The Detroit times., 1916-08-01
~ HERBERT COREY

Vaux. Fney took only HANDFUL OF
weakened men among some unin-
habitable ruins"
There Is no more glorious episode
IN the history OF the war than the
defense OF vaux by Mai. Raynal and
his 400 men. For Ave days before
the work fell Il had been cut on
from any communication with the
rear. The men were without food.
Parched by the fever OF combat and
the fumes OF powder. they drank
only the rainwater which collected
In holes In the ground which had
been soaked by blood and on which
scores OF corpses lay unburied. They
had been made the target OF the
most intense hammering by heavy
artillery In the history OF war. Ac-
cording TO narrative which has
been given official sanction, 5000
shells OF .1O6, 100 and. ESQ caliber
fell daily upon the fort and it's out
lying works. II was on June that
Raynal sent his last message 10 the
rear:
I'VE have arrived at our limit. or
duty. Vive 10 Franco"
Hut the fort OF Vaux did not fall
until the morning OF June 7. The
French hiers--no other observers
could see this little pile OF battered
masonry which had been fort--saw
a dense cloud OF smoke rise from H..
Flames shot out. There were explo-
sions Possibly she'll had landed
In a magazine. but II IL more likely
that Raynal had destroyed his mu-
nitions 10 prevent them falling into
the hands Of the enemy The Ger
man column at last penetrated the
fasiness. The tired and weakened
Frenchmen could fight no more. Ac-
cording TO the story from German
sources the ofieer commanding the
invaders summoned Raynal TO sur
render Raynal offered his sword.
but the German stepped back.
Not 10 me-" he said; 81 am not
worthy"
Because this story OF the defense
OF Vsux Is essentially the story OF
the defender Of vauX. n seems best
20 begin with "A little about Raynal
himself. He H. short. gray. quiet
man. OF "a soft and tender disposi-
ton" according TO his wife His
father.in.law is carting contrac-
.rA hArnn
MontparDasse There the Raynals
and the PAulmiers live together in
that fashion OF the French In which
each member OF a family contrib.
utes OF his best 10 the happiness OF
all. They were obscure 10 the point
Of being unknown. n was days az
ter all France was ringing with Ray.
nails name that II was discovered
that he IL resident OF Paris All
OF his life he has been a soldier.
At the outbreak OF the war he Sc
cured his transfer 10 a zouave rcgL
ment. because the Zouaves always
go to the front among the first He
has been twice wounded since then,
and twice cited In the orders OF the
a., o. 80. hrarorv ua O. 40 years
old
Vaux Is one OF the gates that
barred the German advance toward
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