New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-07

structtbte IS the mOTUte " "'e 'V''0'' ~
-o-DAY all over the world people are IA
miliar with this episode, popularlSed oy
innumerable articles, poems and Illus
trations You recall it, do you not!
The Germans have invaded trench ana
broLen down all resistance there. Our soldiers
lie on the ground But suddenly from the
bean of wounded men and corpses some one
rises and Selling bag of grenades near a'
hand, cries. Cup, dead!'
At that appeal the wounded get to their feet
They chase out the invaders. mat suoline
pbrase has brought about resurrection Oh
valor.
was anxious TO know the hero Of that i'm
mortal incident / found myself in the pres
once Of white-haired lieutenant. Lieutenant
Pericard is only thirty-eight years DID, Enter
ing the war as a sergeant OF IerrltorlalS'
nassing. at his own request, into the 9oVh az
tive regiment, he has been promoted success
sivelv TO adiutant, sub-lieutenant and heuUeh-
ont and has lust been cited in an army corps
order. ,-.
talked long time with him. Naturally
his story has not the extremely simple 0h"'
s,ster which gives charm to legend. shouiu
not have attempted TO reproduce II just as d"
came from him if / had not had psycho-
logical interest in noting what ne SAID W ine
ahout the way in which the sublime phrase OF
,,,bicb he was the author happened to frame
itself on his lips -,
At the beginning of April Q9lo), he tolo
no Union the great attack at the Bots Ally
occurred. nv regiment was ordered to make
diversion at Bots Brule. Colonel DE bsin"S
commanded us. / was then adjutant'
have retained only confused memory VI
those four days So many thousands OF iii
rressions. mixed, jumbled, reached me IhIouen
NV ewes and my ears, and were mlngieo WIZ"
+he inner emotions which possess soul WIG"
1t is in tumult ...o.. ~
IN the 18th and 9th we were spectators u
tho fight. On each eve of combat there IS mrs.
q feeling Of oppression; the flesh reVoiS' '"e
hair bristles. The instinct OF cowaruice NC
.or,es clamorous 1t is time then Tor pragei'
The soul casts itself at the feet OF Cod lnE
win no donel" Then there is peace
Nv section. the 7th, with three others Oh
~. coronanies. received an order to ATTACK
-, trencb. The combat was frightful;
200 had numerous dead and wounded; all nigh'
fought
rertisl rain which drenched us to the skill
But we held the trench, and felt my Sou' "a
banded and exalted.
II tho morning they relieved u.s. so that we
;oh+ reet and we went back to a second-iihe
trench and tried TO sleep. A wretcheu sieeP'
Toward midday we were routed out IN haSIe'
"The Boches have just counter attacked Us
with an avalanche of grenades. lhey haV'
renulsed us. There is a panic. NOT only h"''
thew retaken their trench. but they have pehe'
trated into ours"
Already our men crowd the communication
bitches. crying "The Boches! The BocheS'
Ali Those terror-stricken eyes, those con-
vulsed faces those distorted mouths! II Is
the only rout that have ever seen. what
frightful spectacle!
Al the officers are wounded. The narrow
ness of the bitches alone checks the fugltiVes'
who crush against one another. nave
moment of hesitation. After all, 1t is not my
turn for attacking, and my men are very ureo.
But collect myself make my sacrifice and
decide to die in order to stop the Germans
worm a passage among the fugitives and
working nv elbows, | cry: mo, my friends
no, The Boches are not there. They have
cone. the Boches; they flee the tield!'
Other similar cries, repeated from mouth TO
mouth stop the retreat little Some volun-
teers Join me. push ahead, My grenadiers
hover bombs on the Germans. The latter
recoil leave the French trench-our fore
ost one.
was as sure Of death as that the sun shines
N the heavens But what serenity! Inc
serenity of the man who knows that ne is go
mo TO die. but who dies in state OF grace
and already sees himself ascending to the
angels.
Constantly throwing grenades, we arrive at
the enemy's trench. We retake our part oil IT,
7 direct the men 10 establish a barricade OF
sacks in the ditch which leads from the hrs'
German trench to the second. begin to
breathe freely.
On our ieft the Germans are still fight, z
in our lines. But on our right the trench