“The truth about the withdrawing of the French troops from Alsace is
that a body of French--probably a whole regiment--fell into an ambush
laid by three German regiments,” writes a London _Standard_
correspondent.
“The Germans hid themselves in forest, hedges and ditches until the
French had piled up their arms and were lying down to rest on the
ground. The Germans then opened a murderous fire. The French rushed to
arms, but by the time they got hold of their rifles large numbers had
been killed or wounded. None the less the remainder charged the Germans,
inflicting severe losses. The confusion caused by the surprise attack
nevertheless compelled the French to withdraw all their forces in that
region behind the frontier line.
“During the French retreat one regiment lost a rear company, which was
blown up by a mine. Their comrades, marching ahead of them in the line
of retreat, suddenly heard a terrific report and saw a column of smoke.
When the smoke cleared away there was no rear company left. Every member
had been exterminated.”