Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-04
MANY AMERICANS IN FIGHT
Six Hundred Who Ask Place In
French Flying Corps Only Hand
full of Foreigners in War,
COWBOYS BESIDE THE MOBILES

Correspondence Of the Associated prsss)
Paris, April 30-There are about
900 Americans in the foreign legion
OF the French army, so many of
whom have petitioned to join the
flying corps that squadrilla OF
Americans is being formed. These
Americans, however, are only a
handful OF the actual number OF for
cigners who have joined the foreign
legion, the first marching regiment
OF which is probably the most pictur-
esque in the French army.
II is an inspiring sight to see a
regiment of the legion on the march
negroes and blonde Swedes go side
by side with swarthy Italians. Men
who have dined with kings and
dwelt in marble halls sink their iden-
tity under a borrowed name and
march with a Polish tailor or cow
boy from the wild west
Many Famous Among Fallen.
All sorts of famous men have fallen
on the field of battle, while fighting
with the legion Binet Valmer, from
the Argentine, the Luxembourg
writer, Sosthene Kurth, the son OF
Maxim Gorly, Camille Ramirez from
Venezuela, a Columbian poet, Fer
nandez Bengoecha, another from Ec-
uador, Rodoifo Seminario, the novel
ist Sanchez Carrero, all fell for
France on the battlefields OF Artois
and Champagne.
The poet, Ismail Urdometa, was
killed in the Dardanelles, while rush
ing Turkish trench at the point OF
the bayonet, and the son of the Rus
sian ambassador at Paris, NJ Isvol-
sky, was severely wounded, while
fighting beside Lieutenant Alexis
Comnene, the great-grandson OF the
emperor Of Trebizond. Bob Scanlon,
the negro boxer, is with the legion
and Francois Faber from Luxem-
bourg, the professional cyclist. fell in
action So also did Alex Carter, the
famous steeplechase jockey. Winnie
O'Connor, one OF the best jockeys
that ever crossed the Atlantic and
widely known in the United States,
joined the legion.
Fifteen young students from the
Beaux Arts in Paris joined in body
Not only all classes but all races are
blended together in the first march
ing regiment.
When Italy went to war the ltal-
ians were transferred to their own
army but previously they fought he
roically and two grandsons OF Carl
baldi lost their lives in France.
Would Aid Adopted Country.
The nucleus OF the second regiment
was formed on the evening of July
81, 1914, in a Partisan cafe Some
young Italians issued an appeal, and
as result about 5000 English. Bel
gians. Italians aud SlaVs attended the
meeting to consider how they could
best aid the country OF their adoption
Later on. when British and American
residents in Paris tried to form regi-
ments OF their own the authorities in
formed them Of their inability TO ar-
cept the offer, so u was decided that
the volunteers should be drafted into
the foreign legion
The pay of the men of the legion
is The same as that OF tho other SOL
diers III France five cents a day and
an allowance OF tobacco and wine.
The total membership OF The legion
Is said 90 he jS400 made up as tol-
lows 500 Hfions. 500 Luxembourg
ers. 60p Americans. l0NO Spauiards.
500 Greeks l,5n0 Hrlgiaus. 1000
CseChs and t,alielaus. Loo Poles aud
Dance. 3.BgH Swiss. &. 500 Russians
5000 Italians. lnu00 Nisanaus eWn
other nattUnaliues