Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-03

him In q thunderstorm OF SneliS. SdiHi-
Is. not too hastily. he hoped across
the fields behind the Somme, proceed
Ing from shell hole to shell hole in the
general direction OF the field hospital
a grin illuminated his muddy face.
Now and then. superbly indifferent TO
the geysers Of earth spouting before
and behind, H.. stopped TO snin the air
or to take Il general amused survey OF
his surroundings Afar off Corporal
Oscar Mouvet saw him cOming-head
barred, a hand pressing one bloody
shoulder, and thought him crazy.
But he wasn't crazy. lie was men,
ber Of the French Foreign Legion. ana
an American. This perfectly glorious
battleday with all its stupendous fire.
works happened to be the Fourth OF
July.
Say" said the legionary as he hop
ped over the corporal's shell hole ana
bcamed with the simple pleasure OF II
all. Say. kid. isn't this one hell OF
Fourth
Uowling his bit of joyous defiance
above the screech of German shelis'
Frank Whitmore of Baltimore. typified
the invincible spirit Of the Legion He
typiiicd also the spirit Of those 3oo
Americans, who. before the United
States entered the struggle, flew to the
ranks OF the Foreign Legion and the
rescue of France.
The Call of The lusitania.
Corporal Mouvet himself was one OF
these. Born in New York thirty years
ago of belgian parents, he kept out as
long as he could'-which was until the
Lusitania went down. Then he left the
security of American shores-not so
much because the Huns had despoiled
the land OF his fathers: not 50 much
because they threatened that France
which he loved: but chiefly because the
Huns were-Huns.
SO it came about that at O'Clock
in the twilight of this autumn evening
OF 1916 Corporal Nouvet, OF New York.
and Frank Whitmore, Of Baltimore,
got acquainted in a roomy shell hole
ceived terrific gouge in the hand
nothing whatever" he scoffed, when
he described II in Philadelphia last
week-but he had nevertheless volun-
teered to take message from his cap
tain to the colonel.
The Foreign Legion had reached
their Objective legionary will smile
when he says this, for does not the Le-
gion always reach its objective? But
the men needed ammunition and need
cd IL Immediately. Therefore the colo
mel must be notified.
Mouvet--a stage dancer before the
war and an incipient consumptlfe-
took the message. He took 1t while ne
was dizzy from his wound. He took II
through not one barrage, but two.
somebody had to 60" he shrugged.
~ he tried to turn the conversation 10
emergency shipbuilding. He is one OF
the speakers connected with the ma
tional service section Of the United
shipping board. and the French gov
ernment has extended his leave so that
ne may talk to the men In the ship
yards.
somebody had TO CO." repeated the
tall. rather embarrassed young man,
twisting his close-cropped mustache.
and flushing triile; ANY one else
would have done as WELL.
Maybe. hut in recognition OF his
services that day the French govern
ment gave Oscar Mouyet the Croix de
Guerre. That was his first citation
for bravery. He was cited twice again.
once at verdun in the summer OF 1871
and again ut Seicheprey last Novem-
her. Three precious stars shine out
from his Croix dc Guerre for the three
citations. Upon his breast glows the
service ribbon, indicating that he has
been wounded in action. Over the left
shoulder Of his olive drab uniform Is
looped the knotted red. white and blue
cord of the fourragere tri-color, dis
tinction which his regiment gained as
a regiment in the recent battle Of Viii
lers- Brettonneux and Hangard. His
regiment is the only one to achieve
this rare decoration. as II was the first
to achieve the crimson fourragere OF
the Legion of Honor.
Americans In the Legion.
With these marks Of distinction aug
mented by the clusters of moss-green
stripes on each sleeve, representing his
rank, the length Of his service and his
two wounds. Corporal Mouvet formed
q figure all the more impressive be-
cause Of his youth. 1t Is not necessary
to be elderly nowadays TO be veteran
OF tremendous and heroic struggles.
But that a young man Of thirty. mer-
ry-eyed and ruddy-cheeked. should
have won his way to such unusual
honors is n thing too remarkable to
pass without comment.
These" the corporal asked. touch
ing his Croix de Guerre and his stripes
If you think these are much you
should see some Of my comrades. They
can scarcely walk. they're so decora-
ted"
The beauty Of 1t Is that so many Of
these heroes are Americans. 1T Is un-
Just to praise one nationality in the
Foreign Legion above another" Cor
poral Mouvet said. ION one side OF
YOU Is a Swiss; on the other Holland
er: next to him Il Dane. and the ira
dition Of courage animates all. But
nobody need blush for Americans.
AT least 800 Of them were in the
legion. knew hirty-six-twenty-o one
Of whom died magnificently and fifteen
of whom are fighting magnificently
still. 1t Is a matter Of pride to be call
ed a Yankee nowadays The Ameri-
cans have gone away over the top"
Why they have gone over the top
away over-is the shining gold thread
that runs through Corporal Mouvets
own story OF why he Joined the legion.
II is a gold thread which he weaves
unconsciously into the tapestry OF the