New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-22
THE DEATH OF MY YOUNGER BROlF1ER
What Custave His Radical Journal Once La Cuerre
Sociale Now La Victore Upon the Death of Colonel Herve
ON the Third Day of the Sonme Offensive

army there was no such thing as discrimi-
nation; that in his army corps every one de-
served promotion, and that he would be q
mean sort of soldier if he concerned HIM
self about his own advancement when he had
the honor of commanding heroes.
They often write US from the front, when
they are downhearted, that 1t is all very well
for us to preach war to the finish and that
il is easy preaching from the Office desk. Easy
preaching! As if it were not our own loved
ones, those who belong to US in the rear, who
are exposing their breasts to the shot and
she'll of the enemy! As if it were not our
own flesh which is suffering, our own blood
which is flowing on the battlefeds! AS If
those who die at the front were strangers TO
US! As if We had not the right to raise our
voices when the two best companions of our
childhood are at the 'front.'
Our brotherly affection grew strong at an
early period of our life. When the father of
Breton family dies young, as in our case,
leaving a large brood, the oldest son, even
! if he be but ten, steps in the fathers shoes
md assumes in his relations to his younger
brothers a real moral leadership.
Our affection always remained so deeply
rooted that in later years differences Of opin-
iion-especially when my anti-miltarism
soul--never caused the least friction between
rs. did not always approve of the method
we employed in our colonial expeditions. He
lsapproved of my propaganda for preventing
war by insurrectional means. But each time
he returned from the colonies one of the first
things he did was to visit me in prison. he
would come without ostentation, but with
out trying to conceal his identity, in full uni
form, and ne would embrace the man whom
the newspapers had been denouncing as
traitor to his country Each time he left me
he would say, with his pleasing smile: Your
rcvoutiOnsts, your socialists, your syndlcal-
lists, | see what they are. At the next war, If
wo are attacked they will make just as good
soldiers as my colonals."
Ii is great comfort to me that he has not
persisted altogether. for he has left four de-
lightful children, whom their mother,
woman as fine as our own mother, will bring
up, as all French woman know how, when IN
the prime of their life they have been smit-
ten in their dearest affection. The "poilus"
who leave behind them large brood are not
the ones the most to complain, even If they
are poor. Large families form such school
of solidarity between brothers and sisters,
such school of moral discipline, such a
marvellous school of fraternity, that the
greatest riches a man can leave his child are
rothers and sisters who will share with him
the Joys and sorrows of living.
take comfort in saying right here how
much we loved each other in displaying with
out any reserve the pain that overwhelmed
me Yesterday when | heard the terrible news.
Alas II is the anguish Of all families of
France, the anguish of the families of our
Allies and it is also the anguish of all the
families Of Germany.
We shall be the victors, that is certain
Ny brother saw the dawn of victory. He
offered his blood joyously for the great work
of deiverance We all accept without COM
planning, like our old mother, the bitter sac
rifcel But how dearly is the victory paid
for! What a poisonous victory that will have
cost us all so much mourning! Yes! Fight
70 the finish, for this crime Of crimes must
&c punished But afterward, pity the genera
tions who will follow. Oh. that the blood Of
so many heroes may at least serve for the
whole Of humanity and that this cursed war
may be the last Of all wars!
GUSTAVE HERVE.