Evening star., 1898-09-10
CHAPTER XVII.
With the Foreign Legion.

The kaiser awaited the French attack al
Graveotte. The center of his great army
lay across the main road to Metz Its
southern wing filled the defes that de-
bouch en- the village of Mars la Tour, end
Kreuznach's force was strongly posted on
the famous ridge between Grave!otte and
CCnfans
Each hour of delay on the part of the
French meant a vastly increased degree of
| efficiency for the Germans. The splendid
| organization of the invaders was most val
| liable in precisely such situation as that
which now presented itself. With no fear
of unexpected attack on the lines Of COM
mUnication, the magnificent German or
ganza ton progressed ea2n moment with
the accuracy of i well-reGulaUed clock Re
serve troops and supplies constantly reach
ed the localities where they were most
needed: there was neither hesitancy nor
doubt naught but decision and certainty.
The contrast between the two armies was
never marked as at this moment When
they were inactive IN the 4lei1-
True, Vansittarts reforming hand had
achieved much already. 1t was a bold thing
to Suddenly remodel the whole system OF
commissariat and ammunition transport al
most under the eyes of The enemy Few
men would dare to undertake such a re-
sponsibility. But Jerome darel do anything
and in the result he was justified. com
pl!cated and utterly Inefficient method was
replaced by one that already gave sat1s-
faction and would surely work with re-
markab!e ease when officers and men were
thoroughly acc lStOmed to it.
The commanding officer of each regiment
was made responsible for his own commits
sarat and transport: the general OF each
brigade was responsible for the feeding of
the regiments: officers of divisional rank
were responsible for the procuring of stores
in bulk and their proper distribution.
Yet the advantage in time lay with the
Germans, and the dominant intelects Of the
two armies well knew it.
The millionaire did not Shirk the issue.
William the Second must be attacked again
and soundly beaten. His strong POSITION
must be forced his north and south army
corps driven off into ;lle interior. and his
main body compelled to fall back upon the
protection of Metz.
This was the problem set before the coun-
Gil of war that met IN The cha1eaI at Troy
on on the second evening after the fierce
combat that lodged the F'rancn on the right
bank of the Meuse.
The American proceeded to explain his
theory in detail. There would be no hurry
and no confusion. The battle would not
commence until after breakfast, and II
things eventuated as he desired 1t wouid
not assume serious proportions until noon.
At first, barely a tenth of The French
forces woald be engaged, and the whole
plan of attack depended upon the weather
1t was their first duty to see that each SOL
dier under their control was made fully
cognizant of the nature and method of the
work intruSted to him.
But the millionaire, with his acute knowl-
edge of men and their controlling impulses.
was convinced that the Emeperor William
would insensibly follow the tactics which
brought such conspicuous success to his
grandfat ather and Won Moltkc.
In other words, if tempted sufficiently, he
would throw forward his troops to attack
the French, instead of holding the impres-
nable position he now occupied.
This shrewd empire builder believed more
| in, h1Iro than in tactics. How far
he was justified in his confidence the i'm
pending battle would reveal.
At s o'clock on the morning of June is
the foreign legion of the French army quit
ted the village of Fresnes to lively
compartment of bugles and drums.
This crack brigade 5000 strong, is the
last representative In European armies Of
the mercenares of the 18th and 18th CEN
turies. Hope and fear have long deserted
each man in that contingent. To forget the
past and to die lighting is his creed. He is
an outcast of society. In the ranks of the
foreign legion are to be found Englishmen,
Americans, Italians, Spaniards. Danes, Rus
sans men from nearly every civilized
ton, and in the majority of cases men who
have fallen from the upper walks Of life
by reason Of folly or misfortune.
But they can fight.
1t was no faint-hearted mob of criminals
that Gen. Beaumarchais led confidently
along the high road to Mars la Tour by
way of Horville. but eight regiments of
stern soldiers bound by an iron discipline
and more joyous in the forgetfuiuess of bat
tie than in the thought-laden hours of bar
rack room existence.
They were followed in quick succession by
three brigades of infantry. Once clear of
Fresnes the music stopped and the leading
regiment advanced in extended order, COW
ering the fields on both sides of the road
for a considerable distance.
The small hamlet of Horviile was held
by q strong German picket which the
French drove OFF with small loss.
BY o'clock. however, the growing dens-