Putnam patriot., 1918-07-05
CHAPLAIN OF BLUE DEVILS"
 TELLS OF FRENCH SOLDIERS
 AND WHAT THEY FIGHT FOR
(Continued from Page One)

Chanoine Cabanel pictured the trench life in all of it's horror He told of the suffering from the cold from the mud, from the dampness, and, what is worse than the other two, from the rats These he declared to be the horror of soldiers in the trenches filthy, repuisive creatures, ever crawling over the fighting men. The dangers of the trenches he ex- plained were largely from the inces- sanity bursting of shells, grenades and shrapnel At considerable length Father Cabanel told of the religious convictions of the fighting men. Their reliance in God, he characterized as wen crful as well as beautiful Their life of prayer in the midst of horror. and their eoatriti5n for wrong doings. as well as the generous offering of life and stoie endurance of suffering, can not fai t9 impress anyone with the de1outnegs ef the French soldier
 In telling of the way in which the French soldiers die. the speaker com pared their deaths te the deaths of the martyrs in the arena. Through their devotion to their cause. even though it meant death, they inspired others to carry on the work for which they had sacrificed everything. The soldiers, Chanoine Cabanel said, are not afraid to die, for they trust infinitely in God. The following story told by Chanoine Cabane1 serves to illustrate the faith of the French fighter
 aOne evening"" said the chaplain, "the cannon was roaring and the dan ger imminent. for an attack was ex- pected for the next day at { o'clock A voice near me-not knowing l was the chaplain-was crying in despond- eney. I went to the soldier, and he saw who 1 was. 'Fatherp he cried, 'Oi ask God not to let me die tomor- row.
 My boy, all Chausseurs Alpins are brave. and not one of them must fear death
 Father, my mother is a widow, l am her only son and support can mol think of leaving her
 Let us pray together
 We aid pray
 Father, please hear my comics sion J,1
 We were surrounded on all sides, so covered him with my cloak. he rested his head on my breast, as di1 St John on our Lords And my head against his, I heard the avowal of his faults
 Now, father. am ready to go.
 'The attack began as expected, and the boy was mortally wounded, but he was satisfied He had faith. and was not afraid. It was for God, for France. and his mother, and he went. feeling that he would soon meet her in heaven. That is the way the French soldier dies
 A dramatic incident occurred re- gently in Boston as Chanoine Cabanel was addressing an audience in that , city. He had just described the death of one Lieutenant D'Autun. when suddenly woman stood up in the audience, and shouting, Father. Father that was my brother" pushed everyone aside. and dashed down the aisle to hear more of her brother, whom she had not seen for several years, and of whose death she did not know To prove that she was right, she drew from her pocket a photo graph not only of her brother, but of Father Cabanel as well, explaining that Lieutenant D'Aumn had sent 1t so that she might see the face of the chaplain he so much adored Chanoine Cabanel's talk was com pletely filled with incidents of this nature, all showing what wonderful lfe the man has 'ei. and in what great respect he is held by the Poilus .anQng whom he lives on the battle dc Is.
 Father Cabenel te'icves that the French are fighting for the defense of their rights We did not want war" he said. We were not ready for 1t, though the Germans had been prepar- ing since ls7l The victory will be orus. But we must live in hope-ev- en if Paris is taken, even if all of 1 France is overrun
 Father Cabanel spoke in French. ] but at the conclusion, in his quaint English he remarked And now . should like to hear you all sing the Star Spangled Banner The nation al anthem was sung with unusual dash and vim Father Cabanel was intro duced by the Mother Superior. Moth CT Louis. The novioes at the Mother House contributed 10 the program by singing, in French, Le Chant d'Al- sace
 Among the members of the Catho- lie clergy present were Rev Fathers Routhier, Grady and LaCroix, Put nam; Ginet and Ier1lN. nanielson