FRENCH HEROINE

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1917, Page 2

FRENCH HEROINE

MARCELLE SEMMER'S HELP. A new and authoritative version ot Marcclle Sernmer's heroism during August of 1914 has ftist been published (says a Paris cable message of January 23rd, in Australian papers). I Mademoiselle Seramer was then 1,0 years of age, an orphan,' living with the eclusier (lockkeeper) •on the Somme. During the German advance she opened the canal lock and threw th^ key into the water, delaying a German army corps for a whole night. She remained at her post after Hie ! enemy had passed, smuggled sixteen French soldiers to safety, dressing them in civilian clothes, and attempted to smuggle the seventeenth when she was detected. Upon' being court-mar-tialled she admitted her guilt an-d gloried in it. She was ordered to 'c shot, but was twice saved at the point pf death by French bombardments, and escaped to the' French lines. After, fifteen months she was awarded the knighthood of the Legioiv c-f' Honour and Military Cross. The British General has ordered soldieis to stand at attention whenever Ma'fiinolselle Semmer passes.