A Daughter of France

Levin Daily Chronicle, 26 April 1917, Page 3

A Daughter of France

HEROISM IN FACE. OF THE 'ENEMY

Paris, Jan. 2.2. YSat«rday at the Sorbonne a matinee was organized in honour c.f French womanhood, and the heroism of a young gird of 21 was celebrated. This girl, Marcelle Semmer, was decorated with the Oroix de Guerre and the,, Legion of Honour. [During the retreat in August, 1914, after the French had crossed the Sommo and its Canal, pursued by the enemy, MaroelTe Semmer lhad the presence of mind to open tho sluice gates in order to prevent the Germans from crossing the canal. This act of heroism was carried out under the fire of the Germans, who fired on her and on our troops. As a result the enemy troops were held up until the following morning. (Remaining in the vil'age, the girl was able to pick up and to hide underground 16 exhausted French soldiers, whom she helped to escape in civilian clothes. Having been caught by the enemy in the ac 1 "; of feeding a French soldier hidden in ia thicket, she was condemned to death. ■ "When questioned, she replied:—"l am an orphan, and havo but one mother—.France. 3>o with me what'you will."

She was oil tlie /point of being executed when a rafale from the (French artillery dispersed the Germans. She then hid in on underground vault, and was saved next day when the village was retaken/ by the French. While serving as a guide to a patrol she was again taken prisoner, but after being shut up in a church she escaped in the night through a shell-hole and regained the French lines-—Wireless Press.