THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 5

THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE

A PEENCH GENERAL AT TPEES. Of General Grossetti, of the French 'Army, who was buried in January last with the highest military honours, it has been 6aid that he wa3 the bravest of the brave. Grossetti's popularity with his troops was unchallenged. "His FalBtaffian proportions, reminding our troops of a well-known Englishman of letters at •- whose boutades they have often laughed, his humour, his confidence in' the poiln, end his disregard of personal danger endeared him to the simple soldiers, whom he loved as children. His memory is already hallowed by legend. In the throes of the Battle of Ypres the French troops, under a punishing fire, began to retire. They were met by General Grossotti. "What do you propose to do with me?" he called out to them, "I am too fat to run aivuj. I am tired to death, and I must sit down. Get me a chair." A solid camp stool was brought by a soldier, and down he sat, quietly resting in the middle of the shell-torn street—a 6ort of Sublician bridge—awaiting the advent of the enemy. Hβ continued to fling humorous jokes at the men as they passed. "I am an unlucky fellow; I cannot letire. You see, I' am good for nothing but to eit where I am." A company in Indian file began to creep past, hugging the walls of the rocking louses. "Where are you off to, my children? Is tare really a retreat? Are you thinking of leaving your old General in the lurch?" The men stopped, petrified at seeing Grossetti sitting placidly on his camp .stool, shells bursting round him, gutting the houses, amid showers of shrapnel. The example was irresistible. The men took off their kepis and cheered him lustily. The retreat was at an end. The men turned and began to advance. A British Staff officer sent by Sir John French arrived on the scene. The FieldMarshal begged to inquire what the j French Commander proposed to do, as the retreat of the French might involve the retirement of his Army. '"Will you eit down, sir? We can talk quite c-m----fortably here," 6aid Grossetti, and another seat was provided. Our countryman could hardly believe the fat General could could be serious, .but down" he sat. "You can tell Gene.ral French," began Grossetti—at that moment a shell hirst close to them—"You can tell General French," he continued, after a. suitable panse, durint? which he brushed the dust and smoke from off his kepi, "that my name is Grossetti, arid that, as my name indicates, I am too ftt to be able to retreat." ■ ■ ■ - The French say that when the British officer returned he told the Field-MaTshal he had been attending tho most curious "five o'clock" no was ever likely to see. It is not surprising that the tears of many French poilus should have fallen into Grossetti's open grave, and that the women and cbildren of France should lr-avo wreaths of immortelles upon his tomb. ■