Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-07-17
BAND WIPED OUT
LEADING CHARGE
French Composer Tells of Musi-
clans Playing Till All But
One Fall.
WROTE MARCH IN TRENCHES
Camille Deereuo, French Composer,
Describes Death OF ColIlanon--
Tells Of Life In Trenches
With French Soldiers.

New York.-Havlng served as a
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 ago
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.
NJ. 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 a 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.
NJ. Decreus knew ColHgnon, and
after the latter's death. in the inter-
walls Of duty he composed the funeral
march which was a feature of the me-
mortal service held at Fontainebleau
recently and which NJ. 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. az Petltbourg.
near by" said NJ Decreus Il had
never been In the army. When my
class was first called to the colors |
was rejected because of failure to pass
the physical examination. But when
our country was threatened. my friend
Tourret and |. unlike many French
artists and musicians who fiocked to
this country. and who have. fear.
created an impression in America that
n Frenchman following such profess
sion places It above patriotism and
military service, felt we owed some
thing to France. and volunteered.
They rejected Tourret. but they took
me
DcHCFlpch Etlc IN ifeuCncS.
In two days We were at scissors,
and Immediately we were sent to the
trenches That was in August. Now
at that point I must confess that life
In the trenches was not very exciting
Since September both sides have held
about the same positions. with the ex-
Ception Of the incident In January.
when the river rose. carried off a
bridge and left part OF cur force on
its farther side The Germans imme.
dately attacked and forced the French
back over 10 the main body
1t should be explained that one
reason for the apparent inactivity al
Scissors was the fact that in their
march on Paris German engineers had
taken the precautiou to prepare
trenches in the quarries. situated or
u high plateau. Granite trenches are
something whose taking would reQulr,
the sacrifice Of a tremendous number
OF men The French generals. follow
ing Joffre's policy OF saw his sol
diers and wearing out tbs ,nemy BY
nibbliug. think that IN time they vii
be able to surround the plateau.
Most OF the while In the trenche,
in those days il was a case of makins
the time pass. We played cards tC
the accompaniment Of shells scream
ing overhead or tearing up the eartf
in the trench Whenever the explo
sion would hurry sOr,a of t,ur sclatnr,
We would dig them out again and re
sumo orr occupations. the effort beinl
always 20 keep in good humor w,
became hardened 10 the visits Of tn
sGells and used TO crSeA jokes an
make wagers about where they wouI
;and In fact at one point We wer
so near the German trenches that 81
used 10 Geek jokes With the Germans