The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
FOREIGN LEGION HAS
ITS DAYS OF ACTION
Belongs Now 10 "F1ying Divf-
sionr Of Chosen Troops
Of Franco.
INCIDENTS OF BATTLE
spsrsos op,vrspos6escs 70 rrs SCI.

PARIS. Apf1l 1O,-The WilNNWfn& lettor
vas written by q Rumaniar who re-
signed his place in tho Paris Office Of
q London daily paper TO enlist in the
Foreign Legion, whore ne was promoted
sergeant IN a few weeks. II was not
written for publication. II follows:
We have again been shifted and BE-
long now TO flying division Of
chosen troops. This 10 a great comph-
ment ana we are ali very proud of the
distinction. We are rushed about In
motor buses to points where assist
ance IL needed or support ana for ne
time being we are luckily out OF the
trenches 30 we live In tho hope that
Il will last and that henceforth for ~
fighting will be In the open.
Having seen about ninety miles OF
the long limo OF front I oan bear out ths |
IN vorable reports OF conditions g1ven BY I
the press. Tho opinion among well IN
formed officers Ia that however uoofuI
tho fact may be that the Germans 90
cupy Belgium and part OF northeast
France for diplomatic pressure ana
boosting at homo II is from miitasy
standpoint exceedingly dangerous. Ad-
vance is not only too costly but aceu-
ally impossible. There are everywhsfe
four and IN some parts, like Soissone
and Rheims up TO eight linso or
trenches behind the first line. A oalou-
lation made IN December gave the cost
Of one yard advance on 100 yards 'front.'
at one man Gas calculated from known
losses). IA the lines are now IN
| hn.tely stronger in intrenchment and
harbed wire ana much better protested
by moro artillery and machine guns than
three months ago the cost OF advance
Is proportionately greater.
| Ch~~k German Attacaro.
Three weeks ago We wore relieved IN
trenches eighty yards from tho enemy
| by infantry OF tho line. We left at
about p. NJ, and about 8 40 AZ We
were nearing the environments We
/ passed close 20 two rs" batteries firing
with all their might N ctr fauchant"
| knowing nre). II appears that the Ger
mans learned or guessed the day and
| approximate hour OF the change Of men
in the trenches and attacked in fours
abreast. column deep. The Lieutenant
Colonel OF the infantry which relieved
us Just took up tho telephone receiver.
telerhored n few instructions to the
art.l'cry. and next days communicate
| mentioned that German attack had
been stopped by our fire. They left
about ESQ on the ground and not one
o, them even touched our wire net
ting
Any serious German advance IN ut
ferly impossible and the same thing Is
true for us. What, however. is serious
| for the Teutons Ia that they cannot
retreat either and are much worse Off
than II they were on the Rhine. When
they move back their retreat will be
as disastrous as their advance was sue
cessfui
II is no secret that the Allies have
now superior numbers on ire west front
and that II no general offensive - taken
! ttaA "a ~ nd ma ~
costly, ard that as time and money are
on our side and n German retreat i'm
possible without serious disaster all We
have to do is to keep contact actively
everywhere and advance prudently al
.he buckles Of tho belt, Arras-Lille In
Inc with Namur from west TO east and
Argonne-Cha mpagne going northward
along tho Meuse Leaving out othe
questions. The probable fall of Con
ttart'rorle ana the joining in Of neu-
trails, tho Frauco-Brltish foroes (oount-
Ing on Russia only 70 occupy n proper ,
ton Of German troops) have tho sttua
tion in hand. We are In period when
/ unwilling 70 RaCrifice life, tho higher
command is making assurance doubly
euro by p"rfnct!ug an already remark
able organization and adding daily to
tho resources IN materials, guns
shells, sc.
| STORY or INC MarnO.
Tho greatest battle and the creates,
victory OF the war Ia unquestionably thu
MRrne II was miracle, one of III.
greatest OF those marvels of which the
history of Franco IL full The Marnr
VAS an orgy with the bayonct a ecyeu
days mad, furious. desperate oharge
| CnloNels and Genera y leading, which
only one army IN the world. tho French
could have accomplished. Tho "75" did
sp,"ndld work, but the hayonet did most
German officers and non-o,ms, prts
oners. who wont through Il arc STU
: under the spell Of their admiration ana
always speak about this battla
Foch's reputation Is as great an any
Ills west 70 cast movement AT V!try In
tho gap between the SRxuns and the
Pruss'an Guard decided the victory He
now commands Il group OF armies Ear
rails defence of Nerdun IL spoken Of A =
above all praise, Verdun was tho risht
. pivot Of tNe Nn~re, Tho Freatest repu
'0ti0n made, however, Is Do Nfaud'huy's
colonel when the war broke out author
OF tho frNst hook on infantry eve r
, written. since August 10 has r,valled
RonapRrto IN tho sw!f'r.Ss OF HIS pro-
motion. Rr'Fai!"r and Division Genera
thie regiment, brigade and division aacf
in turn being mentioned N despa tohes)
Ne row ConmaN1s an army. lie Ia the
arry's great IDOL
our last experiences IN tho trenches
wer" very severe, not 40 much ow,nr
. 20 the German us, which are quickly
brought ~ order ny our 75r but through
p formidable bombs, loaded with $50
pounds OF explosives thrown from
. trench 20 trc-cb ~ their "lu'rcn wcrfer -
Tho noise au6 rrt were terrific. A
trench six fNt ,->"p was NJ ed IN and
leve'led The Snu behaved admirably
Az scn'ries were killed or wounded we