Drama at Le Quesnoy
LONDON, November 6: The storming of Le Quesnoy was a most dramatic episode. The old town, with ancient ramparts, has been often besieged, but never saw harder fighting than the New Zealanders made yesterday. The New Zealanders were just westward of the fortifications. A division on the right was held up by machineguns in the chapel, until five tanks reduced them. Bombardments against the garrison failed to dislodge them. The New Zealanders tried to take Le Quesnoy by a frontal attack, and reached the outer ramparts, but were held up by machine
guns. The old fortifications were full of Germans. Further advance by that method was impossible, so the New Zealanders worked northward and southward, picketed the town, and went ahead towards Herbigries and Jolsmetz. There was a formidable German artillery line, and many batteries being grouped under cover of buildings and hedges, and they were firing furiously in order to protect Le Quesnoy. Before any could be withdrawn the New
Zealanders were swarming among the guns, demanding surrender. Without stopping to count their trophies, the New Zealanders rushed the wagon lines, cutting off the transport which was on the point of galloping away.
The Le Quesnoy garrison was first aware of the catastrophe when the protective barrage suddenly ceased, leaving them perplexed, but defiant. A British aeroplane flew overhead and dropped a message demanding surrender; the only answer was another outbreak of machinegun fire. The New Zealand commander, after an interval
sent in two parties, each with a German officer, pointing out the futility of further bloodshed; but the garrison’s commander sternly declined to surrender. The New Zealanders, late in the afternoon, attacked again, pushed through the ramparts, wiped out the machineguns, and penetrated the streets. They were obliged to fight their way from barricade to barricade before the remains of the garrison threw down their arms. Over a thousand prisoners were collected from cellars and improvised hiding places.
The capture of Le Quesnoy will be remembered as one of the most thrilling episodes in this campaign. It is believed to be the first time that a besieged town has been formally summoned to submit by British troops.