The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-11-22

ried to the defense OF her own DOT
ders!
Every home in those heroic coun-
tries gave of its loved ones to the
call. Peasants, bankers; noted art
lists and humble laborers; lawyers
criminals ION they came. But
France was caught all unprepared
for the treacherous advance Of her
ancient foe, and little Belgium, stout
ly contesting every point, her capital
carried nearer and nearer the coast
as one splendid city after another fell
before the sweeping hordes, at last
held desperately to Antwerp and Os-
tend, all that remained to her of a
once fair territory.
And then, to those Of US in Lon
don, came the word one morning that
war had been declared upon Ger
many!
Followed closely the news of the
mysterious departure of the Grand
Fleet
Germany was bottled up"
And, moreover, the way to Amer
lean shores was barred.
Then, one week after war had been
declared by Great Britain, six regi-
ments, three the very flower of the
English army, three of marines; were
hurried cross channel, there to take
their places beside the Belgians in
that desperate attempt to save Ant
werp.
And those six! The Coldstreams,
the Scots Greys, the Life Guards;
these three and the three of marines!
England had given of it's best!
The Coldstreams! Every man over
six feet in height! The Life Guards!
Favorites of the long line of English
sovereigns! The Scots Greys! Most
splendid of the kings body guards!
Every man real man! Every man
a trained soldier! Practically every
man-from drummer to top SER
geant''-a possible officer.
Thus it was that England answered
and that small handful was followed
closely by "Kitchener's contemplate
little armyW Nor was this all!
Within six short months England
had hurled across the Calais over a
million men. On they came, volun-
teers every one, from desk and coun-
ter, from school and office. Her best
her brightest.
And France? France was giving
not only her best, but her all! Each
day found new levies formed. Artists
threw down their brushes in the Lat
in Quarter, donned their uniforms of
red and blue, and marched blithely
forth. Peasants left their peaceful
homes and hurried away to Paris.
Everywhere there was hustle and
hurry.
Then-as the pitifully small army
of Belgium, and their even more pit
iful handful of British reinforcements
were hurled back from Antwerp, the
world gasped at the news that the
German hordes had swept across the
French border!
Indeed, SO rapidly did they advance
that within a few short weeks we
learend, the while we struggled to
turn the tide of battle on the little
stretch Of Belgian soil that stood as a
buffer between Calais-and Calais
meant to the Englishman, Dover
that the great Krupp guns were
pounding the antiquated defenses OF
Paris!
England stood aghast! France was
paralyzed!
For days the battle of the Marne
continued! Frenchmen gave their
lives by thousands. Each day brought
alarming reports of further advances
gained by the invaders. Each day
brought fresh stories of burned vii
lagos; of ravaged homes; of atrocities
committed against women, children
and the very aged.
The world gasped; and then
The Stand at the Marine
On September A, 1914, General
Joffre, rallying every available man
together with handful of English
troops, hurled assault upon assault
against the Germans, then wei
across the River Marine and all but
within the confines of Paris.
Communicating every omnibus
private and business automobile anC
truck in Paris, the aged veteran Of
the Franco-Prussian war brought new
levies to the fields of the Marine. Still
the hordes were overpowering in thei
deliberate onslaughts until, desperate
indeed, the very jails were opened
and, rising to heights sublime, tn,
convicts of France, fighting Otter
with bare fists, teeth and knives, lit
orally tore the German advance t.
shreds.
The tide was turned and what wa
believed to be defeat was turned t
a mad, joyous pursuit, lasting 70
nearly five days, when the German
forces "dug themselves in" Then be
gan the four-year period of trenc
fighting, only ending with the comm
of the Americans and the institutio
of weapons of offense never befor