THE GALLANTRY OF FRANCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17110, 11 October 1917, Page 4

THE GALLANTRY OF FRANCE.

Writing in the "Edinburgh Review1' on "The Gallantry of France," Mr. Edmund Gosse, C.8., refers to the great number of young men of high intellectual promise who have been killed in the war. Especially in the first months of the autumn of 1914 was the holocaust a terrible one for Franco. "They gave the impression of being dedicated. As we now read their letters, their journals, their poems, we are astonished at the high level of moral sentiment which actuated them all." For instance, the youthful Leo Lantil, who was killed early in 1915 in the Champagne, says, in writing to his parents shortly before his death: "All our sacrifice will be of sweet savour if it leads to a really glorious victory and brings more light to human souls." It was to Leo Lantil, dying in his 25th year, whose last words were: "Priez pour la France, travaillez. pour la France, haussez-la V In the ranks of these Rupert Brookes and Julian Grenfells and Charles Listers of France, Mt. Gosse specially mentions Quartermaster Paul Linfier, who was killed in his year, Colonel Patrice Mahon Omown m letters as Art Roe), Captain Betanger (Emile Nolly), Marcel Drouet and Jacques de Choudens. The styie of Paul Lihtier he describes as one of [the miracles of art. There is no evidence that the author of "Ma Piece" ( had studied much or devoted himself to any of the training which adequate expression commonly demands. We know nothing; about him until he suddenly bursts upon us, in the turmoil of mobilisation, as a finished author. Mr. Gosse a dds that a year ago the "'Revue Critique," one of the most serious and original of the learned- journals of Paris, announced the losses it had endured. It was conducted by a « of 40 scholars; by the summer of IW6 this number had been reduced by -i. Thirteen had been killed, 11 severely wounded, and three had disappeared.