Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 966, 13 March 1871, Page 2

A murder has been committed at Sedan. A young physician of twentyfive years, belonging to the "Red Cross" ambulance of Brussels, has been shot with a rifle by a German officer, in cold blood and without any provocation whatever, whilst he crossed the Prus sian lines on his way to Mezieres, in the course of his duties. Pie had a pass, wore the brassard on his arm, and had the lied Cross on his hat; and, besides, he carried his white handkerchief on his stick. His name was Debaume; he was a doctor, and had done much good in the ambulances. He had been a political exile at Brussels, which he left after the fall of the Empire to serve in the voluntary ambulances. His funeral was an occasion for universal mourning. Several speeches were made over his grave. His colleague has branded the murderer by declaring, openly and boldly, that it was a cowardly and criminal outrage against the sacred neutrality of the lied Cross men. This is a fresh proof of the savage manner in which this war is carried on.

The following anecdote is related by a medical officer from Metz Among the articles which ran veiy short as the siege progressed was chloroform. After one of the sorties a soldier came to the hospital with his hand smashed by a piece of shell. A brief examination showed that some of the shattered bones must, be removed. "Do you wish to be insensible while the operation is being performed ?" asked the surgeon. " I should think so," the soldier answered ; " i have been suffering terribly for the last two houis, and I do not believe that I could support any further pain." The surgeon vvas silent. It was a very painful opeiation, but the chloroform was all but gone. " Why do you ask, M. le Docteur I ?" —the soldier went on, after a pause—" is it that the stuff that makes me sleep is getting short 1 " " Terribly short," said the surgeon ; " it has nearly come to an end." The soldier was silent for a minute or two : then he said. " Very well, M. le Docteur, then I will do without it ; some of those who have worse wounds than I have will want it more; only be quick about it." So saying the soldier lay down, stuffed his handkerchief into his mouth, and held out his hand for the. .operation to be performed.