DEAF-MUTE SIGNALS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2373, 1 February 1915, Page 7

DEAF-MUTE SIGNALS

'A RESOURCEFUL COLONEL. How a private's knowledge, of the deaf and dumb language materially assisted in the.capture of the capital position of Vermelles is fold in a December number of the "Sourd'Muet," the. journal of the deaf and dumb. .The Germans had herded the women and children of the village into a school, at the windows of which, they had installed machine, guns. Came the order to the commander of the French troops entrenched outside the village to carry it at all hazards and all costs on December 5.'

Tho commander was in a cruel position —tho very'kernel of tie enemy's defence was the school with ite mounted mitrailleuses. From his post a few 1 hundred yards away the French officer rould see the 'German machine guns at the windows, bilt also .the children • playing in 1 the yard beneath. He could even hoar the children's shouts . and , laughter as lie looked and hesitated. • 'Another figure came into the range of his field-glasses. It was a deaf-mute who signed to one of the children on his fingers. Then the colonel—for he .' >ms a colonel—had his brilliant idea. He called up one of tho men of his ' troop. "Jean, my boy," he said, "you have always boasted that you could use ■the deaf and dumb language. Hero is • ; a chance to make good your boast, and, 'by so doing, to serve your country. Do you see that deaf-mute in.front of the sohool at Vermelles? Take close note ■of his gestures, and toll me if he uses ; the language that you understand."

Jean looked. "Yes, mon colonel," he i | said. "I can understand what ho is saying." "Do you think you cou'd mako yourself understood?" wes the solonel's next question. And again Joan said "Yes." "Well, this is--what I want you to do," went on the commanding officer. ; "Take this hand-glass, and, when 70u have attracted the attention of the deaf-mute by flashing a ray in his face, signal to him to shepherd the women and children into the right-hand corner nf the classroom. Tell him, tod, 'to let you know when he has succeeded." Ten minutes later Jean informed his colonel that the children were in safety, out of the reach of the attackers' fire. . Tho colonel-then called up the ten best '• ' shots of the regiment, told them to .pick off,the Germans who were serving , the machine guns, then gave the signal , to charge. Within a quarter of an hour the machine guns were silenced, the schoolhouse carried, and Vermelles won.