The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-19
Brave Sons of Corsica
 Are Heroes in the War

The gallant warriors from the Midi, the chasseurs of the Alps, the bithe and gay Parisians, the irnpetuous Py- reneans, the 'black deVils'' from Afri- ca, the pious, grimly determined peas antry of ampagne-between these and the soldiers from all other sec tlons Of France, there is little to choose, for all are animated by a stern and deep devotion to ftla patrie.'' Yet they differ widely these sons of France in their characteristics. Success is the goal all have set for themselves, found that their children" must trav- el different paths and be governed by different methods.
 In the matter of utter disregard of death, of complete forgetfulness of self, all French officers acquainted are superior to all the other soldiers of France. Impetuous and Vindic- tive, they hate the enemy with a pas sionate ferocity that blinds them to aught else. Not man among them but would willingly give up his life for the blessed privilege of staying a Teuton. The sons or Corse-as Cor sica, is called in France-are primitive in their emotions, and centuries of the vendetta have bred in them a, disre- gard for their own lives, as well as the lives of others, which make them the
 
 hope to be led. Aside from this, they are intensely proud of the fact that they come from the island that produced Napoleon, and cherish above all else the recollection of the military valor of the greatest of Cor sicans. To them cowardice is the greatest of sins, and to fa1ter in the face of danger is to win the eternal contempt of comrades. Their impulses to daring deeds are not ttsicklied over with the pale cast of thought It is not for them to weigh chances. but to take them, let the consequences be what they may.
 The Corsicans have a long and war like history, nor is this the first time they have fought side by side with the English. For a brief period in the eighteenth century Corsica. was under the protection of Great Britain, and the people acknowledged George III, as their king.
 It was 123 years ago to-day, Feb. 19s 1793, that the British flag was hoisted for the first time on the island of Corsica, and for years thereafter, during the Bourbon despotism, many of the people celebrated the anniver- sary and hoped for 9 restoration of British rule.
 Corsica was first settled by the Lii gurians, and, prior to the Christian era, was held successiveIy by the Etruscans, Carthagtnians. and Ro-I mans. On the downfall of the Roman Empire it passed to the Goths, and was taken by the Franks in the eighth century, and by the Saracens in the ninth. Pisa and Aragon and the Pope disputed the possession for several centuries. but from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries the Genoese held it. Then came revolutions, du- ring which German adventurer, Theodore von Neuhof, proclaimed himself king. He was soon driven out, and went to England, where he wsa imprisoned for debt. Gen. Pas cal Paon then became the leader of the Corsicans, and the island was in until subdued by the French in 1769.
 In 1793 the English went to the as sistance of PaoH and the Corsicans, and the island was placed under the protection of the British crown. The English occupation continued until 17e6, when Corsica was relinquished to the French, and confirmed to them by the treaty of Paris in 1914. Since 1 then the department of Corse has be- come an integral part of the repub- lie, which has no braver nor more de- voted sons than those from the island 0f Nappleon3