New Britain herald., 1918-06-11
75 FRENCHMEN HOLD OFF 12,OOO GERMANS
But That Is Typical Of the "Blue
 Devils" Now in |. s.

Washington. D. c. June 11-A
 striking pen picture of the Blue Devils'' of France, some of whom have
 arrived in America, is gwen in a communication to the National Geo graphic society from Harriet Chalmers
 Adams, the noted traveller and war correspondent 4 part of Mrs. Adams communication is issued by the so- ciety in the form of a war geography
 bulletin, as follows:
 "Gerbeviller, the bare skeleton of a town in the Toul sector, where the Americans are holding their share of the Western battle line, is the Pompeii of France Pompeii was wrecked by
 the might of God; this town by hu- manhate To reach the most spectral ruins I saw in all Frame we crossed a bridge which will flame in history. the one held by the : chasseurs.
 We have an especial interest in the Chasseurs, for they have been training our American boys at the front No soldiers of France are as picturesque as these sunFburnt, fiery-eyed men of the Alpine and Pyrenean heights who have left the stain of their loyal blood on every frontier they have touched The Germans call them the blue devils,' and say they can run faster than the chamois. but it is the Roche who runs when they come his way They are merry, care-free lot. I heard story of one who fired in a kneeling position instead of lying flat on the ground. When asked lby a fellow-soldier why he was so fool hardy, he explained that he had g. bottle of wine in his pocket and it had no cork.
 The Immortal Seventy-Five
 During the battle of Lorraine, 75 chaaseurs were posted at the bridge which leads to Gerbevi1ler. As the German column hove in sight they tore Up the pavement, threw breast works across the bridge, and stationed their machine guns. This was in the early morning. At 4 that afternoon a longe chasseur fired the last round of ammunition and slipped away to join his companions, 51 of whom had sur v1ved. For eight hours 75 Frenchmen had held off 12,000 Germans!
 fingered into fury by the machine guns which had held them so long at bay, the Prussians entered the town, firing and burning every house they passed Like many French towns. Gerbeviller was built on one long main street. with lanes leading from 1t. Only stark walls stand. Oil was poured into the cellars to make more of blaze. If the people remained in the houses, so much the better.
 The refugees have crept back. On q mangled wall I saw the sign: Cafe Of the Ruins A girl in black was placing bunch of wild flowers be- fore the broken image of the Virgin on the wall of what was once 2. church. Only one building in the town staDds-the humble little hos p1ce which shelters Sister Julie, one Of the great heroines of France.
 We rang the doorbeu and 8 Sis ter of Mercy ushered> us into 9. nar- row hallway, and then into a little slttlng room with olcloth on the ia ble. and a few stiff backed chairs. There was battered organ and an ancient chest and two pictures of religious subjects on the war. I can see every detail even now, for this was the set ting of the woman who defied the whole German army
 She sat upright in her chair with hands crossed--a short plump wo man past so, with bright hazel eyes rosy cheeks. and firm mouth. Sis ter Julie, whose name before she was Mother Superior was Madame Ane1ie ] fp3ard, has most authoritative airs Beneath the cape of her black hahi+ 1 sleams the cross of the Legion of 1 Honor. pinned there by the President l or the republic, who with many other 1 dlgnltaTies made 8 pilgrimage to +his 1 village to decorate this Htt1e l old woman. 1
 Sister Julie speaks rapidly. with a n occasional gesture. She told us of the i 70 chasSeurs--how the first 10 he , wounded were brought to her house. 1 She took off the ammunition belts and sent them back by 8 nun to the bridge. 1 When the houses across the street 1 were fired, she went out to a German 1 ofhcer and said, Don't you dare to | burn my house. I am caring for the l wounded. If you spare my house and ! the people in it, I will care for your i wounded, too
 And she kept her word She | mothc"ed the homeless population | The stories she told us made me sick with horror"