The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-11-20
A HEROIC DEFENSE
Story of "The Last Cartridges"
and the French Marines.
THE BATTLE AT BAZEILLES.

u
of the Desperate Conflict With the
Bavarians That Was immortaIized In
De Neuvilles Famous Painting.
A famous French battle painting
called The Last Cartridges" the work
of Alphonse de Neuyille, represents the
| desperate defense Of an old house at
Bazeilles by handful OF French ma
rincS against great odds. Doubt hav-
ing been cast upon the authenticity of
this episode. the French government
has published the official report made
by Commandment Lambert, who com
manded the detachment at BazeilleS.
The report is simply n plain, unvar
nished recital of the events OF a thrill
ing and heroic series of engagements
in which undaunted bravery and reck-
less courage were truly displayed and
which would furnish abundant mate
rial for a dramatiSt in need Of text
for a stirring play. This is the brief
story as it was recOunted by the brave
commandment:
Lambert had been wounded by a ball
in the leg and was unable to walk more
than a few steps. With u few officers
and detachment Of his soldiers, cut
OFF from the main body of the French
army, he took refuge in an isolated
house at the highest point in Bazeilles
and defended it against the Germans.
Firing from the windows and any
the soldiers inflicted heavy loss upon
the enemy, who swarmed through the
streets Of the town. They believed
that they would soon be rescued by
their own troops.
They still heard the sound Of their
mitrailleuses and the detonatiOns Of
the French ChassepOtS, which they
could distinguish perfectly well from
the sounds Of the guns of the Bava-
rians about them.
They did not know that these sounds
came from a French force as hopeless
ly walled in as they themselves We're
and that the main body Of their coun-
trymen had deserted them.
At one time. seeing a chance for
their escape. Lambert tried TO send his
comrades away while he and a few
soldiers were TO remain and fall into
the hands Of the enemy, but they re-
fused to go. Meantime projectileS OF
all sorts were raining into the old
house. Bullets perforated the doors
and windows until but little remained
OF them. The building was entirely
surrounded by the Fifteenth Bavarian
regiment
A bombshell crashed through the
roof, bearing down with it several
men. Others were cut down by Vava-
rian bullets. But the fight went on for
a long time, and the Frenchmen were
able to keep their assailants at bay.
At last. however. the ammunition
gave out. As the last cartridges were
fired the men, having heard the Bava-
rians' demand that no quarter be given
those Frenchmen because Of the heavy
losses they had inflicted, proposed to
issue from the building with charged
bayonets and sell their lives dearly in
hand to hand conflict.
But their commander. the wounded
Lambert, waited until the last car
fridge was fired; then he limped
through the door and confronted the
swarming Bavarians alone He de
clared that If they killed him it would
be time for his soldiers to die, and it
was possible that he, their commander,
could make some terms for them.
As soon as he limped out and stood
with folded arms a dozen bayonets
were at his breast. He would have
been killed in another instant IL the
Bavarian captain had not, at the risk
OF hts own life. precipitated himself |
upon the French officer and beaten |
back his own men. Infatuated by the |
fr1ghtful loss which the defenders had |
inflicted upon their own regiment, they |
would have put the whole detachment ,
to death.
The Bavarian captain prevailed, and |
the Frenchmen were made prisoners |
Of war. The Bavarian officer congrat. |
ulated the French commander warmly |
upon the desperate and heroic stand |
they had made.