The Nome daily nugget., 1918-03-13
TALES OF THE FOREIGN LEGION

The following is the first of a series ican author in active service on the French front.
 Others will be published at inter- vals in the future each redolent with the same vibrant spirit as;
 THE STORY OF MARcEAu
 French, as spoken by Frenchmen, is d harmonious language. but becomes an abomination when massacred by foreigners. Germans in particular seldom master the intricacies of French pronunciation, and the inhabi- Alsace and Lorraine have in the past generations had their vocal cords so turned to the German gutturals that they have cultivated an accent moro harsh, if possible, than that of the Germans themselves.
 This is was that made Marceau a pariah in the Foreign Legion. He seemed fine sort of fellow person. ally. and was an efficient and willing soldier, but every time he opened his mouth, his Teuton extraction adver- tised itself and would make everyone move away and mutter "Boche." How could a man with such an accent be anything but a German?
 We knew his story: Born in Mul- house under Prussian rule. he was technically a German subject, but. re- fusing to serve his time in the Kaiser's army, he had escaped into France just before reaching the military age, and had enlisted in the Foreign Legion to earn French citizenship.
 His real name was Schnider but the French authorities had changed his civil statue and given him identi- fication papers under the name ot Marceau that he might not be shot as a deserter by the Germans if he should happen to be taken prisoner.
 His record was very much to his credit If he was really a French Wm- pathizer, but how could one tell? Too many Prussian spies had w0r ned their way Into the French army In just this way. We distrusted him and could not help showing it. He realized we had reason for our dis trust and did not resent it, but offered to convince us by actions. Here again he was in hard luck. Our otfi- cers would not send a man of whom they were not sure on any confiden- tial mission where he would get the chance to communicate with the en- cmy.
 Twice Marceau risked his life to bring in wounded comrade, but AX' cept for the personal gratitude of the rescued men his heroism did not help him any. We knew he was brave but we did not know he was not .. Ger man.
 The day we attacked Carrency, Mar ,ceau was left behind. In the Toureile offensive, at his own request he was detached to assist the musicians and other non-combatants. who. as stretch er-bearers, followed up the attacking line.
 All that day Marceau worked like a Torjan. Our casualties were heavy and each additional wounded mar seemed heavy to the stretchermer who had to bear them several mile, to the emergency dressing stations Although he was not particularly strong. Marceau soon wore out hi mariner, bringing the wounded men IT on his back.
 In the meantime, the regiment hay ing .tarried the German front line trench by assault, continued to ad vance. pushing the retreating enemy
 
 their duty nobly. and We advanced with practically no losRes behind the curtain of fire they maintained be- tween us and the enemy. The Ger man retreat soon became rout and we followed at their heels.
 By night we had penetrated some ten miles into the enemy country. and had lost contact with the rest of the line. Our officers held a council Should we retire before re-establish- ftH> contact with the regiments to the right and left of us. or should we await them where we were? The second course was decided upon, for why should we suppose the Zouaves ana Mansions should be very far be-