The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-09

0UlulSI u france OeSCIlDeS NOnOltlOnS al
Front. Sleep Proves Torture and Food
Unpalatable. Allies Rank and File as
Optimistic Of Success as Ever.
1.-THE following letter was written by Wis
comte Louis de Sibour, Count de Sihours oldest
son. His mother died two days before the
letter was received. He is only twenty years
old and in their last drive in the Champagne
was captured by the Germans. He is the
grandchild of the late Viscomtesse de Sibour.
daughter of the Rev. Alfred Johnson
Philadelphia Public Ledger, Nov. 9th
An interesting letter, written by a
young man, now an officer in the French
army and we'll known in Philadelphia,
has been given to the Public Ledger.
The letter, which wildly describes the
hardships and horrors of the fighting in
the trenches, was written by the young
man to his mother, who was Philadel-
phian.
The writer entered the service as a
private and was promoted, receiving the
Cross of War and the Medal Militaire for
gallantry in action. Since writing this
letter on September 18th he has been
taken prisoner by the Germans. The
letter follows:
dearest Mother-I am writing you
from the bottom of subterranean pas
sage, where we have found refuge from
the German bombardment. This IS the
end of our fourth day of fighting and the
commencement of the fifth night. You
cannot imagine what that means. Pic
ture repulsive being, unshaven, I'M
combed, whose face is black with pow
der and wearing haggard appearance,
the cheeks sunken by hunger, eyes wide
open and staring like those of a noctur.
nal animal suddenly thrust into the light,
clothes torn, dirty and filthy. That is
your son. And if you met me crawling
out of my black hole with my revolver ir
nv hand whenever the shells stop blow
ing up the earth above us, you woulc
take me for one of those fabulous be
ings.
"What life! We have not eaten
properly since the night of the oath.
mean by properly eating, we have half E
loaf of bread as old as Herod, and half q
litre of 'Gniole per day. We drink like
| banks of sand, but we do not eat. Dc
we sleep? Never! The so-called sleeI
that l get during the day is more of E
torture than a rest; bent up like a snai
in the bottom of well, without being
able to move; it Is worse than keeping
awake! My back is almost broken. This
morning, Oh! miracle! We had meat
and soup which had been at one time hot
and the taste once good, much altered by
having been deluged with sand and dirt.
We have no plates, so we use our stee
helmets as soup plates, as meat plates,
as candlestlcks, as bags and finally as a
bucket to catch water when it rains
| Well. all's well that ends well!
Nov about the attack!
cat the fixed hour on the fixed day or
vast front all our troops attacked! II
was magnificent, and the attack succeed
1 ed splendidly everywhere except in from
[ of our regiment. and it carried our troops
over the enemy's lines, but for US it " az
a disaster; more than 20 mitrailleuses re
ceiveG our rush, and in the wink of ar
eye that which had been splendid com
pany was reduced to few struggling
units-my captain killed and the two
other lieutenants wounded; 9 sergeant
and two adjutants killed. l found my
self alone with 16 men. We were 22(
when we started-what a killing! / i'm
mediately reassembled the scattered
men and rallied them and reorganiZet
the company. On our right, during Thu
time our troops advanced rapidly. They
were the Chasseurs and the Zouaves
The BOches counter attacked on our tlanl
and we were surrounded; had to fall bacl
little-we lost heavily, the Chasseur
remained 100 out of $50. We I'D Batal
lion, 210 out of 700) had on our left furi
Gus fighting. 1t was he who wins would
live. We are going to renew the attack
but not us-there are none of US left.
"Now there is little calm-a second
of peace. Oh, how many lives gone! Be
fore me on the plain there is a whole
line of dead, with their faces to thu
earth, gun in hand, literally cut down al
with a scythe; farther along grotesqu'
forms hanging on the.wire-one would sa.
they were suddenly frozen while buttine
against death. A captain is suspended
with his arms in the air-a green face
open eyes full of horror, he renamed
stuck IN the wire after being wounded
and could but look toward the white
trenches that belched forth death. A
shell finished him. Farther along another
without head at least that one did no
suffer. Then, on the parapet, squattins
like a mummy, young officer whom
had known, so gallant, so chic and so full
of life-a ball through his heart.
"When one has seen all this, when gu
of Is officers of our battalion only two ar
left, and when one is one of those two
we'll, it is only human to wish to liv,
and conquer. You see, dear mother,
have been protected once more by Divine
Providence.
"These circumstances have occasionet
my being named commander of our com
pany. My company consists now of q
fighting men, and it is one of tn
strongest of the battalion. For the mo
ment we are waiting. l am well in tn
sense that my nerves keep me going
The moral tension is terrible. How w
long for better days!
1--WE will do our duty to the end; ever
so few as we are now we will neverthe
less hold, cost what it may. If the
troops on our TANKS only hold we will
then be saved-what joy!
Zone feels alone, lost; SO small ii
these holes, like mice which are hidini
| from, noioao ond u,bat hurricane il