A HERO OF FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2421, 29 March 1915, Page 6

A HERO OF FRANCE

HOW A FRENCH GENERAL DIED. The Paris "Temps" recently published the following story of the death of General Bridoux, taken : from the notebook of'ah army surgeon, just returned from captivity in Germany:— "I passed yesterday through one of the most touching experiences of . my life," the surgeon writes. "Gen. Bridoux, in command of our cavalry corps, died in my arms. I have seen many deaths in twenty years, and I have read of the deaths of Plutarch and of tho generals of the Empire, but I am convinced that so noble a soul as that of ' Gen. Bridoux has rarely animated a mortal.

"Tho battle was raging in a fog so thick that one could see no farther than 200 yards. , In order to watch better the operations, tho general and his staff were approaching tho lines in their automobiles. Coming into a clearing the party sustained a heavy musketry fire from a party of Germans concealed fifty yards away in a thicket. Two chauffeurs and two ordnance officers wcro killed outright, before tho cavalry escort could intervene and drive the Germans away, Gen. Bridoux' fell back in his seat with his hand to his breast. A bullet had shattered his shoulder, penetrated the body,' and pierced a lung. "We carried him into a log hut in the thicket. 'I suffer,' he exclaim-* ed. 'I feel very ill.' Then he talked of his wife and children to the chaplain, but to us he spoke only of the army, of his soldiers, of his 'corps of cavalry that marches without horses and of which all the men are heroes.' "Gen. Buisson, who commanded a division under Bridoux, arrived. 'My dear Buissun,' said the dying general, 'I am about to die for my country, and I am almost happy, since that will give you a command or which you are worthy. Don't forget that our role is to advance, always advance, and that we should do all the harm possible to the invaders who seek to annihilate our beautiful France. I have, confidence in the final victory, and I regret to have contributed so little to it.. " 'I die joyfully for my country,' he resumed, after a paroxysm. 'Tell the cavalry corps that the sacrifice of my life should serve as an example.' "Another paroxysm, another lucid interval, and the general expired with tlicso words on his lips: 'I die —1 am happy— my country will triumph.' "