Evening star., 1927-12-25
D0TY PUT THROUGH
GRUEL|NG DRILLS
Little French Colonel With
Terrible Blue Eyes Com
mands Legionnaires.
BY BENNETT j. DOTY.
Written exclusively for The. Star and North

After we had received our full out.
fit we had our first inspection by our
commander, Col. Rollet.
Grand commander of the Legion OF
Honor and colonel of the Premiere
Regiment Etrangere. or 1st Regi'
ment of Strangers. he is the grand
old man of the legion. He has been
with 1t % years. Entering as a sous
lieutenant (second lieutenanO he Is to-
day full colonel.
What service and deeds he has to
his credit! During the war he COM
manded a battalion Of the Regiment
of the Marche. as the legion Is called
in France. And always the old war
wolf led his men to victory. He Is
covered with wound scars and decora'
tions, and invariably wears the double
fourragere of his beloved legion.
He Is a very little man with
spade beard and fiercely turned up
mustaches streaked with gray. lie
dresses simply. and it Is stanoing
Joke among the Legionnaires that ne
draws the same uniform as they. But
once you get a closeup OF the man
face YOU understand why he com
mands the worlds greatest hghtlng
machine.
Terrible Blue Eyes.
He has a nose like an eagles beak'
terrible blue eyes few men can Win
stand their steady gaze is Ike that
of an old falcon) and an uprlSnt,
square.shouldered figure in spite OIL
his years, which he carries lightiy.
Such is Rollett, who though ne
has cursed me thoroughly. has my
unbounded admiration as a hrst.class
fighting man. Had he lived IN
Napoleon's time he would nave peen
a marechal Of France.
After much struggling and trouble
we got into decent form. Putting on
overcoats although the month was
June. and a sizzling June at thaD,
with the flaps buttoned back. blue
scarf around waist and bldon slung
20 the right and musette TO the left.
we passed the review OF the sergeant.
After calling us several species OF
animal, he marched US to the main
barracks and lined us in a single file
to await the colonel. After what
seemed interminable waiting. we be-
came aware OF a sudden hustle at the
post de police" or guardhouse. ana
then saw the guard lined up to re-
ceive the colonel.
Instantly our sergeant roared
"Guardez vous' (Attention9. Along
came Col. RolIet. He passed each
man. asking name and nationality.
His piercing blue eyes seemed to
search ones mind. If you gave him
as steady q look back he would say
"bien" tgood). and pass to the next.
When he had finished we were told
we were TO be sent to Saida 10 Com
pany of instruction 3. that afternoon.
This trip TO Saida is an ordeal,
About halfway you have TO get on
the train and march 28 kilometers to
the next station. The march is re-
garded with dread by the recruits. as
il is done at night. When one Is not
accustomed 10 tramping in the "Brode-
quin'' or marching shoes of the
French. II tears up the feet.
So. with bitter cursing of fate. ours
ing carried on In Is tongues. we pre-
pared for our excursion. After hasty
meal we stormed down to the station
In great style with the Clique" tfife
and drum corrs,. which Is one Of the
best. playing us of.
We crowded into the hot. stuffy
coach. still in our capots (oVercoats),
and were soon off. The train crawled
and crept along as only an Algerian
omnibus train can. and we became
hotter than Tophet In our overcoats.
At last. at perhaps 5 pm. we halted
at n small speck on the map with
some unpronounceable name. "Out
you go" ordered the sergeant.
Marched Along Highway.
With means OF anguish we shook
ourselves and lined up in column by
threes. The lieutenant in charge called
EN- avart." and along the white high
way we went. lambs led 10 the
slaughter.
The system OF the march mill.
taire" is to march so minutes and rest
10. The first two or three hours all
went well. The men struck up march
ing songs and joked But as the hours
passed sounds OF distress were heard.
Finally we arrived at "A small railway
station and simply wanted TO lie down
and die.
But do you think tho sergeant let
us do anything like that? Not a bit,
He sent us to collect wood. and build
n fire, Soon we had great kettle of
steaminG hot coffee bubblng away.
With this and a noble ration Of
timed meat. bread and cheese. we
breakfasted. Then with much pain
we removed our shoes. My feet were
nearly double their proper size. and l
felt sure I'd never walk again. hut
after a good rest l gingerly put on
the old hob.nails and when the train
finally pulled In l felt more like a
human being and less like something
the cat had dragged IN
Again we climbed wearily aboard
the train. this time In the good 40 and
OF A. II. +. fame. And after about
three hours. we arrived at the pic.
turesnue little town OF Saida, where
wa were 10 receive our training.
District hit Mountainous.
This district Is bit mountainous.
which makes II a good training ground
Tor Lcglonnalres. as tho conditions
resemble those OF Morocco and Syria.
II is "A rough country.
The next day We were assigned To
chambers. IS men to chamber. In,
cluding IA corporal chef Ito chambre.
We passed that day arranging our
chambers. drawing various parts or
equipment and In being taught to ay.
range our beds and "paauetages.
Let me explain tho ''raquetage" In
tho French army tho soldier folds his
clothing In separate squares of tho
same siza and lays them on top ot
each other A gloritied club sand
wich This requires much practice
and II the "pauuetage" Is ont OF line
or crooked along the rolls. corporal
or sergeant with one sweep OF his