Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-04
PROTEST AGAINST
PRIESTS AT FRONT
Campaign by French Anti-Clerical
Element Brings Work to
Public Notice.
MANY FALL ON BATTLE FIELDS


Correspondence Or the Associated Pressj
Paris, May IA campaign by the
extreme anti-clerical elements OF the
radical and socialist parties against
the presence Of priests at the battle
fronts in daily contact with soldiers
has brought sharply into public notice
the work which these priests have
done and are doing at the front
II required a special Intervention to
produce for priests even the priv
lege' Of going % the front. Prior 70
/ May 1913, no chaplains were pro-
yided for the army The minister Of
war at that time provided IN decree
4 that in case Of war two Catholic
priests, Protestant pastor and a
rabbi should be attached 10 each
group OF stretcher bearers Of an army
corps, and two Catholic ehaplains to
each division which had no strctcher-
bearers,
Thus about 100 priests and half as
many Protestants and lsraelites we're
authorized 10 accompany the army
When war began, Count Albert de
Nun, since deceased obtained from
the minister Of war authorization for
priests 10 enlist as chaplains with the
approval OF their bishops up TO the
number OF $50 in addition Count Paul
Pourtles obtained the same favor for
eighty more Protestant pastors, while
sixteen additional rabbls we're named.
Many Deaths Reported.
The number OF priests who have
given their lives on me field OF battle
has not yet been counted, for besides
the chaplatns there are several thou
sand priests incorporated in the auxil-
larry services, OF who volunteered for
active service A great many deaths,
however, have been reported among
the chaplains under heroic circum-
stances Rabbi Abraham Bloch was
fatally wounded at Saint-Die by a
fragment Of shell at the moment
when he rendered a crueifix TO a
wounded soldier who had taken him
for a Catholic priest. The Able Vii
lier, chaplain OF the civil hospital Of
Arfas, was killed by a shell while
seeking TO save his patients during a
bombardment OF Arras. Chaplain Du-
breuil died at the extreme point Of
positions conquered ny the zouaves
with whom he went TO the assault
Three chaplains gave up their lives
during the battle OF Champagne; the
Able Thinot struck by shell while
digging out men buried by the cx-
ploson OF a mine; the Able Perrot
and the Able Pouch, who fell, the
former while looking after a fallen
soldier and the latter while giving
first aid TO a general of brigade
wounded on the field Of battle.
A chaplain from the region Of Yer
dun. gives the following graphic re-
citaf OF an experience we celebrated
Easter under the shrapnel, within 800
yards OF the German trenches, and
the Credo was saluted by fussilade
Our trenches had been converted into
green bowers with flowers and ivy
garlands On Good Friday fourteen
stations had been marked with eros
ses in the communicating trench for
the solemn procession. AT half past
two, just as ! had confessed my last
penitent a bullet hit him in the neck
| The blood spurted out just as the last
words OF absolution were uttered. |
gave him first aid, and then he turned
his brave eyes toward me and muir
! INJURED You have cared for the body,
now look after the soul ! offered
prayer that went with his depart
ing soul, while the blood flowed
upon my cross and cassock. It was
in that condition that proceeded
on the road TO the cross, and at the
twelfth station | offered the pure
vermillion blood OF that brave son
Of France to Christ and with all my
heart said Our Lord, that blood
was generously shed
Wins His Decorations,
Bishop Rueh, as chaplain OF sec
ton OF streteher bearers Of the tn
corps, was decorated with the Legion
of Honor and the war cross on the
field OF battle, and cited in orders as
follows; Charles Ruch, bishop, ef-
faced himself in spite Of his eminent
dignity and gave proofs in a modest
post OF untring activity and devotion,
notably in the latest combats. visit
ing the first line trenches, seeking
for wounded on the line Of fire and
watching at night in exposed field
hospitals. His calm courage has ae-
CURED for him the affection OF every
one
In a little sector taken from the
Germans, where thGe was a church