The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-27

would receive attention.
Jean tried to lift the Englishman
but found that he had not sufficient
strength left to take his comrade on
his shoulder So, half lifting him, and
dragging and rolling him at times, the
gallant little piou-piou brought the
wounded English officer nearer and
nearer to safety and help. The jour
ney was two miles long! But
at last it was over
May Get Victoria Cross.
"The two men came upon some
trenches occupied by the allied forces;
they were recognized and taken in
charge by an officer of the English
Red Cross. They had both just enough
strength left to shake hands and say
goodbye.
IF l live through this, said the
officer of the guards, I shall do my
best to get you the British Victoria
Cross
For the two nations have become
one by bloodshed and bravery dis
pay cu, anu, III duultIOII, llltlt ihSA-
dent which can relate will show that
there is a precedent for union Of
honors as there is evidence Of COM
plete union of hearts.
''In the British expeditionary force
there is an English soldier, a member
Of cyclst corps, who is proud to
wear upon his breast the 'medaille
militaire' of the French army.
THE story OF the stirring incident
has been told to me by Henri Roger. a
young soldier of the Fifth infantry.
who saw it from the trenches and who
is now lying wounded in hospital here
During one Of the engagements
last week on the River Aisne, the Fifth
was holding an intrenched position
and was faced in the distance by
strong force of the enemy. To the
right and left of the opposing forces
were large clumps Of trees, In one or
which force of English troops had
taken up a position, a fact regarding
which the Germans were unaware. In
the other wood, it was soon discovered,
lay considerable body Of German
infantry with several machine gun Sec
tons.
cycIist Wins Decoration.
"A road ran beside the wood In
which the enemy lay hidden, and
along it force of French infantry was
seen to be advancing. How were they
to be saved from the ambush into
which they were marching? That was
Every time the French troops In
the trenches endeavored to signal to
their oncoming comrades, hidden Ger
man sharpshooters picked off the sig |
naers. Soon the position seemed to |
be almost desperate; every moment |
the intrenched French soldiers ex-
pected to hear the hidcous swish OF
the Maxims moving down their I'M
comrades.
Suddenly, however something hap
pened which attracted the attention
Of the French and German trenches.
From the wood where the English lay
hidden a cyclist dashed-the English,
100. had seen the danger, and cyclist
had been ordered to carry a message
Of warning to the advancing French
column. several hundreds strong
"The cyclist bent low in his saddle
md darted forward; he had not gone
| hundred yards before he fell, killed
)y a wel,aimed German bullet. A
minute later another cyclist appeared,
,nly, in a second or two, to share his
fate.
"Then a third-the thing had to be
lone. The bullets whizzed round him.
tut on he went over the fireswept
.one. The Frenchmen held their
breath as they watched the gallant
,yclist speeding toward the French
column.
"The Frenchmen could not resist a
oud 'Hurrah.' when they saw the
Iaring cyclist dismount on reaching
he officer in command Of the troops
which he had dared death to save.
1.-THE officer heard the message and
ook in the position at a glance. He
ave an order or two instantly, and
urned to the Englishman.
"Then was there fine but simple
attle picture which should live.
1.-THE French officer saluted the gal
ant fellow standing by the cycle.
hen, with a simple movement took
he 'medaille militaire'-the Victoria
ross of France-from his own tunic
nd pinned 1t on the coat Of the Eng
shman.
"I am glad young Roger told me
hen he had finished relating the
tory, to have lived to see that deed.
. was glorious"