Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-24
Decoho Conferred Should
Have GONE to Nearly Every
Man of Organization, Is
Statement.
ONE OFFICER KILLS
II GERMAN GUNNERS
Most Difficult Position Is Cap
, tured by Fearless Men Gath
cred From Different Ma
tions.

NV aoNsIsS IssS~sAl srse,AL l~.~<p ~rssf
Grand Headquarters of the French
Armies In France, May 23 (From a
staff Correspondent Of the Associated
Press).-"A marvellous regiment, ami. :.
mated by hatred of the enemy and
the highest. spirit of sacrifice"
These words are used in the official
army order in comforting the fifth
palm ON the flag of the famous for
elgn legion for gallantry In the recent
fighting In Champagne. The regi-
ment Is unique in the number of times
mentioned and decorated.
The staff correspondent of the AS
sociated Press visited the legionaries
In their rest camp, where they were
recuperating and filling their ranks,
and heard personal narratives from
OFFICERS and men whose conduct Is so
highly praised. No matter what the
mems nationality--and citizens Of no
FEWER than fifty-one nations are repre-.
sented among the legionaries--afte
Joining they Immediately become i'm.
bued with the regiments glorious tras
ditions. They always have been where
the fighting was hottest.
Half of Them Remain.
When the war started six battalions,
forming two regiments, were sent to
the front; now only three battaiious
remain, fused into one regiment
Among them still are Americans from.
various states Of the union as we'll as
| from all the republics of Central and
South America There are men from
every British colony, from all the
countries Il. europe, Asin and Africa,
and also a number Of Frenchmen who
have been attracted to the legion. on
account of its adventurous career.
Russians. Belgians, Italians, British
and RumanIans recently have been
transferred to their own armies, re-
ducing the legions strength, hut
Spaniards, Swiss and South Ameri-
cans are joining.
Accomplishes Hard Feat.
The legion's task for the successful
achievement of which 1t was
honored today was the most difficult
in the recent French offensive. Its
front stretched westward from Au-
berive, the capture of which was in
cluded in the objective aimed at. For
five days and nights the legionaries
fought continuously and virtually
without sleep. They accomplished the
task set them but at the cost of the
life of their colonel--and many other
gaps in their ranks. At the end their
commander was Major -.
Auberve was entered and carried
by a lieutenant with a non-commis-
stoned officer and ten men. The nom
commissioned officer single-handed
attacked a machine gun emplacement
and killed twelve German gunners.
Meet Strong Opposition.
The advance OF the battalion oper-
ating to the west of Auberive was re-
tarded for some time by the opposi-
ton of an unknown series OF German
entrenchments formidably armed in
what is known as the gulf. 1t was
impossible to attack frontally across
the half mile of open ground, but the
legionaries succeeded In outflanking
the position and made their way
fighting for every foot along COM
munication trench until they had car
ried the whole position. They threw
sc, 600 of their own hand grenades In
the course of the five days besides
many thousands Of German grenades
they discovered on the dumps on the
enemy territory.
When the fighting was over many
of the exhausted legionaries slept a.
they stood.
Too Many to Decorate.
The brigadier general told the cor
respondent that SO many of the
legionaries were entitled to decora-
tions that he was unable to give to all.
Several Americans. however, obtain
ed the war cross. Sergeant Edgar
Bouligny of New Orleans. who was
wounded, already has been awarded
the war cross for bravery. He has
served since the beginning Of the war.
The divisions captures for the five
days comprised 1,100 German pris-
oners, twenty-five cannon, fifty-eight
trench mortars and forty-seven ma
chine guns.