Evening star., 1914-11-21
WAR AUTO CHAUFFEURS
DARING AS AVAT0RS
Take Their Cars Into Firing Zone
Without Question-Resent Being
Called "Obscured."

Core spondence OF the Associated Pre0.
PARIS. November 6.-Ths exploit. OF
the daring automobile drivers who
whiz along the fringe of tho shell-torn
battle front, and sometimes into II, OF
missions Of military duty that have
cost many a life, are as remarkable as
the aerial dashes in this war.
Thousands OF luxurious touring cars
and limousines that once graced the
boulevards of Paris are now employed
in this service, and many Of them are
driven by their wealthy owners. who
rank as privates. and arc comrndes
with professional chauffeure. They
wear uniforms marked with An IA
on the arm.
Little is heard of their individual
deeds. which led the Figaro to say
their service was "obscureu." In repi!
the Figaro printed on its first page
letter from one of these daring drivers.
a Paris lawyer, that speaks for itself.
1t follows:
"'Obscured. The word is quickly
said. There is 200 much 'obscured
And one has reason for being SO who is
forced to remain far from the front
Thus the automobile service is oh
scured. But the Figaro ought to say
that in their obscurity the automobil-
lists know how to die and that nuEler-
Gus indeed have been those VINO al
ready have fallen.
Rigid Military Discipline.
''If. at the beginning of the war. one
saw automobilists enjoying ride in
the woods or with their cars stationed
before fashionable restaurants. tnat
time has passed. That snould be
known.
The automobile squad to which I be-
10 fad m
military discipline. We have three roll
calls day. We 10 not sIeep at nome.
No one quits the garage during hours
or service.
''The other day, about 9 IN the morn
ing, the quartermaster entered the ga
rage. Every one was at his port. The
machines were all equipped. tanks
ilIed, provisions in the hampers. car
that We don't just merely make run
around the lake
They want carr cried the quar-
termaster. Who can goy
Every man answered T.
'One OF our comrades, Jean b.
was chosen. turn of the crank and
the car was gone. Where? No one
asked. One is too much accustomed
to seeing these machines depart to put
the question. They go, remain ansent
many days. sometimes.
And R went this time. IKE
others before him, and still other.
will follow him. each day
Chauffeur Is Killed. B..
"In the evening the machine returned
to the garage. All it's windows we're
broken. Bullets had riddled its panels.
Jean RI was not with it. His conf
rade, tears In his eyes. had brought
the car back alone. Jean R had
been killed during the trip. His body
was on the ground back there, son,e-
where in the north. They had not been
able to bring it back. Some Engiisii
soldiers had arrived in time to save
the survivors of this mission on which
the poor chauffeur had left so joyously
In the morning.
Some hours later. in the garage
where each evening they call the roll.
to the name of Jean R, the quar-
termaster answered:
Dead on the field of honor
The men, in two ranks, raised the
hand to their caps.
"A day two later. one could sec.
one morning. some soldiers marchn.
with measured tread toward a church.
All wore on the left arm that lett,
"A that is jeered at. They We're th.
comrades OF the 'obscured one They
were going to have mass ceiebi ateu
for him who had been killed by Cor
man bullets"