East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-24
TROOPS IN DESPERATE
CLASHES FOR COLORS
FRENCH AND GERMAN RESI-
DENTS STILL CARRY PIC
TURESQUE STANDARDS.
CBy William Phillip slmms. United
Press staff Correspondent

'hy william Phillip Simms. Unite
Press staff Correspondent
PARIS, Nov. 10.-(By Mail To Ney
NorD.-Although regimentaI stand
ards are no longer carried in the fore
front OF the battle, modern method
OF warfare have not altogether elm
mated those picturesque fights 10
the Tag dear TO the heart OF tn,
novelist and painter. Most OF IN,
French and German regiments carr,
their colors with them and there hay,
been several desperate fights fol
these silked trophies, the fiercest re.
cord being that for the standard OF
the sixth Pomeranian Regiment
which now hangs In the Chapel of the
lnvalides for the inspection OF French
sightseers. The story OF its capture
Is told by a French Dragood. whose
regiment brought back the trophy.
Under a heavy shell fire" he
said. 'our guns supporting the ORA
soons had to move to another posi-
ton and the enemy thinking that we
were retreating hurried their advance
the Sixth Pomeranians coming up at
the double. Suddenly three large
shrapnel shells from their own guns
burst over the regiment, doing ter
rible execution and throwing the
whole column into confusion.
1T was the right moment for us,
snd the Dragons charged home with
lances The Germans rallied and
formed into a square. but the volleys
they fired were not sufficient to break
the charge and we rode over them
Trampled on by the horses, sabered
and transfixed by the lances, the Ger
mans fled in wild confusion.
"one little group, however. was
rallied by its officers near a small
oopse. We did not realize the motive
of their resistance until we caught
sight OF gold and purple flag flut-
tering in the breeze. They had rallied
10 save their flag. We rode up TO
them and shouted a demand for sur
render, but the only reply was a vol
ley which sent twenty horses canter-
ing riderless back TO our lines. Our
officers ordered a charge in scatter
ing formation and the gallant little
group was ridden down.
Tine flag fell from the hands Of
a German captain who had received
a terrible saber cash across the head.
II disappeared for a minute in a tur-
mol of horses and struggling men,
and then we saw It again waved def.
antly by German sergeant, who with
three other men fought themselves
free. They retreated shoulder to shoul-
der for a few yards and, then, with
his back to a tree. the old sergeant
was left alone with the flag. But he
sank to the ground a moment later
his chest transfixed by a lance. He
was a brave man.
When We brought the flag back we
saw in golden letters across its torn
and bloodstained folds the words
'champagny 1871. "
When the French retook one OF
the towns on the east of the allies
field Of operations. number of pris-
oners captured were seen to be wear
ing tricolor cockades in their he'll
NETS, although otherwise clad in Ger
man uniforms.
Why do you wear our colors?"
asked an officer.
I'VE come from Upper Alsace."
was the reply "and we don't want
to be Germans"
do you want to become French
again?' queried the officer.
NO" they said. I'VE are already
French" Then they threw aside their
helmets and tunics, shouting ''vive la
France, A bas la Prusse," much to /
the surprise Of the other German
prisoners.
The schools Of France have partial
ly resumed. after holidays which 1
started early in July. They are badly
however. both on ac-
count of the fact that fully $4,000
schoolmasters are serving with the
colors. and that many Of the older
boys are on the firing line. BY order
of the minister Of public instruction
The first lesson of the term took the