Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-24
PICTURESQUE FOREIGN LEGION

PICTURESQUE FOREIGN LEGION
Remarkable Collection of Men, Many
of Whom are Seeking Oblivion.
The French Foreign legion is the
most picturesque military organiza-
ton in the world. It is the refuge Of
men gone wrong through impulse or
misfortune who wish to bury them
selves in oblivion while fighting to re-
gain an honorable place in the world
Of life and activity.
mantle tales are told. In answer to
German critics General Bruneau, who
commanded the Second regiment Of
the organization, has recently related
some of his experiences and unveiled
certain of its mysteries. The rank and
file Of the corps. he says, Is composed
Of, princes. dukes. marquises, counts
and yiscounts, generals and officers Of
all grades, ali arms. of the armies Of
all countries, magistrates, priests, a.
nanciers, diplomats, lawyers and pro-
fessional functionaries of all sorts;
honest adventures who simply want
to see the world" the neurasthenic,
the disheartened, the unemployed;
those who. having lost everything but
honor, or having lost honor itself,
would make a new start.
All this diverse human metal
thrown into the melting pot together,
Is eventually nodded into that brave.
stole, loyal. devoted, patient and tena-
cious prototype Of the man Of arms,
the legionary.
The most remarkable story of al
connected with the legion Is that Of
soldier Of the second class-another
Muller--who died in the hospital at
Gerryvilla. Rumor has 1t that he was
bona flde Hohenzollern, cousin of
the kaiser himself. Efforts to trace
his career or to identify him definitely
have SO far failed. though the episode
is so fully authenticated as to leave
little doubt that a scape- grace men,
Der Of the imperial family of Germany
did take refuge under its mysterious
banners.
Only a few months ago France had
the laugh on her neighbor over the
case of one Tune No. 1857" re-
cruit of the Legion at Saida. whose
real name turned out to be Troemel,
the missing mayor Of Usedom, in Pom
erania. In the regiment at saida.
Troemel met Sergeant Won Solomon.
who was formerly in his regiment in
the German army. I'm those days."
says Troemel, 'he saluted me; now 1
salute him."
Some years ago General Bruneau
had occasion to visit the tent Of Cen
eral Detrie, then in chief command OF
the eelegion. 1t was during the grand
mareuvers Of the French army.
"As 1 approached his tent" writes
the general, II was struck with the
noble appearance Of the sentry on
guard and the superb manner In
which he rendered me his salute. At
the conclusion Of my visit, as was
about taking my departure, the gem
eral said to me, soto voice: You see
that sentry? He Is Mgr. X. bishop
Of Carinthia, the handsomest man and
the best soldier in the legion!'
II glanced the bishop over, in pass
ing, with an intense curiosity. He had
doubtless overheard the generals re-
mark, for he suddenly turned pale, and
his pallor was accentuated by the
contrast of beard as black as Jet.
though with few threads of silver in
It, that fell in silken waves down to
the Tonkin medal pinned on the breast
Of his capote, The splendid eyes look
ed straight ahead-toward the district
mountains, where the sun was sink
ing in sea of gold-but had the i'm
preston that their gaze rested upon
something far more distant, and that
the light which illumined his face was
not the reflected radiance Of the set
ting sun, but came from candles burn
ing before the imaged Christ and the
somber glories of church altar"
After the prelate, the millionaire.
One day General Bruneau received
registered letter, postmarked Vienna
and signed by the representative Of
well-known Austrian detective agen-
cy, to the following effect: ~
Monsieur lie General-Will you kind
ly inform me II young man Of Aus
tro- Hungarian nationality, supposed
to have enlisted in the Foreign legion
under the name of Justus Perth, Is
now at Saida? I have already inquir-
ed, in vain. OF the First regiment. You
will understand the interest we have
in finding him when inform you,
confidentially, that in consequence OF
unforeseen happenings he has be-
come, without his knowledge or ex-
pectation, sole heir to a fortune OF IL
600, 900 crowns. Inclosed Is a photo
graph, taken when he was student
at the University Of Prague.
The photograph showed stocky
youth Of perhaps 20 to % years OF
age, and whose somewhat beefy face
was fringed with precocious whiskers.
He wore eye glasses, which made 1t
difficult to judge Of the form and
shade Of his eyes.
General Bruneau's first step was to
have his secretary -adjutant search the
enlistment rolls for the name of Jus
tus Perth. No such name appeared.
Then he had all the Austrians of the
detachment line up and scanned their
faces in the hope Of identifying the
original Of the photograph. Only two,
both Of whom were recent arrivals,
showed possible traits Of resemblance,
and these in a very imperfect degree.
These two Austrians were closely
examined by Dihuermer, the secretary,
who smoke the German language flu