The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-09-22
VETERANS
EXPERIENCES
ARE TOLD
GREETS MAN ABOUT TO ENTER
NATIONAL ARMY TRAIN
ING CAMP

ing to a newly drafted American in
Goldfield today. The French vet
eran was Francois Michel Bernet,
rs years of age, a wreck from the
Marine, the Somme and Verdun, who
is now in Goldfield on a 10 months
leave of absence to recover from the
effects of three years in the tren
ches, and the drafted American was
William Cunningham, who expect
to leave for American Lake next
Sunday.
The Frenchman greeted the
American as a father would greet
a son he had not seen for many
years and told him they were bro
theirs in the same cause, that the
Germans must be beaten and that
just as the French had held the
Germans al the Marine so he was
confident the American army would
drive the Germans across the Rhine.
He said what was left of France
was the soul and hat the army.
looking on America as the ideal o
the civilized world, looked 20 it to
settle the war in the most just wa,
and to assure the future liberty o
the world. He said all France
revered the American flag since the
entry of this country into the war
and that the army was assured
plies woulde eventually prove the
downfall Of Germany.
Bernet told of the reception of
the first American troops in Paris,
of the citation of the French peo
pie when they saw them and how
they have since won the people by
their good nature and free spend
ing of money.
This Frenchman saw his first BAT
tie at Charleroi, in Belgium, in the
first days of the war, fought
through the Marine, tie first battle
Of the Somme and was finally put
out of action at Verdun, where he
was "gassed" in the defense Of
Fort Douaumont. He has been
wounded three times. In the Som
me he was wounded and buried un-
der trench timbers for nine hours.
Since being nearly asphyxiated,
which was March II, 1916, he has
been on a leave of absence, which
has been extended for 10 months.
He is here visiting his aunt, DR.. M.
A. Michel, in an attempt to regain
his health.
He left France from Bordeaux
on the French liner Espagne and
for 500 miles the ship was convoy
ed by four patrol boats. When far
out at sea the patrol boats disap-
peared and for two days the ship
was guarded by two airplanes. When
half way across a French cruiser
was met, which continued with the
Espagne until one day from New
York, when it was met by several
American patrol boats, which stay
ed by it until the ship entered the
harbor.
Bernet was questioned regard
ing the war at present and its prob
able duration. He answered that
he would not be surprised If the
war ended before winter, but that
another winter campaign would
leave Germany in such condition
that a great allied victory in the
spring would be certain.
He says that with the allies it is
a question of time against men.
They grow stronger daily while Ger
many weakens. He says the French
are confident the west front can
be broken and would have
broken under pressure before now
had Russia stayed in the fight, but
ne believes the day is fast approach
ing when it can be broken without
too sreat sacrifice of life.
In France it is generally believed
that the war, starting like a flash,
will end in the same way. He says
the diplomats are busy, but that
France is not willing to quit until
Germany admits her wrongs and
agrees to the Instrumentation of
Alsace-Lorraine, as the great
French aim is now referred to in
France.
According to Bernet, stories of
food shortages in France are I'M
true. Last winter France lacked
sufficient coal, but he says there is
a plantiful supply for the coming
winter.
The English he describes as great.
He says their artillery is wonder
full and that their men now are
thoroughly hardened and are fierce
fighters. He says the French are
jrbilant over the work of the ItaI-
ians, but that what pleases them
mere than anything else is Ameri-
cas- entrance into the war and the
presence on French soil of a rapid
ly increasing American army.
Bernet saw and talked with
many German prisoners and says
tho rmu hoe Loot all n~onfidappa in