The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-11-04
FRENCH PRINCE
IN BELGIAN ARMY
Descendant of the Bourbons
Serves With King Albert.
IS STRONG FOR AMERICANS
Brother-in-Law of Emperor of Aus
tria Tried First to Get Into French
Army, but Rule Prevented Accepting
Him-Has Won Promotion and Been
Decorated With croix de Guerre for
Distinguished Services.


The Prince Sixte de Bourbon, de-
scendant of the erstwhile royal house
OF France, brother-in-law Of the en-
peror of Austria and officer of the Bel
CLAN army, thinks Americans are
~"epatant."
The prince, who some time ago re-
ceived that now famous letter from
the head of the house Of Hapsburg
regarding possible peace terms in
connection with the Alsace-Lorrainel
question, has nothing but praise for
Americans. He Is a great admirer of
President Wilson; he applauds the eff
forts America is making to fight the
war to q victorious conclusion; he Is,
delighted with the American soldier,
and he cheers the fighting qualities
which they have already SO ably dem
onstrated.
In a talk with Father w. A. Hem
mick of arlington, ID. c., who is now
In France as an officer In the American
Red Cross, the prince paid a glowing
tribute to the United States. With
Father Hemmick he went to school in
Austria, where they became intimately
acquainted.
Although Prince Sixte has spent
much of his time In Paris and, despite
his illustrious origin, his name was
one unknown to many French before
Premier Clemenceau made public the
letter which he had received from
Emperor Charles.
He first came to Paris to live In
1905 when his father, Duke Robert of
Parma, sent him here to study.
"Paris." said the duke, contains the
best and the worst. Choose"
Studied In Paris.
The prince Immediately began a.
course in the Ecole de Droit and the
Ecole des Sciences Politiques. Then
In 1910 he began a series of tours to
Tripoii, Egypt. the Soudan, Mesopo-
tamia and Syria.
In 1914 the prince was in Austria
and when the wal broke out he had
only n thought-to return to France
and serve the country over which his
ancestors had reigned for so long. But
here he encountered obstacles; his
sister, Zita, having married the heir to
the Hapsburg crown and one of his
half brothers, Ellie, having married an
archduchess and serving in the Aus
trian army as a major, and the SYM
pathies OF his mother not being all on
the side of France. The news, too, of
the first weeks, coming from Berlin
and. Vienna was to the effect that
France had already been beaten.
"Good or bad" said the prince, Il
throw my fortunes with France"
And he left with his brother, Prince
Xavier.
In France he found other obstacles
to his plan to serve his country. For
he was opposed by the law which
prevents princes from serving in the
army. A second attempt at a recruit
ing Office was without success. He
then offered himself as a private SOL
der to the English army. This re-
quest did not meet with approval. But
through the queen he and his brother
were permitted to serve as stretcher
bearers In the Belgian army. In No
vember the two brothers were able to
discard the Red Cross insignia for the
crossed annon and the star when
they were given commissions as second
lieutenants In the Belgian artillery.
Gains Promotion.
At the end of 1917 they were pro.
NOTED to first l~ieutenants. And there
In the mud of Flanders with their guns,
in a little room In what was ono q
prosperous little grocery store, they
called their home. Two army cots
three chairs and a rough hewn table
were their furniture. And they were
content.
II have never seen more democratic
men," said Father Hemmick. Every
thing about them Is simplicity. They
are loved by the men in their command
and respected by Belgian officials.
"When / was on the Belgian front
I dined with them and Baron do
B~roqueville, former prime minister OF
Belgium. and King Albert.
lucy arc kCth VII CftkStibhe
America is doing. They are greatly
interested In the country and after the
war Prince Sixte intends to tour Amer
lea"
The prince wears the French Crois
de Guerre. 1t was awarded him fol
his brave work in the glorious mud OF
Flanders by President Poincaire In the
month Of April, 1916.
But while the winning of the French
war medal brought him pleasure, hi
tells his friends that one Of the great
est joys Of his life was the authorize
tion from the French general staff t.
spend several days of his leave on thu
French front. With his brother hi
visited various parts of the front and
was often In great danger. But HI
said he enjoyed 1t and considered 1t ar
honor to be privileged to view tho
work OF the French soldier.
The American salt works in recent