Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-30
LIEUT.. PER|CORD IN.
STIRRING ADDRESS.
At HIGH SCHOOL.
SURVIVOR OF MARINE THRILLS
AUDITORS WITH STORY or THE |
GREAT WAR-OUT OF TRENCH. |
ES FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

The talk at the high school Wednes.
day afternoon Made by Lieut.. Paul
/ pcrigord, of the French army. was in
most respects the most stirring pa.
| triotic address ever delivered In this
city. Perigord, who was native OF
! France, had al the outbreak Of the
world war, made his home in this
country for ten years. He came here
to attend the University of Chicago
and later took course at tho Uni
versty of Columbia. Upon completing
this course he accepted the chair of
ethics at the University of Minnesota,
where he was teaching when war was
declared. He resigned his position
there and left at once for France.
where he enlisted as q private in the
army
! His talk lasted an hour and he held
his audience following him SO closely
/ II did not seem as tho he had been
! talking fifteen minutes Hardened
men sat with tears streaming down
their cheeks, SO deeply were they
touched by the talk
He has been in the trenches most
Of the time since war was declared
and went thru the battle of Marne, the
greatest battle in the history Of the
world Seven weeks ago he was TAX.
en- from the trenches and sent to
America to help train the American
soldiers. He was stationed at the can.
tonment camp near Boston when Sec.
reary Baker heard of him and of how
he had won his commission in the
French army and asked him to do
thru the country bringing a message
to the American people. and telling
the young men of this country and
how he won his commission.
Lieut.. Perigord was too modest to
give a detailed account of the manner
in which he won his commission In
February Of 1915 his regiment was
stationed at small town near the
firing line of the French army, When
on February 18th Prussian regiment
broke thru the line and started a raid
on the country the regiment Of which
Lieut. Pergord was a private was de
tailed to put down this raid. The cap
tain of the company had been attract
ed by the great bravery Of Private Per
igord and chose him TO walk alonl
side of him as a personal aid. The
French had to face rain of bullet!
from the German machine guns, thai
was cutting down their men in grea
numbers. Every officer of the com
! pany had been killed when the cap
tain received bullet wound thru tn,
= lung, as he was dying he passed hi
: sword over to Private Perigord, tell
ing him he would have to take com
mand of the company. Private Per-
cord took the sword and led the com
Il pany on to victory. putting down TIL
, Prussian attack
} When he reported to the general, a
. account of how he had been presente
n with tho sword the general said. IN
II boy keep the sword and keep the con
. pany.' This is the story OF con
y mission won BY one of the most hon
II orable ways commission can h
n won during the war.
Lieut.. Perigord treasures The swol
n very highly and always carries
* with him. The sword was purchase
'k By an officer in the French army
@ 1910, and had been presented to Il
% officer that gave It TO Lieut.. perigor
ID under very similar circumstances ear
as in the war.
20 Lieut. perigord wears the Fren,
as "cross of honor" that was present,
ld to him after he was seriously wO,n
or ed while carryong ont an act of vale
st and has been decorated five times.
nv He told of the manner in viii
~ the French people had for three lol
he years fought during wnch time th
had looked toward America, wilho
in. complaint, hut with fear thai il mig
ilA all be In vain. Hoping all the Ii,
i'm she would come into the war to ht
ne the French people avenge the autr
Ar. ities committed by Germany. He
as scribed that spirit Of hopes that we
Ok thru the country when the Amcrlc
,u. flag appeared on the battlefield, I,
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(Cnntinipd I'm Para Al