A Story of Ypres

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 May 1918, Page 1

A Story of Ypres

WHY GROSSETTI DID NOT RETIRE,

l.oi'd Eslier, iu tlie cohmnis of tho 'Morning J.'ost,' tolls as follows 0110 of the very best, of the luutiy good war stories thut have come from his pen:— General Grossetti was buried this week at Peru la Chaise with the highest military honors. His funeral oration was pronounced by liis old comrade-in-arms of Charleroi and the Marne General _DuljaiI i 1:1(0 Governor of. Paris, who, in words of called him the bravest of the brave. General Grossetti 's popularity with liis troops was unchallenged. His Palsta/Hun proreminding our troops of a well-known of letters a* whose boutades they have often laughed, his humour, his confidence in the poilu_ and his disregard of personal danger ondcaved 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 !ire_ began to retire. The}- were met l>y General Grossetti. "What do you piopose to do with me?" he called out to them, "I am too fat to run away. I am tired to doath t and 1" must sit down Get me a chair." A solid camp stool was brought by a soldier, and down he sat, (juicily resting in the middle of a shell-torn street —a sort of Sublician bridge—awaiting the advent of the enemy. He continued to tling humorous .jokes at the men as they passed. "I am an unlucky fellow; I cannot retire. You see, I am good for nothing but to sit where 1 am." A company in Indian file began to creep past hugging tho walls of the rocking houses "Where are you off to, my children? Is this really a retreat? Arc 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 irresistrible. 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 Fieid Marshal begged to enquire what the French commander proposed to do, as the retreat of the French might involve the retirement of his army. "Will you sit down sir? "We can talk quite comfortably here," said Grossetti, and another seat was provided. Our countryman could hardly believe the fat general was serious, but down he sat. "You can tell General French," began Grossetti —at that moment a shell burst, close to them —"You can tell General French," he continued, after a imitable pause, during which lie brushed the dust and smoke from ofc his kepi, "that liiv name is Grossetti, and that, »s mv name indicates, I am too fat to be aide to retreat." 'The French say that when the. British otlicer returned he told the Field Marshal he had been attending the most curious "five o'clock" he was ever likely to see.

It is not surprising (adds I.ord Ks!ier) that the tears of many French "poilus" should have fallen into Grossetti 's open grave and that the women and children of France should leave wreaths of immortelles upon his tomb.