balance. Then the famous
Prussian Guard, the " crack regiment" of the
Fatherland, was brought up at the command
of the Kaiser to sweep our troops before them.
The fighting became very violent. Lieutenant
Dimmer had, on one occasion, a narrow escape
from death, for, as he was engaged inspecting
the position, three bullets, fired by watchful
German snipers, passed through his cap.

For several days the Royal Rifle Corps sus-
tained fierce attacks. During the early part of
the fighting two British machine-guns were put
out of action, but one of them was recovered
by Lieutenant Dimmer, assisted by Corporal
Cordingley, who would have received the Dis-
tinguished Service Medal had he lived; he was
killed by a bullet not long afterwards.

The Prussian Guard lost heavily, because the
sons of Britain were more than a match for
them, and repelled attack after attack. Urged
onward, however, to make a final effort, they
flung themselves on the British lines, con-

64 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

vinced that they must succeed and win great
glory.

This attack began about nine o'clock on a
cold misty night. Lieutenant Dimmer was in
the thick of the fight. He had charge of a
Maxim gun, and was assisted by three men.
But just when the Maxim was brought into
action the leather of the cartridge-belt stuck
fast, being swollen by the drizzle of thin rain.
Meanwhile the enemy approached nearer and
nearer, keeping up a fierce fire. Rifle-bullets
and shrapnel splinters spattered about the gun
like hailstones. It was a galling situation. But
Lieutenant Dimmer was cool and brave and
resourceful. He at once knelt down to adjust
the silent gun, using a spanner so that the
cartridge-belt might have room to move. While
so engaged he was exposed to the deadly fire
which swept along the trench. A bullet struck
him in the jaw. It did not, however, cause
him to flinch. " I did not mind," he has since
said; "the wound only made me wild."

At length the cartridge-belt was got to work,
and the gun poured out its fusillades of bullets
on the advancing hosts, in which it made great
gaps, while the men in the trenches kept up
the rifle-fire with unerring aim, as steadily as
if they were practising at targets on a shooting-
range.

C?S'

FIRING THE BRIDGE

An heroic eighteen-year-old Belgian corporal firing a bridge at Termonde, amid
a hail of bullets. A similar incident is described on page 65.

A GROUP OF HEROES 65

The German shrapnel crashed overhead, and
many brave men were killed or wounded by
scattering fragments of metal. Snipers also
paid special attention to those working the
machine-guns, and one after another the three
men at this particular Maxim were picked off.
But Lieutenant Dimmer stuck to his post, de-
spite his wound, working the gun alone. A bit
of shrapnel then grazed his right eye and almost
blinded it. Still he kept the Maxim working.
Another shell burst near him, and a splinter
tore open a ragged wound on his forehead, from
which the blood streamed down into his left
eye. Twisting his head sideways, and occa-
sionally wiping away the blood, he scarcely
faltered at his task. Sometimes he was almost
completely blind; at best he could only see
through a haze of blood and perspiration. But
he kept the gun in action while the Prussian
Guard was sustaining frightful losses. Then,
for a moment or two, the Maxim remained
silent. Wearied and weakened by his wounds,
he found it necessary to take rest, and especially
to recover his vision. After cleansing his eyes
and pressing his handkerchief against his fore-
head bruise, to stop the flow of blood, he looked
up and saw that the enemy were retreating.
This gave him fresh courage and strength, and
once again he staggered towards the gun. " I

( C 751 ) 6

66 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

"wanted," he has told, " to give them something
to go on with, and banged away for all I was
worth."

When one belt of cartridges was exhausted
he fitted on another. Many a Prussian was
laid low by that courageous British officer, who
was still working his gun without assistance.
Then another shrapnel shell burst in front of
him, and he received a wound on his left
shoulder. But his right arm remained free,
and he resumed firing. At length, however, a
rifle bullet sank deeply into his left shoulder,
near the other wound, and he fell back uncon-
scious. He had done heroic service in assist-
ing to scatter the renowned Prussian Guard,
and had certainly saved the position occupied
by his battalion. In all he fired 900 cartridges,
and most of these must have taken effect.

When Lieutenant Dimmer was picked up it
was found that he had sustained five wounds.
Temporary dressings were applied, and he re-
covered consciousness. Before he was con-
veyed to hospital, however, he insisted on
going to his quarters, supported by two men,
to make up his report. For his great bravery
he has been awarded the Victoria Cross, and
given promotion.

A touching story is told of an heroic Irish-

A GROUP OF HEROES 67

man who gave his life to save two chance
acquaintances near Cambrai. He had been
brought up in Glasgow, and was a private in
the Royal Scots. Those who knew him say
he was a rough character, given to quarrelling,
and ever ready to use his fists. But there was
a tender spot in his heart, and he had certainly
much courage.

Along with a sergeant of the Leicestershire
Regiment and a private of the Dorsets, who
was wounded, he took shelter in a farm-house.
The little party were cut off from the British
forces, and Germans swarmed in their vicinity.
They hoped to steal away in the darkness, and
it looked as if they would manage to, for their
presence »vas not suspected. But the Irishman
was reckless, and, ignoring the appeals of the
others, wandered outside. The Germans saw
him and opened fire. He returned promptly
to the house, and was greatly troubled because
he had carelessly drawn attention to his com-
panions. "I have just come in ", he said, "to
warn you that a party of the enemy is near.
Hide yourselves ; I am going out for a
walk."

The sergeant saw at once that the Irishman
had made up his mind to risk his life by per-
forming some wild escapade, and ordered him
to remain where he was. But he ignored the

68 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

sergeant and made for the door; then, pausing
on the threshold, he said: " It's like this, my
son. You and your friend there are married,
and have children who would mourn for you.
As for me, I'm not the best, and nobody will
be any the poorer if I'm shot. Am I not to
blame in this matter? If I hadn't shown myself
the Germans wouldn't have looked near the
place. But they don't know there's anybody
here but myself. So I'm going to rush out,
and perhaps I may get off. If they catch me,
they'll be quite satisfied, no doubt. But you
must remain behind, Sergeant, for the sake of
that poor wounded fellow there." His face
never showed a sign of feeling until the ser-
geant began to move towards him. "Stop!"
he exclaimed. "Stay where you are. If you
follow me the Germans won't get a chance, for
I'll shoot you down myself. Stop where you
are, I tell you."

It was no use reasoning with him. He shut
the door and walked off as coolly as if he were
going to the barracks. When he came in sight
of the Germans he pretended to be surprised,
and made a sudden dash to escape across a
field. But he had not gone far when he was
brought down by a volley. He must have died
before he fell. But he saved the lives of the
other two men. The Germans thought he was

A GROUP OF HEROES 69

a solitary straggler, and went off in another
direction.

Night came on, but the two English soldiers
did not get an opportunity to escape safely.
They kept in hiding for three days before they
were able to return to the British lines. The
body of the heroic Irishman, who had died for
others, was recovered and buried by the Red
Cross men, and the " Last Post" was sounded
over his grave.

• •*••••

It has been related that when King Robert
the Bruce rode out against De Bohun, before
the battle of Bannockburn, and slew that dash-
ing knight, his officers remonstrated with him
for risking his life, while they also praised him
for his prowess. But what concerned the King
most was that he had broken his battle-axe.
An English soldier who had displayed great
daring at the battle of Mons retired from it in
a similar frame of mind. His right hand had
been badly wounded, and he was found sitting
by the roadside looking most dejected. " Is
your wound very painful?" he was asked.
"It's not my hand that worries me," he said.
"I'm blessed if I haven't lost my pipe in that
last charge!"

• •••*»•

Scorching motor-cyclists are regarded as a

70 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

nuisance on country roads in time of peace;
but in war not a few of them have proved
to be of great value. The story of how a
"scorcher" won a French medal is of stirring
character.

During the course of one of the many en-
gagements fought on the banks of the River
Aisne a small but determined French force
occupied trenches facing those of the enemy.
There were clumps of woodland on either side
of the space between the opposing lines. In
one English troops lay concealed ; in the other
there were Germans with machine-guns. For
a time neither of these hidden forces was aware
of the presence of the other.

The highway skirts the wood in which the
Germans lay, and along it a strong force of
French infantry came marching to support their
entrenched countrymen. The Germans waited
for them.

Suddenly the men in the trenches perceived
that a trap had been laid. They caught glimpses
of the enemy moving into position between the
trees. As the force of infantry would be deci-
mated as soon as they came into range, it was
necessary that they should be warned in time.
To accomplish this, attempts were made to
signal to them, but the German sharpshooters
promptly picked off each man who rose up

A GROUP OF HEROES 71

from the French trenches to send a message.

The threatened danger was perceived also
by the Englishmen in the opposite wood. It
was no use for them to try to signal, because
their message would not be understood. The
only chance was to send a cyclist along the
road which ran past the German ambush.

A daring Englishman leaped on his machine,
and in a few minutes had crossed to the high-
way and was careering along it. He bent low
in the saddle and scorched for all he was worth.
" Teuf-teuf-teuf ", sounded the motor in the
tense stillness. The Germans were amazed at
the man's daring. Their snipers, however,
opened fire, and the brave scorcher was shot
down. His bicycle tumbled over and was
wrecked on a bank.

But no sooner did he fall than another
4 'scorcher" made his appearance. This man
was also killed, and did not even get so far
along the road as his predecessor. Then a
third brave Englishman made his appearance.
He was as fearless as the others, and rode
similarly at the highest speed. The German
sharpshooters opened against him a brisk fire,
and the bullets buzzed about his ears like
mosquitoes. It was an exciting spectacle.
The Englishmen peered from the wood and
the Frenchmen from the trenches, watching

72 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

the scorching- cyclist careering along the high-
way, his back bent and his head stretched for-
ward as if he were racing for a prize in some
competition. " Snap-snap-snap ", rang out the
German rifles, but still the messenger whirled
onward. He passed the wood in a cloud of
dust and raced towards the French column of
infantry, which was now drawing perilously
near. Would he reach it safely and in time?
The Germans did their best to prevent him.
But they could only snipe. If they opened
volley-fire they would reveal their presence to
the force they intended to ambush.

At length, after several moments of breath-
less anxiety, the heroic " scorcher" reached the
French force, dismounted, and warned them.
He had risked his life for the sake of the allies
of his native land, and saved hundreds of brave
soldiers from certain death.

The French officer was astounded, not only
at the message of warning he received, but at
the daring displayed by the courageous English-
man, whom he saluted as though he confronted
one of his superiors in rank. Then, taking from
his tunic the French military medal which is the
equivalent of our Victoria Cross, he pinned it
above the breast of that dashing cyclist who so
richly deserved such a high honour.

A GROUP OF HEROES 73

Another daring feat was accomplished by an
officer and non - commissioned officer of the
2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.
Early one morning a company of Germans
conducted a fierce and sudden attack on one
of the forward trenches of the Manchesters
and compelled its occupants to retire. Two
attempts were afterwards made to drive them
back, but without success. It looked as if the
Germans would hold out until reinforcements
came to their aid to assist them to advance
still farther.

Second - Lieutenant Leach declared in the
afternoon that he would attack the enemy alone
and compel them to retire. "I will go with
you, sir, "said Sergeant Hogan. The lieutenant
cpnsented, and they set out together.

One after the other these two brave soldiers
crept along the communication-trench leading
to the forward trenches, and when they got to
close quarters opened fire on the enemy. Both
were good shots, and almost every bullet took
effect. Darting from point to point along the
zigzagged route, they compelled the Germans
to retreat to the far end of the trench after
having killed eight of them and wounded a
'couple. Fourteen remained to be accounted
for, but after firing a few random shots they
threw down their rifles and held up their hands

74 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

to signify that they surrendered. They were
greatly astonished to find that they had been
hopelessly beaten by only two men.

Lieutenant Leach had a marvellous escape.
Several bullets had gone through his cap, and
his muffler came to pieces when he took it off.
Neither he nor Sergeant Hogan received a
single wound.

• * * •••••

A private of the Royal Irish Regiment one
day sacrificed himself to save a force of the
West Yorkshires from extermination. He had
been taken prisoner during the previous night,
and was confined in a farm-house on the out-
skirts of a little village near Reims. The
Germans kept so well under cover that the
British were not aware of their presence at this
particular point.

When day dawned the West Yorkshires were
ordered to advance and occupy the village.
The Germans chuckled when they saw them
coming, and word was passed round among
the houses not to fire a shot until they were at
close range. It seemed as if the unsuspecting
Englishmen were to be exterminated.

Looking through a window, Pat took in the
situation. He saw the Yorkshire lads march-
ing forward as unconcernedly as if they were
on parade. The Germans chattered gleefully

A GROUP OF HEROES 75

round about him, laughing now and again.
Pat did not understand a word they said, but
he knew only too well that they were making
merry over the surprise they were going to give
to the force of Englishmen drawing near.

His heart was touched. He wanted to pick
up a rifle and give the alarm. But if he
attempted to seize one in that little room he
would be quickly overpowered.

At length he resolved to do what the Ger-
mans would never think a man capable of
doing — to rush out and let his comrades know
they were in danger. It meant certain death
for him. He realized that, but did not care.
What although he lost his own life, if by doing
so he saved the lives of many? He was a brave,
generous, self-sacrificing man. The blood of
generations of heroes ran in his veins.

On came the Yorkshires. The Germans got
into position with loaded rifles, taking cool,
deliberate aim. They paid no attention to Pat.
Then, cautiously and softly, the Irish soldier
slipped back from the window, crossed the
room, and went out into the backyard. No
one heeded his movements. Little did the
enemy dream that Pat was resolved to spoil
their murderous game by raising the alarm.

There was no time to be lost. The yard
gate stood open, and the Irishman ran out.

76 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

In another minute he was in the open, and was
observed by friend and foe alike. He raised
his arms above his head, to signify to the
Yorkshires that danger threatened him, and he
ran towards them for a few yards. Then the
concealed Germans opened fire. The brave
Irishman fell on his face, his body riddled with
bullets.

But he had accomplished his purpose. The
Englishmen at once realized what lay in store
for them.

"Halt, and take cover," shouted the officer.

The men obeyed promptly. They knew only
too well why the order had been given.

"Who was that man, I wonder?" a private
asked.

" One of our lads who has been taken
prisoner," another said.

"Well, he's a game one!" the first speaker
exclaimed.

" If he had not dashed out," a third declared,
"we would have been caught in a trap."

Soon the fighting became brisk. The York-
shires brought a machine-gun into action, and
before long they had silenced the firing from
the farm-house. Advancing in short rushes,
they reached at length the prostrate body of
Pat, whom they found to be still alive. His
face was deathly pale, a stream of blood ran

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 77

down his left cheek, and his left arm was almost
cut through with bullet wounds. But he smiled
when he saw an Englishman bending over him.

"I'm done for," he said faintly.

" You've saved many a life this day," a York-
shire lad told him with deep emotion.

"Thank God for that!" the Irishman mur-
mured. Then he became unconscious.

The Germans were driven from the village
with considerable loss. Two Yorkshire lads
carried the Irish hero to the farm-house and
laid him gently on a bed. He died as his
wounds were being dressed. As his identifica-
tion badge was missing his name could not be
ascertained. Next day he was buried in the
little graveyard beside the village chapel, and
few of the soldiers could refrain from shedding
tears. Over the grave a wooden cross was
erected, and on it a Yorkshire man wrote : " He
saved others; himself he could not save".

Brave French Boys

When the great war broke out, all the able-
bodied men of France who had received a
military training were called upon to join the
army to fight against the German invaders.
Many French boys then wished they were old
enough to assist in defending their native land.

78 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

In every town and village you could hear them
saying one to another: "Our soldiers are sure
to beat the 'Bodies'." That is the nickname
they have given to the Germans. " My father
left home this morning," a boy would declare
proudly; " he has promised to bring me back a
German helmet for a souvenir. I am going to
keep watch over the house and protect mother."

"Playing at soldiers" at once became the
favourite game everywhere. The young folks
stuck little flags in their caps and armed them-
selves with wooden swords and guns. They
drilled very smartly, just like real soldiers, in
the playgrounds, and marched through the
streets as if they were going to the war, keep-
ing step to the music of their fifes and drums.
When they began to fight sham battles they had
to pretend, however, that their enemies were
hiding somewhere in the woods. None of the
French boys would take the part of the ' Boches'
even in a game. They all wanted to be soldiers
of France, so that they might return home in
the evening, shouting proudly: "We have
defeated the 'Boches'; they are all running
away."

When real soldiers marched through the
streets on their way to the battle-field, all the
boys and girls of a town or village gathered to
cheer them and shout "Vive la France!" The

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 79

fighting-men waved their hands to them, smiling
and well pleased.

Not only did they delight to honour their own
countrymen. They also welcomed gladly the
brave British soldiers whom they soon learned
to love, because these khaki-clad warriors
treated the young so kindly, carrying some on
their shoulders and grasping others by the hand
as they marched along.

At some railway stations the young people
stood in crowds on the platforms when they
heard that British soldiers were to pass through
by train. Loudly they cheered as the engine
slowed up to take in water. Sometimes they
tried to sing the soldiers' songs, and although
they could not understand the words they
learned the tunes and rendered them by repeat-
ing " La la-la, la-la la-la." They gave the
soldiers presents of sweets and fruits, and were
thanked with smiles and handshakes. As the
train steamed away, the young folks shouted
"Goo'neet, goo'neet," thinking that our "good-
night" means exactly the same thing as their
"au revoir". The young French folks cried
out J< Goo'neet" whether it was morning, or
afternoon, or evening.

Quite a number of stories are told of brave
French boys who have taken part in fighting,
or shown that they were not afraid of the

80 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Germans who invaded their towns. The people
of France are very proud of their "little heroes".

One of these is named Gustave Chatain. At
the beginning- of the war he was just fifteen
years old. He was employed as a herd-boy on
a farm in north-eastern France, not very far
from the River Oise, which flows into the Seine.
Most of the farm-workers had been trained as
soldiers, and were called up to fight for their
country. Gustave envied them greatly. "They
are lucky fellows," he said; " I wish I were big
enough to go and fight the ' Boches ' also."

Day after day he heard thrilling stories of
battles in Belgium and along the western fron-
tier. "The ' Boches ' are coming nearer," the
people began to say; "we have not yet got
enough men together to keep them back. Once
our armies are at full strength, however, we will
defeat them. Besides, the brave British soldiers
have come to fight for us."

Gustave fretted to see the women growing
more and more alarmed, while Belgian and
French refugees hastened westward. It was
pitiful to see these poor people as they fled
before the Germans along the highways. Old
men and women and children had to walk many
miles, carrying bundles of clothing and articles
of furniture. Some pushed wheelbarrows or
perambulators heaped up with the few things

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 81

they could save, and others had little carts
drawn by dogs. When night came on they
slept in the fields or in barns, and they were
thankful indeed when they reached a village
and were taken into houses. They told terrible
stories of their sufferings and the cruel deeds
performed by the invaders. "Our homes are
burned," Gustave heard them say, with tears in
their eyes; "many of our friends have been
killed ; others have died by the wayside. Oh !
give us a little food. We are weak with hunger.
Our little ones are crying for milk."

Every day the crowds of refugees came along.
"The ' Boches ' are not far off," they said.
" Thousands and thousands of them are hasten-
ing through France. They are trying to reach
Paris."

At length, on a bright autumn morning,
Gustave heard the German guns. Their harsh
booming, which sounded like distant thunder,
came from the direction of Senlis, a small town
not far from the farm, with a beautiful little
cathedral and the ruins of an ancient castle in
which the kings of France used to reside in
times long past.

The herd-boy listened for a time to the far-off
roar of battle, watching with sad eyes the puffs
of dark smoke that appeared when shells burst
in the air. Then he said to himself: "Although

( 0 7M ) 6

82 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

I am only fifteen I am big and strong" for my
age. I will run off and join the army."

He slipped away without anybody noticing
him. The women were gathered together in
groups, gazing towards Senlis, and wondering
if they would soon have to leave their homes.
He walked across the fields as if he were going
to look after the cows, until he was out of sight
of the farm-house. Then he turned towards the
highway and set off, walking as fast as he could,
in the direction of Senlis. Ere long he came to
a spot where three roads meet, and to his joy he
saw marching towards him a company of those
hardy French soldiers, the Alpine Chasseurs,
who were on their way to the front. Gustave
ran after them, and, taking up the pace, went
swinging along with manly strides.

"Hallo, boy!" shouted one of the soldiers;
"where are you going? You mustn't come
this way."

Said Gustave: " I want to march with you to
battle."

" You are a plucky little fellow," the soldier
told him, "but you are too young. The
* Boches ' would swallow you."

" If you will allow me to .march with you,"
Gustave pleaded, " I will run errands and make
myself very useful. I am not afraid of the
Boches'."

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 83

Several of the soldiers laughed, and one said :
"Come along then. You have a brave heart,
and it's a pity you are not a little older."

Gustave was greatly delighted. He marched
on, chatting with the soldiers, and at length he
said: " I see you have some spare rifles in that
cart behind there. I wish I had one."

Again the soldiers laughed, and one said to
the other: "He's a real Frenchman. But it
would be a shame to take him into the fighting-
line. He might get killed."

" I am not afraid to die for France," Gustave
told them.

"Give him a rifle," one of the soldiers
said.

The boy turned towards the driver of the cart,
holding out his right hand and smiling. " Can
you shoot?" the man asked.

"I have brought down hundreds of crows,"
Gustave answered, "so surely I can bring
down 'Boches'."

The man hauled out a rifle and handed it to
the boy, saying: "You're small, and can easily
take cover. Just keep as cool as when you are
shooting crows."

"The Roches' are so much bigger than
crows," Gustave said, "and I'll thin them out.
See if I don't."

"Come on, little hero," a soldier called

84

merrily. "Fall in, and don't boast till after
you have done something1."

Gustave went marching along", feeling1 very
proud of himself, chatting and exchanging jokes
with the Chasseurs. But at length an officer
saw him and asked: "Who is this boy? He
mustn't come with us. Send him home at
once."

"Please, sir," said Gustave, saluting, "I
wish to fight for France like my father and my
brothers. Do let me go with you."

"You are just a child," the officer answered;
"you must run away home."

The officer took the rifle from Gustave, and,
seeing tears in the boy's eyes, patted him on
the back and said: "When you are a big lad
come and join the Alpine Chasseurs, and we'll
all be proud of you. Au revoir."

Gustave had to fall out, and for a time he
watched the soldiers marching away in front of
him along the dusty highway. But he did not
turn towards home. He soon saw the warriors
of another famous regiment approaching, and
when they came up he fell into step and
accompanied them.

"You mustn't follow us, little fellow," a
soldier warned him; "we are going to battle."

"I can shoot well," said Gustave, "and I am a
splendid walker. I want to fight the 'Boches'."

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 85

" Do you hear what he says?" one soldier
remarked to another. " He wants to fight, and
he's just a boy."

" What would your mother say if she knew?"
a soldier asked.

Said Gustave: " She would say she has now
four sons at the front instead of three. How
proud she would be, too!"

"What is your name?" one of the men
asked.

" Gustave Chatain," answered the boy.

" A brave name, indeed," another soldier re-
marked, as they marched along.

* ' I will run errands for you. I will be very
useful," Gustave assured the men near him.
" Besides, I can hide easily, and, as I said, I
shoot well."

" If you promise to do what you are told, and
keep out of sight," a soldier answered, "you
can come with us."

" Thank you very much!" cried the delighted
boy. ' ' I hope you have a rifle to spare for
me."

" If I gave you my rifle," remarked a smiling
soldier, "I should have to sit down and watch
you shooting. That would never do. You
have promised to do what you are told, so I'll
order you to lie down in a trench until we have
need of you."

86 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

" It would be better to send him home,"
another soldier declared.

" He has come too far," his companion
answered. " It might be dangerous for him
to return now. We had better look after him
until darkness comes on."

A few minutes later the soldiers reached a
bend in the highway, and someone called out
that Uhlans were approaching. An officer
shouted a sharp command, and the soldiers
spread out and took cover. Gustave crept up
an embankment and saw about twenty German
cavalrymen riding across a field. His com-
panions opened a brisk fire and the enemy
turned and fled, leaving nearly a dozen killed
and wounded men behind. It was all over in
a few seconds.

Another order was then given, and the
French soldiers changed position. A German
armed motor-car had come in sight, racing
along the highway, and its machine-gun began
to sound its " rat-tat-tat" like a blacksmith
working very fast with his hammer. Several
Frenchmen were killed, but the car was driven
away. Gustave picked up from beside a dead
soldier a rifle with fixed bayonet and several
rounds of ammunition, and, seeing the company
he had joined were advancing to a new position,
he followed them. No one took any notice of

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 87*

him. In less than twenty minutes he came
under fire. His company halted and took
cover, keeping up a brisk fusillade towards the
east. Gustave saw about 200 " Boches"
advancing. They were clad in blue-grey uni-
forms, and marched close together. A thrill
of joy passed through his veins because he
had got a chance to fight for his native land,
and lying behind a bush he took careful aim
and fired several rounds. Before long the
invaders began to retreat. As they did so the
French soldiers advanced steadily, rushing from
bush to bush and mound to mound, and firing
briskly. Gustave did likewise. He went on
fighting until the "Boches" were out of sight.
Then he looked round to see where his com-
pany was next to move to. But to his astonish-
ment he found that he was alone. He had been
so much concerned about chasing " Boches"
that he had not observed the Alpine soldiers
taking up a new position. Greatly disappointed
he returned to the highway. There he saw
a dead soldier who was not much bigger than
himself, and took off his uniform and cap and
put them on.

"Now everyone will think I am a real
soldier," he said to himself. " I will avenge
the man whose uniform I am wearing."

He heard firing in front of him and hastened

88 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

onwards. Evening" was coming on, and he
joined a regiment which had just arrived at the
front.

"I have got lost," he said to one of the
soldiers. " I was fighting and advanced too
far."

It was observed that the uniform he wore was
too big for him, and one of the men said: " If
an officer sees you he will put you under arrest."

4 'But I wish to fight," pleaded the boy.
"To-day I have slain many 'Boches'."

"That's more than any one of us has done
yet," they told him. "You had better fall in
and come with us."

They made room for the brave lad between
two men of short stature. " You will never be
noticed beside us," one of them said.

If Gustave was pleased before he was more
pleased than ever now. He felt that he was
a real soldier at last, marching in the midst
of brave men.

That night he slept in a trench. His new
regiment came into touch with the enemy on
the banks of the Marne. He awoke at day-
break and made a hurried breakfast of meat-
sandwiches and coffee; but he felt little desire
for food, because a battle began to be waged
with great fury. In front of him the Germans
had massed in great strength. They were

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 89

determined to press on towards Paris, and the
strong- armies of the French and British were
as determined that they would never get there.

The air was rilled with the sound of guns of
all sorts and sizes. Shrapnel shells exploded
overhead, ripping harshly like sheets of metal
being torn across by giants' hands. The "rat-
tat-tat" of machine-guns was heard on every
side, and there was a constant whizzing of rifle
bullets that hummed like great bees and went
past with lightning speed, or spat with a "zip-
zip-zip" as they struck the heaped-up earth in
front of the trenches. Occasionally every other
noise was drowned for a full moment by the
thundering explosion of a tremendous shell
from one of the monster guns which the Ger-
mans had brought into action. Men fell
wounded or dead on every side, yet no one was
afraid. Every soldier was cool and determined
and busy fighting against the invaders.

Gustave kept firing in front of him until the
order came to advance. Then he rose with
fixed bayonet and rushed forward with the rest
to take up a new position and help to dig
trenches. This happened over and over again,
and his heart was filled with pride to think that
the " Boches" were being driven back.

Before many days went past Gustave was
looked upon as one of the pluckiest soldiers

90 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

in his company. He was given a new uniform
which fitted him better, a haversack, leggings,
boots, and an overcoat. "When my face is
spattered with mud flung up by the shells," he
said to a companion, " no one is able to tell my
age."

One day when Gustave advanced with the
soldiers he reached a German trench. He
fought bravely with the bayonet. Describing
this charge he has said: "The ' Boches' are
cowards. Many of them lie down in their
trenches when we advance and pretend to be
dead. That's one of their tricks. One has to
give each body a little kick to find out whether
or not a coward is shamming."

The allied armies won the great battle of the
Marne, and the Germans were compelled to
retreat. Gustave's company marched vigorously
in pursuit of them with the others, and occasion-
ally captured stragglers. The " Boches" were
so tired with hurrying up to reach Paris and
then retreating- as smartly to escape the French
and British bayonets, that many of them fell
down by the roadway or in fields, while others
crept into barns and houses to snatch a few
hours of sleep.

Gustave accompanied an advance party for
two days searching- for these stragglers, when
he came to a farm-house. The soldiers made

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 91

a hurried search through the rooms, and, not
finding anyone, procured some food and sat
down to eat. Gustave meanwhile went to-
wards a barn. The door was closed and locked.
Through a crack, however, he was able to peer
inside. To his joy he saw several haversacks
and a good many rounds of ammunition lying
beside a heap of straw. " Here's my chance",
he said to himself, "to take some prisoners".
He never thought of calling for assistance.
With the aid of a splinter of wood he prised
open the door, making no noise as he did so.
Then he entered stealthily, looking about him,
but could not see anybody on the ground floor.
Listening intently, he heard the sound of heavy
snoring coming from the loft above. So he
crept softly up the ladder and saw seven
" Boches" lying fast asleep on the floor, where
they had spread out beds of hay for themselves.
The fearless boy brought down the butt-end of
his rifle sharply on the floor and awakened
them. Then they all sat up suddenly, looking
very much alarmed.

Gustave was prepared for them, having fixed
his bayonet in case they should show fight; but
they threw up their hands above their heads to
signify that they surrendered.

"Follow me, one after another," Gustave
said to one of the Germans who understood

92 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

French. Having delivered this order with an
air of dignity, he walked down the ladder from
the loft and stood with his rifle at his shoulder
ready to fire if one dared to act with treachery.

They gave him no trouble, obeying his
command readily. One after another the
"Boches" walked out of the barn, looking
quite relieved. They were all afraid of the
brave herd-boy.

Gustave ordered them to stand in a row as
if at drill. Then he called to his companions,
who were greatly amused and astonished to see
seven big German soldiers holding their hands
above their heads, while the gallant French
boy stood looking at them with a stern, proud
face. They raised a cheer for Gustave and
called him a hero.

Soon after this Gustave was sent home for
a well-deserved rest. Before he left the regi-
ment an officer promised that he would receive
a suitable education to equip him for a military
career.

Another young hero was Emile Despres, a
boy of fourteen, who died the death of a soldier.
He did not have an opportunity of fighting like
Gustave, but he showed himself to be quite as
fearless and bold in the hour of peril. Armed
Germans tried to break his courageous spirit.
They threatened him with death and then

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 93

offered to spare his life if he would act the
part of a traitor. But Emile preferred to die
with honour rather than live a life of shame.

A few weeks after war had been declared
a battle was fought in the vicinity of Emile's
native village of Lourches, which is situated
near Douchy.

The French soldiers displayed great valour,
but they were not numerous enough to hold
back the hordes of advancing Germans, and
were forced to retreat, much against their will.
Many wounded soldiers came through the
village. Some fell exhausted on the roadway,
weak from loss of blood. Women went out
and bandaged their wounds, and helped as
many as they could to take shelter inside the
houses, while boys ran about giving the bleed-
ing soldiers water to quench their thirst.
Shrapnel shells burst overhead and splinters
flew about, doing much damage. Occasionally
bullets spattered on the street like a shower of
great hailstones.

At length the Germans entered the village.
They burst open doors and smashed windows,
searching everywhere for French soldiers, and
were exceedingly angry with those women who
were acting as nurses. In a miner's cottage
lay a non-commissioned officer. He was in
great pain, for he had been wounded in the

94 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

side by a fragment of a shell ; his cheeks were
white as paper, his eyes half-closed, and his
lips parched and dry. The miner's wife was
bending over him, doing her best to stop the
bleeding and relieve his suffering. He was
very weak from loss of blood.

A German officer entered, followed by a few
of his men, carrying rifles with fixed bayonets.
He pushed aside the woman roughly, and she
cried: ''Oh, you coward! Would you treat me
like this because I am nursing a brave man
who is bleeding and in pain?"

The officer swore an oath and struck her,
and she screamed helplessly. His brutal
behaviour filled the heart of the wounded
Frenchman with indignation. It was terrible
to him to see one of his countrywomen who
had treated him so kindly being bullied and
struck by a German. Raising himself on his
elbow he seized his revolver and fired. The
bullet entered the officer's brain and he fell
dead on the floor. Again the woman screamed
and covered her eyes with horror.

The German soldiers pounced at once on
the wounded Frenchman and dragged him
from the couch. " He will die for this," they
said.

Emile Despres had been watching the Ger-
mans entering house after house, and, like

BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 95

other boys, was wishing he were big and strong
enough to fight them, when he heard the
woman's scream and the report of the revolver.
He ran into the miner's house and there saw
a terrible sight. The dead officer lay on the
floor in a pool of blood, in a corner crouched
the terrified woman, while the German soldiers
struggled with the wounded man. Emile
looked on helplessly. What could he do? He
was only a boy, and the enemies of his country
were armed with deadly weapons.

After a few moments the French non-com-
missioned officer ceased struggling with his
captors, and, leaning against the wall, panting
with exhaustion and pain, whispered hoarsely
to Emile: "Water, water! give me a drink
of water!" His tongue was parched with
thirst.

The Germans did not understand what he
said, and, having bound his arms, turned away
from him. Then Emile crept forward with a
cup of cold water and held it to the mouth
of the wounded man, who drank it up with
great thankfulness. The boy's action greatly
enraged the Germans. They seized Emile and
pounded him with their fists, threw him on
the floor, and kicked him. But although he
suffered greatly he neither wept nor uttered
a cry. Another officer who had been sent for

96 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

had entered the house just as the soldier was
being given the water to drink, and when he
saw how brave this boy was he said: "Shoot
him also."

The Germans bandaged the eyes of both
the French soldier and Emile and marched
them out to the village street so that all the
people might see them being executed. Both
stood up bravely. There was no sign of fear
in the boy's bearing. He was prepared to die
for his country.

The German officer was ill pleased when he
saw how Emile behaved. No doubt he felt
that he was displaying the spirit which moved
all France to resist the invader. So he thought
he would put him to shame and tempt him
with his life to act the part of a coward.

"Take the bandage from the boy's eyes,"
he commanded, "and bring him here".

A German private walked forward, snatched
off the bandage which blinded Emile, and
pushed him over to the spot where the officer
stood. The boy looked up with astonishment,
wondering what was to happen next. But he
never flinched; he was so brave and unafraid.

The officer thrust a rifle into the boy's hands,
and, pointing to the French soldier, who stood
blindfolded, waiting to die, spoke in French
and said: "I will spare your life if you will

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BRAVE FRENCH BOYS 97

shoot that man." He smiled grimly, and one
or two of the German soldiers laughed.

Emile made no reply. At first he looked
with disdain at the officer, then a smile crossed
his pale face.

" When you shoot, you can run away home,"
the officer told him. As he spoke he walked
backwards a couple of paces.

Emile raised the rifle to his shoulder as if
he were about to do as he was commanded.
He laid his finger on the trigger and the
Germans waited. But little did they under-
stand the spirit of the French boy. Suddenly
Emile wheeled round, aimed point-blank at
his cowardly tempter, and fired. The officer
fell dead at his feet. It all happened in the
twinkling of an eye.

The German soldiers who were standing
near at once sprang upon the boy. Two thrust
their bayonets through him and others dis-
charged their rifles. Emile died ere he sank
to the ground. But while the villagers who
looked on mourned the boy's sad fate, they
rejoiced in their hearts that he died the death
of a hero. Emile Despres was a true son ot
France. His name will be remembered to
the glory of his country and the shame of his
country's enemies.

In some of the towns and villages on the

( 0 761 ) 7

98 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

line of battle the women and children had to
conceal themselves for many days in the cellars
of houses. Not a few were buried alive when
the walls crumbled down before exploding
shells. Great sufferings were endured in all
war-stricken localities. Those who escaped
death were often without food and water for
several days. Stirring stories are told of brave
boys who boldly ventured forth from hiding
to procure supplies, so that their mothers and
brothers and sisters might not die of starva-
tion.

At a farm-house near Reims a little boy
about ten years old used to go and fetch
food for his mother every morning when the
opposing armies were fighting fiercely for long
weeks on end in the neighbourhood. He was
always accompanied by two dogs, and walked
a distance of 4 miles to a village to purchase
food. The British soldiers often watched him
from their trenches. When a shrapnel shell
burst overhead he ran to take cover. It was
wonderful to see how fearless he was. Fortu-
nately he never suffered any injury. In time
the British advanced beyond the farm-house,
and the plucky boy had no longer to risk his
life to run his mother's errands.

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 99

Indians' Daring Feats

When the Germans first heard that Indian
soldiers were to take part in the great war
they spoke with contempt regarding them.
But it was not long before they changed their
minds. Our fellow -subjects of Empire from
ancient India are magnificent fighting -men.
Here is a vivid description by a German soldier
of an attack they made on one occasion on the
German trenches:

"With fearful shouting, in comparison with
which our hurrahs are like the whining of a
baby, thousands of those brown forms rushed
upon us as suddenly as if they were shot out of
a fog, so that at first we were completely taken
by surprise. At 100 metres (108 yards) we
opened a destructive fire, which mowed down
hundreds; but in spite of that the others ad-
vanced, springing forward like cats and sur-
mounting obstacles with unexampled agility.

" In no time they were in our trenches, and
truly these brown enemies were not to be de-
spised. With butt-ends, bayonets, swords, and
daggers we fought each other, and we had
bitter hard work — which, however, was lightened
by reinforcements, which arrived quickly — be-
fore we drove the fellows out of the trenches."

ioo HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Soon after the Indians arrived at the front
the Germans attempted to play tricks on them,
so as to cause confusion in their lines. One
night a crafty soldier of the Kaiser, who could
speak English, attired himself in the uniform
of a Gurkha officer and crept towards a trench
occupied by a Gurkha regiment. Then he
stood up in the faint moonlight and said, pre-
tending to deliver a message from a superior
officer: "The Gurkhas are to move farther up
the trench. Another Gurkha contingent is
coming along."

Evidently the Germans had plotted to make
a night attack. If they could get the Indians
to move they would be able to seize part of the
trench without opposition.

An officer who heard the order was puzzled
by it, so he asked the stranger: "Who are you,
and where do you come from?"

The only answer he received was a repetition
of the order to move his men along the trench.
This aroused his suspicions. Before obeying
the command he thought it best to make sure
that it was genuine. So he said to the dis-
guised German: "Answer me at once. If you
are a Gurkha, tell me by what boat you came
across."

This was a question the stranger could not
answer. He was completely outwitted, and,

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 101

turning quickly, at once ran away. As he
did so the Gurkhas opened fire and brought
him down. His body was riddled with
bullets.

The Gurkhas were not long in showing the
Germans that they could beat them at their
own game.

Near Dixmude, in Belgium, the British and
Germans fought desperately for some days,
facing one another in strongly defended
trenches. The issue hung in the balance. It
was necessary that the Germans should be dis-
lodged, and a regiment of Gurkhas was sent
forward to strengthen the attack. The firing
never ceased, and was exceedingly brisk. All
day long the Gurkhas fought beside their com-
rades, and when darkness came on they still
found it necessary to keep up a fusillade, for
the Germans had been reinforced and were
preparing to attack across the open. Towards
midnight the firing slackened, and it was ob-
served that most of the Gurkhas had vanished.
It was thought that they had received orders to
proceed to some other part of the British lines.
This belief was strengthened by the fact that the
Germans in front had ceased to fire. "There's
a new move on," one British soldier said to
another, "and the Gurkhas have been shifted
to meet it."

102 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

When dawn broke, however, it was noticed
that the Gurkhas had returned to their position.
Evidently they had been fighting, for a number
of them had their left hands and arms bandaged.
Then the news was whispered among the sol-
diers of two English Midland County regiments
that the Gurkhas had been paying a visit to the
enemy under cover of darkness. The order
was given to advance against the silent German
trenches, and was promptly obeyed. It was
a cold morning, and after their all-night wait
the Englishmen were glad to get some exercise.
They rushed forward and soon took posses-
sion of the first line of three German trenches.
When they did so, they got a great surprise.
Not a man rose to resist them. The guns were
in position, and beside them crouched dead
gunners. All along the trenches dead Germans
lay in rows. There could be no doubt as to what
had happened. The Gurkhas had paid a night
visit to their enemies, and, after a brisk and
silent struggle, had exterminated them. Some
had died in their sleep; others had attempted
to defend themselves with their bayonets. But
they were no match for the dusky warriors, who
used their kukris l with deadly effect and saved
much loss of life among their brave English
comrades. The Gurkhas received the wounds

1 Curved knives. Pronounce "cookry".

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 103

in their left hands by grasping the German
bayonets.

On another occasion a sensational night
attack was delivered by Pathans1 at a short
distance south of Ypres. During the day it
was observed that the Germans were massing
in strength at a certain point, their purpose
evidently being to drive a wedge through the
British troops when darkness came on. They
hoped to capture a position by sending forward
overwhelming numbers. i

Rain began to fall towards evening, and it
came down more and more heavily as the light
faded. "A dirty night for fighting," the British
soldiers could be heard saying. Water collected
in the muddy trenches. No one was allowed
to shelter himself in an underground hut or
to move about. There was no sleep for the
soldiers that night. They had to be watchful
and ready, for at any moment the enemy might
charge across the few hundred yards of open
space that separated the opposing trenches.

Not far behind the British trenches was a
line of trees. When it was quite dark a regi-
ment of Sikhs began to collect there. They
moved about as stealthily as tigers creeping
through a jungle. Scarcely a sound was heard.
They were getting ready for the Germans, who

1 Pronounce " Pat'hans" ("a" as in "had").

104 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

were not even aware of their presence in this
locality.

Ere long excited whispers passed along the
British lines. " What is it?" one would ask
of another. The reply always was: "The In-
dians are going out," and it was received with
confident smiles.

The Indians were going out, were they? Here
and there a British soldier peered out of a trench
to catch a glimpse of them. Occasionally dark
figures could be seen advancing noiselessly.
There was a surprise in store for the Germans.

Against the sky-line the figures of the Ger-
man pickets were quite visible. Six were
counted by one British soldier, and he kept
his eyes on them. Suddenly the six disap-
peared. What had happened? No one could
tell. Not a sound reached the British lines.

Then some of the Sikhs returned as silently
as they had gone out. They were not retreat-
ing, however. Their work was not finished —
it had only begun. They had crept up to the
4 'look-out" men and slain them with their
knives without raising an alarm.

Hundreds of Sikhs then followed their daring
and cunning fellows, and crept as quietly for-
ward towards the unsuspecting Germans who
were to attack the British.

More heads went up from the British trenches

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 105

There was tense excitement all along the lines.
This was a night attack indeed, full of mys-
tery and wonder. Complete silence reigned for
many minutes. The Indians had all vanished,
and everyone waited to ascertain what was
going to happen.

Suddenly a few random shots rang out
through the night. Then shrieks and groans
were heard. The Sikhs had arrived at the
enemy's trenches and were fighting with cold
steel in the darkness. The surprise was as
complete as it was unexpected.

Several light-balls were flung in the air by
Germans in the rear, and as they burst the
British soldiers could see at a distance of about
600 yards in front of them hundreds of fearless
Indians attacking with great fury. Many of
the Germans had been sleeping, so as to be
refreshed for the attack they were to make
later on, when they thought the British soldiers
would be wearied and dispirited. They leaped
up to resist the Indians, and were mowed down
like corn on a harvest-field.

The whole force which was to rush the British
lines was thrown into confusion, and after a
brief struggle the survivors fled backward
through the darkness, bewildered and terror-
stricken. Great numbers were slain. No Ger-
man attack could be made that night.

106 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

When the Sikhs returned it was ascertained
how they had so successfully done the work
allotted to them. The first batch of men which
went out crept up to the German pickets, who
were keeping watch while the main force lay
asleep, and slew them with their knives. No
Red Indian ever took scalps round a camp-fire
more silently than the Sikhs disposed of these
pickets. Not a single one escaped to give the
alarm. Then the attackers returned for the
main body, which succeeded in getting right in
among the slumbering Germans before it was
realized what was happening. Very few of
the Sikhs were either killed or wounded,
although the force they surprised greatly out-
numbered them.

After the Indians had returned, the German
artillery opened a heavy fire on the British
trenches; but that proceeding did not compen-
sate them for the disaster they had sustained.
The Sikhs had taken all the heart out of the
German infantry that night. Next day the
British received reinforcements, and the enemy
had to change their plans. But for this, of
course, the chief credit was due to the brave
and clever Indian soldiers.

The story of another night attack made by
Indians is at once as amusing as it is wonder-
ful. The French and British troops had cap-

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 107

tured a village in southern Belgium, and the
Germans occupied a wood in front of it. After
a day of stiff fighting darkness fell, leaving both
sides almost equally strong. The German leader,
fearing a night attack, protected the wood with
a double line of sentinels, and his main force
lay down to snatch a few hours of sleep.

A British and a French officer discussed the
position with one another.

"A night attack would be hopeless," said the
French officer.

"Not at all," the other answered. " I have
just received word that an Indian regiment is
coming up to reinforce us. The wood will
soon be captured without much loss of life."

The Frenchman shook his head. "The
Indians," he said, "will never get near the
sentries without being observed."

As he spoke, an orderly brought in word that
the Indians had arrived, and were ready to go
anywhere and do anything.

"Now," remarked the British officer to his
ally, with a smile, " I will bet you a sovereign
that the Indians will remove the double line of
German sentinels, watchful although they may
be."

"I'll bet you a sovereign they won't," laughed
the Frenchman; "nor will I be sorry if you
win it."

io8 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

About eleven o'clock silence reigned in vil-
lage and wood. All the Germans were sleep-
ing soundly except their sentries, who kept a
sharp look-out, listening intently in case an
attack should be made. Then a number of
Indians went out. The French officer who
had taken up the bet waited beside his British
friend, and gazed through the darkness towards
the wood. But he neither heard nor saw any-
thing unusual. There was no indication that
an attack was in progress. The minutes went
past, and seemed very long.

Then suddenly a frightful din was heard from
the wood. A few shots were fired, and one or
two cries of alarm rang through the air. But
soon all was silent again, and the slumbering
Germans were not awakened to go into action.
What had happened? The French officer
looked at his companion and whispered : " Have
the Indians failed?"

"Wait a little and you'll find out what has
happened," answered the British officer. " I
think I have won my bet."

Not long afterwards the Indians began to
return. They came in two by two, carrying
something between them.

"They are bringing back their wounded,"
the French officer said.

But he was mistaken. What the Indians

INDIANS' DARING FEATS 109

really brought back were the German sentries.
They had caught thirty of them alive, and
gagged and tied them up like sausages. Smil-
ing, and showing their gleaming white teeth,
the wonderful soldiers of India laid down on the
ground before the British and French officers
the German pickets who were supposed by their
commander to be still guarding the wood. No
one could resist the humorous aspect of the
proceeding. The Frenchman* promptly paid
up his bet.

But no time was lost in taking advantage
of the success achieved by the brave Indian
warriors. A strong force crept swiftly towards
the wood, and ere day dawned it was cleared of
Germans. The losses sustained by the Allies
were insignificant.

But it is not in night fighting alone that the
Indians have tricked the Germans by doing the
unexpected. In a part of Flanders they were
operating for a time with French North African
troops, who practise tactics similar to theirs.
One of their ruses, when making an attack on
the position occupied by the enemy, was to pre-
tend that they had suffered much more heavily
than was really the case. Men stopped firing
and dropped into ditches, or concealed them-
selves behind trees and hedges. Then the
supposed survivors would begin to retreat as if

i io HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

they had been beaten badly, giving signs that
seemed to indicate that they were greatly scared.
By acting in this manner they usually persuaded
the Germans to leave their trenches and come
on, believing that a success was being achieved.

On one occasion the sham retreat was so well
conducted that, with cries of "Hoch! hoch!"
the Kaiser's unsuspecting troops leaped up in
great numbers to pursue the Allies. But the
men who had concealed themselves had thought-
fully selected excellent positions, and waited
until the Germans were about a hundred yards
distant. Then rifles and Maxims opened a
sudden and ferocious fire, scattering the deluded
" pursuers" in hurried and perilous flight.

Having thus spread confusion before them,
the Indians and North Africans leaped up and
advanced with great dash and gallantry. They
carried all before them. Two villages, named
Hollabeke and Messines, were captured in a
rush from the Germans, and the position of
the allied troops was, as a result, greatly
strengthened.

In the course of the fighting a battalion of a
Wiirtemberg regiment was cut off from escape,
and forced down to the muddy banks of the
River Lys. Only those able to swim could pos-
sibly regain the territory held by the Germans.
But none was so foolish as to attempt the cross-

INDIANS' DARING FEATS in

ing under the fire of the Indian and North
African troops. They had either to surrender
or wait to be exterminated. So they surren-
dered in a body to the courageous and nimble
soldiers they so greatly despised.

The fighting occupied altogether about five
hours, and cost the Germans over 3000 in killed
and wounded. Six guns, an ambulance, and
many prisoners were captured. So well was
the attack pressed home that the survivors of
the Kaiser's force had to retreat a distance of
about 6 miles.

Well does the Indian contingent deserve the
praise which has been given in one of the
official messages, which says: " It has done
the work it was asked to do. It has main-
tained the line it was asked to maintain. In
perhaps the greatest battle fought it has shown
itself to be a worthy example of so many genera-
tions of soldiers."

When His Majesty, the King Emperor, held
the Durbar at Delhi, he extended to the Indian
army the privilege of being eligible for the
Victoria Cross, which had been previously re-
stricted to British troops.

His Majesty paid a visit to the front in De-
cember, and decorated the first Indian with the
Victoria Cross for valour on the battle-field.
This was Naik Darwan Sing Negi, of the ist

H2 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles. He had shown
great valour during a night attack on trenches
which had been captured by the Germans.
Leading- a company of gallant Garhwalis, he
delivered assault after assault under heavy fire
until the enemy were completely beaten. Be-
fore the operations ended he was wounded by
a bomb, but this was not discovered until after
victory had been won. When the last section
of trench was captured, Naik Darwan Sing
Negi was still in the forefront, fighting with
courage and unfailing vigour.

Garhwal, the native country of Naik Darwan
Sing Negi, is a Himalayan district of the
United Provinces west of Nepal. During his
early youth our Hindu hero looked after his
father's flocks and herds among the high up-
land valleys, and at times drove off attacks by
snow leopards and black bears with his sturdy
companions. The Garhwalis are a brave and
energetic people.

Another Indian hero, a sepoy of the I2gth
Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, had also
been recommended for the Victoria Cross, but
was lying in an hospital. The ceremony of
decorating him was performed by His Majesty
in January.

This hero, whose name is Khudadad Khan,
is a Mussulman from Chakwal, in the Jhelum

INDIAN GALLANTRY AT THE FRONT

A sergeant of Sikhs guarding a wounded man ol his regiment from Germans
advancing in single file between two cornstacks.

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN 113

district of the Punjab. He served in a machine-
gun team which was overcome by a strong force
of Germans after inflicting great loss. All
his comrades were killed, fighting heroically.
Before he left the gun, he damaged it so that
it could not be used by the enemy, and thus
saved many lives on the British side.

The military fame of the Indians is not a
thing of yesterday. For over three thousand
years their country has produced great leaders
and brave soldiers who have never flinched in
the hour of trial, or ever hesitated to sacrifice
themselves for a cause they believed to be noble
and good.

The Fighting Flying-men

This is the first great war in which the aero-
plane and air-ship have come into use. The
aviator serves chiefly as an observer. He dis-
covers how the enemy are arranging their troops
and locates the big guns and trenches so that
the artillery-fire may be directed to do as much
destruction as the necessities of war demand.
He also throws bombs to injure railways and
aviation-sheds, to blow up trucks of ammu-
nition, or to scatter cavalry by alarming the
horses. Sometimes, too, he has to fight a
battle in mid-air against a hostile flyer.

(0761) 8

ii4 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

One day a British aviator soared high in the
air, until his aeroplane was concealed by the
clouds. He wished to approach the German
position unseen, because the Kaiser's soldiers
had mounted special guns, with their noses
sticking in the air, to bring down aeroplanes.
The day was warm when he set off, but at the
great height he managed to reach, the air was
as chilly as it is in the Arctic regions. When
he thought he had travelled far enough he began
to come down in spiral fashion through the raw
misty cloudland. Suddenly he found himself
in clear sunshine once again. Then he per-
ceived he was not alone in these lofty regions.
Right below him a German aeroplane was skim-
ming along, its propeller buzzing loud, and the
wings tilting gently from side to side, like a
sea-bird's in a breeze. He at once resolved to
attack the enemy.

Curving round, and dropping sideways to-
wards his opponent, the British aviator began to
shoot with his revolver. One bullet spattered
on the seat beside the German, who, realizing
his danger, at once ascended, so as to escape
by getting out of range. Then commenced an
exciting chase. On the ground German soldiers
craned their necks, looking upward, while the
rival airmen manoeuvred their machines to gain
an advantage in position. The gunners were

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN 115

unable to open fire because they might strike
the German machine.

The British flyer had the most skill, and was
absolutely fearless; besides, his aeroplane was
the speedier of the two. When he managed at
length to get almost alongside his opponent, as
the machines climbed upward, he discharged
three rapid revolver-shots. Then he suddenly
found himself in a bank of mist: he had darted
into a cloud. Tilting the wings, he swung
round in a wide circle; but wheh he got into
clear air again he looked in vain for the
German aeroplane. Was it escaping through
the clouds above? At first he thought so. But
the boom of a gun on the ground caused him
to look downward. The Germans were open-
ing fire on him. Not far away from the gunners
lay a smashed aeroplane. Then he realized
that he had mortally wounded his opponent,
who had perished in his attempt to effect a
landing. As soon as he completed the obser-
vations he had set out to make, he soared into
the clouds again and returned safely to the
British lines.

On another occasion a British aviator was
called out to attack a German aeroplane which
was hovering over the trenches and signalling
the range to the enemy's artillery batteries about
5 miles distant. It soared so high that the

ii6 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

fire of the British guns could not reach
it.

This enemy's machine was a Taube, which is
the German for "dove". The British aviator
selected a speedy biplane, capable of flying at
the rate of 80 miles an hour, and soon began to
ascend.

"Now we're going to see sport," exclaimed
one English soldier.

"Two to one against the gentle 'dove',"
another shouted.

Everyone was keenly interested. A fight in
the air was a new experience for the hardy
soldiers, who were accustomed to crouch in their
trenches to escape shell splinters, or to keep
their rifles banging against attacks of numerous
foemen.

The British machine rose with wonderful
rapidity in a wide semicircle. Now and again
the German tried to get into position so as to
cripple his opponent. He carried a passenger
armed with a rifle. But each time the Taube
darted against the rising aeroplane, the British
aviator changed his course, still soaring higher
and higher. Ere long a ripple of shots rang
out, like the cracking of a riding-whip.

"It's getting hot now," a soldier exclaimed
in a trench. "That German can sting with a
vengeance."

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN u;

" I say three to one against the ungentle
dove," a comrade chimed in.

" How they do twist about up there," another
remarked. " It makes one feel giddy to look
at them. I wonder how they themselves feel."

"They haven't time to think about their feel-
ings," a boyish-looking soldier suggested.

For a few minutes the aviators manoeuvred
for position. By this time they were almost at
the same height.

"Our man is dping well," said a sergeant
calmly.

Shots rang out again as the two aeroplanes
ran full tilt towards one another.

"There's going to be a collision," a soldier
gasped excitedly.

But hardly had he spoken when the British
machine dipped sideways, and curved as smartly
to the left as a sea-gull sliding round on an air-
current.

Snap -snap -snap! More firing. For a
moment the Taube lurched and seemed to be
in difficulties. Then it began to climb steadily.
The British machine did likewise. As they rose,
high in the air, both aeroplanes grew smaller
and smaller.

" Now, now, don't get out of sight up there
and spoil the show," growled a soldier with so
sad a voice that his companions laughed heartily.

ii8 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

A few minutes went past, and again shots
were heard. Up and down, up and down, and
round this way and that the opposing* aero-
planes were steered to win the advantage of
position. But at length the British aviator rose
well above his opponent. It seemed as if his
machine had leaped upward with a giant bound,
like an acrobat at a circus. Then the Taube
was seen to tilt perilously to one side; it ap-
peared to falter, like a bewildered bird, and then
it dropped swiftly, planing to the ground. The
sound of shots, which had been fired a few
seconds previously, dropped down through the
still air, and the soldiers realized that the enemy
had been beaten.

They raised a cheer as the British machine
darted away back behind the trenches. Its
work had been accomplished. When the Taube
landed it was found that the steersman and
passenger were wounded. They were at once
conveyed to hospital, while their machine was
tugged off to the British sheds to do service in
future against the gunners who had been so
greatly helped by it.

"The show is now ended, gentlemen," cried
a merry English soldier. "You will like the
gentle dove much better next time you see it
fly."

More thrilling, however, than even an air

THE FIGHTING FL\iNG-MEN n9

fight was the feat accomplished at a dizzy
height by a British artificer who displayed great
daring and courage in repairing damage done
to an air-ship. If the story had appeared in a
work of fiction it would have been regarded as
impossible. But it happens to be true.

The British air-ship had gone aloft to con-
duct important scouting operations over the
enemy's lines. It rose beautifully until its
cigar-shaped envelope looked no bigger than
a toy against the masses of drifting white
cloud. The sunshine glistened on its sides,
which sometimes shone like polished silver.

There was a strong breeze in the upper air,
and the stately vessel moved slowly against it,
and then swung round, tilting like a tacking
yacht.

" How beautifully it answers the helm!" ex-
claimed a spectator.

With the wind in its favour the air -ship
headed towards the German lines. It was far
beyond the reach of artillery, and raced along
at a swift rate of speed. The work that its
navigator and crew set out to do was satisfac-
torily carried out. Rough plans were made
and photographs taken; besides, signals were
sent to the British lines to assist the artillery-
men who were bombarding the enemy's posi-
tion.

120 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Then the air-ship swung round in graceful
fashion, and came beating up against the wind
towards its starting -place. Like a steamer
struggling with a strong tide, it moved slowly.
But gradually it came nearer and nearer, drop-
ping the while, to escape the full force of the
air-current, until it was no more than 2500 feet
above the surface of the ground. It passed
over the British trenches, and was making its
way inland to the shed, a few miles distant.
Then it suddenly faltered, and rocked from side
to side.

The spectators became greatly alarmed. It
was evident something had gone wrong. The
tapering body of the vessel remained intact; it
had not, therefore, sprung a leak. Had the
helm been injured? No; it seemed to be all
right. Officers peered through their field-
glasses, and, as the bows of the hesitating
vessel swung round, one exclaimed: "The
propeller has been injured. How unfortunate!"

"Will they be able to get down safely?"
another asked anxiously.

" Oh yes!" answered the first speaker; "but
they cannot select the landing-place. There's
a stiff breeze up there, and I'm afraid it will
blow them into Germany."

"What a pity!" his friend exclaimed.

Up in the air-ship there was considerable

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN 121

excitement when the accident happened. The
great steel propeller had snapped asunder. One
of the blades then flew backward and struck
the envelope with such force that the vessel
quivered from end to end. Everyone on board
was thrown down, and, as the cabin floor tilted
and dipped violently, it seemed as if all was
over. Regaining their feet, the crew began to
make hurried observations to find out exactly
what damage had been sustained. Ere long
it was discovered, to the surprise and joy of
everyone, that the envelope was not leaking.
The vessel remained "airworthy", just as a
crippled steamer is seaworthy so long as it
answers the helm and keeps afloat. With
careful attention it still remained possible to
come down safely in open country.

Their first task was to get rid of the broken
propeller. The engine-room artificer set to
work at once, and managed to accomplish this
without much difficulty.

"We are drifting back to the German lines,"
one of the crew remarked dolefully. "I sup-
pose we are all going to be made prisoners."

They did not like the prospect. After reach-
ing the British position again it was "hard
lines " to have to return helplessly to the
enemy.

Then everyone was greatly astonished to

122 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

learn that the artificer proposed to fit on a
spare propeller.

" How can he do that without descending?"
asked one of the crew.

" Look where he must go — out on that thin
'jibboom' of ours," another remarked.

"It is an impossible task," commented the
first speaker.

But the artificer was ready to attempt what
seemed to be impossible and had certainly
never been done before. The stanchion on
which the broken propeller had swung was
15 feet long and less than 3 inches in thick-
ness. It was quite an acrobatic feat to attempt,
with the support obtained from the "rigging",
to go along it, especially at the dizzy height of
2500 feet. Here was a test indeed for British
pluck and skill.

On the ground the anxious spectators, peer-
ing through field-glasses, were greatly amazed
to witness a human figure moving out on that
almost invisible rod of steel. What was hap-
pening? Was it possible that anything could
be done in mid-air to prevent the air-ship fall-
ing into the hands of the enemy? No one
believed it was.

The great vessel swayed gently, cleverly
steered without doubt, but drifting steadily
towards the German position.

THE FIGHTING FLYING-MEN 123

" How long can it keep afloat?" asked an
officer.

" For a good many hours yet: till to-morrow,
if necessary," answered a friend.

"They're going to fit on the spare propeller,"
a third exclaimed gleefully. "The Germans
won't capture our air-ship after all."

"Think of what you're saying," remarked
the first speaker. "How can such difficult
work be carried out at that height?"

The air -ship had moved round, and the
officers could not follow what was happening.
But the German spectators did. They were
equally amazed to see a workman doing his
utmost to fit on a propeller on the crippled
air-ship; they could hardly believe their eyes.
It seemed as if the artificer was a magician.

Onward drifted the great vessel through the
air. As it passed over the British trenches
the war-hardened soldiers peered upwards with
wonder. Word passed from mouth to mouth
that the little dot suspended, as it seemed, in
front of the vessel was an artificer at work. Ex-
clamations of wonder were heard on every side.

For two and a half hours the air-ship drifted
helplessly away, until it looked like a boy's kite
from the British position.

"It's gone for ever!" a khaki-clad soldier
muttered.

124 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

11 1 wonder if that artificer is still alive," a
friend remarked. " Plucky chap he is — or," he
added softly, "was."

To the men in the air-ship who watched the
artificer at work the minutes seemed long as
hours. They feared greatly for the safety of
the daring workman. But his coolness con-
stantly reassured them. So much was he
absorbed in his work that he did not seem to
realize his peril. He endured the terrible strain
with matchless courage, and when at length his
task was finished he did not display any haste
to return to safety. He proceeded coolly tc
test the propeller by swinging it round in half-
turns to the left and to the right; then, satis-
fied he had done his work soundly and well,
he turned round to make his way back to the
cabin. Perspiration dripped from his forehead
and almost blinded him. His face was pale
and drawn. For a moment he was seen to
hesitate. But he recovered and moved towards
his friends. Strong arms were stretched out to
support him. Every heart was thankful that
his life was spared. When he reached the
cabin the brave and heroic artificer staggered
and suddenly collapsed in a faint. But he soon
recovered and received a stimulant; then he
listened intently to the loud buzzing of the pro-
peller.

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 125

"It's running sweet!" he murmured. A
smile lingered on his lips. He was satisfied.
He had done his duty.

The propeller worked splendidly. Once again
the air-ship swung round against the wind in a
long semicircle ; then it headed homeward, beat-
ing up triumphantly against the invisible air-
waves, like one of Nelson's old ships tacking
up the English Channel from the Bay of Biscay.

British soldiers cheered and waved their caps
in the trenches below. Officers and men alike,
who had witnessed what had taken place, were
elated with triumphant joy. Many a hand was
held out to congratulate the artificer when the
landing was safely effected and he stepped once
again on firm earth.

The Light Side of War

One of the characteristics of the British
soldier is the cheerfulness he displays on all
occasions. He has a strong sense of humour,
which never fails him; he can enjoy a joke
even when the bullets are darting about him
like angry wasps searching for someone to
sting. The big German shells, which were
intended to rob away his courage and cow
him, have sometimes provided him with amuse-
ment.

126 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

One day an English private, named Palmer,
was suffering terribly in a trench from neuralgia.
He endured the pain for hours, hoping it would
pass away, but was unable to get relief.

" Oh, this will drive me crazy!" he exclaimed
at length, resting his head on his open hand
on the side of the trench.

" Poor chap!" murmured his companions.

Suddenly a huge shell from a German gun
fell with a deafening thud in the ground in
front of him. The trench almost collapsed
with the shock, and the sufferer was stunned.
For a minute or two he lay unconscious, and
a comrade went over to lift him tenderly. Then
he revived.

" Do you feel better?" he was asked.

Palmer smiled. He raised his right hand
to his cheek and rubbed it gleefully. "The
pain has gone!" he said. "Oh, my! what
a relief!"

A merry laugh arose from the trench as a
wag referred to the next German shell that
burst near them as " Palmer's neuralgia cure".

An officer, who is a well-known cricketer,
was lying cramped up for hours in a trench,
longing for night to come on so that he might
get a little exercise. The German snipers were
concealed not far off, and blazed away when

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 127

they got the least target to pop at. It was a
hot corner. Sometimes a soldier raised his
cap at the end of the bayonet and got it riddled
by bullets in a few minutes.

The officer suffered from sharp pains in his
right leg, and at length turned round and
stretched it above the level of the trench mouth.
In another second a bullet entered his thigh.

"I'm out, by Jove!" he exclaimed; "l.b.w.
Better luck next time."

"War," remarked a private one day, as he
sat down in a "funk hole" which had been
dug out in a trench, " is a really horrible affair."

"Don't get downhearted, old chap," a
comrade said. " Here's a London paper to
read."

The other seized it eagerly and scanned the
pages with great interest. What a treasure
the newspaper seemed, although it was two
weeks old.

At length he looked up and asked: "I say,,
where is the football page, old man? Have
you torn it off for fun? Let me have a look
at it."

"Oh, I didn't tear it off!" answered the
other. "When I was reading the paper this
morning a bit of shell carried off the football
page."

128 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

"What a shame!" the football enthusiast
exclaimed. " I was so anxious to see how
my favourite team, the Woolwich Arsenal, got
on. Ah, well! War is a really horrible affair
indeed."

The fierce fighting which took place on the
borders of France and Germany was one dark
night relieved of its terrible seriousness by
an attack of quite a humorous character.

It chanced that the Germans had occupied
a little town from which the British were par-
ticularly anxious to drive them. In the midst
of it is an old Norman church, with a high
tower, which was being used as a signalling
station. It proved to be of great service to
the enemy, because it commanded a wide
prospect of country. When the British at-
tempted to advance, the signallers sent messages
to two batteries of artillery concealed behind
a field of hops, with the result that their fire
was directed with deadly accuracy. The British
had no desire to injure the church tower so as
to render it useless for the purpose to which it
was put by the Germans.

After a day of fighting, which was not
decisive for either side, a night attack against
the Germans was planned. The British force
which was selected to carry it through was

THE "HAWK" AND THE "DOVE"
An aerial duel between * British biplane and a German Taube monoplane.

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 129

not a strong- one, but the men entered into
the spirit of the adventure and resolved to
bluff their opponents into believing that their
numbers were very great. A proportion of
them carried tin basins and empty cans, with
which to rouse a mighty din when they got
near to the Germans. They also asked for
a piper. One of the London Scottish Terri-
torials, who had just arrived at the front,
offered to serve in this capacity. He was
just an amateur at the pipes, but promised
he would make them skirl to some purpose.
On being asked to play, he warbled a few bars
of weird music, resembling the sounds heard
in a farmyard, and was told he would do.
Carrying the set of bagpipes, he then marched
off with the others towards the village.

The advance was conducted in silence. It
was a dark, misty night, and not a star could
be seen. The conditions were admirably suited
for the tactics of the attackers. They did
not make straight for the little town, but
selected a winding route which led them round
fields of beetroot, turnip, and potatoes. By
doing so they completely hoodwinked the
drowsy German sentries.

The church tower proved to be a splendid
landmark. It would not have aided them at
all, however, on that murky night, had not

(0751) 9

130 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

the German signallers occupied it. These men
were busily engaged sending private messages
with coloured lamps to the batteries, so as to
amuse themselves and while away the time,
little dreaming that they were doing splendid
service to the British.

Stealthily and silently the attackers moved
down into the little town. Rain had begun
to fall heavily, hushing the noise of their foot-
steps, and they approached quite close to the
church before their presence was suspected.
The Germans had made themselves comfort-
able in a number of houses. Many were fast
asleep in warm beds; others were drinking
heavily and singing songs.

The British force took up a strong position.
Then the signal was given to alarm the enemy.
The amateur piper blew the bagpipes and made
them skirl indeed. The others shouted and
yelled and clattered their tins on the cobbled
streets. At the same time a brisk fire was
opened, and the signallers on the church tower
soon found their position rather uncomfortable.
In a flurry a signal-lamp winked out a hurried
message; then a bullet struck it and it winked
no more.

The little town was thrown into confusion.
Germans leaped from beds and drinking-tables
and scampered hither and thither in a state of

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 131

bewilderment and alarm. Showers of well-
directed bullets hastened their pace or caused
them to change their minds as to the best way
by which to escape. The town seemed to be
full of British troops. Loudly skirled the bag-
pipes; the rattling of tins seemed to be the
rattling of Maxim guns, and the yells of the
humorous attackers were believed to be rejoic-
ings over their assured success. Hundreds
of Germans fled towards the hopfield. Ap-
parently they were mistaken for the attackers,
because their own batteries of artillery opened
fire on them with shrapnel; but more were
scared than were killed.

The British soldiers had really very little
to do. Indeed the amateur piper seemed to
be the hardest-worked man among them. He
never ceased "tuning his pipes"; some of
the squeals he got out of his chanter were
quite awesome.

There never was a more successful attempt,
at creating a panic. The Germans evacuated
the town in record time. No attempt was
made on their part to rally and hold back the
little band of Britishers, who had not a single
man killed or wounded.

All the townsfolk were delighted when they
discovered what had happened. They praised
the British for their cleverness, and laughed

i32 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

over the hurried flight of the Germans, many
of whom did not wait to clothe themselves
after leaping from their beds. But the towns-
folk were very polite regarding the bagpipes.
They took it for granted that the piper's per-
formance was supposed to be of high class
character in his native land. One old lady
exclaimed to this amateur, with flushed cheeks
and gleaming eyes: "Oh, m'sieur, never
will I forget your beautiful music! I will carry
it in my heart for the remainder of my life."

She wondered why the soldiers laughed
merrily when her words were translated to
them. Then she said : " Ah yes, I understand!
They can't forget that the beautiful music
made the 'Bodies' run away."

Occasionally soldiers who have found them-
selves cut off from their regiments have ex-
perienced adventures which were sometimes
as amusing as they were exciting. A High-
lander and a Londoner once took refuge in
a little farm-house to escape the Germans.
They were very anxious to return to their
regiments, and saw that their only chance of
doing so was to change their clothing. After
a good deal of trouble they made the kindly
housewife understand what they wanted. She
smiled, and said something in French, and left

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 133

the room. A few minutes afterwards she re-
turned with a woman's dress and a man's suit
of clothes.

The Londoner laughed merrily. "Well,
I'm blessed," he exclaimed to his friend, "if
she does not take you for my wife. That's
why she has brought the lady's costume."

"Not at all," retorted the Highlander, who
was the taller of the two; "the costume is
intended for yourself. She thinks you are so
pretty."

The housewife had only one suit of men's
clothes to give, and the Highlander put it
on. The Englishman got into the costume
and made a comical-looking woman ; then,
performing the most amusing antics, he took
his friend's arm and bade good-bye to the
farmer's wife and daughter, whom he left
laughing merrily until the tears ran down their
cheeks. The soldiers enjoyed their experience,
and when they reached the British lines were
hailed with shouts of applause. "Strike up
the band," exclaimed a wag; "here come the
famous music-hall stars, 'Jock and his wife'.
After a little song the lady will give a per-
formance of the skirt dance, French style."

A British officer and nine privates attempted,
on another occasion, to steal through the

i34 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

German lines dressed as women. They had
been taken prisoners by the enemy, but
managed to escape. One night they entered
the town of Roye, feeling quite exhausted,
and were greatly disappointed to find that the
Germans occupied it.

By good luck they were met by a French
lad, a native of Paris, who chanced to be
residing at Roye with his aunt when the war
broke out. As the officer could speak French,
he was able to make the youngster understand
that he wanted to find a safe hiding-place for
himself and his men.

"Come with me," the young Frenchman
said, "and I will conceal you all right."

He led them down a lane to a stable behind
the house in which he was residing.

"You will be quite safe in the loft," he told
them, "because the entrance is a hidden one."

"Thank you very much!" exclaimed the
officer.

" I will bring you food as soon as I can
procure some," the boy assured them. " Keep
very quiet and do not come down on any
account."

The British soldiers climbed the ladder, then
pulled it up, and the concealed hatch was
closed.

When this was done the boy hastened back

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 135

to the house. Someone was knocking at the
front door. He opened it and found himself
confronted by a German officer, who began
to ask him many questions. The lad answered
every one, but did not give any information
of value.

"Can I help to look after your wounded?'*
he asked. The officer smiled and declined the
offer. But it had its desired effect. He never
suspected that the simple - looking lad was
concealing ten British soldiers in the back yard,
and went away.

The next difficulty was to procure food for
the hungry men lying in the loft. None could
be purchased openly, for all the shops had
been seized by the Germans, who fixed the
quantity which each householder should receive
daily. However, the lad arranged with friends
to contribute food for the hidden strangers, and
both he and his aunt ate as little as possible.
He was thus able to carry supplies every night
to the stable.

For nearly a week the soldiers kept in hiding;
then they began to weary.

"This is worse than prison," they said.
"One settles down in prison, but here, know-
ing that we have a chance of escape, we cannot
endure to remain long without doing some-
thing."

136 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Said the lad: " If the Germans see you they
will take you prisoners at once."

" Bring us workmen's clothes, so that we
may disguise ourselves," they pleaded.

Said the lad: " You would be seized all the
same. The ' Bodies' are arresting all the able-
bodied men in the town, and sending them out
to dig trenches."

"Well, then," the officer said, with a smile,
" bring us women's clothes, and we shall march
off and not trouble you any more." The men
laughed heartily at the idea of dressing up as
French women.

Said the lad: " Do not say that you trouble
me. It is a great honour to be of service to
the brave Englishmen." He went away, and
after some hours elapsed returned with female
attire for the hidden soldiers.

"When you have all dressed up," said the
lad, "I will act as your guide."

"That is very good of you," answered the
officer, "but remember that if you accompany
us you will be running a very great risk."

Said the courageous lad: "The risk would
be greater if I stayed. What if the * Boches '
were to find your uniforms here? Do you think
they would trouble to take me a prisoner? No;
they would just shoot me as if I were a little
black crow."

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 137

On the next night the disguised soldiers stole
out from their hiding-place. They all looked
very tall and powerful women, and chaffed one
another in whispers. They slipped round by
back streets, some walking alone and others
in couples. The French lad accompanied the
officer, who acted his part very well. It seemed
for a time as if they would all be able to get
away, but on the outskirts of the town the
officer and his young friend were stopped by
a German sentry, who refused to let them pass.
" You must remain in Roye," he said. " It is
very suspicious that you should want to leave
it during the night. I shall report the matter
at once, so that it may be investigated."

Alarmed at his attitude, the French lad and
the officer turned back and warned the others.
They lost no time in returning to their hiding-
place in the stable loft.

A few days afterwards, however, they were
able to regain their freedom. Allied troops
were closing round the town, and the Germans
found it necessary to retire from it, and this
they did very smartly.

The French lad at once ran to inform the
officers and men of what had happened. " We
had better clear out at once," they said, "in
case the Germans should come back."

" I will act as your guide," said their young

i38 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

friend. "I know all the roads in this dis-
trict."

They were only too pleased to accept this
offer. The lad took them by short cuts and
unfrequented paths to- Amiens, where they were
able to rejoin their regiment. He thought it
best not to return to Roye again. For all he
knew his movements might have been watched
by German spies. So he travelled by train to
Paris, and was exceedingly glad to reach home
safe and well.

Stragglers who have found themselves cut
off from their regiments and surrounded by
enemies on every side have had many exciting
adventures. A young British artilleryman and
a sapper of the Royal Engineers were isolated
one day in a field near Soissons. Neither
carried rifles. Together they crept towards
the area where a force of British troops were
posted, taking cover as well as possible, so as
to escape observation.

Suddenly they saw six Uhlans riding out of
a wood about 200 yards distant. These Ger-
man cavalrymen were scouring the district for
stragglers, and, believing they would kill rather
than take prisoners, the two British soldiers
determined to show fight.

Said the sapper: " Run to yon boulder. I

THE LIGHT SIDE OF WAR 139

observed as I came along that there are dead
men lying behind it."

The young artilleryman set off at a scamper,
followed by his companion. They promptly
took cover behind the boulder, where they
seized the rifles of a couple of fallen soldiers.
The Uhlans observed them and rode forward
at a quick canter.

The young artilleryman had been a Terri-
torial before he joined the army, and used to
be known as a rather good shot. His friend
was also a creditable marksman. They lay,
cool and collected, and took deliberate aim at
the German cavalrymen. In a few minutes
they had picked off an officer and three pri-
vates, who tumbled off their horses. The re-
maining two halted, wheeled about, and raced
towards the wood, and one of them received
a wound before he reached it.

Meanwhile four horses with empty saddles
came racing forward. Up leaped the sapper
and artilleryman, and after a brisk effort caught
three of them. Then they mounted and rode
towards the wood, the sapper leading the spare
horse. "Who knows," he said, "but we may
meet a wandering friend."

Before riding away they went over to the men
they had shot down, in case any of them might
be wounded and requiring a temporary dress-

140 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

ing. But they were all dead. Taking posses-
sion of the helmets and the officer's sword, they
then rode off towards the British lines, and had
a great reception from their companions, who.
called them " The jolly horse-dealers".

Heroic Army Doctors

The devotion to duty and sterling courage
shown by doctors and nurses and ambulance-
men in caring for the wounded soldiers is worthy
of the highest praise. In temporary and per-
manent hospitals there have been many acts of
heroism and self-sacrifice which will never be
recorded.

Among the lists of killed and wounded that
have been published appear the names of
officers, non-commissioned officers, and men
of the British Royal Army Medical Corps.
Red Cross wagons have been fired upon by the
enemy; even hospitals within artillery range
have not been spared. Many of the doctors
and stretcher-bearers have also been killed
or wounded by risking themselves to rescue
wounded warriors lying in trenches, or on open
fields, while shells were bursting round about
and rifle-bullets whizzed through the air.

It is not the duty of an army doctor to go
into the firing-line. The ambulance-men are

HEROIC ARMY DOCTORS 141

supposed to provide first-aid treatment and
carry the wounded to hospital. But many
doctors have over and over again hastened to
the trenches to give speedy relief to wounded
heroes, and by doing so have saved many
lives.

A British doctor was in the habit, while a
long battle was in progress, of going daily
along the trenches under a hail of shrapnel
bullets and splinters. To pass from one par-
ticular trench to another he had to cross a
narrow ravine which was swept by the enemy's
fire. One day he crossed and recrossed half
a dozen times in response to signals which were
made to him. He seemed to bear a charmed
life. In the end, however, a bullet struck him
down. Happily he was not killed, but the
wound he sustained was a serious one.

The Victoria Cross was awarded by King
George to Surgeon -Captain Rankin for his
gallantry in having attended to the wounded
in the trenches. He went on with this dan-
gerous work for a couple of days, until his
thigh and leg had been shattered by shrapnel.

How it feels to be wounded is described by
a doctor who was taken to hospital with a bit
of shrapnel buried in his neck. He had been
riding forward towards the trenches when he
heard the shrill sound of an approaching shell.

i42 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

" Now", he thought, " I shall be struck." In
another second he felt his horse sinking beneath
him, and then he experienced a stinging pain
in his neck. He fell clear of his horse, but one
of his feet was entangled in a stirrup. Stunned
and confused, he tried to free it. This he found
to be a difficult task. He looked about him in
a daze, and became aware that friends were
hurrying towards him. Still he went on strug-
gling with the stirrup. Not until he was re-
moved to hospital and had the shrapnel splinter
taken out did he completely regain his senses.
He made a rapid recovery.

A stirring story is told of how a brave French
doctor gave up his life at Ypres for the sake of
his patients. These were not his own coun-
trymen, nor Belgians, nor British, but wounded
Germans who had been found lying in front of
the Allies' trenches after a desperate attack
which had been driven back.

They were cared for in the civil hospital. At
the time, Ypres was being heavily bombarded
by the Germans. A number of shells struck
the hospital.

''Should we stay here any longer?" a volun-
teer nurse asked, addressing the doctor. "The
enemy know that this is an hospital, and all the
wounded are their own countrymen."

"I cannot leave my patients," answered the

HEROIC ARMY DOCTORS 143

doctor, "no matter what the consequences may
be."

"It seems strange," the nurse said, "that we
should be placed in peril of our lives by Ger-
mans when we are nursing Germans. Do they
deserve good treatment at our hands?"

" Let us show our superiority," remarked the
doctor. " If they do not possess humanitarian
feelings it is not for us to follow their ex-
ample. Were we to imitate them we should
descend to their level. So long as I remain
here I will continue to look after the wounded
Germans, showing them that a French doctor
laughs at their shells, and only knows his
duty."

Two nurses, who were unable to endure any
longer the strain of the bombardment, left the
hospital and sought a place of safety. A few
days later, however, they returned, and with
tears in their eyes confessed to the doctor that
they were ashamed to think they had deserted
their patients.

Two Germans had died in the interval. There
were still fifty-two left, and some of these were
in a critical condition. The French doctor
laboured unceasingly, dressing their wounds
and performing his duty faithfully.

Three days after the nurses had returned he
was killed by a shell which came through the

144 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

roof. His body was removed and buried under
cover of darkness. He had died at his post,
a real hero, attending to the wounded and
suffering enemies of his country. On the fol-
lowing day the survivors were carried from the
hospital during a lull in the bombardment, and
conveyed to a place of safety. It was not in
vain that the noble French doctor had risked
and lost his life for the sake of his patients.

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, who was selected
at the outbreak of war to command the Grand
Fleet, belongs to an old family of seafarers.
His great-grandfather, Admiral Patton, was
Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty when Nelson
won the historic victory of Trafalgar ; his father,
who died in September, 1914, was Captain
John H. Jellicoe, of the mercantile marine,
and was well known and highly esteemed at
Southampton.

In his younger days Sir John was known
as the boy who never was afraid. It is told
that one day he annoyed and alarmed his nurse
very much by racing across a busy street, wind-
ing his way in and out between passing vehicles
as if he took pleasure in being in danger. In
vain she scolded him. Then she said: "I

C7SI

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE

Photo. Russell

Sea p«go

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 145

shall tell the first policeman I meet regarding
you." Master John did not seem to be the
least alarmed by this grave threat. He walked
along, smiling to himself, and when he saw
a policeman approaching ran up to him and
exclaimed: "Oh, what a lot of pretty buttons
you've got on your coat!" Master John was
not easily scared.

It is not surprising that such a high-spirited
boy, with the blood of generations of sailors
in his veins, should have been attracted by the
sea. He was never happier than when he
wandered about Southampton docks watching
ships coming and going, and he delighted to
hear his father describing his voyages to distant
lands. After he learned to read he took pride
in the career of his great-grandfather, who had
fought and distinguished himself under Admirals
Hawke and Rodney. He was quite young
when he expressed the desire to enter the navy.
His father agreed that he should do so, but
made him understand that he would have to
study hard to pass the examinations, so that
he might become an officer like his great
ancestor.

In time the boy was sent to school at
Rottingdean, and there he worked very hard
to secure the reward which he greatly sought.
He delighted his teachers by the way he applied

(0751) 10

146 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

himself. On i5th July, 1872, a few months
before he had completed his thirteenth year,
he entered the Royal Navy as a cadet. On the
training-ship Britannia he studied so well that
he took over 100 marks at the final examination
and won all the first prizes. He continued to
study as a midshipman, and at nineteen passed
as a sub-lieutenant, taking three prizes. Before
he was twenty-one he was appointed lieutenant,
and then he had three first-class certificates to
his credit. The future admiral spared no pains
to become efficient and worthy of promotion.

Lieutenant Jellicoe served on H.M.S. Agin-
court when the Egyptian war broke out in
1882. His ship did not take part in the bom-
bardment of Alexandria, but kept watch on
other towns and on the Suez Canal. On his
return home he continued his studies and won
the ,£80 prize for gunnery lieutenants. After-
wards he was selected as a junior staff officer
of the gunnery school at Portsmouth.

That Jellicoe was a heroic sailor, as well
as a clever student, was first proved when he
served as gunnery lieutenant on H.M.S.
Monarch. One stormy day a steamer stranded
on a sand-bank near Gibraltar. High seas
broke over it, and Jellicoe commanded a boat
which attempted to reach it so as to rescue
the crew. After a stiff struggle the boat was

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 147

upset. Fortunately the occupants had been
provided with cork jackets and were able to
reach dry land safely. The lieutenant was
awarded a Board of Trade medal for his
gallantry.

He had another narrow escape from drown-
ing in 1893, when he served as lieutenant-com-
mander on H.M.S. Victoria, the flagship of
Vice - Admiral Tyron, of the Mediterranean
Fleet. On 22nd June important manoeuvres
were being carried out. Jellicoe was not on
duty at the time. He lay in his cabin, suffer-
ing from malaria. In the afternoon the vessels
were formed into two parallel lines, led by
the Victoria and Camperdown. Then the Vice-
Admiral gave an order to turn inwards, but
unfortunately miscalculated the room required
by the leading vessels to perform the manoeuvre.
The result was that the Camperdown collided
with the Victoria and tore open a huge hole
in its starboard side. Vice - Admiral Tyron
attempted to run the vessel to the shore, but
she settled down by the bows, heeled over,
and sank about fifteen minutes after she had
been struck. Every man stood bravely at his
post until the last minute. About half of the
crew, including the admiral, were drowned
and about half were rescued.

Commander Jellicoe was summoned by his

148 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

servant, who explained hurriedly what had
occurred. He leaped from his bunk in his
pyjamas, but before going on deck to try
to save his life he went below to hurry up
anyone who might be there. When he reached
the bridge the Victoria was sinking fast, and
he was thrown into the sea. He sank, but
afterwards rose to the surface. As he had been
weakened by fever, he would certainly have
gone down again but for Midshipman West,
who swam to his assistance and kept him afloat
until they were both rescued.

The scene was a terrible one. Several men
who leaped over the stern of the Victoria were
cut to pieces by the revolving screws. Others
who were swimming strongly were engulfed
when the boilers of the sunken vessel exploded
and threw up great volumes of water. Boats
from the other war-ships hastened quickly to
rescue the survivors. Fortunately the Camper-
down, which was also badly injured, kept afloat
in consequence of the cool and collected manner
in which Admiral Markham, its chief com-
mander, took precautions to avoid further
disaster.

Four years later Jellicoe was promoted to
the rank of captain, and served under Admiral
Seymour on the China station on board H.M.S.
Centurion, the flagship. In 1900 an anti-

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 149

foreign war broke out in China. It was known
as "the Boxer rising". The " Boxers" were
members of a secret society wrho had armed
themselves to put down the reform party
and drive all Europeans out of the country.
Missionaries and traders were tortured horribly
and put to death, as were also Chinamen who
did not favour the Boxer movement. China
was thrown into a state of turmoil. When
word was received from Pekin, the capital,
that the Legations of the various foreign
Powers, in which Europeans had taken shelter,
were in danger of being overwhelmed, it
was resolved to send an armed expedition
from Tientsin, a distance of about 90 miles.
This relieving-force was 2500 strong. It was
composed of mixed nationalities and com-
manded by Sir Edward Seymour, who selected
Captain Jellicoe as his chief staff officer. Three
trains left Tientsin with the fighting-men, but
the line was cut near Lo Fa. An attempt
was then made to march to Pekin; but strong
forces of Boxers not only resisted the advance
of the Allies, but got in between them and
Tientsin. Sir Edward Seymour, after fight-
ing stiff engagements, and finding the enemy
greatly outnumbered his force, decided to
retreat. He abandoned the railway line and
fought his way back to Tientsin.

150 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

At a stiff engagement at Pietsang, Captain
Jellicoe, who had conducted himself with great
gallantry, was seriously wounded. He was
specially commended in dispatches by Sir
Edward for his ''judgment in action", and
"most valuable help". In consequence he
was subsequently made a Commander of the
Order of the Bath. The Kaiser conferred
upon him the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle
of the Second Class, with crossed swords.

Pekin was ultimately reached by an army
of 20,000 allied troops under Lieutenant-General
Sir Alfred Gaselee.

After Captain Jellicoe's return from China
he occupied important naval posts on sea and
on shore. He was associated with Sir Percy
Scott in encouraging good shooting and in
generally promoting efficiency. As Director
of Naval Ordnance he was a member of the
Dreadnought Design Committee. When that
historic battleship was launched, King Edward
conferred upon him, in recognition of his ser-
vices, a Knight Commandership of the Victorian
Order. Afterwards he was promoted to the
rank of Rear-Admiral. He became a Vice-
Admiral in 1911, when he received the appoint-
ment of Commander of the Second Squadron
of the Home Fleet. A year later he was
selected as Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty.

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE 151

Important naval manoeuvres were carried
out in 1913. In these Britain was represented
by the Blue Fleet under command of Admiral
Sir George Callaghan, which was supposed
to defend the coast. The enemy was repre-
sented by the Red Fleet, under command of
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. The result of the
manoeuvres has been kept secret, but it is
known that Jellicoe achieved successes by the
clever manner in which he conducted ope-
rations. He lured away the defending fleet
and landed troops on the Yorkshire coast. A
raid was also made on Sunderland.

When war with Germany was imminent, Sir
John Jellicoe was appointed to the supreme
command of the Home Fleets. He selected
H.M.S. Iron Duke as his flagship. From
His Majesty, King George, he received the
following message : —

" At this grave moment in our national history
I send to you, and through you to the officers
and men of the fleets of which you have
assumed command, the assurance of my con-
fidence that under your direction they will revive
and renew the old glories of the Royal Navy,
and prove once again the sure shield of Britain
and of her Empire in the hour of trial."

Sir John, who is of short stature, is known
in the navy as " Silent Jellicoe". He says

152 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

little, his ideas are usually expressed by deeds,
and he has never been known to speak loud
even when giving an order in a moment of
danger. He is always cool, collected, and
thoughtful. At the same time he is a very
strict disciplinarian. But, like all sailors, he
has, as the saying goes, "a soft spot in his
heart". This is shown by the charming letter
he wrote, about two months after the declaration
of war, to a little girl, aged ten, who sent him
a muffler she had knitted, asking him "to give
it to one of your brave sailor -boys". The
letter is as follows: —

"H.M.S. Iron Duke,

" 2jrd October, 1914.

1 ' DEAR LITTLE FREDA,

" I must write and thank you
for your kind thought for the sailors. The
boy to whom I gave your muffler was so much
touched. Thank you, dear.

"J. R. JELLICOE."

Our Humane and Fearless Seamen

The first naval battle in the North Sea be-
tween British and German vessels took place
about three weeks after war had been declared.
It was fought off the German coast, in the bay

HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN 153

known as Heligoland Bight, and not far from
the Island of Heligoland, which is strongly
fortified, and has a harbour for destroyers and
submarines, and also a small dockyard for
carrying out repairs.

The morning of battle was dull and misty,
there was scarcely a breath of wind, and the
sea was like a sheet of glass. Soon after day-
break flotillas of British submarines and de-
stroyers, which had been hovering in the
vicinity, crept into the bight. Large war-
ships, including battle-cruisers and cruisers of
the "Town" class, manoeuvred at a distance,
keeping in touch with the small craft.

These vessels were performing what is known
in the navy as a "scooping movement ". It was
desired to entice some of the enemy's warships
to come out and fight. If this could be accom-
plished, others would be forced to follow them.

The submarines advanced boldly towards
Heligoland harbour, and began to show them-
selves, rising and sinking like a "school" of
dolphins sporting in a summer sea. Several
German destroyers at once darted out to pursue
them. This was exactly what the British
wanted. As our submarines retreated west-
ward the hostile destroyers followed; but little
did their commanders dream that they were
being drawn into a trap.

154 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Meanwhile the British destroyers were creep-
ing round the north side of the bight, concealed
in the mist, so as to get in behind the German
vessels and cut off their retreat to Heligoland.
One flotilla was led by the Arethusa^ a swift
small cruiser of a type called "destroyers of
destroyers"; it carries two 6-inch and six 4-inch
guns, as well as a machine-gun, and is fitted
with four torpedo-tubes. Another flotilla was
led by the Fearless^ which is of the scout class,
and is armed with ten 4-inch guns, four smaller
quick-firers, and two torpedo-tubes. The aver-
age speed of our destroyers is about 30 knots,
and they carry three 4-inch guns, and have from
two to four torpedo-tubes.

When the German small craft were well out
to sea the Arethusa darted from a bank of mist,
steaming southward across the bight at full
speed, and followed by powerful destroyers.
The Germans at once turned to race back to
Heligoland, but they were unable to reach the
island without giving battle. The Arethusa
opened fire at long range and held them up,
and the British destroyers closed in and made
a magnificent attack. It was a stirring sight
to see the opposing forces fighting furiously
while racing at high speed. The Arethusa s
6 -inch guns hammered the German vessels
with deadly effect. Hither and thither they

HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN 155

darted, endeavouring to escape the heavy
shells.

Then the " scooping movement" developed
as the British desired. Other German vessels
were compelled to come out to assist the trapped
destroyers. A cruiser hastened through the
haze from Heligoland to beat back the aggres-
sive and daring Arethusa. But this did not
prove as simple a task as it seemed at first
sight. The "destroyer of destroyers" turned her
heaviest guns on the larger vessel, and showed
she was capable of destroying even a cruiser.
Her attack was supported by several destroyers
that endeavoured to get within torpedo-range.
Owing to her superior speed, the Arethusa was
able to dodge the cruiser so as to escape her
broadside fire. Then a second German cruiser
was summoned with all haste. When she hove
in sight she fired first on \htArethusa and then
on the Fearless, which closed in boldly. The
small British vessels seemed like barking dogs
attacking big angry bulls.

Taking advantage of this scrimmage, a Ger-
man destroyer, which had suffered from the
Arethusa s fire, endeavoured to escape to Heli-
goland. Four of our destroyers hastened in
pursuit, their guns banging smartly all the
while. The chase was brief and exciting. A
stunning shot ripped through the German

156 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

vessel's engines, and reduced her speed so
much that she was quickly caught up and sur-
rounded. Every available gun was quickly
turned on her, and our gunners fired with un-
erring aim. Ere long she was riddled and
battered down to the water-line. Fire sud-
denly broke out on board ; the flames leaped
high in the air, while volumes of black smoke
wrapped her round like a plaid. Then she
began to sink, and the attackers ceased firing.
As the smoke cleared off somewhat, German
sailors were seen leaping into the sea. Our
gallant seamen at once lowered boats to rescue
them, for it is one of the glorious traditions of
the British Navy to be chivalrous to a stricken
enemy. As the poet Campbell has sung of
another battle:

" Out spoke the victor then,
As he hailed them o'er the wave :
' Ye are brothers ! ye are men !
And we conquer but to save;
So peace instead of death let us bring.'"

But while the British tars were rescuing the
drowning men a German cruiser came up and
opened fire. Our destroyers had consequently
to scatter, and as they did so they picked up
all their boats except one, which could not be
waited for.

It looked at first as if this boat would be cap-

HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN 157

tured by the Germans. The British bluejackets
did not like the prospect, and peered through
the haze, hoping to sight one of their own
vessels.

" Hallo!" exclaimed one, as he saw the Ger-
man cruiser moving away; "we are going to be
left alone."

"The Germans know well," another re-
marked, "that they will get us by and by."

Through the mist came the constant boom-
ing of guns; the firing was increasing in
volume.

"I wish I could see what is going on," ex-
claimed a tar impatiently.

" Things are getting livelier," a friend chimed
in.

" Periscope on port bow, sir," called a blue-
jacket excitedly. The officer in command of
the boat stood up at the helm and gazed
anxiously across the calm sea. A submarine
was approaching. Was it a German? One of
the rescued men thought it was, and remarked
in broken English: "You vas pick us up; now
we pick up you."

The submarine rose like a whale coming up
to breathe and spout. When the conning-tower
was opened, however, a British officer appeared,
with a broad smile on his face. The bluejackets
were delighted when ordered to step aboard.

158 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

1 'It's a case of 'come inside', as the whale
said to Jonah," one of them remarked merrily.

As soon as the occupants of the boat were
rescued the submarine dived again. It seemed
like an incident in a fairy story.

Meanwhile the Arethusa was fighting fiercely
with the second German cruiser, whose fore-
bridge she wrecked. But the "destroyer of
destroyers " was so heavily shelled that all her
port guns, except one, were silenced, while her
speed was reduced to about 10 knots. She
drew back to recover, and was not followed.
The gun crews were soon replaced, and the
wreckage cleared away. Then the Fearless
hastened to her support, and she went into
action again.

By this time a third German cruiser had
come along. She got a very brisk reception
from the Arethusa and Fearless and the de-
stroyers. Torpedoes were fired, and kept her
moving briskly to avoid them, while well-placed
shells set her on fire. She retired in a sinking
condition, and was chased by destroyers.

It was considered necessary by this time that
the Arethusa should withdraw, not only on
account of the damage she had sustained, but
also because it was perilous to approach Heli-
goland too closely and come under the fire of
its guns. But a fourth cruiser appeared sud-

HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN 159

denly on the starboard quarter. This was the
Mainz. She was immediately attacked by the
Arcthusa and Fearless and several destroyers.
The Arethusa greeted her with three rapid
broadsides, and the destroyers closed in under
heavy fire to discharge their deadly torpedoes.
The action continued for nearly half an hour.
The Mainz was severely battered.

Meanwhile other German cruisers began to
approach, looking as unsubstantial as pencil-
markings against the misty horizon.

" It's about time we were off," the bluejackets
remarked one to another; "we cannot fight the
whole German fleet with our small craft."

Then a puff of wind cut a long lane through
the mist that obscured the open sea, and the
British heroes saw with glad eyes several vessels
of the Light Cruiser Squadron hastening to
their assistance.

H.M.S. Southampton opened fire at more
than 10,000 yards distance. The Mainz re-
plied, and attempted at the same time to retire.
But her doom was sealed. Shells burst upon
her with bewildering rapidity; her engines
stopped, and fire broke out; then her funnels
were riddled. One of the last shots brought
down her main-mast.

When the firing ceased the German cruiser
was an awesome spectacle. So fiercely did the

160 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

flames rage amidships that two of the funnels
were red-hot. Her upper deck was strewn with
wreckage and dead and wounded men. All
the guns had been silenced, and most of them
were shattered. Great shell-holes gaped on her
port side.

Many of the German survivors leaped into the
sea as their ship went down, and about 300 were
rescued by our gallant seamen.

Battle-cruisers had followed the Light Cruiser
Squadron. They were led by Admiral Beatty's
flagship, the Lion, which has the speed of a
destroyer, and carries ten of the great 13.5 guns
that fire two rounds a minute. It was observed
that the Light Cruiser Squadron was over-
coming the Mainz, so the great vessels were
turned north-eastward, in which direction the
sound of heavy firing was heard. It was soon
ascertained that a German cruiser of the " Kol-
berg " class was engaging the Arethusa and
some destroyers. The Lion advanced in a semi-
circle to cut her off from Heligoland, at the same
time opening fire, with the result that the Ger-
man retired. As the Lion gave chase she
sighted a two-funnelled cruiser. Two heavy
salvoes were discharged with deadly aim, and
the enemy raced away through the mist, burn-
ing furiously and in a sinking condition. It
was not considered advisable to pursue her, as

HUMANE AND FEARLESS SEAMEN 161

destroyers had given warning of the presence
of floating mines in the direction she was
hastening.

The Battle - cruiser Squadron then turned
northward. After steaming about half an hour
the cruiser of the " Kolberg" class, which had
previously fled, was once again sighted. She
was trying to steal through the mist, to work
her way up the channel towards the mouth of
the Elbe. But her doom was quickly sealed.
The Lion opened fire with her heaviest guns
from two turrets. A couple of salvoes were all
that was required to dispose of the German
vessel, which sank like a stone ten minutes
after she had made appearance.

Four British destroyers were at once dis-
patched to pick up survivors, but not one
was found. The swift and terrible attack had
evidently stunned every man on board. No
doubt the great majority were killed by the
bursting shells, which ripped and holed the
cruiser in quick succession, and caused her
ammunition and boilers to explode in a hurri-
cane of flame and smoke.

Twice during the battle the " Dreadnought"
cruiser Queen Mary was attacked by hostile
submarines, but on each occasion she avoided
the torpedoes by rapidly changing her course.

The "scooping movement" proved to be

( 0 751 ) 11

162 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

highly successful. Most of the German vessels
which were enticed or forced to come out were
severely handled ; five of them were sunk. The
British thus won a brilliant little victory, which
proved to the whole world that our fighting-
seamen are as brave and cool and resourceful
as were their predecessors who served under
Nelson.

All our vessels retreated safely, despite the
efforts of submarines to attack them. The
" saucy Arethusa ', which had covered herself
with glory, was taken in tow by the Hogue^
and both vessels returned homeward in the
darkness with all lights out.

Among the Germans who were saved was
a son of Grand-Admiral von Tirpitz. When
an official account of the battle was issued at
Berlin, a grudging admission of defeat was
made, but it was frankly stated that the British
sent out life-boats to save drowning Germans
''without stopping to consider their own
danger". Our country is justly proud of its
naval victories; it is no less proud of the
humane deeds of its gallant seamen, who never
hesitate to risk their lives to rescue their
stricken enemies.

It may be recalled, in connection with this
battle, that a former Arethusa was, in the
days when war-vessels went under sail, "a

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 163

frigate tight and brave". An old song cele-
brates a fight she waged against four larger
vessels "off the Frenchman's land". The
first she attacked was the Belle Poule. On
the approach of the frigate —

The Frenchmen laughed and thought it stuff,
But they knew not the handful of men, how tough,
On board of the Arethusa. . . .

Our captain hailed the Frenchman, " Ho!"
The Frenchman then cried out, " Hallo!"
" Bear down, d'ye see,

To our Admiral's lee!"

" No, no," says the Frenchman, "that can't be!"
"Then I must lug you along with me,"
Says the saucy Arethusa.

Battles with Sea-raiders

Several German war-vessels conducted raids
upon British shipping. The most notorious
of these was the cruiser Emden, which was
under the command of Captain von Miiller. It
could steam at 24 knots an hour, carried twelve
4-inch guns, and had a crew of 361.

Shortly after war commenced she slipped
out from the German port of Tsing-tao, in
China. Then for about three months she
roved the seas, obtaining coal and supplies
from steamers that were met at various places
by appointment. Guided by spies, and wire-

164 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

less telegraphic messages from Germany, she
suddenly appeared, early in September, in the
Bay of Bengal while British war-ships were
conducting transports with Indian soldiers
towards the Suez Canal.

Among the first of the Emden's victims was
a British trading-steamer. One day her captain
received a wireless message, asking if he knew
anything of a German cruiser in the Bay. He
replied: "It does not exist." To his astonish-
ment he was then informed: "Oh yes, it does!
I am It." Soon afterwards the Emden, from
which this humorous and tantalizing message
had been sent, hove in sight. The captain
and crew of the trader were arrested and taken
off and the vessel was sunk. Five other
steamers were disposed of in like manner. A
seventh was captured and used as a prison
ship. Captain von Miiller was very courteous,
and on each occasion apologized for having
to send the vessels to the bottom. He waited
for the City of Rangoon, a large liner, which
was to sail from Calcutta, but the authorities
were warned of the Emderis presence in the
Bay of Bengal by an Italian captain, and her
sailing was postponed.

On 22nd September the German cruiser
began to bombard Madras. But the forts
opened fire on her and she retired speedily.

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 165

Two oil tanks were ignited by shells and three
persons were killed. On the last day of the
month five vessels were sunk by the Emden off
Ceylon.

H.M.S. Yarmouth went in pursuit of the
raider and captured two of her supply-ships.
The Emden managed, however, to double back
and captured seven vessels. Five were sunk,
and 7000 tons of coal taken off one of them.
On 2yth October a Japanese liner was sunk
near Singapore.

Next day the German raider appeared off the
picturesque British town of Penang, on Prince
of Wales Island, at the north entrance of the
Straits of Malacca. The people there had
been anxiously awaiting news of her capture.
H.M.S. Yarmouth, which was using the port
as a base, was known to be searching for
her.

Dawn was breaking when the sound of big-
gun firing broke out suddenly like a tropical
thunderstorm. Windows rattled, and here and
there panes were shivered to pieces. The whole
town was awakened, and along the shore many
heads were thrust out from windows to ascertain
what was happening.

A grey mist hung over the sea, and every-
thing was blurred and indistinct.

" What is happening?" someone asked gruffly.

166 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

"Battle practice, I suppose," suggested an-
other.

There were a few war-ships in the bay — a
small Russian cruiser, a French gunboat, and
two torpedo-boats.

"The Russian is firing heavily," said the
first speaker; "but what other vessel is that
coming in and blazing away?" Through the
scattering mist loomed the dark hull of a war-
ship with four funnels.

"It must be the Yarmouth" the other re-
marked.

"That's a German cruiser," a woman ex-
claimed excitedly. "Don't you see it's firing
at the Russian. There — a shot has struck."
A cloud of black smoke obscured the small
cruiser for a few seconds.

"It can't be the Emden" urged the man
who thought the new arrival was the Yarmouth.
"The Emden has only three funnels."

This was quite true. But Captain von Miiller
had rigged up a sham extra funnel to mislead
those who sighted his vessel, which approached
the bay at full speed, flying the British flag.
Suddenly the British flag was hauled down and
the German one hoisted. Then the firing com-
menced.

When the spectators on shore — who had been
roused from sleep by the thunder of the guns —

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 167

realized that a German vessel was giving battle
the excitement became intense. As the sky
brightened they obtained a better view of the
approaching war-ship. It kept up a fierce
cannonade, and the shells fell thick about the
Russian cruiser. Volumes of smoke drifted
across the waters, and sometimes the contend'
ing vessels were completely obscured. It soon
became evident that the Russian was doomed.
The German vessel was more than a match for
her. Indeed the fire from the Russian was slow
and inaccurate compared with that of the Emden.

But all the German shots were not well
placed. Occasionally a shell landed on the
beach. One burst over a house, but fortunately
no one was injured by the scattering fragments.

"Surely the German is not going to bom-
bard the town," exclaimed a stout man who
had been leaning out at an open window and
started back suddenly as the shell crashed above
the roof.

"Where in the world is the Yarmouth!"
growled a friend who had entered the room.

" Look! look!" cried the stout man's wife as
she peered towards the harbour; "the Russian
cruiser is on fire."

Through the smoke haze a tongue of crimson
flame was seen shooting up from the doomed
vessel, which had begun to sink. Shells con-

168 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

tinued to burst on it and near it, and for a time
it was completely hidden in the heavy clouds of
black smoke. When the air cleared again the
Russian had vanished.

''She has gone!" cried a woman with trem-
bling voice.

"Sunk to the bottom," her husband said,
horror-stricken and amazed.

"Will the Yarmotith never come !" exclaimed
someone anxiously.

"Where is the Yarmouth!" men asked one
another.

Several people rushed to boats to rescue the
Russians who were seen swimming about in the
harbour. One volunteer, who had hastily dressed
himself in his uniform, took command of a
steam ferry-boat and was the means of saving
a good many lives.

The Emden made no attack on the town.
She began to retire slowly about 6 a.m., and
when nearly 3 miles out seemed to linger as if
looking for some expected vessel. A British
steamer was stopped, but after a short period
was allowed to pass in to the harbour. Then at
7.20 more firing was heard.

" Has the Yarmouth returned?" many asked.

In a few minutes the firing ceased. It ap-
pears that a French torpedo-boat had been out
scouting. When the Emden was sighted the

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 169

daring commander raced against her at full
speed, endeavouring to get within torpedo-
range. A shower of shells pounded his vessel
to pieces, and the Frenchman went down like
a diving whale. Everyone on board perished.
Then the Emden steamed away, and faded on
the horizon.

But by this time the days of the German
raider were numbered. British, French, Rus-
sian, and Japanese cruisers were searching for
her. One November morning she approached
the Cocos or Keeling group of islands to ob-
tain a supply of fuel from a collier which she
had arranged to meet there.

These islands are situated in the Indian
Ocean, south of Sumatra, and were discovered
by Captain William Keeling in 1609. Their
1 'king" owes allegiance to Great Britain. He
is the great-grandson of Captain Ross, an ad-
venturous Scotsman who deserted from the
British navy in the eighteenth century and
for several years led the life of a privateer. He
afterwards settled on Direction Island, and be-
came uking" of a mixed community of run-
away Malay slaves and others. One of the
curiosities of the Cocos is a great and won-
derful land - crab which can climb trees and
open coco-nuts. It is referred to by Darwin
in his Voyage of the "Beagle".

170 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

The Cocos group is now of great importance
as a link of Empire. Direction Island is the
head-quarters of the Eastern Extension Cable.
Company, whose employees there number about
200. The cables connect Australia and other
eastern countries with the rest of the world.
There is also/ a wireless station, which is of
great service to the British navy.

As soon as the Emden arrived off Direction
Island, Captain von Miiller sent out an armed
party to cut the cables and destroy the wireless
station. But before the Germans were able to
render the wireless instruments useless a brief
message, intimating the arrival of the Emden,
was tapped out by a cool-headed operator.
It was picked up and transmitted hither and
thither. Ere the wireless station was destroyed
the Emderis presence at the Cocos was known
as far off as Melbourne.

Fortunately H.M. Australian cruiser Sydney
was at the time scouring the seas for German
raiders, and acting in consort with other war-
ships to protect the trade routes. A transport
carrying British troops to Egypt was only about
100 miles distant from the Cocos on that fateful
day.

A rather curious fact may here be mentioned
regarding the Sydney. Its commander had ar-
ranged the night before that battle practice

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 171

should be held, beginning at 9.30 a.m. About
7 a.m. came the wireless telegraphic message
regarding the Emderis arrival at the Cocos.
The Sydney at once hastened to meet her, get-
ting up a speed of 20 knots. It made a record
dash, and its gunners began to give battle at
9.40 a.m. Little did they think on the previous
night that their target was to be a German
cruiser.

The Emden was anchored beside the collier,
and the landing-party was engaged wrecking
the wireless station when the Sydney's smoke
appeared on the horizon. Captain von Miiller
at once gave orders to get to sea and clear for
action. He was not certain of the four-funnelled
cruiser's identity. At first he thought it was
the Yarmouth. Then an officer perceived that
it flew the Australian flag. The captain smiled.
" If she's an Australian," he declared, " I'll sink
her." Apparently he was not aware that several
of the gun-layers on board had served in the
Imperial navy, and that the Australian "tars",
as a whole, were quite smart, although mostly
young.

The Emden got up speed and went briskly
into the fight. Her first three shots struck the
Sydney. One of them destroyed the range-
finder, which was rather unfortunate. Another
pierced the side of the Australian cruiser and

172 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

fell back into the sea. A stoker who was stand-
ing in the wardroom got a glimpse of the nose
of the shell coming through. He scampered
away to escape the explosion, and when he
returned saw only a handy "peep-hole", which
gave him glimpses of the battle. The Sydney's
armour-plate was too thick for the Emderis
shots. An officer on deck had a narrow escape.
A shell whizzed over his head, displaced his
cap, and killed a man behind him.

All this happened in a few seconds. With
her eight 6-inch guns the Sydney was more
than a match for the German with her twelve
<j.-inch guns. Ere long the Australian gunners
got the range, and their shells did great havoc.
First the Emderis foremost funnel went down ;
then her fore mast followed with a crash. How
the young bluejackets cheered! Then the
second funnel was swept away. Again they
cheered.

1 'Keep cool, boys!" exclaimed the older
hands.

"Bang, bang, bang!" went the Sydney's
guns.

"There goes the last funnel!" shouted the
Australians, some of whom were not more than
eighteen years old.

The Sydney was being cleverly manoeuvred.
She was able for most of the time to keep out of

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 173

range of the Emderis guns. During the hour
and a half that the battle continued she covered
about 56 miles and increased her speed to
26 knots. Down below stokers and engineers
worked with tremendous energy. The chief
engineer was suffering from appendicitis, but
he stuck to his post grimly, and never spared
himself.

The Emden made a vain effort to escape
northward, but the Sydney hung on to her like
a British bulldog. At length the stern of the
German was shattered, and she began to settle
down. She was consequently turned towards
the beach on North Keeling Island, steaming
at 19 knots, and grounded with such violence
that the man at the steering-wheel was killed.

The Sydney fired two broadsides in rapid suc-
cession, wrecking the last of the Emden s guns,
and then turned away to follow the collier, which
by this time had taken flight. In less than an
hour this vessel was overtaken and ordered to
"heave to". She turned out to be a captured
British steamer, named the Buresk, which had
been manned by an alien crew consisting chiefly
of Germans and Chinamen. When the Aus-
tralian utars" boarded her she was found to
be in a sinking condition, for the German
officers had opened and damaged the sea-cocks.
After taking off the entire crew the Sydney

174 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

hastened the end of the Buresk by pounding
her with four shells.

The Emden was again visited towards even-
ing. "She still had her colours at the main-
mast-head," Captain Glossop of the Sydney
has reported. " I enquired by signal, Inter-
national Code, 'Will you surrender?' and re-
ceived a reply in Morse: 'What signal? No
signal-books.' I then made in Morse: 'Do
you surrender?' and subsequently: 'Have you
received my signal?' to neither of which did I
get any answer. The German officers on board
(who had been taken prisoners off the collier)
gave me to understand that the captain would
never surrender, and therefore, though very
reluctantly, I again fired at her at 4.30 p.m.,
ceasing at 4.35, as she showed white flags and
hauled down her ensign by sending a man
aloft."

By this time it was growing dark, and the
Sydney turned away to pick up two boats from
the collier. Then Captain Glossop sent a boat
to the Emden saying he would return to give
assistance next morning. It was unknown
whether or not the German cruiser Konigsberg
was in the vicinity.

Meanwhile the armed landing-party which
had destroyed the wireless station on Direction
Island, having seen the Emden disposed of,

BATTLES WITH SEA-RAIDERS 175

seized a small schooner, named the Ayesha,
and set sail for the open sea.

Next morning the Emden was boarded by the
Australian victors. She presented a terrible
spectacle. The deck was strewn with the
mangled bodies of nearly 200 men. Only one
gunner remained alive. All the survivors were
suffering badly from thirst.

The first British officer who boarded saluted
Captain von Miiller and said: " I think you
fought splendidly, sir;" and received in answer
a gruff " No." So he turned away. The
Emderis captain, after a few minutes had
elapsed, walked after the Sydney's officer and
said: "It was very kind of you to say we
fought splendidly. I was not satisfied myself,
and still think we could have done much better.
It was lucky for you that at the very outset one
of your shells destroyed our voice pipes."

The whole day was spent removing the
wounded and prisoners to the Sydney. Among
the latter was a German prince, a relative of
the Kaiser's, who was serving on the Emden as
a junior officer. He had taken refuge in the
torpedo-room. When brought out, after the
battle had ended, it was thought he was dead.
But he had only fainted.

One of the most remarkable happenings in
connection with the fight was the rescue of a

176 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

German sailor. He was one of seven who had
been blown overboard by the explosion of a
shell from the Sydney. For eight hours he
kept afloat in the shark-infested sea before he
was observed and picked up. His escape from
death seemed a miracle.

Among the heroes of the Sydney were two
Australian boys who had volunteered for active
service from a training-ship a few weeks pre-
viously. Captain Glossop did not want them,
but, as they were keen and enthusiastic, decided
to accept their services. An officer relates as
follows how they conducted themselves during
the fight with the Emden: "One little slip of
a boy did not turn a hair, and worked splendidly.
The other boy, a very sturdy youngster, carried
projectiles from the hoist to his gun throughout
the action without so much as thinking of cover.
I do think, for two boys absolutely new to their
work, they were simply splendid."

The German cruiser K'dnigsberg, which had
vanished from Far East waters, fled to German
East Africa. She was located hiding in shoal
water about 6 miles up a river opposite Mafia
Island. Part of her crew landed and en-
trenched themselves. H.M.S. Chatham bom-
barded the concealed raider and rendered her
unseaworthy. The British commander also
took the precaution of sinking colliers in the

HOW OCEANS WERE MADE FREE 177

only navigable channel, completely blocking it.
So ended the career of another German raider.

How the Oceans Were Made Free

On a November Sunday evening a brief but
fierce battle was fought in the South Pacific
Ocean, off the rocky coast of Chile, between
squadrons of British and German cruisers. The
wind had been blowing hard all day and a
rough sea was running, with billows constantly
breaking in white foam.

Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock was the
British commander. His flagship, the Good
Hope, belonged to the " Drake" class of the
older armoured cruisers. She steamed at about
23 knots, and carried two 9. 2 -inch, sixteen
6-inch, and a dozen 12-pounder guns, and was
fitted also with torpedo tubes. The other vessels
were the Monmouth, one of the " County" class,
of similar speed to the flagship, with fourteen
6-inch guns and a group of smaller ones; the
light cruiser Glasgow, a modern war-ship capable
of running at 25 knots, with two 6-inch and ten
4-inch guns ; and the Otranto, a swift armed
liner, used chiefly for scouting.

The German squadron was under the com-
mand of Admiral Graf von Spec. It consisted
of five cruisers. These were the Scharnhorst

(0761) 12

1 78 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

(flagship) and the Gneisenau, two fast sister
ships of modern type, heavily protected, and
armed with eight 8.2-inch and six 5.9-inch
guns, as well as a number of small quick-firers
to resist torpedo-boat attack; and the Nilrn-
berg, Dresden, and Leipzig, three light cruisers
which could steam at from 22 to 25 knots, but
carried no gun heavier than the 4.1.

Admiral Cradock had been searching for
some weeks for these vessels, which had been
acting as raiders and had concentrated to
oppose him. He had left behind the slow
pre-Dreadnought battleship Canopus, which is
armed with four 1 2-inch, twelve 6-inch, and ten
i2-pounder guns, when he hastened northward
from the vicinity of Cape Horn, and on the day
of the battle she was some 200 miles lower
down the coast. After sighting the Germans,
the commander gave chase, steaming southward.
The two squadrons were running in parallel
lines shortly before the battle commenced.

At first our vessels had the advantage of wind
and light. But when the sun went down the
German cruisers, which were nearest the coast,
became blurred in the haze of the brief southern
twilight. The British war-ships stood out
sharply against the brightly coloured western
horizon, presenting well-defined targets for the
German gunners.

HOW OCEANS WERE MADE FREE 179

At twenty minutes to seven the Scharnhorst
opened fire, and soon the action became general.
The Otranto, not being armoured, had to with-
draw to a safe distance.

At the outset the Germans secured an over-
whelming advantage. The Good Hope was so
badly struck that her two 9. 2-inch guns were
put out of action and she began to blaze for-
ward. The Monmouth was also heavily hit, and
flames were afterwards seen leaping from her
foremost turret. After a time, however, these
fires had been got under.

It was rapidly growing dusk. The British
gunners could see only the flashes of the enemy's
guns to assist them in taking aim, while their
own ships remained well in view.

Once again, as the battle waxed fiercer, the
Good Hope began to blaze. Then the flames
reached her magazine, which blew up, sending
aloft lurid tongues of flame over 200 feet in the
air, and throwing her funnels overboard. She
sank with all hands — about 900 officers and
men, including the gallant Admiral Cradock.

The large German cruisers then concentrated
their fire on the Monmouth, with the aid of
searchlights, for the gathering darkness had
been intensified by clouds of drifting smoke.
As the Monmouth was again burning, it became
evident that her doom was sealed, but she

i8o HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

fought on to hold back the enemy and allow the
Glasgow, which had been badly holed, to escape
under cover of night. The Glasgow retired
reluctantly. Had she waited, she would un-
doubtedly have shared the fate of the gallant
Monmouth, which went down under a bewilder-
ing and deadly shower of German shells with
her 540 officers and men.

News of this naval disaster created a painful
impression throughout the British Empire, and
surprise was expressed that the Germans should
have been able to concentrate a stronger
squadron than our own in the Pacific.

Considerable alarm was aroused on the
Falkland Islands, which lie to the north-east
of Cape Horn, in the South Atlantic Ocean,
and are part of the British Empire. The
capital is Port Stanley, a well-built town,
charmingly situated on the shore of an estuary
of East Falkland Island, which opens between
flanking cliffs and twists inland like a Highland
loch, forming the outer harbour of Port William
and the inner Stanley harbour. On the pen-
insula, which juts out between the estuary and
the ocean, is a powerful wireless station.

The Glasgow and Canopus hastened to Port
Stanley soon after the naval disaster, and there
received wireless orders to make for Monte-
video. Meanwhile the Admiralty warned the

HOW OCEANS WERE MADE FREE 181

Governor of the Falklands to expect a German
raid. It was anticipated that Admiral von Spec
would take forcible possession of Port Stanley,
which has not only considerable food supplies
in its mutton-canning" factories, but also a large
naval coal store and a coaling dock. The
harbour could be used as a base for operations
against our war-ships and trading vessels in the
South Atlantic. Fear was also expressed that
a destructive raid would be conducted against
South Georgia, where millions of pounds worth
of whale oil could be destroyed.

With true British pluck, the volunteers of
the Falklands mustered to fight the Germans.
This force, which has two machine-guns,
numbers about 130 men, all of whom are good
shots and excellent horsemen. A message
from the Admiralty instructed the Governor:
"If the enemy land, volunteers should fight,
taking care to do so beyond range of the
enemy's big guns. Retiring tactics should be
adopted." This meant that Port Stanley would
have to be evacuated. So the women and
children and old men were sent inland, with
as much luggage as could be removed.

But while the war-cloud lowered darkly over
the islands, events suddenly took a happier
turn. The Canopus returned to Stanley har-
bour to assist in defending it. Some large

182 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

guns were landed and mounted at commanding
points, and mines were laid across the mouth
of Port William harbour.

On yth December, a strong fleet of British
war-ships made sudden and unexpected ap-
pearance in Port William. It was under the

Lines

\

Dresden 1
escapes

Sketch map to illustrate the
BATTLE OF THE FALKLAND ISLES

Invincible (flagship) It marked thus:.-. Ot

command of Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, who
had been in London when the Good Hope and
Monmouth went down. The principal vessels
were the two powerful Dreadnought cruisers,
the Invincible (flagship) and her sister ship the
Inflexible, each armed with eight 1 2-inch guns
and capable of steaming at 28 knots. Accom-
panying these were the Glasgow, which had

HOW OCEANS WERE MADE FREE 183

been hurriedly repaired at Rio de Janeiro, the
Bristol, and the older cruisers Carnarvon, Kent,
Cornwall, and also the converted cruiser the
Macedonia. Some of these vessels began to
coal immediately after they cast anchor.

Next morning a sentinel on "Sapper Hill",
which is situated near Port Stanley, sighted the
German squadron. A hurried message was at
once dispatched to the Invincible.

A flag-lieutenant, who was just getting up at
the time, ran to Sir Doveton Sturdee and in-
formed him of the approach of the Germans.
The Admiral was engaged in shaving, and,
glancing round with the razor in his hand, re-
marked very quietly, " That's all right. You
had better go and get dressed. We'll see about
the matter later." Then he resumed shaving.
The incident recalls forcibly the familiar story
of Sir Francis Drake and his game of bowls.

Admiral von Spec was unaware that so strong
a British squadron awaited his arrival. He
thought he would have to deal with but a few
small ships.

The Scharnhorst and Niirnberg approached
boldly the southern shore of Stanley peninsula
to destroy the wireless station. But they
sheered off suddenly when the battleship Cano-
pus, lying in Stanley harbour, fired several
rounds from her 1 2-inch guns, over the land,

184 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

at a range of about 1 1 miles. One shell nearly
struck the Scharnhorst.

When the British squadron put to sea, leaving
the Canopus behind to guard Port Stanley,
Admiral von Spec's squadron was already in
flight, steaming eastward. The Invincible and
Inflexible had been sighted. It was a beautiful
morning; the sky was almost cloudless, and a
soft wind was blowing from the north-west.
About half-past ten the German cruisers ap-
peared as mere specks on the horizon, trailing
wisps of smoke, the nearest being nearly
20 miles distant.-

Then began a hot chase, the Dreadnought
cruisers forging ahead. About one o'clock
their first shots were fired, striking the Leipzig
at a range of nearly u miles. She turned
away to the south-west with the Niirnberg and
Dresden, pursued by the Glasgow, Cornwall,
and Kent.

The Invincible and Inflexible hung on to the
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, firing their 1 2-inch
guns with great accuracy and rapidity over
distances varying from 7 to 10 miles. Ma-
noeuvre his vessels as he might, Admiral von
Spec could not escape the deadly effects of the
long-range fire, or get near enough to do any
damage to his opponents. Fire broke out on
board the Scharnhorst, and when the British

HOW OCEANS WERE MADE FREE 185

shells holed her the red flames raging within
were made visible. She listed heavily and
sank at 4.17 p.m. with all hands — about 800
officers and men, including Admiral von Spec.

The Gneisenau kept up the running fight for
an hour and a half longer until, raked, riddled,
and battered by the British Dreadnoughts, she
toppled over and went down. About a hundred
of her crew were rescued from drowning.

By this time the wind had freshened and the
sea grown rough, and thick clouds were en-
veloping the sky. The Glasgow and Cornwall
were engaging the Leipzig, which was sent to
the bottom ere night fell. Early in the day
the Bristol and Macedonia had sunk the two
German colliers, but the transport escaped.

All the British vessels were accounted for
after darkness came on except the Kent. She
had gone in chase of the Niirnberg, and, as the
Dresden had made off at high speed, fears were
entertained that the light British cruiser had
got into difficulties with the two German cruisers,
so the Glasgow set out in search of her.

All night long wireless calls were sent over
the sea repeating Kent, Kent, Kent, Kent, but
no answer came back. The cruiser, however,
returned safely to Port William on the follow-
ing afternoon, and reported having sunk the
Niirnberg. Her silence was due to the fact

1 86 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

that her wireless had been destroyed by a
German shell.

She had distinguished herself by getting up a
speed of 25 knots, although nominally a 2i-knot
vessel. This was accomplished by burning her
boats and every available piece of wood on
board, including trunks and furniture. Once
she was in great peril. While fighting the
Nurnberg, a shell set on fire some cordite
charges in the casement and a flash of flame
threatened her magazine. But Sergeant Mayes
of the Marines picked up and threw aside a
charge of cordite and extinguished the fire with
a hose, thus saving the Kent from the fate of
the Good Hope. He has been awarded the
Conspicuous Gallantry medal.

By this brilliant victory Admiral Sturdee
freed the oceans of the world. No German
fleet remained outside home waters. Of Admiral
von Spec's squadron the Dresden alone escaped,
but she was sunk three months later.

Soon after the Falklands battle Admiral
Beatty, with a battle -cruiser squadron, gave
chase to a German fleet of similar ships across
the North Sea, sank the Bliicher, and severely
damaged the Derfflinger and Seydlitz, which
escaped, burning furiously, through a mine
field.

THE HEROES OF GALLIPOLI 187

The Heroes of Gallipoli

Some of the fiercest and most picturesque
conflicts of the war have been fought on the
Gallipoli peninsula, where various landings were
made in April, 1915, to secure military co-opera-
tion with the naval attacks on the Dardanelles
forts. The rough coast, with its narrow beaches,
steep slopes, and beetling cliffs, is admirably
suited for defensive operations.

Near Gaba Tepe a dramatic coup was effected
by the Australians. An advance force, which
was conveyed across the sea in battleships, em-
barked in twelve whale-boats under cover of
darkness and reached the shore just as dawn
was breaking. As they came through the haze
into shallow water the Turks opened fire, but
the Australians leapt into the sea and, wading
ashore, charged a trench at a bound, and cap-
tured it in quicker time than it takes to tell.

Despite this initial success, however, the
Turkish fire increased in fury. Then it was
discovered that the landing had taken place
farther north than originally intended and right
below a ragged sandstone cliff. The jutting
ridges overhead were occupied by Turks, who
kept sniping continually.

" Up and at 'em, boys!" shouted an officer.

i88 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

Throwing aside their packs, the hardy Aus-
tralians began to scramble up the cliff like the
Highlanders who captured Quebec. They
cleared the ridges at the point of the bayonet,
nor paused until they reached the summit, which
they held firmly until reinforced.

Meanwhile transports arrived with more Aus-
tralians and New Zealanders and the shore
fighting increased in fury. The Turks were
heavily reinforced, but their efforts to dislodge
the invaders failed completely.

The other landings, which took place at the
toe of the peninsula, were similarly of desperate
character. At one beach, between Cape Helles
and Seddul Bahr, the large transport River
Clyde, which carried about 2000 men, was run
aground. Lighters were then drawn in between
it and a reef, to carry a gangway over which the
soldiers could run to the beach. It was not
until darkness fell, however, that the men were
got safely ashore and found it possible to ad-
vance in combination with other landing parties.

During the months of fighting which ensued,
heroic efforts were made by the British and
French troops to capture Achi Baba hill, which
was strongly fortified, and held by a powerful
army of Turks under the leadership of German
officers.

In August a fresh landing was effected at

THE HEROES OF GALLIPOLI 189

Suvla Bay, and operations were formulated
with purpose to capture the height of Sari
Bair and cut off Turkish communications with
Achi Baba. Had it been successful, the greater
part of the peninsula would have been overrun
by the Allied troops.

The Australians at Gaba Tepe, who held the
area which had become known as Anzac, put
forth heroic efforts to strike a staggering blow
at the Turkish defence. The greatest initial
success they achieved was the capture of Lone
Pine trenches, a series of works which com-
manded one of the main sources of the enemy's
water supply. Charging up hill with heroic
dash against a withering fire, the Australians
broke through the barbed-wire entanglements,
only to find, however, that the trenches were
covered with great beams of pine. Snipers
continued to sweep their lines through loop-
holes. But the resourceful Australians were
not to be baffled. They tore up many of the
beams and leapt into the darkened galleries,
where desperate hand-to-hand encounters took
place, until they completely won the position,
which they held against fierce counter-attacks.

In the great combined attack which followed,
a Colonial column, with an Indian mountain
battery, gained the summit of a ridge of Sari
Bair, but the columns from Suvla failed to come

i9o HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

to their support in time and as arranged, and
they were forced to retreat before a massed
Turkish force supported by heavy artillery fire.
Subsequently our military authorities arrived
at the decision that all attempts to overrun
the peninsula would have to be abandoned.
Then followed another dramatic happening.
Late in December the army of 85,000, dis-
tributed between Anzac and Suvla, withdrew
from their positions and put to sea in secrecy
and without loss. The Turks had no idea
what was happening until after the evacua-
tion was concluded. A few weeks later the
forces at the extreme toe of the peninsula simi-
larly "lifted their tents like the Arabs and as
silently stole away". These winter withdrawals
were as masterly military achievements as the
heroic landings in spring. All the forces en-
gaged had, in this memorable and unexampled
campaign, covered themselves with glory, and
the Australians and New Zealanders displayed
those high qualities of heroism and initiative
which distinguish them as fighting men in the
Empire's battles for freedom and justice.

THE NEW ARMIES IN ACTION 191

The New Armies in Action

One of the most remarkable features of the
Great War, during 1915, was the steady growth
of British military power. Without taking into
consideration the important Colonial and Indian
contingents, the strength of the original Ex-
peditionary Force was multiplied about ten
times by the addition of the new armies and
the fully trained Territorial regiments.

The first great achievement of the new armies
was their September victory in the region of
Loos, where, with the Territorials, they effected
a brilliant forward movement over a front of
about five miles. In conjunction with this
operation the French also achieved notable
and extensive successes in Champagne and
about Arras.

The German works which were captured by
the British, consisted of a great network of
trenches and bomb-proof shelters. "Some of
the dug-outs and shelters ", as French has re-
corded, "formed veritable caves 30 feet below
the ground, with almost impenetrable head
cover. The enemy had expended months of
labour upon perfecting these defences."

A fierce and overwhelming artillery bom-
bardment prepared the way for the forward

i92 HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR

movement. When the infantry left their
trenches, however, they were swept by sus-
tained and intense rifle and artillery fire, but
the whole British line dashed forward with
exemplary gallantry, achieving various degrees
of success. The most rapid advance was ac-
complished in the south, where the 47th Divi-
sion, consisting of London Territorials, and the
1 5th Scottish Division, assaulted and enveloped
Loos and its outskirts. Over 3000 German
prisoners and a great quantity of war material
were captured.

At the end of the year Sir John French re-
signed his post in France, where for seventeen
months he had discharged his responsible duties
with tireless activity and great distinction, and
accepted the command of the home-defending
forces. In recognition of his invaluable ser-
vices he was raised by the King to the rank of
Viscount. Sir Douglas Haig, a younger and
no less brilliant leader, was chosen as his suc-
cessor.

LIBKAK*

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