Evening star., 1927-12-30
BY BENNETT j. DOTY.

Written exclusively for The Star and
North American Newspaper Alliance.
The night following our first clash
with the Druse we spent in heavy
sleeping. The next four days were
passed in cleaning up the town. bury
ing the dead and forming the column.
which was constantly being rein
forced
The morning after the battle ! was
told off with burying detail. Dead
Druse We're scattered in long lines,
hidden between houses where they
had tumbed when found by French
bullet; strewn behind walls. in the
streets, in all quarters Of the town.
The bodies were piled in long line
in front of our camp as an example
to the enemy.
The DruSe prisoners were put to
work dragging off the bodies of the
horses we had shot. When they had
finished they were told off in squads
lined against wall and shot. This
is the law and had to be done.
Met Death StOically.
The town was n village soumis-
that is. ii had accepted French rule,
paid taxes and then turned traitor.
| found the French generally lenient
with prisoners. but as the Drlse gave
no quarter they had no choice. The
dead and prisoners were of all ages,
young men and old men,. The cap
tives met death stoically. Not one
fiinched or asked for sympathy.
The Druse wears pair of baggy
trousers. a shirt like an artists smock
and a wide belt in which he stocks
his cigarettes. money, watch and
Iny nvIa 70
turn in every scrap of material taken
from our own dead for the Use OF
our intelligence officers. There was no
ban. however. on looting the Druse.
We had to turn over their rifles, but
anytnin1 else was fair game. One
of my buddies got about 5000 francs
in Turkish silver pieces. which are
unalloyed coins. For many DAYS
thereafter he was the richest man in
the outfit. Finally most Of 1t went
for wine,
Col. Andrea, commander OF the re-
lief column. received the captured
Druse banners. He congratulated us
on our conduct, and ordered an extra
ration OF wine TO be served. That
gained him much more popularity
than the congratulations.
The morning OF the fourth day we
were ordered to move on to Sueida.
We were striking straight at the heart
of the Jebel Druse country. the
mountains OF the enemy. They rose
in the distance before us. Between
Sueida and our camp lay rise
known as Tell Hadie. Beyond that
the country fell away In long val
ley. On the opposite slope was Sueida
Had to Strain Water.
Normally the Legion could have
made the match in a few hours. But
moving forward in column formation
we were forced constantly to halt TO
allow time for canton TO be pulled
out OF a ditch or for the artillery
to move up. The heat was gallinH
and water was scarce. We didn'.
dare drink a drop without strain
ing it.
We were preceded by a cavalry
screen. Shortly before sundown the
Druse appeared on the crest Of Tel
Hadie. Bullets few about us. The
column was moved into open forma
ton. We spread out along the rocky
slope. taking whatever shelter VT
could find. Our artillery moved Int,
action. The 75s were soon blasting
the Druse from the top OF Tell Hadie
In about an hour and a half there
was not a tribesman left.
We moved into camp at the foot Of
Tell Hadie. and bivouacked. We were
too tired 10 eat. All we thought OF
was sleeping As soon as the sen
tries were posted and low stone
wall hastily thrown up in front of
ls we turned in.
We were scarcely In our blankets
when the Druse poured In from the
rocky slope beside us. IL looked as
II we were going To have another