Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-12-04
STORIES Of WAR
ARE FILLED WITH
How an Unnamed Officer
Stiffened Courage Of His
Men-Mother's Letter
Breathes of HeroiSm.
@ORRESPONDENTS at the front
or marooned In obscure places
whila tho rroaA N,,.o-...> -

nct IaSeS tHdnaEe OalIy TO get
through the wary censOrs some little
grimIy humorous or tragic side tights Of
the war
How an unnamed lieutenant colonel
in the French army stiffened the cour.
age of his men and his own when they
were about to charge the enemy for
the first time is told in the Paris
Figaro. The colonel. wounded. but
convalescent. is described No relating
the anecdote on the train a. follows:
ut was In the course of one of tho
numerous battles on our right WING.
For the first time my regiment was
about to go under IRE. The moment
was decisive: the regiment had its bat
tie formation. and now 1t was neces-
sary. over open ground, to march
straight and resolutely ut the enemy
Their fire was hot and already had
produced ravages in our ranks. 1t was
scourging. l had taken my position
at the head Of the regiment and given
the order forward. but, separated from
their base. my men hesitated. In vain
turning toward them, said:
"'What! You finch? All you will
gain out Of this turnabout is death on
the spot without having been Of any
use Attention! Take my arm one Of
you. and all of you hold arms. and arm
III arm. gun in hand. we'll advance.
You'll find that's not so bad
MY word. the idea decided them,
and arm in arm we started forward
They soon got warmed up. and for a
time l was nearly forced to hold them
back. Oh. the brave fellows!"
A woman who was listening said:
ut was fortunate. colonel. that you
yourself We're not afraid"
mot afraid" exclaimed the colonel.
'Oh. madam. If you knew what shiv.
ers went through me! But when saw
them hesitate | had to set an example.
was bluffing."
Letter For Every Soldier.
A well known member of the acad
envy has written letter for the man
who never gets one" to be distributed
In the French trenches. In it he says:
apparently there are very few
among our soldiers who never receive
any letters. But II there Is such a
one it is to him that address this let
ter.
Il see you from here. my dear young
fellow. ! see your disappointment and
your sadness when the Quartermaster
appears in sight with number Of let
ters in his hand and calls out first this
name and that and deals out to eager
hands envelopes which contain the
good wishes of the family and moth
er's kisses. Every one ia grave. and ev
cry one listens for his name to be
called out. Nothing for you.
You fight. however. just as we'll as
your comrades. And while you only
do as well as they do you really do
something more The other soldiers
are fighting for the homes Of their an
cestors and for the defense Of their
property You have neither home nor
ancestors nor property. and you fight
with as much courage as those who are
getting letters by every post.
Don't be ashamed because no one
mas written t. you. BE proud. Others
have been born in n family whose pO
sition is made You will have the sat
isfactiOn and the pride Of making your
own. They have received; you will
give. and your part is by far The best.
"Once more. my son. courage and
good luck And let me- SEMI you kiss.
l, who have no son, and YOU. who have
no father RRlECX.
"French Acadelnician."
1.-THE Arm Decent Matter"
The Paris Matin gives details of the
death in the Hospital tie In Compass
sion at COmpegne of II son Of nr won
Puttkamer. former president of th'
reichstag. 4 short time before thu
German retreat from tOnl'ie"Er II
young noncOmmiSSionpd officer OF the
Eighteenth Dragons was brought t.
the hospital desperately wounded 10y a
IS millimeter shell
Both eyes had been destroyed. one
arm had been torn away. and he had
a terrible wound in the leg. From the
number and attentiveness of the high
officials at his bedside the French hos
pital attendants realized that he was a
person of importance.
The young man retained conscious
ness. murmurng family. 1.-The arm
doesn't matter. but it is dreadful never
to see again and not to be able to hunt
or ride
The Germans made preparations rOl
an elaborate funeral when they realized
that his death was imminent. but the
proximity Of the French compelled
they to abandon their design. VOn
Puttkamer expired us the French en-
tered COmpiegne.
A Modern Cornelia.
The Paris Temps reprints from LIN
formation letter from Nine. de s. Of
Paris. written on learning Of the deatf
Of her son. seventeen years old. who
volunteered despite III health. The let
ter. which the Temps calls worthy Of
the Roman matron COrnelia. runs:
II thank yon for the delicacy will
which the terrible news was broken tn
me- In my agony one cOnSolh non re
mains. For seventeen years sti,ig
gied for my sons life against many
Illnesses, only saving him from DEATH
oy constant care | am deeply proud
70 have succeeded in preserving him t.
Ole for his country"
Nearly Put One Over.
The Germans are full Of resources.
writes an English correspondents. "unt
II one OF their favOrlte plans I" 'ur'
tne allied troops ON tO attack them Is!