THE CANTINIERE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 8

THE CANTINIERE.

ABOLITION OF THE FRENCH

CORPS OF WATER-CARRIERS

STORIES OF HEROISM

(from a COKRESFONTjENT.)

TAR IS, April 17.

Thero aro still a few cantinieres or women water-carriers living who served in tho war of 1870, but in the future campaigns of tho French army there will bo no cantinieres doing "active service" on the battlefield. The Minister of War in giving his reasons.for the' new law, which abolishes them, explained that their services did not compensate for "their part in lessening the consumption of the food supplies, the retarding of the march, and the delays caused by extra baggage." He did not refer, however, to their history, which has been ono of bravery, heroism and tireless energy iv aiding tho soldiors during a campaign.

The duty of these women who'joined forces with their husbands or brothers was to servo drinking water to the men on march, and they were obliged to endure all the fatigue and hardships equally with the soldiers as they tramped along by their ■ side. Four cantinieres wero apportioned to a battalion. Their hodge-podge uniform, half masculine, half feminine, consisted .of a tight-fitting leather belted basque with its double row of brass buttons, a short Tull skirt reaching to tho knees, a small black apron aud underneath a pair of trousers. A leather hat was the practical headgear that went with this queer-looking combination. To the arm of ench can»n- fiere's coat was attached a little whit* iron plaque with, her name and tuut of the battalion to which she was assigned engraved on it.

The cantiniere in the time of peace had no legal existence, so that it was only when war was proclaimed tHat she figured on the army lists. In a letter to the directoiro dated March 17th, 1797, Napoleon speaks of tho noble action of tho cantiniere, Marie Dauraune, of the 51st brigade, "who on seeing a soldier fall into the river and in consequence of a swift current being swept under, jumped in without a moment's hesitation and saved him from drowning. I have presented to her a collar of gold from which is suspended a civic crown with tho name ot tho soldier engraved on it who is indebted to her for his life."

Some time later Josephine Tinquart, of tho 63rd regiment, received a. cross for having killed a cossack and thus saved the life of her colonel in the retreat from Russia.

Marie Tete-de-Bois, whose name is probably a sobriquet, as, translated, it is Marie Head of. Wood, was in seventeen active campaigns. Her husband was killed on the battle grounds and sho herself was wounded several times. Tho faithful cantiniere was scarcely cured of her last wound when she again took up her duties as watercarrier, and followed Napoleon to Waterloo. During the battle, a. stray bullet struck her and lodged in her face. As she fell sho shouted, "Long live Francel" The ball had made an ugly wound and the torn and bleeding flesh made her nlmost unrecognisable. A .grenadier bent over her and while supporting her in, his arms, in order to make light of her condition, said "Marie, really you aro not beautiful like this;" "That's possible," was her response, "but I can boast of being daughter, wife and widow of a trooper," and she expired. The records show a long list of cantinieres who have been rewarded with military medals as an acknowledged recompense for exceptional deeds of bravery. There has hardly been a French writer or poet of the nineteenth contury who has not been inspired to immortalise them with the pen. The cantiniere now is only a name, bnt woman still has her role to play in an outbreak of wnr. Tbe uniform of the cantiniere will be replaced by the hospital dress of the muses of the Red Cro*<*, but for nnd F~lf_ ?1 l- lr , P _ gation the cantiniere will not be surpassed.