The New York herald., 1921-06-30


Copyright, 1921, by THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, June 20.
Intense interest has been aroused
through France by the recent dis
closure Of two incidents during the
early part OF the war involving the al
legged unwarranted Staying of French
soldiers by their own couhtrymen.
A wave of Indignation has swept
over the country as the result Of the
charge that Mayor Monerai of the vii
lage Of Reuily-Sauvigny, aided by two
village counsellors, drowned a sick
French soldier in the Marne in order
to prevent the invading Germans from
accusing them of giving asylum to a
wounded combatant, and thus Selling
upon this preteyt to destroy the village
and punish its inhabitants.
When the victims mother found
witnesses to the cowardly crime and
convinced Judges at Amiens of tho
truth Of the charges, Mayor Monerai
committed suicide, but his two assist
ants are still holding office and have
been protected by court officials.
-nvestiga ston Demanded.
Public opinion. led by the most rep
utable newspapers is now demanding
the fullest investigation and It Is ex-
pected that murder charges will be. filed
against the men accused within the next
twenty-four hours.
The crime dates back to September.
1914. when a Zouave named Letermelier
was taken sick on the march and was
left In the basement of the Mayors
office. When the arrival of the Ger
mans at the village became imminent
Monerai pointed out the danger that the
enemy might shoot the village officials
II the French soldier was found. II IA
charged he then obtained tho aid Of
TWO assistants, swore them to secrecy.
and In broad daylight the semi-conscious
victim was placed in a sack and carried
to the banks of the Marne. where. de-
spite pleadings. he was held under the
water until he was dead. The current
stream.
There were only two other witnesses to
the crime, young girl and an aged
woman. both of whom protested against
the inhuman act. But they were threat
ened with death II they did not keep It
secret. The Mayor, fearing discovery.
tried to cover up the crime BY ORGANIC
ing search for the body, which was
round and buried In the village cemetery.
When the coroner Of Amiens started
an inquiry Monerai denied any knowl-
edge of the act, but a girl who was a
of hA
that he had told her that the Zouave
had been drowned because 1t was feared
MS pftiful cries for his mother while in
oelirium might attract German repcieals
against the whole village.
Inc village records contain a death
certificate made out by a local doctor
stating that death was due to heat pros-
tration, but the doctor denies the autten-
ticity of the document
Executions mt Verdun.
The other incident involving the axe
cution of two second lieutenants at the
order OF Gen. Boyer II being vigorously
exposed by Deputy Andre Berthon. who
mas demanded that he be permitted to
interpellate the Cabinet on measures
10 be taken against Gen. Boyer.
The General Is charged with having
unduly and without trial ordered the
" ZIG Two OIIICerB, named
Herdufn and Millot, during the Battle
OF Verdun when the men, according 10
the declaration OF Deputy Berthon. wero
not guilty.
According to the records the Ideu-
tenants were commanding sections dur
ing a critical period of the battle for
Fieury. They brough back their men
without orders and forty-eight hours
later were found In the citadel OF Yer
dun with some of their men. According
70 the Echo de Parts, Investigation
showed that the Lieutenants retired in
such way as to uncover and endanger
the whole line. When this was brought
to the attention of Gen. Boyer he Or
dered them shot without further proce-
dure.
When facing the firing squad Lieut..
Herduin is said to have declared: Sol
diers, you are going to shoot me. but
am not coward and neither Is my COM
rade. We. however. abandoned a posi-
tion In which we should have remained
to the bitter end. II you ever find your
self In the same situation hold out until
the death. Don't abandon your posts.
Now aim straight for the heart Take
aim Firel"
Gen. Boyer reported all the facts to
his superiors who approved OF the order.
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