New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
MEN OF THE FORLORN HOPE.
THE STRANGE LEGION OF SOCIAL OUTLAWS
Paris, November %.

| THE STRANGE LEGION OF SOCIAL OUTLAWS
Paris, November %.
Tho victories achieved by General Dodd. in
Dahoney have served 20 attract once more
public attention to the daring bravery Of the
two or three regiments known by the name of
| tho Foreign Legion which constitute the
| nucleus Of his force. It is to this Legion that
| is invariably assigned the most dangerous OF
service in warfare, and it is they, too, who, as
q rule, head the forlorn hope. Whenever there
are hnrdships to be borne to which the French
authorits do not care to expose the regular line
| regiments the Foreign Legion Is invariably
| designated for the purpose. Unlike the other
| French regiments it is composed entirely OF men
who have voluntarily enlisted. Some Of them
| arc French, while at least so per cent Of the
entire corps is composed Of foreigners. There
IS scarcely man in the entire brigade who has
not behind him some history of more or less
romantic and frequently dramatic character.
Thus have found in one and the same company
o Rumanan Prince, who was under suspicion
Of having murdered his brother, an Italian
lieutenant colonel of cavalry, bearing an illus
trious name, who had been dismissed from King
IIumberts army in disgrace in consequence Of
being found cheating at cards. Russian
Nihiist who had escaped from Siberia, and an
who had been suspended from his ecclesiastical
functions in consequence of an offence commlttel
against public morality and English ex-captain Of
the Rife Brigade, and German Count who had
not only served az lieutenant IN the First
Regiment OF Guards at Berlin but who had also
held position on the Military staff of the late
Emperor Of Germany. All these men were serv-
ing as simple privates in the ranks, and were
subjected to the iron discipline for which this
corps ia celebrated.
= no other European army are the punish
mcnts so severe as in the Foreign Legion
Of France. Composed as it il almost entirely
Of social outlaws, who have broken
with their past and who have in many cases q
criminal record behind them, men, in one word.
who seek oblivion and who are mostly serving
under pscudOnyms. it is not astonishing that the
utmost severity is needed 10 render them sub
scrvient 10 orders. The slightest offence act
OF agrees against n superior officer Is punished
with death, and during the Tonkn war there
have been IA many eleven members of one
regiment court-martialled and shot in one day.
The minor offences are punishable by the so-called
"slo,' which consists Of burying the prisoner
in the sand for hours leaving only his head en-
posed TO the rays of the sun by day. and 70
the stings Of the insects by night and the
and foot and left for hours. nay sometimes days
on the sand lying helpless, somewhat in the
position Of trussod fowl Many of tho most
famous names of France have figured at the head
Of these regiments.
Among those who have held tho rank of
Colonel of the Foreign Legion l find,
for instance, the names of Marshal Bazaine, Cen
eral de Neerier, General Dupin, who 30 dis
tingushcd himself by his cruelty during the
guerrilla warfare in McXicO. and last. but not
least, the brilliant Colonel lie Malaret. The last
had. in his younger days. been one OF the
gayest and most popular officers Of the Tueri"S
and particular favoritc OF the Empress Eugenic.
However having contracted some horrible malady
which had practically eaten away almost one
entire side of his face, he asked for and obtained
the command of regiment of the Foreign
Legion. anxious 10 serve his country and yet TO
withdraw sufficiently from the world to be- no
longer exposed to the looks Of horror. disgust
and pity which the appearance Of his face eX-
cited, not only among strangers but even among
former friends | will remember the dramatic
picture drawn by of his fellow-oicers or
his appearance at the morning parade OF his
regiment. He would arrive on the ground with
the hood Of his military mantle drawn over his
head even in the hottest weather. IN such a
manner to shroud and almost entirely con-
zeal his face. Indeed. one could see Ilttle else
but his brilliant steel gray eyes piercing through
the gloom. lie reminded one OF one of those
terror inspiring members OF the lnqliSltl0n OF
the Middle Ages, and like them his lips rarely
opened save To order some more or less severe
punishment Very different was IN" General
de Negrier who was beloved rather than feared
by these strange troops. of whom II has been
said with some justice that they were strange
mixture between the grand dame and the frailest
Of the frail. between the chvalrous and high
minded gentlemen of huth; breeding, ana honor
and the most criminal blackguards.
General dc Negrier won his present rank
for having on ono memorable OCCASION disobeyed
ofdcrs an offence which. hsd IL been committed
by one of his subOrdinat"s, would have Dean |
punished nv death. Two companies OF his rcgi- |
meni which had been sent forward on outpost |
been surrounded by the enemy on tho
frontier Of Morocco. An Arab scout brought in |
the news that they were surrounded by an over |
wheminQ force and would be unable TO holi |
out long. Colonel de Negrier Immediately gave |
orders to hasten to the rescue and the troops !
arrived from the general in command of the |
expedition. and bidding Colonel dc NeSrlcr = relon
thr main body of the army and TO retreat without |
delay on receipt OF the order You. my friend !
exclaimed Colonel dc Negrier addressing the !
orderly, will have to arrange to reach me with |
this order sometime tomorrow. but not before: |
70 right about face With that the Colonel !
placed himself ut the head OF his regiment and |
gave the order 10 march forward to the rescue /
After an almost unparalleled and continuous |
march of twentyeight hours the regiment REACHED |
the two companies already half declinatcd ny !
the enemy, and arrived Just In tmc 10 save the
remainder from massacre In this case the ond !
may have been said 10 have iustlhet the means. |
and the ColOncl's dis0bedcnce to the orders or |
his superior officers rewarded by his pro- |
motion to the rank of General.