The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-11-13

| -eJ' Fe- Anere are Two prin
cipAi csterories Of forsign troops 6ghtin
aide by side with the French 70 defsn,
this lovely land-the British from scro.
the channel and the Aleerians. Moon
and senesalese from across the ksdiser
ranean IN Africa. Dossns of corruspou
dents have followed the British expedi
nonary force 20 chant the heroism O
Tommy Atkins. But though the exsc,
figures are not svailals, I believe IN.
French African troops now facing the
Germans are about - numerous a the
british namely. in the neishhorhood Of
1".Uo- Somebody ought 10 chronicle
their glories. too-some strollins poet Of
the Atlas, some black voodoo with an
-P'c 'urn of mind. In the meantime I
may he permitted 20 tell the little I have
learned about th-m, - have seen them
IN thess old French towns and marching
among the vineyards Of Champagne.
You may read in the Old Testament
how David, after stunning Goliath Of
Gath with . stone, cut OF the giant's .
head and carried it back 10 exhibit In
camp; or. how Joshua and his Isrselitss.
on taking Jerioo. utterly dsssrysi all
that wss In the city. both man and wo-
men, young and old. OF and sheep and
- with the edge OF the sword" This
was the ancient idea OF wsrfsre-not
merely 10 defeat the enemy. but 10 sx-
terminate him and carry OF the heals OF
his champions - trophies. Il h the idea
OF the Turcos and Senegales rfismen to
this day.
CAN'T CHANGE NATURE HABITS.
Thee Africans have by no means been
able 10 shuttle of their native hsbits lust
because they have Seen brought TO irht
In the white mans battles. All OF their
officers are French. One Of thass officer
conhded to me that he often had the
greatest difficulty" in persuading the
men 70 behave In . civilized manuer To-
ward prisoner and the easmy's wound
ed. Indeed. ! sbould say that the
greatest difficulty 10 suphemism.
symewhers up near the Belgian frons;sr
the advancing Germans found . barn
with s2 wounded Turcos In is. Thsy
burned and dynamissd the building juss
- it stood.
TWO KINDS OF AFRICAN TROOPS.
Roughly speaking. there are two sort,
OF French African troops---Turoos and
senegaless- Turco na esusrh name.
covering Moors. Berber cavalry and Al
eerians. but properly applying only ~
the last, 20 called In the Csimsan var by
the Russians, who miseook them for
Turks. The Turcos wsss white or light
blue baegy Trousers. light blns jacket.
and red hats. They are. rsssu6osd prom
iscuously among tina varicus people In
habitine the North African co1Ds, be. 80
are Mohammedans. and In MOI Of them
Arab blood predominatss. Thay ware
war vith the same fanatic fury which. In
their forefsthers, the sarscens, srous.d
the wonder Of the Crussdsu, and their
speciality 10 the bsyonet charge,
But the day Of cold stsel and the hand
70 hand fight, though By no means psSs,
70 gradually passing, - the Turcos have
found 10 their cost. A division OF them
was in the rear guard which covered the
French retreat from Belgium. AZ sieny-
PAbhsye they made . stand. The pur-
suing Germans halted In the fringe Of =
wood and presently the Turcos, whom
their officers were unable longer 10 rs-
strain, charged with the bayones. Over
the stubble fields where the wheat sill
stood in the shock swept the long, BRIGHT
~ colored line---blue. red, whiss. brown
and the silver OF sunlight on po.ishsd
metal. Az they drew nearer 10 the Zoe
they redoubled their shrill yslls and be-
gan dischsrging their runs. -Four hun
dred ysrds, 300 yards, 30 ysrds, Where
were the Germans7 He'd the visible fury
OF the onslsught already frozen their
besrts7 At 100 yards . terrific fusiIlsde
n rifles and quick6re- opened frosn the
woods. The painting Turcos, undaunssd,
increased their speed. sure nov OF victory.
when suddenly---bsrbed virei The Ger
mans had ms~hed The 6sld With bsrbsd
wire. The Turcos were csnsht like nis-
IN the cruel web. Half Of them returned.
That, - far ~ I know, vss the nrss and
tins far the only great bsyones charge Of
the pre-ent war.
"IT WAS WRITTEN HE SHOULD
DIE"
IL y curious ho~ De oriental fssslum
of tbe men soon spread 10 their occid~n-
al leaders. Lsss night In . quiet cafe Of
this town ! 80 con sersins -'sh q .r-
sesnt Of tho Moroccan fusiIs>-. us
~ss . Frenchmsn Of Lyons -ho had
-erved four ye~- In Algeria and s-o In
horooco---s hne. brovn-syed, hsndsome
fellow, in his bsexy. light bloc trou.>r.
biz jacket of ue sAms color dsoksi Vim
yellow braid. his bright red s.sh and NJ.
cap lire Zen without . tss.sl. Hs No
roccsn campaigns, he aid, vr. msr.
practical jokss 10 the prsssns busch>vv
and he told me thIs ssory Of the srrnchs.
IRON which he he'd iuss rs<urnsd:
I'VE have hard time mailing m.