POET DESCRIBES THE FRENCH SOLDIERS AS "CHILDREN OF LIGHT."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 255, 11 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

POET DESCRIBES THE FRENCH SOLDIERS AS "CHILDREN OF LIGHT."

The l'aris correspondent of the London " Daily Chronicle" sends the following to that newspaper:— ".Signor Gabriel dh'Annuzio. the wellknown Italian writer, has been giving his imprcssiona of what lie saw ot tho French soldier at the front.

" 'Your soldiers are children of light,' lie said. ' 1 hey have a courage burning. Ihi t intelligent, an endurance calm, but always alert, a natural promptitude w h e'll enables them to take advantage of every opportunity, a gaiety sharpened like a 6pear, spirit of brotherhood with each other, and, withal, that polish which always goes with bravery. " 'These are the splendid qualities which characterise our soldiers fighting on the banks of the A:sne, on the plains of Champagne, between the Argonne and the Aleuse, The other evening, among the ruins of an old Cistercian ab'iey. 1 heard a group ol Zouaves sing one of the old songs of your country. Shall I ever forget that sublime hour lTho Zouaves of Paleetro. the Chasseurs of Solferno. the veterans ot the army cf Italy gazed at me out of the depths of those young eyes. 'I ho cannon of Melagnana 1 could hear on my left. It was another episode in my dream of brotherhood between our two races."