The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-07-06
One Breton Regiment Bellies
"Too Old AT Forty"
Statement
NOT CONTENT WITH
MERE SPADE WORK
Takes Initiative, Capturing A
Number OF Germans At
Auberive
rBy Associated Press to The Rannerl

FRENCH FRONT, June 18 (By
MajI)-When heroism is concerned,
there is no question of being too old
at forty" in the French army. This
has been demonstrated time and
again among the veteran regiments OF
the territorial army of France the
second reserve, the youngest of whose
men when they we're called to the col
Hs n August 1914, had attained the
aye of "a, while the remainder ranged
between that age and Al. Many of
sthem, especially among the younger
class, have since been transferred at
their own request into the ranks of
the active army thus making the av-
erage age of these regiments much
higher, while three years has been
added to the age of all the men since
they first put on their uniforms at
their country's call to arms.
These territorial regiments, like
cbeir older comrades of the territor-
ia1 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 nave 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 of
repelling the invader, in spite of the
natural supposIton that they had
pzsssed the period of enthusiasm for
deedsCnf yalor
Pnis regiment was mobilzed to-
gether with the rest of the French
forces on August 2, 1914. When the
troops of the active army lett to
naf1 the invading Germans crossing
neutril Belgium this Breton territor-
iAl regiment was sent from its depoJ5
al Rennes and SaintMalo TO organ.
faa, garrison and possibly defend one
og the sections Of the entrenched
camp encircling Paris -Four months
IL spent there, digging trenches, fixing
baTbeh wire entanglements, erecting
gun amplacements and doing all the
ATiiuous labor connected with the es-
establishment Of strong military works
when the Germans had been driven
back in the battle of the Marne, they
Eere placed in charge of front line
sector to the northeast of Rheims
tiere they stayed for % months, con
stHnriy harassed by the enemy while
BOTH OF defense aud communication
built blockhouses and concrete ma
chine gun positions, eXcavated rifle
and grenade pits and generally or
g;ani2ed the position.
The greatest test of the sOldierl
qualities of these tough old warriors
casme when they were transferred tC
Rubeiive in March this year They
Foreign Legion and their duty was tC
qi0 me pick and spade work and keel
thR legionaries supplied with ammunl
15aa and food during the French of
fenHye which hegan ON April II, anC
n the same time to hold line o
trenches. When the legion went for
ward on its victorious attack, tn,
Breton terrtorials were ordered t.
follow them up and extend the com
nnnnicatiOn ternches and tracks across
the conquered territory. 1hcy wer,
nOt content with simply doing thi
very perilous work always under fire
They also took part by the side OF th
Dictionaries In the capture of Auberiye
a4d a section of territorial grenadler
played glorious role in the reduC
tion of the small field fort OF Vaudes
incourt.
Meeting a couple of these Breton
coming back with a batch of Germa
prisoners, a French staff officer il
luired OF them where they had take
Ghe captiyes and where they wer
gBDHg, and received only broad smil
IN 1epiy. He was astonished at thi
apparent lack of discipline and wa
about no demonstrate when a Germa
prisoner stepped forward and said
EXCUSE me, Sir, but these men do nc