Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
CHAPTER Nv.
lie Rreton'r Ride.


was distinction for youth and a dowry
for a maiden No similar achievement
adorned the annals of their great country.
For a proper understanding of the scope
and object Of this unprecedented military
operation it is necessary to quote fully the
memorandum drawn up with such care by
Vansittart during the meeting of the cabi-
net.
1t was collectively addressed to Gems. Viii
leneuve, Daubisson and LIE Breton (the
last named having attained the rank al
ready. and ran as follows:
1T is my intention that a column shall
be formed at Sedan forthwith and dis
patched. when fully equipped, for the pur-
pose of cutting into and destroying the
German lines OF communication.
The column will consist of 1000 selected
cavalry. soldiers. artilleTiSts and eng1-
neers, and for the purposes of the expedi-
ton they will be supplied with two horses
per officer and man engaged The arms
carried will be sabers, reyolvers, carbines
and d small number of machine guns. The
order of priority shows the manner OF their
use, which must be solely defensive.
NO wheeled vehicles. ambulances, tents
or baggage can be taken. The column
must, when occasion demands, be able to
move at the rate of ten kilometers (seven
miles, per hour. Each member of the ex-
petition will carry food and grain for him
self and his horses but squadding arrange
ments will be made for the conveyance of
reserve ammunition. implements, dynamite
and blasting powder.
Anything approaching an engagement
with the enemy must be absolutely avoided
Fighting will be the last alternative, but if
the only way lies through the hostile lines,
then that is the way.
Those who fall die on behalf of France;
those who live and perform their duties
Will have rendered their country the maxi
mum of good service.
THE object of the column is detruction.
NJ m GT no ha TGt he
spared Railroads, telegraph lines. bridges,
rolling stock, commissariat trains, equip
age and stores of every description, the
only exception being hospital appliances,
must be wrecked burned or blown up.
The total distance to be covered, taking
the line of the frontier from Nillerupt to
Markirch, and allowing for digressons is,
say. 10 miles l will regard ii as an excel
lent performance if the column energies at
St Marie aux Mines (Markirchl within
three days.
General vineneuve will provide horses,
stores and equipment, a highly important
item being abundance of good maps of
the frontier General Daubisson will su-
peryise the selection of officers and men.
General lie Breton will take command of
the column
Il leave to lie Breton complete discretion
as to the particular route TO be followed
whether in French or German territory.
The measure of his success will be the
loss and delay inflicted upon the enemy's
lines of communication.
divide his force into five small brigades
that at the first halt he should explain to
every officer and man the exact nature of
the enterprise and the conditions govern
ing it-that he should start on Wednesday,
and that the rapidity of his advance should
be governed only by the minimum of time
required to destroy permanent works. The
Resistance offered by the enemy. when IN
avOidable, should never check the forward
movement of the expedition
In conclusion, l wish General lie Breton
France commits her destinies to their
tands, and l am assured they will prove
worthy of the trust
My friends-to our next meetingr'
Such was the extraordinary order of
the day that lie Breton caused to be read
out to every company IN his little army,
when, on the evening of Wednesday. it
had halted for hour almost within sight
or the charming village of Longuyon, situ-
ated at the confluence of the Crusne and
the CHEERS. and noteworthy as the junction
OF two frontier lines of rail
The expedition had gained MOntmedy by
rail- from Sedan. thus saving horses and
men tiresOme and useless march of thirty
miles 1t Was risky, this railway trip.
LonguyOn. eleven miles further on was in
the hands OF the Germans, and a strong
column would assuredly be detached from
the northern army to attack Montmedy.
thus providing security on the right flank
OF the invaders. Vansittart had foreseen
such moTe-hence his order to mobilize
at Sedan
But lie Breton judged rightly that time
was more important than risk. and he was
above all things anxious to get 10 work be-
fore any inkling of his approach could be
obtained by the Germans
He instructed his brigadiers to give to
every man the opportunity of quitting the
expedition before it was too late and to
lay particular stress upon the sad necessity
there was To abandon all who were so Sc
yercly wounded TO be unable to ride
Out OF 500 troopers only one man, a
private of the 18th ChaSseurs In the Sd
Brigade, stood out from the ranks when
his brigadier invited those who had aught
TO say to declare themselves
He was native of Taraseon, a burly and
muscular man. who had hitherto been re-
carried by his comrades as somewhat of a
fire eater
HIS seeming detection was greeted with a
rear Of indignation by the 18th
Holo. Tartarin, yelled one Thou seest
lion. then
This is no picnic for a capshooterr'
cried another. and the laugh at these al
lusions to his immortal birthplace convert
ed the common wrath into scorn.
Pierre Laronde turned herceiy on the
scofrers.
Il fought with the emperor in the desert
and rode with him To meet the president"
he mently cried: Those who are bel
lowing did neither. I should think
The credentials were excellent; they pro-
cured silence.
well. what Is It?'' said the officer good
EufAoFeCly- lie saw tndt II was no recreant
who approached him
Il ask the honor of word with the gen.
eral''
Hum. it's contrary to discipline. but
this is no time for ceremony. Come with
me"
When the pair stood before LIE Breton,
LarOl.de was in no wise abashed.
General" he said, 81 see a way of doing
you some service
cont with IL. and quickly"
When ] listened TO the orders I said to
myself: Pierre. il is well thought of, but
perhaps the general, in attending to many
things. may have forgotten one. The Ger
mans are well served by field telegra ph
and they must be prevented at the outset
from making dispositions to stop our ad-
vance by too great force Such was my
reflection. general
Thy reflection is good. soldier. Hast
piany'
But yes. I and nine chosen comrades,
two OF whom can speak German and work
a telegraph instrument. will. II you ap-
prove, general, try to get through the en-
enly's pickets al dusk. ind the line to Dam
villers. the headquarters of Gen. Kreuz-
mach, cut it, connect IL up again and tell
him that a reconnaissance IN force Is in
progress along the right bank of the Meuse
from M0ntuedy."
'Ha. Kreuznach will think we travel