Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-16
BOUND TO ADMIRE
TEUTON|C SPIRIT
herman Military Prisoners Can
not Conceive POSSIBLE
ity Of Defeat.
Pride STILL is STRONG
IN Their Eyes, Fatherland Re
mains Invincible in
Battle.
RIDE STILL is STRONG
ny GEORGE r. DUFnEsNE.


'us camps of German military prison
rs In France, tells me that he cannot
ieln but admire the spirit and conf
i'nce OF these men in the final outcome
h tho war. though, at the same time,
e says there has been great change
~ feeling. which manifcsts itself in
many ways.
What first impresses one" he says,
"hen YOU question these prisoners. is
nat this enormous mass Of men Is SO
thoroughly disciplined that the replies
Oh get have no individual value.
German lridc h.. by no means dis
pncarcd. and in the eyes Of these
aousands Of men Germany still re-
Gains invincible. This faith is no
oHger buoycd UP by the announcement
hope of brilliant victories. 1T is
|ong since any one spoke of Paris or
ala!s They do not even hope TO be
Die TO penetrate the French lines.
ne victory they hope for is now
|SAolly negativc---it is TO come as Il re-
UT OF the exhaustion of the resources
+, France.
While under the influence Of his
hcers, the German soldier acquires an
!n'rely new soul. Germany to him
tmairs above everything not because
ne Is going 10 capture Paris or War
law and crush her enemies. but be-
ausc she has been able to fight a
'orld Of enemies and keep them from
Eoss!ng her frontiers.
COW LETS HIMSELF
he SLAIN IN TRENCHES
|ommodates himself to this new con.
Ieption' which promises victory TO the
Inc who holds out the longest Form
Fly he let himself be driven into the
Iost murdcrUus fire in solid columns;
ow he lets himself be killed in the
benches.
Discipline has cast all German SOL
iers in the same mold. and this brutal
|!sc!pl!ne is more easily enforced In
re trenches. where the men are prison
LIS. SO TO speak. The officer stands at
1e exit and prevents every possibility
!. escape. The men have no choice but
i allow themselves TO be killed where
hey are.
Face 10 face with such advcrsaries.
! lie task Of the French soldiers is as
9!aicult as il is glorious, but il is made
l>newhat easier by new factor. which
lid not exist at the beginning Of the
ar--thc respect which they have in
| plrcd in the German soldiers, who now
salizc the fighting qualities Of the
French. Most OF the newly arrived
Irisouyrs declare that the French sol
i icrs are now far more daring in at
! .ck and stubborn when on the defen-
I've than those they first met in Au-
lust and September "a" even than
] hose of Novcmhe and December.
practically all the prisoners are
realty impressed with the new French
Regimes OF war and say that the field
frul!ery Is irresistible.
"a German officer, who was taken
Prisoner In the Bois H. Prctrc. said:
exposed to an artillery fire like the
ne We saw during the first days of
st month, one has no alternative but
, surrender. The effect OF your artil-
~ is awful All around me l saw
othlng but dead bodies. Escape was
) nposs!ble. because your guns shellcd
: he only way back, and the only thing
. could do was TO surrender to the
rench infantry which had enveloped
:. and who during momentary lull
the shooting. jumped down into our
.enches.'
Moor GETTABLE SIGHT
WHEN SOLDIERS LEAVE
saw an unforget,able sight the
rher day at one of the railway sta
ons of the Northern Railroad just
Inside of Paris, when large contin-
ent OF the 1916 class left for the front
Ike lot of twittcr!ng sparrows.
Happy and gay. as if departing for a
4 asst.
They were not very old. of course,
,ese new champions of France. most
them eighteen or nineteen, but they
II like veterans. or course. the de-
,rture was no. without tears in the
res Of mothers and sisters and sweet
Haarts but the boys themselves were
,lendid in their enthusiasm and their
1forts to cheer up those they left be-
Hind.
d A woman in mourning, whose eyes
ere red with crying, said q last
j God by to her son. who fled precipi-
3,tcly, so as not to prolong the scene.
10 followed him with her eyes as far
she could. and two young girls
: no were with her hid their faces in
Heir handkerchiefs.
4 The mother spoke to me in a voice
!. mingled pride and emotion: That
as my last boy" she said, Il have
4 rec others, or at least I had"
4 Her voice broke, and one of the
! Rig tried to comfort her.
Yes. monsieur, i had four, but now
have only two left"
RATHER JOFFRE" MAKES
$500 EMPRESS FAMOUS
j Father Joffre" has made the 500
Haris express from the front famous.
When. as 1t sometimes happens. he
HINES to the conclusion that a gen
i.al is not quite up to the standard, he
B;ks him TO report at headquarters at
o'clock sharp. and when he appears.
I ffre says:
81 have asked you to come here to
Sl;k YOU to write me letter in which
I,u say that the state of your health
rces you to resign your command"
But General"
1--WE wont discuss it. have no
e me. Besides. IT is o'clock, and the
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