The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-27

 , very edge of the Grand Duchy of LuSemburg He was dressed in civil lan's clothes, as are a great many of the wounded after their arrival in Paris He was young fellow of about 70 aud was stiff-legged from wound in the calf of his leg. The bullet had passed through without breaking the bone. He was a nice-looking young man. and very well educated, indeed lie told me that the garrison at Longwy had been attacked by an overwhelming force of Germans. but that they had held the place until tho enemy had reduced the fort to a heap of ruins I had heard in Paris that Longwy had been very heroically defended and I had seen statement in the paper that the officer in charge had Teen decorated by the president of the republic with the cross of the I,e zion of Honor for his behavior under fire
 This young man told me that he had taken part in some fierce bayonet charges The French handle their bayonets very neatly. It is said that all the Latin races have a peculiar celerlty in the use of knives, of what ever kind. and certainly the French nave taken an unusual liking to this kin Of fighting at close quarters | There is no order on the field of bat tie so l am told. that the French obey with more enthusiasm than "a la baion- hette. They claim to have discovered an extreme dislike on the part of the Germans for the cold steel. and they say that even where the Germans will bfavely face the heaviest kind of rifle and artillery fire they will give way before bayonet charge.
 According to this wounded soldiers story, the plan of defense employed bv nPfan1nrG of TnV,. have been to use their artillery as long as the enemy kept at a distance but as soon as they got near to charge them 1 With the bayonet. He told me that among the German dead they found in the trenches were boys of 16.
 British Greatly Admired also talked with British soldier on me same day who told me that his command had been fighting almost ev- cry step from Iiege to Compiegne. He made no attempt to conceal the fact that hls countrymen had sustained very heavy losses. but he claimed that they had caused four fold losses among the Germans. The members of the British eXpeditionary forces that I have seen Impressed me as being about the Finest looking troops that l have yet observed on the continent They have practically all served fin colonial cam
 
 as having the true bearing of soldiers The moral effect among the French troops of being assisted by these calm lighters has certainly been great More oyer, the interest taken by the people on the Paris streets in them is i'm
 hehse' It IS no uncommon sight to see tall blonde Highlander wallSino, through the streets followed by an ad mlring crowd of 25 to 30 persons. and when hfgh-powered military automo- bile containing several dust covered khaki clad figures comes dashing into the city from the front everyone on the streets stops to look at the 'les braves Anglais."
 City Gets Little Real News
 No one outside of the military au- thorities knows much about the situa tion today. Several days ago a great many people thought that an assault on the city was imminent and the mili- tary governor of Paris announced that ne would defend the city ito the end'' preparations have been going on apace Tor this purpose, but such scant news as we have been able to get through the newspapers is to the effect that the Germans have withdrawn from the immediate vicinity of Paris. and the sound of distant artillery fire which was audible from time to time al Paris during space of several days has now ceased However, according to the nc wspapers, and to the rumor that one hears on the streets, a great battle all along the front has commenced.
 I am glad to say that the vast body or transient Americans which a week or so ago we're still remaining in Paris have now practically all left the city The ambassador of the United States and the committee of the American en- tassy have labored unceasingly to that end for some weeks. The French au- thorities, in spite of the fact that they were burdened with matters of much greater concern to themselves, have been untiring in lending their assist ancc in the matter of facilitating the transportation of Americans to the coast. Those of our countrymen who remain here at present are largely those who have resided in the city for sometime. know the language, and are |competent to look after themselves. THE MEMBERS OF BIRMINGHAM CHATTER, ROSE CROIx. ARE RE- !QUJlsTED TO MEET AT THE MAJ SONIC TEMPLE, CORNER 9TH AVE. AND 10TH ST., SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER y-. AT 2:3O P. M.. TO ATTEND THE l,tNERA AL OF BROTHER J. w. ALEX Rw A Ar WD A 6-