“LA REVANCHE."

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15529, 5 June 1918, Page 5

“LA REVANCHE."

DEVIL’S OWN AND INSOLENT HUN HOW THEY WIPED OUT THE INSULT. CRIMINALS WTPH HUMAN HEARTS That the Frenchman who has once been numbered among the enemies of society can, at his Country’s call, show as much heroism and as fine a quality of chivalry as his brother poilu who has never sidestepped from the narrow path of rectitude is the conclusion arrived at by Ayres Rockwell, staff correspondent of the Chicago Daily News, Who tells of the exploits of that battalion of men who are Wiping Out their crimes against the laws of France bv heroic fighting for their country. Rascals, assassins, if you will, but hard fighters, though difficult to handle when not engaged in warfare. Rockwell writes:Henry de Forge tells in the Excelsior a touching story of the Bataillon d’Afrique, that heroic corps of beardless youths who made mistakes in civilian life but are wiping dean the slate of the past by fighting and dying gallantly for their country. I like this story so well, because it is so true to life, that I translate it here:—

“This calm and gentle man, whose young face, smoothly shaved as the Visage of a priest, smiles from under snowwhite hair; this man, who is the chief, nevertheless, of violent troops, the most terrible to lead that are, spoke of them with pride, a sort of pride of a father. ‘Yes, rascals, robbers, assassins, outcasts,’ he said. ‘lt is a battalion of accursed ones, but a card fighting battalion, I assure you. It is difficult to manage them when they are at “repos,” Jbi - when they are not Occupied they commit a thousand stupidities. Thus they almost never have a rest. But under fire there are no finer troops in the world, and I love these men, whom I know how to make listen to me.’

“The officer. Commandant H , pointed out the groups. “‘Look at their'faces. Are they badlooking? The uniform, fortunately, sets these lads off a little. But in what state they come back each time from the combat! One would say they have a homesickness to be badly dressed. Whafs the difference! They hake the pride of their property. One can depend upon them. . . . “ ‘Listen. This is the latest adventure of tire third company. I find it singularly symbolic of the state of mind of these men, and I guarantee the story’s authenticity:

“ ‘This company was in line at forty metres from the German trenches. Ofteh, as you know, the enemy finds it pleasing to put in line troops of the kind that he has before him—dragoons against dragoons, chasseurs against chasseurs, “troupes de’elite” against “troupes d’clite.”

“ ‘One morning we relieved the Alpins. It was not long before the enemy found out who was facing him, and my men were not delayed in seeing appear above the enemy trenches, so near, placards with insulting inscriptions written in French:

“ ‘ “Beware of Pickpockets'” “ ‘And other friendly remarks of this kind exasperated my lads. Therefore, we had a devilish trouble in holding them back, and each night they slipped out and prowled around the wire entanglements of fine Germans, who dodged showing themselves. “‘A new placard notified us: “ ‘ “You will soon have someone to talk to!”

“ ‘Three days later, surely enough, information was given us that we had facing us a battalion of the guard. “ Acclamations greeted this news. For one time the enemy had not sought to pair off his troops with ours. “ ‘ln face of the vagabonds, the pov-erty-stricken, the undesirables, was the fine flower of the Teuton nobility. We were going to laugh. ‘ ‘After several days of calm an inscription appeared above toe German trench in red letters, very readable, upon a white board. It bore this stinging phrase; “ ‘ “We have before us the scum of France. It is not with rifles that we will come to sqpk you; it will be with lashes ”

“ ‘My men shrugged their shoulders. But they were nervous. I felt that another provocation of that kind .was going to be dearly paid for. “ ‘All the night, from one part to another, the trench engines did not cease firing. Vengeance does not wait long with the “Joyeux.” ‘ ‘At dawn, suddenly a human form emerged from in front and stood erect in the midst of the wires, with a strange temerity. ( “ ‘My soldiers did not fire. They wished to see what was coming, to see well.

“ ‘lt was an officer of the guard, very young, with fne face of an adolescent.

“ ‘He had his sleeves rolled up. No weapon. In his hand only was a lash as w© had been forewarned.

Two rifle shots then struck down the imprudent fellow, who rolled out into the free zone between the lines of wire entanglements. “ ‘From the two sides men rushed forward. It was a ferocious fray, a fray with knives to take the officer, who was only wounded and who was trying to crawl away.

“ ‘Thd fight was not long. The “Joyeux” at grips with the guard! That could not drag along. . . . The body was brought into our lines.’ . . . “The Commandant H was silent for an instant. He was living again those poignant moments. “‘From a neighbouring trench,’ he began once more,- ‘I had witnessed the affair, and I ran over in haste, not having any doubt as to tfye violent fashion in which my men would avenge themselves for t'ne insult. The occasion was too good. An officer of the guard! “ ‘But in what frightful manner Were they going to finish him? . . . ‘ “Then I saw this strange spectacle, unexpected, unforgetable, of which I guarantee to you upon my honour the authenticity. , “ “The German officer was stretched out, very pale. Upon a blanket, in a shelter.

“ ‘And bent over him, before an entire circle of comrades, silently, the “Joyeux" were bandaging his wounds. “ ‘Tney were bandaging him with a gentleness, as though he were a child.’ ”