The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-07-06
BRITTANY VETERANS
ARE GOOD FIGHTERS
Won Honors as Fighting
Supports of the Foreign
Legion.

,,,orrespondence Associated PreSs)
FRENCH FRONT, June 15.-WheT
heroism is concerned there is no ques
ton of being too old at forty IN the
French army. This has been demon
strated time aud again among the vet
eran regiments Of the territorial army
of France-the second reserve, the
youngest of whose men when they
were called to the colors in August
1914. had attained the age of "a, whilt
the remainder ranged between thai
age and Al. Many of them, especially
among the younger classes, have since
been transferred at their own request
into the ranks Of the active army, thus
making the average age OF these regi
pments much higher, while three years
has been added to the age Of all the
men sinca they first put on their uni
forms at their country's call to arms
These territorial regiments, like
their older comrades Of the territorial
army reserve-the third line-were
not at the beginning of hostilities ex
pected to go into the firing line with
the younger soldiers Of the active army
and its first reserve. Since that time
many things have changed and they
have fought shoulder to shoulder with
their more youthful comrades and have
proved themselves still to possess
sterling value as warriors.
The record of one of these regI
ments, entirely composed of men from
Brittany. will serve to demonstrate
how great is the part these soldiers Of
mature age have taken in the task oil
repelling the invader, in spite of the
natural suppoSition that they had
passed the period of enthusiasm fol
deeds of valor
This regiment was modified togeth
er with the rest of the French forces
on August 2, 1914. When the troops
of the active army left to meet the in
vading Germans crossing neutral Bel
GUM, this Breton territorial regimen
was sent from its depots at Rennes
and Saint-Malo to organize, garrison
and possibly defend one of the sections
of the entrenched camp encirclin(
Paris. Four months it spent there dig
ging trenches, fixing barbed wire en-
tanglements, erecting gun emplace
ments and doing all the arduous labol
connected with the establishment o.
strong military works.
When the Germans had been driver
back in the battle Of the Marine, they
were placed in charge of front lint
sector to the northeast of Rheims
Here they stayed for Is months, con
stantly harassed by the enemy while
they dug a great system of trenches
both in defense and communication
built blockhouses and concrete ma
chine.gun positions. excavated rifle
and grenade pits and generally organ
lied tho position.
! The greatest test of the soldiery
qualities of these tough old warriors
came when they were transferred Il
Auberive in March this year. They
were attached to the famous fighting
Foreign Legion and their duty was tt
do the picl; and spade work and keel
the legionaries supplies with amnuri
ton and food during the French often
sive which began on April II, and al
the same time to hold a line Of trench
es. When the Legion went forward Or
it's victorious attack the Breton terri
torials were ordered to follow them uT
and extend the Communication trench
es and tracks across the conquered ter
ritory They were not content with
simply doing this very perilous WORK
always under fire. They also t3oE
Part by the side of the legiOnaries In
the capture OF Auberive, and session
of territorial grenadiers played glorl