New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-15
Bv WHITNEY WARREN.

BEFORE going further my officer sain 10
me. "Come this way, monsieur, want you
N see where my four comrades with wnom
7 arrived here lie-mes quatre pitts CANA
rode. marins" As stood there beside tnis
good fellow, already dear to me through 'he
admiration he in his simplicity and mooes'y
inspired, my feelings were hard TO 'mas'ne
and ;mpo.sible to describe, and, above ALL
inadequate to the immensely OF wna' Is nap
nening. The personal feeling is one OF dis-
one, with ones seIf--that these brave fellows
must stay on until demolished, that they Will
stav on until Kingdom come while you
are not worthy, not capable OF the enor' anu
energy necessary, not wanted!
The extraordinary and solid tower OF Nleu-
port is a mere pile of rubbish, and OF tne
halles, or market, most picturesque mohu-
ment. nothing remains but the gable-ends
and n small portion of the walls. The town
is. of course, completely evacuated. What
troops there are live in bomb-proof "gour-
his and the officers are as comfortably in
stalled as possible in the cellars. In two OF
these retreats had the honor Of being re-
ceived and treated to a very simple supper
shared with the officers about to take up the
relief.
About the trenches and in the communica-
ton there is always more or less life, be-
cause all work TO be done or repairs to be
made must by force be done during the
night.
The men are splendid as regards physique
and morale. 1t is unbelievable after two
winters. One begins to believe that they
are getting to like it seriously. For IN
stance, the big Russian drive was taking
Mace and the general had told me before
leaving headquarters that 100000 prisoners
had been taken. I repeated what details
knew at the different posts visited and heard
with nv own ears one Poilu say to another:
"Mon Dieu, mon vieux, s'ils continent, ces
sacres Russes, nous naurons plus rien
faire l'hiver prochainl ct, alors, quest ce
oue nous deviendrons ?" this with an accent
Of profound trouble and regret-out OF
job
The second night, near headquarters, not
two miles from the front, assisted, on the
invitation of the general, at representa-
ton given by LIE Theatre aux Armees. lie
Theatre aux Armees" was organized to FUR
nish distraction and amusement to the troops,
who have been severely tried-to give them
taste of what before the war they were &C
customed tor what they may have dreamed
Of. for, like everything the French under
take. it is SO we'll done that few, even of US
who are spoiled by the good things OF LIE,
can imagine such a programme. And mind
I q
heavy bombardment was going on not two
miles off Just before leaving for the snow
the general with whom | dined was called
to the telephone. The message was that the
firing was very fierce; ten men and an ofncer'
one of my Fusliers Marins, had been killed
and fifty wounded. Under the circumstances
the general and his aids, who had intended
to attend the performance, departed TO YER
ify reports and to strengthen supports,
charging me with their apologies TO the d.
rector and 10 the artists.
The hall in which the performance took
place was an inclosed shed built and deco
rated by the men themselves, with most
attractive stage and double change of stage
settings, all painted, and with great talent,
by the Poius; electric light, and warmed by
over a thousand of the enthusiastic and brav-
est fellows in the outfit, for to be allowed to
attend the show was a great recompense,
which many | believe would have preferred
to perhaps la Medaille Militare.
Here is the programme-can 1t be equalled
anywhere as to quality and quantity in every
Orclestre Miltsire.
La Peur des Coups comedie de Coureline
Madame Nadams Dussane de la Coincide la Erancaise
Monselr ............. Monsieur Msthion. de POdton