The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-07-06
VETERAN REGIMENTS
OF THE FRENCH ARMY
DISPLAYING HERO|SM
Older Men Fight Shoulder TO
Shoulder With More Youthful
Comrades; Breton Territorials
Distinguish Themselves.

by Associated Press
French Front July 6-When hero
ism Is concerned there i no question
OF b eing too old AZ forty" ia the
French army. This has been demon
strated time and again among tho
veteran regiments OF the territorial
army OF France-the second reserve.
the %youDgent Of whose men when
they were called TO the color Ia
August -l3l4 had attained The axe 81
81. while the remainder ranged be-
tween hat age and ~. Many ~ them
especially among the younger classes,
have since been transferred az their
own request Into the ranks OF the
active army. thus making the average
q 81 these regiments much higher
while three years has been added -
the axe Of all the men since they FIRST
put on their Uniform az their countrys
call 20 arms.
These territorial regiments. like
oder comrades OF the territorial army
reHerfe-the third llne-Wcfe not at
The beginning 81 hostilities expected
10 go INTO the firing lire with the
younger soldiers Of the active army
ANA is first reserve. Since thnt time
many things have changed aud thtN
have fought shoulder TO shoulder
with their more youthful comrades
"a have proved themselves sthl 30
possess sterling value as warriors.
The record ~ one OF these regiments
entirely composed ~ men from Brit
tany. viii serve 20 demonstrate how
great II the part these soldiers OF ma
ture age have taken IN the task Of re-
peling the invader, in spite or the
natural supposition that they had
passed b period Of enthusiasm for
deeds Of valor.
This regiment was m9bHized to-
Eether with the rest Of the French
forces on August :. 1914. When lhe
troops al the active army lcft 60 meet
the invading Germans crossing ueui-
Tui Belgium. this Breton territorial
regiment was gent from its depots at
iiehnes and Saint Mao 90 organize
garrison and possibly defend one OF
the sections " the entrenched camp.
enclrc3ing Paris. -Four months DO.
spent there digging trenches. nxiuF
barDed wire outaugiement-. erecting
Gun empiacemeuts and doing al the
arduous abor connected win the es-
Enlistment 81 strong military works
When the Germans had been driven
mack len us battle 81 The Marine. they
were placed in charge 81 90 front line
sector % the northeast uf Rheims.
Here they stayed for Is months. con
SANITY harasssd by the enemy while
fher dug o. great system Yl ureurh-
both Of defense and communication
Hulit o~lockhouses and concrete n
clluc-guu positions ~eNcf,Htrd rlN.
ana grenade pits generally organ
lied the position
The greatest test OF DO soldier
qualities ~ these tough old Warrior
came when they were transferred Co.,
Auoeriye in March thls year Tho
were attached 90 the famous flghtIns
Foreign Legion aud their dutv wac o.
do tto TIts ana spade work and keep
the l-egionurlcs supplied with ammu-
Hluou aud food during the French Of
tensife which began on April I5, and
az fte sme time 60 hoia 80 lue OK
trenches When me legion wen for-
ward or Us Victorious attack the
Breton trTitoTials were ordered t1l
follow them up and extend the com-
mnulcatiou trenches and racks across
tie conquered territory. They were
not content With simply doing thil
very perilous work always under fire.
They also took part By TIE side o. the
DICTIONARIES in tie capture ~ Auberiye,
and a section Of re-, ritorial %gronadicr-
played "a glorious role in the roduc-
ZION OF the small fled fort OF yaudcs
incourt.
Meeting a couple or these Breton
coming back with a batch of German
prisoners. a French STAFF officer in-
Of them where they had taken
the captiyes and whore they were Fo-
and receiver only a broad smile
Ia reply, He was astonished al this
apparent lack OF discipline D. was
shout 20 demonstrate when @ German
PRISONER stepped forward and sad
Excuse me. Sir. but these men do not
peak French. They are hretons. re
The officer tho information ask
"a for and the convoy marched ON.
This Il not al all surprising, Tor al !
80 ~