Bisbee daily review., 1915-09-05

every one, even those Of the invaders
and every one is marked with its
cross or its headboard
Not the French graves alone are
marked. The burial place Of every
German fallen in battle has its own
fence about it, is kept free Of con-
cealing verdure and is marked with
its cross. The only distinction is in
the color OF the crosses. The French
are white and the Germans are
black. And on each is printed a num-
ber the number OF the regiment to
which the dead belonged. There is
seldom ANYTHING else. Now and again
where the name Of the man was
known, where his being an officer
served to identify his body the name
is on the cross. and a wreat from his
comrades or his family who nave
made a pilgrimage TO the spot where
he lies. Otherwise, he is only a sol
der Of France, and all soldiers Of
France are equal in life as in death.
On the fourteenth Of July the coun-
tryside of this part of the Republic.
which, since the days Of the Capets
has been known as the isle Of
France" was scattered with living
people. soldiers on leave from the
front, young widows in heavy black
/ leading little children. older people
bowed with age and sorrow, came a
long way, stumbling along the sunny
roads. peering into the fields, all
searching for their own.
Most OF these searching groups car
ried new flags to replace the wind
washed and sun-bleached emblems
/ that had marked the graves since the
1 battle of the Marine. Some of the
comrades carried many, one for the
grave of each man of his regiment
who died on the hilltop, or who lies
buried in the valley. When he re-
turns to his regiment, down there"
in the trenches. after the leave of alb
! sence, the "poilu' tells those Of the
regiment who remain that each grave
he could find Of theirs has a brand
new flag on it and that it was thus
he spent the national holiday.
Next, before the entrance to the
/ Cemetery Of Acy-en-Multien, is a
tomb, not unlike many others in the
hills and valleys that lie between the
Marine and the Aisne It is perhaps
sixty or seventy feet long-so long
that there was not room for it within
! the cemetery walls. Like the smaller
/ graves, it, too, is surrounded by a
wire fence, and new flags and flowers,
constantly renewed, decorate It. At
/ one end is temporary cross of iron
upon which is the legend: Here re-
I pose Y soldiers of France, fallen on
the field of honor in September. 1914
/ They recaptured Acy from the Ger
mans; TREY contributed to the victory
| Of the Marine, which saved France"
Here almost every day there comes
to this peaceful village. and to many
like it throughout the isle of France"
slender figures muffled in heavy black.
They kneel beside such long, common
graves and pray while, The ap-
preaching visitor uncovers. The kneel-
ing figure at last looks up.
Your husband, Madame?"
Perhaps" she answers wistfuIy.
1T was his regiment and be was kill
ed here-somewhere hereabouts. at
least. Still kneeling, she runs her
hands lightly along the wire that sep
arates her from the mound, as if it
We're the body of her beloved, covered
perchance with the glorious tri-color.
Her eyes, as they look out over the
radiant hills and beyond, CLEAN un-
shed tears.
] For France" she says, very softly.