In the firing line, stories of the war by land and sea

IN THE FIRING LINE

A wounded Enghsh gunner telling of how he went into action near Mons owns to the same touch of nervousness in the first few minutes :

IN THE FIRING LINE

The Four Days* Battle Near Mons

IN THE FIRING LINE

The Four Days' Battle near Mons 17

IN THE FIRING LINE

The Four Days' Battle near Mons 19

IN HOSPITAL.

In his despatch to Lord Kitchener, dated Sep- tember 7th, Sir John French tells of the four- days' battle at Mons, and traces his masterly, triumphant retreat, in the face of irresistible odds, to Maubeuge, to Cambrai, to Le Cateau, to Landrecies, and so almost to within sight of the walls of Paris. He pays a glowing tribute to the magnificent fighting spirit of the officers and men who carried out these stupendous movements with such complete success, but at present it is to the men themselves you must turn again for detailed information of the horrors and heroisms, the grim and glorious hours that darkened and

IN HOSPITAL.

The next move was to advance across where there was a Red Cross Hospital. They dropped shells from airships and fired on it until the place was burnt down to the ground. Then they got a big plan on to retire and let the French get behind them. We retired eight miles, but we had to fight until we were forced to move again. We got as far as Le Cateau on Tuesday night. We camped there until two o'clock next morning.

IN HOSPITAL.

I am the only one left out of my battery ; we were blown to pieces by the enemy on Wednesday at Le Cateau. We have been out here twenty- eight days all told, and have been through the five engagements. I have nothing ; only the

IN HOSPITAL.

*' On Friday, the 25th, the British were just outside Le Cateau. On Saturday morning the approach of the Germans in force was signalled. On Sunday morning at daybreak a German aeroplane flew over our lines, and, although fired at by the aeroplane gun mounted in the car, and received with volleys from the troops, managed to rejoin its lines. Twenty minutes later the German artillery opened fire with accuracy. The aeroplane, as so often, had done its work as range-finder. For twelve hours the cannonade went on. Then the British forces retreated six miles. On Monday morning the bombardment began again, and at two that afternoon the German forces entered Le Cateau from which the English had retired. Many of the houses were in. flames. The Germans, who had ruthlessly bayonetted our wounded if they moved so much as a finger as they lay on the ground, were guilty of brutal conduct when they entered the city.