GLORY THAT SURVIVES

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16309, 10 August 1917, Page 4

GLORY THAT SURVIVES

HEROES OF THE ATHOS. fIOW FRANCE TAUGHT HER. CHILDREN, (.Translated from an article in ,- Le Matin," Paris.) It is not enough to say:— 'This or that liner has gone to the bottom, disembowelled by a. German torpedo. The conduct of passengers and crow were admirable. - '

It is necessary also to set before the eyes of the world some details which show what, in this third year of the wax, the expression "admirable conduct"' means—in French.

To our friends in the United States I dedicate the story of how the Athos went to its doom, with the tricolour ensign waring from its gaff peak. It happened on 17th February. Launched by an unseen enemy, the torpedo penetrated the boilers.' The commander judged that he had before him 10 minutes in which to sare what could be' saved.. SMOTHERING THE EXPLOXSION. A torpedoed steamer does not merely sink, sometimes it blows up. It hurls nien, smashed to atoms, flying in the air Jifce stones from a sling. On board the Athos was an engineer officer, who resolved: "I will prevent that, at least." The liner was leaking frightfully. Br narrow iron ladders, slippery with oil, with one hand already mangled, the man went down to the engine-room from which he knew ho would never come up. He closed the collision bulkheads. ' He adjusted the machinery. He strangled the explosion. Now he sleeps at the bottom of the sea. This was his choke. His name was Donzel. Salute!

At Hongkong the Athos had embarked a thousand Chinese coolies, those yellow-faced workers who came among us to take the place of much-wanted manual labour. They start out with contracts worthy of France and of themselves. Only half of their pay is 'reserved for their wives, their aged, their children, those whom they lore as wo lore our own. Those Asiatics were rounded np by a French captain and a dozen foremen interpreters. These noble fellows did not say to themselves:— "There are four hundred millions of Chinese still in China. Let us look our. for our own lives first! They aro tho most precious!" Until the last moment they made sure of the. safety ,of those 'foroien workmen who had trusted th'-woVes io France. They, too, were coffined in their slut). Salute Captain Silvestre and his crew of heroes! SAVING GERMAN PRISONERS. ■ The Athos was bringing three German prisoners to France. They had been taken on board when tho vessel touched at Indo-Chhm. They had slipped into our colony with the object of whisperisg words of revolt and hatred into tho ears of those natives whom I'ranee is governing with friendship ana guiding toward better justice. Prisoners, in the hold of the ship, they had been confined to the care of a ser geant.

At. the moment Tvhen the German torpedo penetrated the side of the riTijc-h vessel, tin's sergeant thought--these Germans are moil. 1 will nnf forget them in then- cells, because their compatriots arc infamous " I,^l-™1 fc do "' vu into * hc Ho had time to open two cabins. He freed wo Germans who werG aW ° *™J to the deck and dive into the son I hoy were picked up. He, the French petty officer sank whlo opening th t r n J: tI,C Unrd CaWn to sa ™ l''Ahird

(V~,Vo^ kear thab ' dear American friend*? Do you not think that to the >st or your dead on the Lnconia, between Mrs and Miss Hoy vou would like to write the name of S ercea „t. Moujoau who save.liis life as „. witness before all the world that France, is the home oi honour for all men-good and l>ad alike? THI-: SENEGALESE. •Vuain the Aihos had taken on board a i.attabon o! Senegalese riflemen, "n-:,er Commandant Colouua dlstria. J .n is and Lraneo already know and ," v Ih< ; so '?'atk soldiers. In the anibuthe hands of our wives and danghters have bound up their wounds. Wo. know that Franco has taught tliem i» hve and to die joyfully, for a bit of 'ibbon, for a ray of honour. li'ey were numerous on the Atho= ami a was certain vhaf then- was- not loom lor ovreybody j„ ~lu , no;lis ~,„, r '" ~ li,' r | ?'l l - The,',- 'ommande,- and 'l.eu othces organised the rescue work ""!' if'' 1 * discipline. Xainrallv thev u>mi,l.-hI ,„ r.niain with those who wore iioc. ,n i! 10 lifeboats to lead (hem into llie abyss. >o. this is what Mas seen:—

At the moment when the vessel sank, in rln n- ranks as on parade, Commander Colonna d'Lstria and his Senegalese sharpshooters presented arms. V.ifles in hand. bayonets iixed, thev wont down. Commandant Dorise, Captain of tho Aihos. had not left the bridge. "With i-he f-alin of his voice and his orders, ho dominated this scene or death. In the sh,vk of the sinking he fell from a height of (idft. Ilur. ids soul stayed on the ship, lb- was already at the point of do.itii. -Mantel, controller of the postal service, and F.nsign Yerdolban held him up in tie- sea, like a derelict of dorv. lie fa, dead n hen thev land.-.] him ■■■ Malta. wh::-j his: tomb y ill be.

There is what was not swallowed up with the Athos: there is vihai must he. brought to the knowledge of the world at the moment when tho conscience of of Humanity stands on tho threshold of the Supremo decision, making its choice.