The Western outlook. [volume] (San Francisco, Cal.) 1894-1928, 1915-08-28
BAND WIPED OUT
LEADING CHARGE
French Composer Tells OF Musi-
clans Playing Till All But
One Fall.
WROTE MARCH IN TRENCHES
Camille Decreus, French Composer,
Describes Death Of coIiIgnon-
Tells of Life In Trenches
With French Soldiers.


With French Soldiers.
New York-Haying served as q
volunteer in the army until incapaci
tation through rheumatism brought
about his honorable discharge, Camille
Decreus, well-known French com
poser and pianist. who two years age
made a tour Of this country with
Ysaye, the violinist, has just arrived
here, and Is a guest Of ex-senator
William A. Clark at the latter's coun
try place near Greenwich, Conn.
M. Decreus was a member OF the
same regiment with Collignon, former
project, general secretary to the pres.
ident of the republic, and councillor
OF the state, who at the age of fifty
eight enlisted, insisted upon remain.
ing private, and whose memory is
now perpetuated at every roll call of
the gallant Forty-sixth Regiment of
infantry, as is that of La Tour d'Au-
vergne, first grenadier Of the repub-
lie.
M. Decreus knew Collignon, and
after the latter's death, In the inter
walls Of duty, he composed the funeral
march which was feature Of the me-
mortal service held at Fontainebleau
recently, and which M. Decreus had
arranged
Il was at Juvisy with my friend
Tourret when the war broke out, and
we had been guests of Senator Clark
at his chateau of Ivry, at Petitbourg,
near by" said NJ Decreus. Il had
never been In the army. When my
class was first called to the colors
the physical examination. But when
our country was threatened, my friend
Tourret and !, unlike many French
artists and musicians who flocked to
this country, and who hare, I fear,
created an impression in America that
Franchran following such profess
sion places 1t above patriotism and
military service, felt we owed some
thing to France, and volunteered.
They rejected Tourret, but they took
me-
Describes Life In Trenches.
I'm two days we were at Scissors,
and Immediately we were sent to the
trenches. That was in August Now
at that point must confess that life
In the trenches was not very exciting.
Since September both sides have held
about the same positions, with the ex-
aP No u,
when the river rose, carried off a
bridge and left part Of our force on
its farther side. The Germans imme-
diately attacked and forced the French
back over to the main body
1t should be explained that one
scissors was the fact that In their
march on Paris German engineers had
taken the precaution to prepare
trenches in the quarries, situated on
q high plateau. Granite trenches are
something whose taking would require
the sacrifice of a tremendous number
of men. The French generals, follow
ing Joffre's policy of saving his SOL
diers and wearing out the enemy by
nibbling, think that in time they will
be able to surround the plateau.
Most Of the while in the trenches
in those days 1t was a case Of making
the time pass. We played cards to
the accompaniment Of shells scream
ing overhead or tearing up the earth
in the trench. Whenever the explo-
sion would bury some Of our soldiers
we would dig them out again and re-
sumo our occupations, the effort being
always TO keep in good humor We
became hardened to the visits of the
shells and used to crack jokes and
make wagers about where they would
land. In fact, at one point we were
so near the German trenches that we
used to crack jokes with the Germans
A feeling Of human solidarity grew up
zone day | got lost In 'boyau,' or
communicating trench, and came
near not being here. | had been sent
back TO the third line to bring food,
and the first thing knew | found my
self In the open country. Immediate
" shells began to burst about me.
Now, when | was first drilled, | was
instructed that the important thing
about screening oneself was to be
able TO take advantage Of any acct
dental shelter afforded by a rock. II
seems incredible, but stone six times
as big as ones fist will absolutely hide
your body If you lie behind It, and at
300 meters an observer cannot detect
you. | threw myself fiat and began to
cast about for a stone that large. II
was remarkable how few rocks were
on the surface at that point Finally
| discovered one and dragged myself
behind it,
Safe Behind a Stone.
i cannot tell you how long I lay
there, but when / discovered | was
still alive began to drag myself away
by the elbows, and finally found my
self In a trench again. My comrades
did not recognize me. Exhaustion and
rheumatism, the latter acquired
through lying there wallowing my way
back In the mud, invalided me back to
the depot for fortnight's rest
Then they gave me Job as dis
Fibutor of munitions, food. clothing