Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-18
storie. Of the War

Sacrifices Of the West Point Of France
Saint cyr. the West Point Of France.
made heavy sacrifices to the country
in the first year Of the war Nearly
1000 Of its graduates were killed. in
Guiding 2s7 Of the 1000 cadets OF the
classes of 1914 and 1915. Thirty-one
OF these young officers were decorated
with the cross of the Legion of Honor,
nearly 700 Of them were cited in or
ders OF the day and more than 500
were wounded. Altogether, more
Saint Cyr men persisted on the bat
Marine, the Aisne and in the Vosges
than We're killed IN the battles of Aus
terlitz. Eylau, Jena, Wagram, Moskva,
Montmirail and Waterloo. Nearly as
many died on the field of honor from
August /, 1914, to August /, 1915, as
had previously fallen from the date of
the birth Of the academy in 1902.
On July 20. 1914, the officer COM
handing Saint Cyr notified the cadets
Of the class Of 1915 that the customary
place each year incidental to the cer-
emony OF the promotion of the junior
class and its Christening would not
be held. Each class at Saint Cyr at
the time of its promotion received a
distinctive name, sort of nom -de-
throughout their career; it is conferred
upon the juniors by the graduating
class The suppression of the fete
was Homentous revelation to the
young officers-the first official con-
firmation they had received Of the inn
preston that war was imminent. The
rejoicing was by official orders to be
replaced by military honors that gave
to the occasion an unwanted solemnity
and sort of grave enthusiasm. Drawn
in the aafnf1u - NJ I fssrf,
the "Montmirails"-thec class Of 19l4--
paid the honors to their juniors. Only
general officers. a captain and lieu
tenant Of the guard were the priyi-
legged spectators of an impressive scene
that viii be accorded in history. A
few sober words of presentation pro-
nounced by the major of the Mont
miratls and the new class entered
upon its military career under the
significant name of the "Crofx du
Drapeau,' (the cross of the nag).
jean vAllard Meeus, the poet Of the
class, reAfted a patriotic poem, his only
contribution to literature but one that
with make his name enduring. When
/ lines voice cried out from among
| the exalted thousand young patriots:
Swear, all of US, that when we go
into action 1t viii be in full uniform,
with white gloves and plume flying
4 thousand voices blended In one
replv:
1--WE swear It..
Some war correspondents have
thought to have discovered some
d,Artagnans among the French sol.
Saint Cyr the spirit OF Cyrano de
/ Bergerac and the cadets of Gascogne
may surely be said to- live again.
~ The soldier poet. Jean Allard Meeus,
Kept the oath that he had taken. He
Il int nn%a n~a L. g4~1n -
most conspicuous target of all, lead
4 ing his section to the assault and was
one Of the first to fall. On August %,
at Charleroi, Second Lieut.. de Fayolie,
OF the class Of the "Croix du Drapeau''
received his baptism of fire. Under a
furious Smelling by the German artil-
lery his men hesitated. Lieut. de Fay
i ole turned to encourage them, but
perceived that though he had kept his
vow TO go into the fight with his white
gloves, he had forgotten his red and
white plume. Immediately drawing II
\ out OF his knapsaek he stuck It into
| his shake and the section, electrified
by his example, rushed forward.
You are going to get yourself kill
er, lieutenant" cried corporal
Forward Forward! was the young
soldiers reply as he bounded forward
at the head of his men. A few min
utes later he lay inanimafe on the
Charleroi battlefield with a bullet
L
the red and white plume.
Lieut.. de Castelnau was a member
Of the s'MontmiraiR' class. He. with
his section, held the enemy in check
when he had succeeded in throwing
them back received his death wound
HE had noble end was the conn
nent made by his father. General
Curieres de Casteinau. on being in
formed Of his death.
Second Lieut.. Lanquetot. aged 10
cited in the orders Of the army for his
presence Of mind in taking command
1 Of his company under fire after the
| commandment had been wounded, and
for tho courage, GOODNESS an denergy hs
showed. was q aCroix du Draueap'
man.
Second Lieut.. wacher. anothe,
sCrofx du Drapeau" man with his sec.
ton held a bridge head and entire
day in order to facilitate a diaicui'
retdeat. He got every man away safe
i ~ at night and in good order, a mos
Icreditable achievement when Il Is con-
| sldeFed how much easier It IL ID
maintain men It attack than in re.
treat.
A young Saint cyrian. wounded ono.
and returned to the front, took com.
mand Of a company Of territorials, al
old enough 20 be his father. My deal
old Daddies,'' he calls them. and ever,
one of them swears by him and eaci
and every one would give his life fo'
him.
The story In told OF second lieuten'
ant Of the class OF 1914 who was lead
ing his section on this line Of the Ysel
IN junction with the Belgian troops
without apparent consciousness Of 1
great danger that he was running In
to.
.Where are Won going like that, lieu
tenant r. asked an officer OF King Al
bert's star.
GAS far as the yistula. command
ant: the Russians are calling ter us.
was the reply.
How / wish the world could hav
heard his men laugh behind him a
Ii fthsfr were deaf TO the screechinl
1 of bullets ALI around said the Bel
/ gian off1cer. "And how would love I
command French troops" he added
III why . someone asked, Are the