The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-04
BACK With FRENCH
WAR MEDALS AT 66
Veteran Of 1870, a Citizen of
Los Angeles. Says He'll Re-
turn to Trenches.
NOT DAUNTED BY WOUNDS

Los Angeles may hca~ in a few days
the story OF ono NJ her grixzled citizens.
n typical soldier Of France NJ the period
when the imperial and mustache dis
tinguished the red legged little Gallo
warriors Of tho empire.
He IL George lie Mesnagcr. aged 66.
veteran OF the Franco russIan war.
who arrived yesterday OH the French
liner E.spagne. and who In piping times
Of peace Is a notary in Los Angeles.
He had been three years In California
when, In 1870. his country called him
lie fought through that war and re-
turned to the United States, becoming
a citizen.
When the Germans Invaded France
he took tho first ship he could reach
AT this port and presented himself as
an American volunteer. Bcing physi-
cally perfect, they took him. and he
was sent to the ron as II he were
Of tho same age as In the 'luckless days
Of the Frauco-Prussian war. He was
mustered into the lO6th Infantry. and
by gallantry won promotion and wounds.
lie was "A color sergeant when Gen.
Joffre gave him one Of tine three MILL
tary medals that he wears. and he said
yesterday that he cherished the memor
Of his meeting with his great COM
mandcr and the salute. In French style.
that Gen. Joffre gave him when he
pinned the medal on his breast TN"
General asked him how old he was and
he said "onlv S.: whereupon the Cen
eral remarked that he should take a
vacation. That Is why he Is here.
But he is going back, he says. IN
three months, III. limit Of his leave OF
absence. and help finish the job of lick
ing the "horhcs" He lie s~upercontdent
about hat.
Twice the color sergeant was wounded.
once IN the leg by shraprel II once in
the arm but ne says they were not
serious hurts and that ne was only a
little time OF duty. Vie carries a cane.
which he says was presented to him by a
German shell. The shell burs, clos" TO
him and uprooted 4 big bl%ackthoru bush.
Almost At tbs feet there fell the hranch
tia; Late. hoc.ure the cane. ~" waved
a military salute at the German front
and said Thank You Then he
fashioned the curling root Of the stick
into the hea ~ a dachshund with his
Yankee %penknife and called II the En-
peror RilI.
When the E.rsCns sailed from Bor-
deaux the sergeant was booked for pas
sage In IN" second cabin. Capt. lioyt
noted the medals NJ the blne overloaded
veteran and, after a talk with him. told
MN ne f'lNu TtNf tNr ll'fTNN W NV
ship. 30 he became n frs. cabin. second
and storage PASSENGER. which per
fcctly accorded with his IDEAS 81 "liherty.
equality and fraternity"
Naturally everybody with any martial
spirit AZ all got him TO tell his adver-
lures in the two wan He said there
n lot OF difference between the
methods of 20 and 1915. particularly in
aerial fighting and gun range AMI de-
effectiveness.
THE sergeant tGeaks Ike an American
without any accent, and he was q BIT
put out when he learned he would have
70 60 Ellis Island 49, an alien. He could
prove hv documents that he was
not. A. he had neglected to take his
papers - France. - he made a LITTLE
trip 20 Ellis lslard. where the officials
heard his story and told him - g. ri.tt
along to Los Angeles. or wherever ne
rs they were sure ne was telling
truth. He will stay here a little
while before crossing tho continent