The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-30
ADVENTURE OF AN AMERICAN
WITHFAMOUS FOREIGN CORPS
OF FRENCH ARMY - The LEGION
Tradition of the Army Pecularties of Men Enlisted
and Valor Of the Soldiers Related by Private in the
Ranks.

Private GexnpbeH sNasSHegarded as an
American as many years of his life
was spent In the state Of Nevada as
a minor. Later in life he took to
/ the sea and was booked on various
! Private Donald ID. Campbell, who
relates his remarkable experiences
ibelow, Joined the French Foreign lie
gion In November, 1914, and fought in
Its ranks until he was wounded. He
Is at present an inmate OF an AUX
Hilary Red Cross Hospital suffering
from trench feet. Being incapacita-
ted at this time was very unfortun-
ate eor him, because he had just been
post at Headquarters when he had to
4 go into hospital. Private Campbell
became engaged to the, lady who is
now his wife on the day before he
left to go into the lighting line with
the Foreign Legion.
The present Foreign Legion was
founded in 1884, and it's ranks are
open to men Of all nationa1ities. 1t
/ is usually stationed in AlSfers. and
has seen much service there in quen-
ing unruly bands of natives on the
frontiers OF French colonies in AT
RIGA The Legion's ordinary fighting
/ 8Lr6nKCn 10 tlDOuI o,VOV, fOub LtlkS
Der Increased to 1000 when the pres
emit war broke out, as men from all
tparts OF the world rushed to enrol
unbder Is famous colors. In most cases
1.-THE men OF the Legion have spent
their dives in search Of adventure FAR
from the beaten paths or civilization,
and Private Campbell has many in
Eteresting stories to tell Of the brave
land reckless souls who were for a
ttime his comrades.
Who has not heard of the famous
tErench Foreign Legion and thrilled
Ito. the countless stories told of the
Ebravery OF its members? From the
day OF it's inception the Foreign Le-
Tits own for those daring spirits who
tfound 1t impossible to curb their love
tof excaternent and settle down to an
tofi1ce or q bridesmaids bench.
In common with others had long
Inexperienced the appeal exercised by
the cosmopolitan ranks of the For
leign Legion, and I eagerly took ad-
vantage of the opportunity afforded
line Of Joining It when in Paris in
lR1ovember, 1914 =
4 had previously had some expert
ence of the army, but found life in
lmy new Quarters totally different to
lClfLlnIlk i IlaQ USlOES euCOuuIST0u.s
To begin with, there was not the
same hard and fast line drawn be-
tween officers and men, and after
sthe duties of the day were over it
vEas-a quite q common thing for the
fofficeru to come into the mems quar-
ters and sit down ON the beds and
ieDchanee experiences. :.
! q was seized sometimes with almost
10 feeling Of awe as I gazed around
lne at the different natfonalities rep
PRESENTED in the faces of my comrades
There were men from every walk OF
life and every Quarter of the elobe
la fine. handsome body of fieihters
hut each with that little elusive some
thing sstasse aiway -seerried to remove
Them fruu the -nrrmdruan life OF COM
n1erce. and held the key.E.to their
lpresence in the LEGION.
just after Joined Farnsworth. an
tAmerfcan. appeared ON the scene. q
Eosrdet kind OF chap. with all the Yam
Ikee,s dry hurnor carefully concealed
from view under his serious demean-
or, while almost ON his heels came
stIlruria, q. F1tian chief ana an OK
ford undergrad, with the manner Of
Ian archbishon.
ties I'm 6ulruna. and q was not sur.
tprised when .. short time anterward.
The approached me and s,,eeested tina,
II should try tos obtain leave of all.
sence for the afternoon for him am
lS1huna and myseff. and we wo111i
have some fun in the town. Beine
ION sodd terms with the connnandant
III readily, consented. and the Trims
twas soon arranged. though T wonder
led what form the fun was to take
as the nav in the Legion at that tim,
IA cents Der day. of which 8 cent,
was retained for mess peruufsites-
ibid not provide much scope for Civ
anr an limitation of a millionaire.
/ need not have worried, however
,for soon discovered that Farnswortl
was on very friendly terms with ,
bank. and after I saw how he wa
received at one of these kdnsdav insti
buttons 7 awaited the next part O
the program with something alnnos
aarin to eager authorization.
= was not disappointed. That after
noon remains to me a confusion O
Exforious memories mixed Mn, In tn
mists of uncertainty.
vaa. +old aFterv.ras +ha+ NV
reached the BARRACKS in three taxi
cabs ait nafdndg ht. whv three taxi
I have never found out. Possibly tn
drivers had thought that three of ~
lin one vehicle would have been to
r,,,cy, for avan q toxj H., &c..