The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-22
Boom of Cannon Puts End
To SolAer-Priest's Talk
French Stretcher Bearer Who Got Leave to Hold Mass on
Sunday. breaches in Uniform to Be Ready for
Instant Service.
HARDEN ED VETERANS WEPT AT HIS SIMPLE WORDS

A Frerehndn. reterur Of 1870. cho
has been greatly dtsuppo,-ted thts vedr
because the war office corld not md him
something 10 do on ccftvs ser-rtoe. said
rho other day TO THE SUMS Ports ooyTe-
spordept, "Transiotc tho first column Of
to-do./s 'NoNr' ard send " TO THE SrN
" ypu ,pnnt 20 give them a true picture
81 hoD French officers fhtrk ard ocf 70
day"
As me speaker hos spent navy yeqr.
W Amertoa ara u, trfeed, noturoIhsd
Am~rtcu~, Ms suggestion Mas been fol.
io,bed.
Special correspondssoe 10 TIRE suS.
PARIS, Dot. 21.--This story was told me
by military doctor at Barbecue this
month OF October 1914.
We had arrived b. night at tho little
village OF Vassinoourt. An soon az the
wagons had been placed In position and
the usual measures taken, we rushed upon
our grub, all being dead with hunger.
The cook hadn't time 70 draw any fresh
meat 40 he fixed us up with a ''snGe la
sauce tomato" tliteraliv monkey" a.
canned meat IL called in the army and
tomato sauce). fne enough 20 make us
lick our fingers. Tho appetite appeesed,
in comes the orderly
Mon Capittaine." the brave army ser
Wee corps always call me Captain because
4
who wants to speak 10 you"
Let him come In"
In came one Of my stre.cher bearers q
fine fellow. quiet and calm. who. believe,
had never addressed a word 20 mo,
Monsieur head doctor" he said TO
morrow 's Sunday. want YOU 20 give
me leave for mass at tho church here
What You are"
Yes. am curste in my little country
parish"
Granted"
Thank you. Monsieur IL rredicfn chef"
He had hardly left when somebody SAID.
Suppose We all go 20 his mass" with
one accord our mess decided 20 Ia present
IN a body at the stretcher bearers mass
Frsternally the two other embulances OF
the group were notified. and they Jumped
at the idea with enthusiasm.
Sunday morning came Az ! am the
senior officer present | was allotted .he
place OF honor IN front OF :he choir and
my confreres. tho officers o: the service,
took their places. behind us the nurses
ard bearers who had come because
had come. and the service men who came
% see what the nurses and bearers mad
'Ome for.
The officiating stretcher bearer entered
and the frst thing thai struck No was ne
s!rht OF his rcd trousers below RS alb
aud chasubie. But bless nay sou, We
Were N front of the cr"rv ana .ollior
priests had no time 70 take 'he,r uniforms
or ard sryway what would '.ov pa. or
instead
You know what p mass IT, 50 need
/ not describe e. l. the iirst pace could
not. not having attended ore Rs fa~ A.
, can remember since my first communion.
eNcep; for an occasional wedding or
funeral, and that hardly counts.
All ! remember il that a. arst was
VERY uneasy. As didn't know when 70 SIT
down. rise, or bend my mead 50 ! de
rlded 10 remain standing an, hut saw the
nurse who was assisting the priest make
NE sign with his hand. SIT down" ana
then a m'ru'e later his hand signalied.
stand mp" FFe 10 doubt Was a semi
nary pupil and knew these things. Sc,
the example 80 my seniority required and
the three amhulances followed me Ike
one man.
Bat volta All o. a sudden or -tretcher
bearer priest turned round and started IN
30 gH..4 u -