Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-01
AMERICANS in LEGION"
PROVE YANKEE HEROISM
Win Many Laurels Fighting for
France in Famous Polyglot
Organization
By CHARLES F. BERTELLI
PARIS, May Is (by mail to New Yo

June -
Americans in the French Foreign Legion
have contributed glorious page to the
history of their country while fighting in
the service Of France.
While the French Government allows
statistics and names to be published in
connection with the aviation corps and the
Americans therein, nothing is ever said
about the Foreign Legion nor are the fig
.ures, as to its personnel, given out.
The Foreign Legion is a polyglot body
OF warriors known the world over. No
questions are ever asked a man when he
makes application to join It, Nor is any
information forthcoming should the appl-
cant for membership inuuire about the
legion
The legion has distinguished itself time
and again in the present conflict and Cit-
Eens of the United States played a promi-
nent part in some of the bloody fighting
with the Germans
Corporal John Barrett, of Boston, was
one OF the first to enlist in the legion at
the beginning Of the war. He died a VIC
um OF German treachery on April II dur
ing the second day of the French offensive
In Champagne
When the order came to charge, Barrett
was among the first to go over the parapet.
lhe eglonaires stOrmed forward amid a
s'orm or shot and she'll But the ranks
never taltered and through the bursting
s, uonps, the crashing shells, the sweeping
machine gun sprays and the shrapnel they
cceadlly advanced until they were in the
uermans' first-line trenches
barrett Tell with bullet through his leg.
yust s as he fell the Germans swept from
er second-line trenches in a savage
eounter-attack
Msr newly won ground and retire to their
o,u position From their trenches comrades
.he falen American saw him picked up
ond line ''''0 '''N''
n, Three hours later, the legion, re-enforced
ano'her regiment, again attacked This
Ine the Germans were not only swept from
as we'll N' '''0 '0'N '''''
IN the second line trench the body of
nIan was found. A bayonet had been
bttnseu through his heart. Only tile day
Le sn, Barrett had written a postcard to
friend in Paris, Mrs Perly Weeks. of
OSyoh non Upon 1t he had written:
roo..s hs Tor your charming letter. To-
IIosW' Don't forget to buy the papers
'uhately have nothing Of material
conSS 70 VIII you, but if my affection
wonia pe transferred into dollars you
Yours Jack. -'' me-
rsfsre nese lines penned by Barrett were in
wasi.e steSe TO the date of the attack Two
pssis before he had been recalled from
the forth Wnere he was on leave, because of
rtheoming offensive.
friend on this last furlough that some
watch presented Barrett with wrist
", ~ IN thanking them he said;
s,.Ii guess about the onlv reason a sol.
telI vShot hoaia have for a wrist watch is to
pssi pSat hour he was killed"
wri,tav ms tragic death Barrett had
previo,,. ietter to Nrs. Weeks describing
II @ us attack. He wrote:
sst,Sks, Mas hell. I was almost tempted IN
holes ts accidentally into one of the shell
wavs ~ Siat furnish protection while the
potsps OF men moved on. II was. nv cor
raw stripes that prevented me and
sltha nie the courage to stumble along,
down kn s our boys were being moved
IRE the most terrible machine gun
.9 ! nave ever seen.
eorno.aI,,a corporal l am going to be a
ia, he exclaimed.
lnss ~ wooden cross back of the French
are N Ia champagne where the great guns
eessalsNer quiet and where battle surges
Conway marks the last resting place Of
PorSl John Barrett, American.