PRIESTS IN THE FIGHTING LINE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 133, 8 February 1915, Page 2

PRIESTS IN THE FIGHTING LINE.

In France, under the conscription law, piiests are liable for military ser vice in case of war, and that explains why twelve abbes, who were either cffi cers, ncn-commissioned officers, or pri vate soldiers, figure in the roll of sol dier-priests, who have laid down their lives for their country One, Abbe Lu chat, was a sergeant in a cyclists' ccrps and was killed on the field o' battle after being mentioned in des patches on the previous day, while an other clerical lieutenant, Abbe Grenier, was struck down in leading bis men in a charge.

Many heroic deeds, too, are being recorded of chaplains in the British Army. One of these was with our soldiers during some of the hottest fighting at Moris. Witnessing the cruelties practised by the Germans on the British wounded, he became so indignant that he shot one German and became a combatant on the spot. An excellent shot, he did a good deal of execution among those of the enemy who had aroused his anger, and kept sii fighting until he received a wound hi the leg which necessitated his re moval by the ambulance corps.

stories of brave deeds performed by Army chaplains, and although only on one occasion has a V.C been awarded | to an Array chaplain, scores of them have distinguished themselves by gal- | lant acts which merited the simple dej coration —“For Valour.” The V.C. chaplain alluded to was Chaplain J. W. Adams, who, during the Afghan War of 1879, rescued two I troopers of the 9th Lancers at the imminent risk of his life. One of the bravest men during the South African Was was Padre Robertson, chaplain of the Highland Brigade, who risked his life a hundred times, carrying messages where the bullets were flyingthickest, taking - water to wounded men, and ministering to the dying on the field. In the Egyplain War, too. Padre Robert sen, who accompanied the Cameron Highlanders, specially distinguished himself by bringing in Lieutenant Cameron, who had been mortally wounded.