The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-06

with their regiment There had been
many killed on these dangerous ex-
peditions. but volunteers never failed,
when the major (who had been in
command since the colonel was killed.
called for them. Each night, too, the
word came from the general staff
hold on!-the trench must be held at
all costs. You will be relieved as
soon as possible.
Each time the major received the
message, he smiled grimly. Hold on!
Yes, they would hold on-till every
one OF them debut relief. that was
impossible while the Germans main
tanned their present position. No regi-
ment could cross the open ground be-
tween the isolated trench and main
line, even by night, and survive. Even
the small parties of volunteers got
through with the greatest difficulty.
and large body of troops would be
discovered at once by trench rockets,
constantly fired from the German line.
The major knew that the line of COM
munlcatlon was being re-established,
that the destroyed trenches were be-
ing rebuilt, but before they would be
completed the major knew that every
| man in his regiment would be killed
| or taken prisoner.
The Germans had gathered in about
them SO closely that they could throw
bombs from their trenches with dead
ly effects, and the French could not
look for an instant at the enemy's
trenches except through skilfully con-
cealed periscopes. Nearly all the of
ficers of the regiment had been killed
or wounded and fully half the men.
The rest were so demoralized by the
| lncessant bombardment to which they
| had been subjected that if the Ger
| mans rushed the trench the major felt
that his men could not longer put UP
successful resistance. He had seen
some of them, strong men, collapse in
| the trench, broken and trembling, cry
ing with sheer fright, nervous wrecks.
1t was useless to hold out any
longer. On the third night the major
sent back word by one of his volun.
teers: I'VE cannot hold out more
than one day. The spirit of the sur.
vivors is broken. There are not
enough now to man the trench. Send
| help at once or the trench must be
abandoned. If the Germans knew our
weakness, they could take the trench
| easily
| Towards morning, the messenger
crept back with the answer. "Hold
| out for the day, during the night a
regiment will be sent to relieve you
The major did not give this news
to the discouraged remnant of the
| Seventy-first, but somehow or other
| the word was passed that on the fol
lowing night regiment would come
through to relieve them, and the ex
| hausted men stuck to their task man.
fully during the horrors of the day
following.
The next night regiment did come
through, volunteer regiment, volun.
teers for almost certain death. They
were nearly all Bretons, and instead
| of coming in large bodies, they left
the main lines and crossed the shell
plateau of death in small groups. To.
ward midnight they began to arrive,
and as they came the weary men who
were relieved adopted the same STRAIT
egg, and made their way to the rear
trenches. The last to leave was the
major and he had not left before he
greeted the colonel of the volunteer
regiment, who relieved the major OF
his arduous and dangerous duty. To
the majors surprise, the commander
of the new regiment addressed him
as colonel.
Major" he corrected.
Colonel" insisted the other. "Pro-
noted for heroic defense of this
trench. They have also awarded you
the cross. / congratulate you.''
Thank you, colonel" answered the
newly promoted officer, who was un-
able to restrain the tears which flowed
down his face, ''but your task is hard
er than mine. Tomorrow they will
probably attack in force
my Bretons will hold the trench
said the colonel, cheerfully. "They
would follow me to death. Many of
them | knew years ago at Grenoble %
"At Grenoble!" cried the other. cat
Grenoble! Why I was once stationed
there and now I recognize your voice.
You were Carthusian- and now you
are a colonel in the army of France"
Il am still Carthusian," answered
the colonel, gravely. "And now I re-
call you. You are the captain who
had the unpleasant duty of expelling
us. Do you remember that said that
France would call us back? France
called, and here we are, God grant to
stay. And now, colonel, it is time for
you to get back to the lines, and I
wish you a safe Journey
Father, will you hear my confes-
sion?'' asked the other. at is many
years since have received the Sacra-
ments, but the trenches have taught
me much. l am glad to kneel at your
feet, in reparation for the wrong
did you."
Not for the wrong you did me, 2
said the colonel of the Bretons gent
". "but for the good of your soul"
From his pocket he drew forth the
purple stole and the colonel of France
became again the silent Carthusian.