Catoctin clarion., 1918-10-17

cannot be entirely credited to the gal
liant Poilu, writes Wilbur Forest IL
New York Tribune.
What has inspired the valor OF sol
diers who have stirred the world witt
their deeds throughout the European
war and who have, during the last rev
months, fought against numerical su
periority with a morale OF Crusaders
The best answer to this question II
the Poilu's leaders. And no better
illustration of the leadership'of Frencf
Poilus during this war can be giver
today than by quoting brief, terse
citations awarded to French generals
for most conspicuous gallantry-a list
of citations available only nOW-brlef'
est keynotes on which volumes coulo
have been and probably will be writ
ten later-tabloid stories, many never
before known, which, despite their on
fetal wording, tell the full story OF the
French Poilu.
1t has been the inspiration Of his
officers from generals down that has
keyed the Poilu to set the example FOR
American doughboys, who have begun
literally to follow 1t on French battle:
fields, The bravery Of both POilus and
doughboys fighting side by side to
stem the German march on Paris may
undoubtedly be traced back to the SUI
creme example set by French generals
FOR thair Of1icerS and men,
Many Generals Fall.
The death of a general on the bat
tlefed is not emphasized when 1t oc'
curs for obvious reasons. Many French
generals have fallen. That which fol-
lows will show that the example they
gave in death has been the force al.
lowing French arms to pit pure valor
against numbers until the weight OF
America could be thrown into the bal
ance.
General BridOux, commander OF a
cavalry corps, wounded while leading
a reconnaissance, whispered to those
about him before he died:
"I die with great JOY for my coun-
try; say to the cavalry corps that the
sacrifice of my life must serve them
an example"
The simple citation adds:
"He has given proof of immovable
energy in the command of his corps"
Here is the story Of General Diou.
commander OF an infantry brigade ::
'Of courage entirely proved, ne was
nortally wounded in struggling
against numerically superior enemy
with his brigade, to whom he gave the
best example of bravery, struck In
their midst with rifle In his hand"
The following tribute is paid to Gen.
Georges f. J. Riberpray, division
commander:
"Officer generally of the highest
moral value and beautiful character,
never having known other cares than
those Of the wellbeing Of the army
and the accomplishment Of his mill
tary duties; adored by his officers
and men, he preached contempt of
danger to them. in each day giving
greatest examples of courage. He
fell gloriously September IL, 1917,
present among his regiments of the
drst line during the height Of COIN
bat under artillery and machine gun
fire."
Risks Life Hundred Times.
Brigadier General Caudrelier. Colon.
ial infantry:
"Fell gloriously in examining en-
emy works from the most advanced
trench Of his brigade after having
during the campaign exposed his life
hundred times with the utmost con-
tempt for danger; wounded previous
ly, he had never interrupted his SER
vice a single day."
Brig. Gen. Grand d'Esnon was killed
leading one of his battalions In action:
"Having received the order to hold
In Vigneul les Hattonchatel, he exc
cuted this order until the moment
he was killed, struck through the
heart by bullet, at the head OF q
battalion"
The following, longest of all gener-
als' citations, but no more lengthy
than thousands of Poilus have received
during the war, is that of General
Battaille:
"Learning that our positions were
violently bombarded by enemy artil-
lcry of heavy caliber, he considered
It his most sacred duty to investi-
gate the situation and encourage the
defenders by his presence If neces.
sary. 1t was at the moment he was
giving instruction to the chasseurs
of the Twenty eighth and Thirtieth
battaiions with sangfroid and con-
tempt for danger, which to him were
habitual. that he was mortally struck
by fragments of an enemy shell. He
thus gave, to his last hour. the exam.
pie of bravery and greatest Of mill.
tary qualities"
Without Fear or Reproaeh.
Brig. Gen. Lucien Rousseau Is cited
as follows:
IAN officer to whom bravery and
admirable calm were commonplace,
best shown during combats on the
Sambre, during the retreat and on
the Aisne. Killed at his post Of
command during operations which per-
mitted a regiment Of his brigade to re.
capture Berry-au-Bac."