The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-09

self sacrifice. Irish hearts, whether from the north or south. should beat proudly when these tales are told. And the book reveals that in this great war the Irish 1 have buried their differences in the in terests of the greater thing-"Irish sol diers, Catholic and Protestant, have fought and died shoulder to shoulder against a common foe on the battlefelds of France and Flanders and the far Pen ipsula of Gallipoli.' And the author adds, Shall not their blood seal new bond of brotherhood among Irishmen, and cry out in judgment against those who should in future seek to stir up afresh the old hatreds and old divisions that have been the curse of Ireland for cen- turies?"
 MT. Kerr says that on the walls of Dublin there is a recruiting poster which says:
 Have you heard of the gallant deeds of the Irish regimentsY" He says the an swer is in the negative. No one has heard of them, with the result that the Eng lish people are disposed to think that Ireland hasn't done its duty, while the Irish have not taken the vivid interest in the war they would have otherwise taken. And so he proceeds to write d book, to show that the Irish have done their noble duty. He proves it. He tells of France and Flanders. of Gal ljpoli and the Balkans, only fragments of the whole, but an undying tale.
 In the first British force that went to the continent in August, 1914, there were more than a dozen Irish organizations. All, or nearly alL were historic regi- rrents and all save one had had in the past it's taste of battle. That was the Irish Guards, which was formed after the Boer war, a recognition by Queen rs4{o oP% 1, -rrpIy ,Pf f1on r EnidInrS in South Africa Some of these regi- ments had fought over this very ground hundred years before The tales the writer tells have treir replicas. by the hundreds no doubut, but they are still thrilling and wonderful. One of them has to do with the disaster which over came the Royal Ministers.
 It was during the great retreat from Mons to the Marne, and the Ministers made a last stand at Etreux. They were cut off, apparently a message to retire req ching them too late. They suddenly realized, when firing broke on them from unexpected quarters, that they were cut off They were hopelessly outnumbered, too. But they fought on, under the com mand of Major Charrier An officer of the Ministers tells the story:
 "The regiment was left behind, and for several hours fell back fighting. under the personal direction of Major Charrier, who, although well aware of the impos- sble nature of his task, issued his orders and made all arrangements with all the precision which made him so well known in Aldershot. Eventually the Germans worked around to the rear and cut us off completely, the key of our position being a Ioop-hoied house. The major per sonaily led two charges in magnificent attempt to capture this. In the first of these he was wounded, but he insisted upon still retaining command and cheer ing us on. Shortly afterwards he was wounded again, but even this did not keep him from what he considered his duty. He heorically continued the direc ton of the action till after sunset, six hours intermittent fighting. MT. Gower came up to make a report to him, and found him near one of our guns which had been put out of action. In reply to MT. Gower he said: All right, we will line the hedge; follow me" Still leading and setting an example to all, he was shot a third time, mortally. Yesterday we sent out a party. and they found Paul Charrier lying as he had fallen, head towards the enemy"
 ''Why not smash his skull" Bismarck is quoted, when if you refrain from smashing it. the brain within may sur- vive to direct shot at your heart?" At Landrecies the Irish Guards applied this doctrine. The Irish Guards were over taken in that village by the pursuing Germans. There was hand-to-hand, street-to-st street fighting The fight is de- scribed:
 Then followed one of the sternest fights