Gilpin observer., 1915-02-25
| best to get you the British victoria

pest 10 get you the br1tlsn V1ctOr1o
Cross
For the two nations have become
one by bloodshed and bravery dis
played, and, in addition. little incl
dent which l can relate will show that
there is a precedent for union of
honors as there is evidence Of COM
plete union of hearts.
I'm the British expeditionary force
there is an English soldier, a member
Of q cyclist corps, who is proud to
wear upon his breast the 'medaille
militaire' of the French army.
"rhe story Of the stirring incident
las been told to me by Henri Roger, q
young soldier of the Fifth infantry,
who saw 1t 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 a
strong force Of the enemy. To the
righ. and left Of the opposing forces
were large clumps Of trees, in one OF
which a force Of English troops had
taken up position. fact regarding
which the Germans were unaware. In
the other wood. 1t was soon discovered,
lay a considerable body of German
infantry with several machine gun sec
tions.
"A road ran beside the wood in
which the enemy lay, hidden, and
along 1t force Of French infantry was
seen to be advancing. How we're they
to be saved from the ambush into
which they we're marching? That was
the problem, and 1t was difficult one
Every time the French troops In
the trenches endeavored to signal to
their oncoming comrades. hidden Ger
man sharpshooters picked off the sig
nalers Soon the position seemed to
be almost desperate: every moment
the intrenched French soldiers ex-
pected to hear the hideous swish OF
the Maxims moving down their un-
suspecting 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.
too 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
and darted forward; he had not gone
a hundred yards before he fell. killed
by a well-aimed German bullet.
minute later another cyclist appeared.
only, in a second or two. to share his
comrades fate.
"Then a third-the thing had to be
done, The bullets whizzed round him.
but on he went over the fireswept
zone. The Frenchmen held their
breath as they watched the gallant
cyclist speeding toward the French
column.
THE Frenchmen could not resist a
loud 'Hurrah!' when they saw the
daring cyclist dismount on reaching
the officer in command Of the troops
which he had dared death to save
THE officer heard the message and
took in the position at a glance He
gave an order or two instantly. and
turned to the Englishman.
Then was there fine but simple
battle picture which should live.
The French Office saluted the gall
liant fellow standing by the cycle.
Then, with a simple movement, took
the 'medaille militaire'-the Victoria
Cross of France-from his own tunic
and pinned 1t on the coat of the Eng
lishman.
"T am glad. Young Roger told me
when he had finished relating the
story. to have lived to see that deed
II was glorious,