Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-27
RY BENNETT J. DOTY.

BY BENNETT J. DOTY.
Written exclusively for The Star AMI North
American Newspaper Alliance
The company with which I started
out 10 fight the Syrian trihesmen, AS
described in my preceding article, was
composed OF the bad men OF the resi'
ment.
Its fun designation WAS Ningt'
neuveime Compaigne t2ath Company
de March de Ia Premier Regiment
Etrangere. And this company, though
little then was expected of it, was To
become a famous part Of famous
regiment.
1t was la Premier Regiment Of
the Legion which made the famous
charge of a., kilometers in France in
the early part Of the World War and
was almost entirely wiped out, though
it held what it had gained. That was
in rs or l6. and caused generals TO
wiring their hands a. the loss OF so
many good men.
Imagine a regiment of 1000 return,
ing with scarcely enough men To form
a battalion. vet having passed its oh
(
il until fresh troops could he brought
up in relief. Such is the Legion.
Bad Service Records.
The n9th Company Of this famous
regiment was composed or men VINO
held bad service records fer lntoNica-
ton. INSTRUMENTATION. absence without
leave, etc. but not for CoWardice.
With perhaps 20 "bleus" Uecruits)
thrown in. they were 120 strong. All
in all they were hard. dissolute lot,
bur what demons they were in comha
was later proved.
We were commanded by Lieut.. Yer
non. as captains were few then. and
we were organized in haste. Vernon
was one Of the Squarest, hravest. most
popular officers of the Legion. Al
though Young. he had served through
the big scrap and held the Legion ot
Honor award and the Croix de Guerre.
Mon lieutenant" found a grave al
Sueida. and there was not man OF
our hard-boiled lot who would not
have faced he'll rather than see him
die.
The work OF organizing the com
pany went steadily on. There was
plenty TO do in organizat ton and equip
ment. hut finally We were reviewed by
I
leave next morning.
Start for Tunisie.
At an uugodly hour we rolled our
packs. had coffee and marched over
10 the main barracks for pay. rations
and muster. We were camping in the
stables. There was no room for US in
the barracks.
Then the company was lined up by
sections. roll was called. and preceded
by the Fife and Drum Corps ard fol-
lowed by guard of honor we march
ed 10 the station. The clique thandi
played its best pieces. and we felt a
great thrill. knowing many OF us who
marched so gayly away never Wonid
see Sidi Bel-Ahbes again.
AT the station We boarded special
train. and the regimentai commander.
Col. Rollet, babe us good-by and tod
us 10 uphold the fame OF the legion.
The clique struck up VOLTA de Bou-
din THE March of the Legion }
while the guard OF honor presented
arms. We had six-day train ride in
front of US to get TO Bizar;e. Tunisi".
The heat was terrible and we suf-
ferei from being crowded. / have al
ways looked back upon that trip with
horror. Six days OF eating canned
stuff. Of trying to sleep. OF gong
through long tunnels where one gasp
ed FOR breath. left us limp as dish
rags.
And then. 20 top II of. on the fourth
DAY We had an accident and ! was
among those hurt We were in some
little Tunisian town and they were
switching The train. The Arab driT.
ing miscalcuiated the dis'an nee and
ba need into ne 100 hard. ! was look.
ing out the window and ms forehead
hit the frame with an awful crash.
Al the same time received on my
head TWO or three packs. rifles, cart
ridge belts and the like.
Only "A ound" Accidental.
got a bad cut over my right eye.
had Ii fixed up. but had great deal
Of trouble with IL sfterward. As my
eye closed completely. ] was excused
further duty until the day before We
arrived In Syria. This WAS my only
! wound" while in the legion.
Finally We got 10 BiZerte. We were
thankful 10 get A hot meal once more
and TO sleep in hunks. We were forced
10 wait a week for ship. ~ | had "A
/ rGcF fE4 nee n fH4z MET =