New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

quietly along a well ordered corridor with
, decent. dry plank floor one is crossing a
miniature mountain chain, sinking sud
denly into narrow valleys, waist deep in
water. rising as suddenly to heights that
leave half ones body exposed to the full
view Of the enemy. And to know that
those valleys and those heights have been
caused by the explosion in the trench of
the shells that are constantly screaming
overhead-that is the most disconcerting
Of all
The First Meeting
Such was the position we we're in when
! first saw Lion Barbesse. We had come
to comparatively quiet spot. The shells
whined above Us or exploded in the barbed
wire in front, but they had not found the
trench. We stopped to take stock, to look
about US, TO get our breath, to straighten
our backs and get a new thought in our
minds something except where the next
shell would land. And standing in front
Of Us in the trench, some ten feet away,
saw bearded soldier with the stripes Of
sergeant and the ribbon of the Medaille
MiitoiYe-the highest honor any French
soldier, from ranking general down, can
win-and the Groin de Guerre with two
palms, meaning that he had been men
toned twice for conspicuous bravery in
the general orders Of the army. Despite
his beard he was a young man, well under
thirty, and he stood with a quiet air of
confidence and looked at US with certain
amusement.
Five minutes later we were all distrb-
utsd at the bottoms Of various deep shell
ters. The shells had began to fall on the
section Of trench where we were, and we
had been ordered underground. ! had de
seended eighteen steep steps, matter of
twenty feet, and found myself in a little,
ow eeiled, earth walled, square chamber
with six hunks in double tiers taking up
three sides and the narrow door in the
fourth side. The bearded soldier was in
our party. He had preceded me and lent
me a helping hand down the ladder-like
stairs. When we were safe in the cave
he lighted candle and pulled up an empty
shell box for me to sit on.
Why He Smiled
"Yoy are safe here" he said.
That is all right" replied. 81 want
to know why you smiled at us when we
came up. We had come across pretty dan
gerous ground"
81 know you had" he said. "That was
why I.smiled. You know now something
more Of what it means to be a soldier. You
don't know very much. You can go back
and tell Of the narrow escape you had, and
you need never come again. But for a
few minutes, when you were under that
rain Of shells, you knew the glory Of war.
You PRAYED. That was why | smiled"
llt was not exactly what one expects
ron a man wearing the MeddiHe Mihtoire
and the Croir de G1terre with two palms.
There was a certain implication in it 1t
'ftVQtu as LuOuSu uS iiSohI Oh"N '''J '''''
lot in military uniform was curiosity
ecker or a sensation monger. ] said some
ing 70 that effect.
No" he said hastily. "Not at ali. Not
Al ALL only meant you could understand
cow perhaps, what it is that moves men
10 this war, what makes them take part
NIT
Most OF them are conscripts," said.
lou are, suppose"
The Retort Courteous
No" he answered 81 am volunteer.
might be at the rear; might even be
Writing for some paper"
It was fine answer to my brutality.
I beg your pardon" ! said. You are
'Nolunteer. Tell me why you are here
Twill tell you my name first" he SAID.
II is Leon Barbesse. | was school
lsscher in the centre Of France, married,
snd with boy four years old. The war
came and | was called to the colors, as