The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, APRIL 28th, 1922. SAVING PARIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, APRIL 28th, 1922. SAVING PARIS.

Paris was more than once in dangei during the Great War. The first oce - sion was at the memorable time of the Marne, and it will he remembered how a brilliant French counter stroke gave the Allies a victory at the Marne, ami put the Germans into temporary retreat. The French success w.,s due to the commandeering and organisation of the Paris taxi-cabs as a means for transport of the relieving French Army which was to save Paris. In a iccent i publication, “The True History of the axis of the Marne”, Commandant H. Carre tells the stirring history of one of tilt’ most remarkable incidents in the first battle of the Marne, when help at a most critical moment was b ought up to Maunouiy’s army ill its desperate struggle with Kluck by a hastily requisitioned force of Paris taxicabs. General Maupourv, in a preface, vouches alike for the exactitude and the ehaim of the narrative. It is, indeed, wr : tes a reviewer, one of the very best of war books, full of humour anil, also of direct touches which bring borne the grinmess of battle. It places the reader on die field, at one of the greatest moments of all history. The French 7th Division received Maunoury’s eiders in the evening of September 7th to arrive at 4 a.m. next day at Betz, in order to carry out the violent offence on the Ourcq against the Germans. But Betz was 30 miles from Paris, where the 7th Division was and to cover the distance on foot was out of the question. The railway w s in such danger that it could only move half the force needed. General Grllieni, Governor of Paris, had already I taken steps to requisition the Paris taxicabs. The companies owning them were asked to keep them ready. The Germans were advancing fast on Paris, and the cabs might he needed at any moment to evacuate women and children. In one company the drivers were asked to sign an undertaking to this effect: “I, the undersigned. . . engage on my honour to be at the garage at 11 a.m.” Not a single man refi sed to sign the undertaking and not a single man broke his word. Late m I the evening of September G, Gallieni ! issued instructions “to collect all the I available motor-vehicles and direct them I to points which would be indicated for the transport of 6,01 a) men. At 11 i p.m. the requisitioning began aided by the police, and a great column of taxicabs began to form up. The command was brief and peremptory: “I requisition you; order of the Governor of Paris; come with me!” By daybreak the column was near Danimartin and halted there, as no orders had yet been received ns to its destination: The drivers dismounted and took council. They asked were they to be taken into the firing line. At 8 a.m. the thunder of artillery began to cause them some uneasiness. Most of them showed a hrnvo enough front hut some of them gave signs of distinct nervousness. As they waited listening to the far-off roar of the gnus: Two squadrons of dragoons moved up along the road. The The bronzed faces, tired looks, and eyes -haggard w.ith sleeplessness of the young cavalrymen told of their exhaustion, yet they had an air of calm resolution which impressed and reassured. Cavalry and artillery passed and though the cannonade drew nearer— All this movement of troops towards the enemy strengthened the belief that we were taking the offensive and that “the enemy was going to get something unpleasant.” With that extraordinary ; changefulness of impression which

characterises the French race, the taxidrivers’ morale rose to such a tlegicc that they declared their eagerness to be off for the front and “to do their pit.” \s night fell on September /, BU I, the taxicabs arrived at the point u here they were to take up the troops live in each cab. Tn nil, 4,000 men were thhs moved during the night of September 7-8, and they arrived fresh rusted, ready for battle into which at once they moved. It was the crisis of the whole struggle <>u the Marne. On September 9th the battle was won. The German wireless was issuing or- ' ders for the retreat.