New-York tribune., 1918-09-27
Marines Over There
By Eugene Brieux
Tho Ne,C York Tribune
Forcign Press BNrsou
T~UGENE BRIEUX, the famous French
r. playwright writing in "Le Figaro


playwright, writing in "Le Figaro
dcvotes a special article TO the Amer
lean Marines, in which he says:
London knows our Zouaves and New
know yet the naval rihemcn Of the United
States, the Marine Corps. or simply the
Marines, who have gained their popularity
between Meaux and Chateau Therry.
If you see on the collar Of the uniform
of an American soldier sign representing
ball pierced by an anchor and surmounted
by an eagle with wings spread, then you
must give that soldier look respectful and
sympathetic. He belongs 70 an heroic
brigade he is a, "Marine.'
This brigade played its part--a beautiful
part-in halting the German drive on Paris
and III the offensive of July 49, The Mayor
of Mcaux has had to thank it for protect
ing his city; Foch and Petain have given it
their congratulations.
The Marines very proud Of it and
waiting impaticntly for the new moment
when they do and die. Thcy give them
selves completely, with zeal, with cnthu
siasm, with pride. Their motto is: eve
kill or get killed" The enemy has seen it
at the Bclleau Wood The hcroism mani
Tested there by the Marines was so great
that our General Headquarters, intending
to pcrpctuate the memory of this, has de-
cided that in the future the wood shall be
called the Wood of the American Marine
brigade"
1t is there that a battalion of Marines
took in few hours 400 prisoners, forty
machine guns, trench mortars, and all
that almost without firing a single shot,
with the bayonet. 1t is there Also bo-
levc, that during an attack, when the Ma
rincs and our dragons fought side by side
and some Of our dragons had fallen from
their horses, killed wounded, the Ameri-
Marines lcaped upon the riderless
horses aud continued the attack The Ger
mans have dubbed them Devil Dogs, and the
Marines have accepted their nickname, in
which hatred, fear and respect arc ex-
pressed. One would not be surprised if
after returning to their country they re-
taincd this name as a glorious souvenir to
be added to their other names
For the Marines, in that country across
the water where everything is so young,
arc Old, very old: they date from 1772
They fought in the War for Independence,
that other one Of hundred and forty years
ago. They have already fought at the side
Of our soldiers for the same cause. They
also fought in the War of Secession and
the Mexican War They fought against
the Boxers in Pcking, and they were first
to I.,DJ frb
Panama, in the Hawaiian Islands They
also were the first American soldiers to
land on French soil, ON June 81. 1917
Ihe corps spirit is developed among them
just as it is among the elite Of our armies.
as they like when fighting to take off their
coats, to throw aside their hats and to meet
the enemy with sleeves turned up 1t hap
pencd once that a French officer asked one
OF their wounded:
"l ou are an American soldicr?'
"No," answered the soldier, "I'm a Ma
rno"
There is not another American corps fra
ternizlnS with the French more Intimately
Everywhere where one finds the soldiers Of
the Starry Banner one is moved by the gen
tleness and friendincss with which they
love to minglc in the games of our children
Here, too, the Marines are exceptional, and
our small boys have learned of the sway
they exercise over those Jolly fellows, they
treat them old friends, they look for
them on the benches of public squares and
ask them simply older brothers:
"Do you want to play ball?'
An international language has been
created, and it is one Of the surprises of
the present period how people understand
each other without even speaking the same
language.
The Marines and the children of
have formed a school for mutual instruc-
tion. They begin with "bon jour" and go
on to Gun, deux, trois quatre" Then they
talk of everything, and in short while
the Marine talks patois.
What does it matter anyhow, as long as
they understand one another? They under
stand each other we'll that one day a
Marine arrived with small English-French
dictionary which he had just bought and
was making inhuman efforts to explain to
the family of his little French friend the
following:
Il have written to my mother, but also
want the little boy to write to her. | want
him to write to her to tell her that he is
my friend"
Then he added, timidly, and blushing like
young girl;
"And also to tell her that the French love
tho Marines, if that is true, as I believe"