The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-22
HORRORS OF A BATTLE.
Description in Zola's Latest Novel of an En-
gagement in the FrancO-Prussian War.
From lie Debacte {The Downfatt)l

Description in ZoIa's Latest Novel of an En-
gagement in the Franco -Prussian War.
from lie Debacte tThe DowrgalD1
Some soldiers had already turned back when
the Colonel threw himself in their way.
"What, my children" he cried, "you will not
bring this shame upon me! You are not going
to act like towards Remember, the One Hun
dred and Sixth has never retreatsd, and you
would be the first to soil our flag" He pushed
forward his horse barred the way of the
fugitivcs, found words for each man, and spoke
of France in a voice in which tears trembled.
Lieut.. Rochas was SO excited by the scene that
he fell into desperate rage lifted his sword
and struck the men with it as if it had been
stick.
You dirty dogs! I'll kick you into the
fight. You must obey, or I'll blow out the
brains of the first mau who turns tail" But
this abusive language, and the idea of his SOL
diers being forced into fight by kicks was
repugnant to the Colonel.
mo, no, Lieutenant" he said, they are all
going to follow me. Aren't you, my children
You are not going to allow your old Colonel to
be the only one to wash the faces of these
Prussians. Advance! Forward" And he
started off,
All, in fact did follow; such effect did he
produce by these words, which be spoke like q
brave fellow whom they could not abandon
without being contemplate. He himself, alone
and in front, pushed quietly over the exposed
fields on his large horse, whilst his men scat
tered themselves about in sharpshooters' forma-
ton. and taking advantage of the least shelter.
The ground gradually rose and there was still
a good third of a mile of stubbe and mangold-
wurtzel fields which had to be traversed before
reaching the hill
In place of an assault on the classical model,
such as takes place at manuvers with perfect
correctness of line there were to be seen men
with their backs bent who ran almost level with
the ground, the soldiers isolated or in little
groups, jumping quickly like insects, and gain
ing the top by means of agility and ru5e. The
batteries OF the enemy must have seen them,
for the shells plowed the ground so frequently
that the detonations did not stop. Five men
were killed, and Lieutenant had his body
cut in two.
Maurice and Jean had found hedge behind
| which they could run on without being seen.
| A ball suddenly tore through the temple of one
| of their comrades, who fell dead at their very
feet They had to push him aside with their
feet for the dead no longer counted, there were
so many of them.
/ All the horrors of the field of battle could be
seen there; a wounded man whom they saw
shrieking and trying to hold back his entrails
with his two hands; a horse who crawled with
| his thighs broken. All this fearful agony did
not affect them any more, and they suffered
only from the torturing heat of the midday
| sum- which almost broiled their shoulders
90, how thirsty 1 ami" stammered Maui
rice. 81 feel as ifI had SCOT in my throat.
| Don't you perceive that scorching smell, as if
wool were being burned?" Jean nodded his
| head.
| 1T smelled like that at Solferino. Perhaps
it is the usual smell Of war. Let us have nip"
Behind the hedge they stepped quietly for a
minute. But the brandy instead of relieving
their thirst burned their stomachs and this
taste of burning in their mouth was torturing
They were almost dying of hunger aud they
would have liked very much to have bitten
into the half loaf Maurice had in his knapsack !;
only was it possible behind the hedge.
Other men were continually coming. who
pushed them forward. At last with bound
they pushed over the last slope. They were
on tho plateau at the foot of the hill, with its
old cross, worn by the wind and the rain, be.
tween two thin 1ime-trees. "Oh! OH" cried
Jean. Good Here we are. But the diff
Guilty now is to remain here" lie was right.
The place was not particularly agreeable, as
Lapoulle remarked with a mournful voice,
which set all his comrades laughing. They oil
lay down in the stubble. but three men were,
nevertheless soon killed, and then there burst
upon them an unclaimed tempest, the project
lies coming in such numbers from st. Mengers,
from Fegneux and from Givonne that tho
earth seemed to smoke as after tempestuous
! shower