New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

. RI the literature OF the war. Inc
" harsh, unvarnished literature of
the trenches. the impressions of
the fighting man written at the moment
became closed book with the last shot
that scared over to the German lines
They take a place in letters which the
ruined cathedral will take in art.
The famous Goth Army Corps of
France, defenders of Verdun, thrown
first into every offensive of the war, the
shock troops supreme of the republics
divisions, is given a memorial of this sort
in "The Charmed American John
Lane Company, a half-foot of pad paper
sent from the trenches and translated by
George Lewys. 1t is the statement of
the experiences Of FRANCOIS Xavier, who
was about to take out his second citizen
ship papers in the United States at the
outbreak of the war. Instead he chose
to Join the colors of France for service
in the Iron Division. The manuscript
came into the publishers hands when the
American troops were first crossing. It's
grewsome reality caused it to be with
held until the cessation of hostilities,
when it would no longer have the danger
of being a depressing influence.
AS the translator states, at is the
most realistic story of the war; the
truth" Here is single incident in the
book which may confirm Mr.. Lewyss as
section. Francois Xavier and his COM
panions are going over the top.
eve drop into the German trenches, La
Terreur' in the lead-I second. Parisot is
following close his body is rubbing
against mine. A pare eclats interrupts the
trench at this point, closing US off from
view of the machine gun outfit on the op-
posite side. In this way we are upon them
before they are aware Dead bodies sling
across the parados. Lying in pools of
blood and water CHASTITY heads and arms,
stumped off at the elbows and wrists, con-
front u.s. The legs of a maccabe reach
straight up from the waist as he lies half
buried in clay, balancing in upright posi-
ton by shovel. 'La-Terreur' strikes
against this shovel. Immediately there is
an explosion followed by tons of earth, it
seems, crumbling our heads!
"Diable! A death trap! he exclaims,
this up with wresl'
"Over the broken bodies we Chamber
straight into the face of the defenders.
Three are left, manning the mitrailleuse.
They throw up their hands.
Kamarades Francesca
THE appeal comes too late. Until the
very moment that we emerge from the pare
eclats, the machine gun was still splitting
fire and destruction into the heart of our
troops.
"'La Terreur' roars: sAu diable!'--
jamming his bayonet through the belly of
the first. long, deep groan issues from
him; he puts his hands to the hilt where it
connects with the rife, and sinks, his eyes
bullying. Fearful sight!
II turn to the centre one. He wears eye
glasses, and his face is rotund and red. I
bring my rife down his head with
force and long squirt of blood shoots out
and up in the air! The crunching impact
leaves me weak and sickened with fear.
back up-there is an overpowering desire
to hee-panic-but Parisot is behind me
showing forward-yelling like a demon! He
brings his gun to his shoulder and fires
with accuracy directly into the huge, gasp
ing mouth of the third German, blowing
the top Of his head clean off!
Owe leap to positions in the trenches
that are built up with sand bags and sigma
the company, spread out fat the field, te
advance. They come on with roar! La
Terreur,' meanwhile, discovers a packet o.
cigarettes and some matches on a shell
and adopts both.
Fritz is not such bad fellow he say.
coolly, lighting a seche, and offering one te
me, she leaves us smoke The trench
seems to be in our hands in this sector ane
our artillery is preparing the way further
ahead. The sous lieutenant comes over
with a rush, rife in his hands like any
poilu.
"'Boys,' he pants, 'let us go on to thu
village