The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-22
CHESHIRE MANS
 COUSIN F|RSTTO DIE IN GREAT WAR
Funeral Was In Progress In
 France When Declara- tion of War Game


 Cheshire, March 22.-Eugene Peu- geot of Cheshire has received word of the death. while fighting for France, of his cousin, Jules-Andre Peugeot. Young Peugeot, who was but twenty three years old, is believed to have been the first French soldier killed in the European war, and the glowing accounts of his bravery in the French papers have been of much consola- tion, to his family. The following Is a translation of an account of the manner of his death from a French paper, the United States. Journal, sent to his cousin in Cheshire, printed, ap- parently in answer to a correspondent who inquired who was the first sol dier to be killed.
 The Intermediary of Investtga- tors asked some months ago this question: Who is the first victim of the actual warp M. Frank-Puaux has answered in very documentary study, which appeared in the last number of this publication. Follow ing is the account, which confirms the information published some months ago in the United States Journal
 f'The first French soldier who fell on the field of honor was Ju1es-Andre Peugeot, corporal oft the Sixth Co.,, of the Forty-fourth regiment of infantry. The circumstances under which he died will go down in the history of the war.
 Even if the general mobilization had been proclaimed Saturday, Aug. 1, at 4 o'clock, it is none the less true that the troops had received or ders to retire ten kiIometers from the frontier and thus Q neutral zone had been created between, the two armies. There is no more decisive proof of the desire of the government to prevent all occasion of a conflict, although the enemy would have seized this pretext to accuse France of having forced Germany to declare war.
 Sunday, Aug. 2, Corporal Peugeot found himself, with four men, at Jon- cherey. little village two kilometers from De1le. According to orders sen tinels had been placed on the road which led to FaveroiS. It was 10 o'clock in the morning Peugeot was in front of the house of M. Docourt when his daughter. who had gone to get water at a nearby fountain, ran back crying, The Prussians! Here are the, PrussiansI' Doubtless, one could have believed that they were pa trolling the frontier, but since there not believed that they could not have had the audacity to advance into France more than twelve kilometers.
 ''It was, in fact, a German patrol, commanded by Lieut.. Mayer of the Fifth cavalry garrisoned at MulhQ1se,
 
 of Faverois. Corp. Peugeot went immediately to meet the German off cer to stop him, war not having been declared, but the lieutenant drew his revolver Immediately and fired three times If the first and third bullets went astray, the second hit Peugeot in the right shoulder and passed through to his left side. The brave soldier reeled, but, overcoming his sufferings fired and Lieut.. Mayer. mortally wounded, fell from his horse. Peugeot with a supreme effort, tried to walk, but he fell without a, cry, near the door of M. Docourt's house. He was dead.t
 .'Corporal Peugeot was born June II 1893 at Etupes, where he was educated He entered the Forty fourth regiment of Infantry. Nov. 26, 1918, and was made 8 corporal April 1, 1914, and had past the examina- tons to become an officer of the re- serve. Father Poivez presided Tues day, Aug. 4, at 2 o'clock in the church of Etupes, before a. large assemb1age, at the funeral service of the first sol dier killed by the enemy.
 s"The same day and at the same hour, writes M. Frank-Puaux, M. Vi viani mounted the tribune of the chamber and announced that the Ger man ambassador had notified him of the declaration of war, which he jus tif1ed by the flight of French airships over Nuremberg. He denied such a false accusation, but it is to be re- gretted that, for lack of the sinforma- ton he was not able to say that at the moment at which he was speak ing, the funeral was being celebrated of brave Corporal Peugeot, victim of the most criminal violation kof the French frontier, which act alone would have authorized France to de- clare war against Germany on Sum day.. Aug. 2, 1914.'i
 NO TAFT LEAGUE HERE,