A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD HEROINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2675, 22 January 1916, Page 11

A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD HEROINE

THE STORY OF EMILIENNE

MOREAU

From a recent number of the French journal "I/Illustration," the following account is taken of tho heroism a young girl during that terrible fight for Loos, which cost the English so dear. A young girl has just received the Cross ol : War, and has added her name and example to that tablet of honour where are found united the names of nuns, ladies of the lied Cross and oißcials of'definite appointment under Army orders. Her name is Emilienne Moreau, and she is only 17J years old. She lives in the village of Loos, which the English Army, happily, liberated after the struggles in the last days_ of September. It was during tlie fighting at the commencement of victory that the young girl showed her heroism and roused the admiration of the Highlanders, under Sir Douglas Haig. But from the very beginning of the German occupation she had shown the measure of her energy and fortitudo. During tho year of the German occupation of Loos she, with her mother and 10-year-old brother, had lived in her father's house. He was an old pensioned off underground worker. She was successful in making tho Germans respect their simple hearth, and, as she was preparing for her certificate as a teacher, she was put in charge of the village children. It was "a terrible year for them. Saving to submit quietly to the German invasion broke the old M-, Moreau's heart, and he died of grief, in spite of all that his daughter could do to appeaso his sorrow. The filial devotion of the young girl gave her strength to prepare the grave for her poor father. At last the day of deliverance was at hand. .Mounted in the garret of their homo, Emilienne, showing no fear, but seeing only victory, was able to help in the terrific preparation by the British artillery. Then the English Army entered) Loos, and here the story i 3 told by the representative of tho

''Petit Parisien," who went to mako Inquiries in the village. "Bodies littered the streets; blood was everywhere. The wounded wore lying on tho ground at the point of death. By their picturesque costumes she recognised the famous Highlanders whom the Germans dreaded so much. One-by one she raised thenu She is not very strong, but her willingness doubled her strength. To some she gave drinks; others she bandaged, and made them as comfortablo as she was able. The English surgeons found her in attendance on the brave men who practically owed their lives to her ministrations.

"At . the entrance to the village a song arose from a thousand throats. It was Save the King.' Mdlle. Moreau, waited, and when the National Anthem was finished she darted forward.in front of the soldiers, and with all her might sang the Marseillaise. The soldiers of old England were aston- s isliod, and then, filled with enthusiasm, crowded ronnd rlie little girl, and with her sang tho glorious hymn of Rougot do Lisle."

. The actual wording of tho Army Order conferring on her the cross is as follows:—Mdlle. Emilienne Moreau, aged seventeen and a. half .years, living at North Loos. On September 25, 1915, at the capture of the village of Loos by .tho English she lost no time in organising in her own house n. station of help, and was _ occupied tho whole day and tho following night in conveying the wouniled there. She lavished care and attention on them,, and placed at their disposal all her resources without any recompense whatever. She did not hesitate to get out from lior house herself armed with a revolver, and with the help of some wounded Englishmen she .succeeded in rendering harmless two German soldiers who were ambushed in a neighbouring house -and wero firing on the station.. The oditor of the 'Potit Parisien" gives details of tho fight which saved th© home of the Moreaus. Ho says that she killed five German soldiers, three with grenades and two with an English officer s revolver. The three were hidden. in a collar and wero firing on the rest station she' had organised, _ and would not come out from their hiding place. The other two wero charging her with fixed bayonets, but without trembling she let them approach, and then brought them down like an old soldier.

The name of Emilienne Moreau will forever be coupled with the deliverance of Loos. This young girl, to-day so modest, almost timid, whose soriousness is most touching has written a page in the history of France.