Detroit evening times., 1945-04-22


re to Be Disbonded Because
emies connot Withstand the
Of Modern Warfare
enrolment numbered no more than 25OC0 men
vice its size at the outbreak of World War l. Yet
or france and eternal fame for itself by the end
War the colors of the Legion carried more honorS
other French regiment.
its formation the Foreign Legion was sent to
city whose crescent shaped harbor sheltered Arab
n Africa That was the beginning of the Legions
long dedication to emprebuilding among the
fierce warrior tribes OF North Africa. 1t was
then that France stipulated that the Foreign
81 Legion must be employed outside OF Metro
II politan France except in case of serious" war.
Before long the most diSgraceful, heartbreak
ing page in the Legions history was written
Nor was II written by the betrayed Legion.
naires dying of starvation and wounds in the
cutters and along the high roads OF SPAIN That
shameful page was written by King Louis
Philippe and by Queen Maria Christina, Spanish
regent, who borrowed the Legion from Louis to
fight her bitter war against Don Carlos de Bour-
bon. pretender to the throne. In 1885, approx
mately 6,4O0 Legonnaires sailed from Algiers for
Spain. OF that number. 249 survived abandon
ment by both the French King and the Spanish
Queen when they had served their purpose.
1T WAS not long thereafter that the French Gov
] ernment, again feeling the need of a Foreign
Legion to do the grueling, dirty work of empire
building formed a Legion for service in
Algeria which, for decades was occupied but
never pacified.
Then while America was torn by the Civil War
France sent the Legion to Mexico to bolster the
doomed throne of misguided but wellmeaning
Macmillan. Archduke of Austria and Emperor OF
Mexico, and his beautiful, even though piteouS,
Empress Charlotte.
The Government of the United States invok.
ing the Monroe Doctrine. made stern representa-
tons to Napoleon III which forced him to with
draw from the ill.starred Mexican venture But
the Legion did not return to North Africa be-
fore LegionEaires had engaged in a battle 10
the death whose anniversary, April 80, has ever
since been the Legion's proudest anniversary
and celebration wherever Legionnaires are sta
toned On that day. 65 Legonnaires and three
officers held hacienda for ten hours against
1000 Mexican troops. When il had killed 200
of the enemy and when. in turn, its three officers
were dead and 43 LegionnareS out of action
then only were the remaining % overpowered
So suicidal were the missions assigned the
Foreign Legion in the First World War that the
Legion scarcely existed at the wars end. In
1920, the Legion could muster only 1900 men.
Terms OF service, pay, pensions and gratui-
ties were raised to attract more men to en-
,~o4z list In the ranks Of the service.
10 AS misery following the first World
q War grew IN Europe. so did the Legion
n 4 When World War II engufed Europe
:. the Legion was ready to move. A demi-
y brigade of the Legion, stationed in Eng
!. land after the ill-fated Allied venture in
Narvik. Norway. sailed on an expedition
. destined to be as unfortunate as that of
- Narvik: The first expedition against Dakar.
= Always the Legion flag has borne the
- words "Vaour and Discipline" qualities
for which Legionnaires have been famous
. AT the end of the First World War, France
added two more words honor and fidel-
ity, so richly earned by these men from
- nations throughout the world
France can disband the Legion. But
she can never forget Ii. Nor will the world
AS long as there are men OF Imagination, the Le-
gion will live In book and story. The Legion has
earned the immortality on which it already is so