The Washington times., 1915-01-14
ONLY TWO ESCAPE
OF COMMANDER $40
Lieutenant and Private Of
French Infantry Undergo
Privations for SO Days.

PARIS. Jan. 1 (by mail to New York;.
AFTER fifty-eight days OF adventure
and suffering within the German lines
4 lieutenant and a private of the 140th
Infantry have managed to rejoin their
regiment. They are all that succeeded
in escaping out Of total Of forty ofri-
GERS and 800 men of a detachment cut
OF their regiment.
Although surrounded by overwhelm-
ing hostile troops, the detachment re-
solved to fight their way out, II pos
sible. ana they set to work the same
night. The Germans were on the watch
for them. and although they charged
again and again the little band was
borne back by sheer weight OF num-
bers, 10 that when the roll-call was
gone over on1y eighty men were left to
answer to their names.
They kept UP a running fight the next
day. and into the night as well, py
which time they had been reduced 70
tor dhtS They took TO the to Ssst
on roots and fruit. Now ana again
some Of them would venture out 70
forage, usually with disastrous results
for the whole countryside was N swarm, IN.
died OF starvation had they not provi-
IDENTIFY happened upon some woodcut,
ters, who henceforth kept them supphed
with food OF sort: ., .,v
change of clothes, and were reduced to
rags owing to their constant exposure.
The increasing cold began 10 teil on
them, and halfway through Octoper
verge Of collapse. Lieutenant Bernard
and Private Morand de Jouffrey decided
to make one last dash for ireeuonl'
and the others to give thenseive%s SUI up,
which they did the next day after oury, s
ing what was left Of their arms and
ammunition. The two made across
country and after three days continu-
ous walking stumbled into the frencn
lines almost without clothing, no poots'
and after eating nothing for FORTY
eight hours.
It took them barely a fortnight to
pick up their strength once more. ana
they are now back at the front. me
lieutenant With the Cross Of the Legion
Of Honor on his breast. and the pr1Vate
with the military medal and suo-heu-
tenants stripe.
A comic picture Of Prince August
Wilhelm, the Kaisers fourth son, mar
ketine at Rheims, Is drawn by Reo
Cross nurse who was in the town wheh
it was occupied by the Germans. one
day a young officer. whose UNIFORM
was hanging in tatters and who was
indesoribably dirty" she says, stopped
me in the street and asked II we could
receive in our hospital some wounded
in whom he took an especial interes..
thority there, and that as 1t was !
was hardly able to find enough food
for those I was taking care, OF al
ready. He thanked me and went on.
shop. and a few minutes later ne came
out carrying a great quantity or sau-
sages in his arms. 1t was only later
that learned that this ragged onicer
was the Kaser's son."
Going to an abandoned hut In the
middle of his field. a wine grower OF
Ninay heard a noise, and, kicking open
the door, found two emaciated figures.
bearded and dirty, in war-worn gray
= uniforms. They Immediately threw up
their hands in token Of surrender. then
told their story. Soldiers of Han
overian regiment. after the battle OF
the Marne. they became separated from
their comrades, and for seven weeks
had hidden in the neighboring woods,
subsisting upon roots and berries. They
were stupefed to learn that the Ger
mans had not yet captured Paris. and
were equally amazed to find that they
were not to be shot.
wounded. died at the camp Of his faith
er, General de Castlenau. Leaning over
the body in the presence Of his staff.
the old general embraced it. and said:
My son. you have the finest death a
man could wish: but I swear that our
armies shall avenge you by avenging
all the families Of France" Then,
placing a handkerchief over his boys
face. the general walked away with
jaws set but eyes undimmed.
In times Of peace General JofYre lives
in a little house at Auteuil. The blinds
have been drawn for some weeks now,
but passers-by always notice a bunch
Of fresh flowers on the doorstep. For
some time it remained mystery
whence these flowers came. but 1t was
eventually discovered that the donor
was "Pere" Jean Gaylard veteran
Of 20. who is employed at the Auteuil
railway station.