The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-11-06


TO defend this lovely land-the Brit
ish from across the channel and the
Algerians, Moore and Senegalese
from across the Mediterranean In
Africa. Dozens OF correspondents
have followed the British expedition
airy force to chant the herolsm OF
Tommy Atkins. But though the exact
figures are not available. believe the
French African troops now IN ing the
Germans are about as numerous as
the British--namely, in the neighbor-
hood OF 100000. Somebody ought TO |
chronicle their glories. too-some |
strolling poet OF the Atlas. some black
yoodoo with an epic turn OF MIND.
In the meantime ! may be permitted
TO tell the little have learned about
them. as I have seen them in these ,
old French towns and marching
among the vineyards OF Champagne
You may read In the Old Testament
how David. after stunning Goliath OF
Cath with stone, cut of the giants
head and carried II back 10 exhibit In
camp. or. how Joshua and his Israel
stroyed all that was in the city. both
man and women. young and old, OK
and sheep and ass With the edge OF
the sword" This was the ancient
idea OF warfare-not merely TO defeat
the enemy. but 10 exterminate him
and carry of the heads OF his cham
pions IA trophies. II is the idea OF
no. nd rifinm0n
TO this day.
Can't Change Nature Habits.
These Africans have by no means
been able Co shuttle OFF their native
hsblts just because they have been
bought TO fight I'm the white mans
battles. All OF their officers are
French One of these officers con
ilded 20 me that he often had the
greatest difficulty In persuading the
men 20 behave I'm civilized manner
toward prisoners and the enemy's
wounded. indeed. | should say that
the greatest difficulty" IL n ouphe-
mism. Somewhere up near the Belgian
frontier the advancing Germans found
barn with 81 wounded Turcos In
H. They burned aud dynamitcd the
building just rs IL stood.
Two Kinds of African Troops.
Roughly speaking. there are two
sorts OF French African troops-Tur-
COS and Senegalese. Turco Is a gen
eral name. covering Moors, Gerber
cavalry and Algerians. but properly
applying only TO the last, SO called
In the Crimean war by the Russians.
who mstook them for Turks. The
Turcos wear white or light blue bag
Ky trousers. light blue Jackets and red
hats. They are recruited promiscu-
ously among the various peoples In
habiting the North African coast. but
all are Mohammedans, and in most
OF them Arab blood predominates,
They wage war with the same fanatic
fury which, in their forefathers, the
Saracens, aroused the wonder of the
Crusaders, and their speciality is the
5ayonet charge.
But the day OF cold steel and the
hand TO hand fight, though by no
means past. is gradually passing, as
the Turcos have found to their cost
A division of them was in the real
guard which covered the French re
treat from Belgium. At Signy-rAb
baye they made stand The pursu
ing Germans halted in the fringe of &
wood and presently the Turcos, whom
their officers were unable longer t1
restrain. charged with the bayonet
Over the stubble fields where th'
xttho cit CT IN
the long. brightly colored line-blue
red, white. bPOwn-and the silver o
sunlight on polished metal AS the.
drew nearer to the foe they redoublet
their shrill yells and began dischars
ing their guns Four hundred yards
SEQ yards, eco yards, Where wer
the Germans? Had the visible fur
of the onslaught already frozen thei
hearts, At 100 yards terrific fusi
lade of rifles and Quickfirers opene
from the woods The painting Tul
cos, undaunted increased their speed
sure now of victory. when suddenly
barbed wire, The German ha
meshed the field with barbed wire
The Turcos were caught like flies i
the cruel web. Half of them T,
turned That. as far rs know. wa
the first and thus far the only gres
bayonet charge of the present wa
though minor engagements of tn
nature have been frequent and effec
I've.
at Was Written He SrouId Die"
Ii is curious how the oriental fata
ism OF the men soon spr lads TO he
occidental leaders. Last night in
quiet cafe of this town / was CO
versing with a sergeant of the NJ
roccan fusileers. He was a Frenc
man OF Lyons who had served fol
years in Algeria and two in MorocC
"a fine. brown-eyed. handsome fl
low, in his baggy. light blue trouser
his jacket OF the same color deck'