The daily progressive-miner., 1916-06-14
HEROIC DEEDS ARE
 PERFORMED BY PRIESTS


 l PARIS. June S-A campaign by the extreme anticlerical elements of the Radical and Socialist parties against the presence of priests at the battle 1. fronts in daily contact with soldiers has brought sharply into public notice the work which these priests have done and are doing at the front It required special intervention 10 produce for priests even the priv ilege" of going 10 the front Prior to May. 1918, no chaplains were provid- s ed for the army. The minister of war at that time provided in a decree that in case of war two Catholic priests, Protestant pastor and rabbi should be attached to each group of stretch CT bearers of an army rps, and two Catholic chaplains to sach division which had no stretcher bearers.
 Thus about 100 pries. and half as many Protestants and Jews were au- thorized 10 accompany the army. When war began, Count Albert de | Nun. since deceased, obtained from the minister of war aut---- -.zGtion for priests 10 enlist as ehaplains with the approval of their bishops up to the number of 350 in addition. Count Paul Pourtles obtained the same favor for eighty more Protestant pastors, while sixteen additional rabbis were named
 The number of priests who have given their lives on the field of bat tie has not yet been counted. for be sides the chaplains there are several thousand priests incorporated in the auxiliary services. or who volunteer ed for active service. A great many deaths, however. have been reported among the chaplains under heroic circumstances. The Rabbi Abraham Bloch was fatally wounded at Saint Die by a fragment of shell al the moment when he tended crucifX to wounded soldier who had taken him for Catholic priest The Abbe Vil- Her. chaplain of the civil hospital Of ! Arras. was killed by shell while seek ing to save his patients during bombardment Of Arras. Chaplain Dur breun died al the extreme point of I positions conquered by the Zouaves with whom he went to the assault.
 Three chaplains gave up their lives during the battle of Champagne: the Abbe Thinot struck by a shell while digging out men buried by the explos- ion of g mine; the Abbe Perrot and the Abhe Pouch. who fell. the former while looking after fallen soldier and the latter while giving first aid 10 a general of brigade wounded on the field of battle.
 A chaplain from the region of Yer dun gives the following graphic recital of an experience: We celebrated Easter under the shrapnei, within 30a yards Of the German trenches. and the Credo was saluted by fusilade. Our trenches had been covered into green bowers with flowers and ivy garlands. On Good Friday fourteen stations had been marked with cross es in the communication trench for the solemn procession At half past two. just as had confessed my last penitent. a bullet hit him in the neck gave him first aid and then he turn d his brave eyes toward ne and nurmured: You have cared for the body. now look after the soul l Of tered ID a prayer that went with his aeHaErsHg soul IL was in that con dition that proceeded on the road D the cross. and al the twelfth sta ton l offered the pure vermillion blood Of that brave son Of France to Christ and with all my heart I said: Our Lord, that blood was generously shed
 Bishop Ruch. as chaplain Of a sec lion Of stretcher bearers Of the -th corps. was decorated with the Legion Of Honor and the war cross on, the field Of battle, and cited in orders as follows. Charles Ruch. bishop. ef- laced himself in spite Of his eminent dignity and gave proofs in a modest post Of untiring activity and devotion, notably in the latest combats. visiting the first line trenches. seeking for