THE FRENCH.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3276, 26 June 1917, Page 1

THE FRENCH.

PLAYING TROOPS INTO ACTION.

A ViSRY-GAiiL-AxNT BAjND. ■ Paris, April 22. Almost daily reporus ot iiiamtoju ieats oi : . heroism uy men who hgm nave ulinost completely oversnacloueu nic tieroibin <ir tue men who uati.it solely with musical mstruinente uoggedly as tiieir comrades ol tho bayonet. Mere is a truo story of the 46t.ii i*'rench Infantry Band, which, beloixflio war, used to play summer aftci uoou concerts in Pans. The band, composed of fifteen niusi- . cians, under Bandmaster i»aty, novei ceased to play, though tcai were kuied or wounded before tho troops conquered" the town of Vanquois. Aα- \ r aiicmg with the I'egimunt, iiaty wab beating time for tho "iMarsoillaise,' when the first bandsman foil. Immediately afterwards another was wound- , ed,-but.he-continued to play where ho fell. Bullets were flying everywhere as/the band advanced. / With th 6 "Marseillaise" half play- ■ f cd the casualties numbered four, the alto aud flute being put out of action by an'exploding'shell. Soon the rogiinent was in tho German trench and ! the baud struck up "Tho Charge. , ' i'lie litth casualty canio almost immediately. Laurent, one of the three i» clarionets ; was hit in the stomach, iie grasped the shoulder of his neigiioour, biii the latter shook him off aim marched on without removing his in i dLimnent from his Jips. Gernian ma-cuine-guns wcre.'iiammcring x the ad yancing French from a lieigiit in the town. The noise was terrific, but tin. remnant of tho band forged aheau without a break in tho music. Blanchard, tlie big drummer, was tho next to drop. 'lho same bullet woundeu another flute player. Tho troops wen now engaged in hand-to-hand iightinji with the Germans in tho streets oi v' auquois. s The bandmaster siunalled liis remaining men for the "Marseillaise." it came promptly, though not so loud and strong as. on' th© first occasion. Provost, first trombone player, drop ped his instrument when a shell splinJer shattered liis hand. Meunier, setond trombone, hit through - the hip. crawled to the instrument Prevost hat. dropped and went on plaj'ing. Tht "band had now reached a place when it came under a heavy enfilading fire. _ Another bandsman was shot through die heart. When .the day was won" there re mained but five of the heroic band's men who had escaped intact. Oue'o; ,these was Bandmaster Laty, who hai continued to beat time with his white gloves throughout the entire engage nvent. Every instrument was dainag ed by bullets or shrapnel. A sax.i phone was torn from the hands of in player by a shrapnel splinter. The foregoing is why tiie general i orders a few days later said that tin oth Infantry Band played under ti. enemy's firo to encourage tlio attack ing troo])s in spite of a heavy bom bardment." ■ .