A STORY OF THE UHLANS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 274, 11 May 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

A STORY OF THE UHLANS.

German lack of originnhty is well shown an the selection of some prominent military terms. The title "Kaiser" is itself a borrowed plume. Whatever value it may happen to possess really belonged to Franz Joseph, the recently deceased Emperor of Austria, who traced h's descent, through the House of Hapsbtfrg, from the Caesars of the Holy Roman Empire. But the German "All-highest" hag stolen the specious .soubriquet, apparently, without protest from its rightful owner. The term " CElan" has also- l>een borrowed and annexed. It was originally used by the Tartars to designate a species of light cavalry, armed with lances on which were carried small coloured flags, meant to frighten the horses of enemies. And the titlo was adopted from-Xartary by the Prussians. Since the first few weeks of tho war, we have not heard much about tho Prussian Uhlans, probably because their intended " frightfulness" rather failed to come off. But in earlier wars they played a characteristically rough and brutal part. In the Franco-German War of 1870 they wrought great havoc with the French telegraph wires. On arriving at a village they would ride up to the telegraph office, cut its connections, and either "arry off the apparatus or employ it to deceive iiio enemy. On one occasion, however, they were outwitted, and by a woman. Mademoiselle f)obu, a girl of 18 was director of the telegraph station at Pithiviers, where she lived "with her mother, when the Uhlans entered tlio town. They at once took possession of the station, and, tinning out tlio two women, confined them to their dwellingrooms on a higher floor. It happened that the wire from tho office, in running to the pole on the roof, passed the door of the girl's room. She conceived the idea of tapping the Prussian messages; and having contrived to kwp a telegraph instrument, she carried out her purpose by means of a derivation from tlio wire. Telegrams of much importance were thus- obtained from tho enemy ;and theso were secretly communicated to the sub-Prefect of the town, who in turn conveyed them across tho Prussian lines to tho French commander.

Mademoiselle Dobu and her mother wer hoth arrested, and proofs of their guilt were discovered. Thev nnn brought before a Court-martial, and speedily condemned to death. But the sentence had to be confirmed by tho commander of the corps d'anneo, Prince Frederick Charles, who. having heard tho description of Mademoiselle, desired her to lie produced. He inouired'the motive of so grave a breadi of the law* of war. "je ani ri Frjincaise," the brave girl replied. The prince confirmed tl;.' sentence upon her; h„t happily before she was executed, news of an armistice arrived ;md saved her life. Tn IS7B this fcelegraph'e heroine was in charge of the post nffre at Montreuil near Vmcennes; and on the 13th of August of that year she was decorated with the Legion of Honour bv Marshal Macmahon, tho then President of tha French Republic.