TRAGEDY OF WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20359, 17 July 1934, Page 5

TRAGEDY OF WAR.

Soldiers Chosen by Lot to Be Executed. SCAPEGOATS FOR COMPANY. (Special to the “ Star.”) PARIS. June 12. One of the most tragic chapters oi the war was. recalled in the French Superior Court of Military Justice. The Court was asked by the widows or mothers of four French soldiers to clear the memory, and establish the innocence of their men who were shot because an entire company refused to follow their officers ‘ f over the top ” near St Mihiel, in 1915. The widows of two of the men ’ Corporal Morange and Private Prevost —were present, and the atmosphere oi the court-martial of 1915, which was held within sound of exploding shells, was recalled by mud-stained d.ocuijients read over by the clerk. Soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Regiment who participated in the grim drama told the tragic story. This iegiment, they said, had retired decimated to the rest lines, but the sth company, which had suffered more than any other, was sent back to the front line after being reconstituted with recruits of the 1915 class. When, on the evening of August 19, the company reached the trench which it had been ordered to occupy, the stretch of no-man’s land immediately in front was closely strewn with corpses clad in the French horizon blue uniform. “ Veritable Charnel House.” “ It was a veritable charnel house, ’ Company Commander Dubost. who was in charge of the company told the court. “ The dead of the preceding attack were pressed one against another. There was not a square yard without a body.” The officers in obedience to the higher command went “ over the top ” swept by machine-gun fire, but their men stayed behind. “ They were human wrecks,” Lieutenant Meinieux—himself wounded and

decorated with the Legion of Honour —assured the court. It would have been better to shoot them where they stood than to make them climb out of the trench.”

On learning of the failure of the sth company to obey orders General Deletoille decided that the whole company must be court-martialled. That would have involved wholosqje execution.

“ I protested against this butchery,” Company Commander Dubost stated. ‘ Finally they said to me: ‘One man for every platoon.’ ” There were six platoons, but only five scapegoats were selected, for Lieutenant Boulant, who was in command of the 4th platoon, refused point blank to choose a man. The others were decided by lot. “ No. 17 was Fontanaud.” “ I had no more against one man than another,” explained Lieutenant Meinieux. “ I opened my notebook. The corporal gave me the numbers 1 to 40. I placed a cross against No. 17. No.. 17 was Private Fontanaud.” The President of the court pointed out to the lieutenant that he had failed to tell the court-martial' about this, and referred to a declaration, subsequently made by the president of the court-martial, that if he had known about names having been chosen by lot he would never have allowed the execution of the men concerned. “ I regret it with all my heart,” responded Lieutenant Meinieux. ” But the quegtjon was not put to me.” Before the court-martial. Corporal Morange tried to justify his comrades by. explaining that to leave the trench meant certain annihilation. He was sentenced, but Corporal Coulon, who asserted that he went over the top but returned when he found himself alone, was acquitted. Privates Prevost, Fontanaud and Baudrv said nothing and were condemned to death. Their judges iccommended them all to mercy, which was refused by General Delejoille. Maintaining that the original sentences were justified. Colonel Bourlois, the Government commissioner, said ti the superior court, “ The fact that aii the guilty persons were not condemned does not mean that those who were executed were innocent.” The court reserved its decision.