HERO DIES SMILING

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 187, 17 April 1915, Page 3

HERO DIES SMILING

: ’U& <ited. r a ; French soldier who spert# ~wlt| dealh'., l .accent of the the jyjoldler whft, was r flghtiJT|: bfctiide' a: ipan whose did h®; kiioWj but who displayed heroism of |- etrange kkind, chaffing the Germans 4n their bad aim, though he was wounded • ho fe\Ver than’’ Hye timd& ' Th# bullelp were whistling ahout'the ears of the' French soldiers',* the shrapnels covering them -with .eartjj and debris, .of iron. Th e edit&er heard a slight cry. Hie turned round aMd" found ''his trench companion rubbing his ankle. “It |s ‘■noftlfdg;’’ be'-Mid. : "The Bdches a£e bad shot*?’ ’ -»■ ■■ '■ : -• t>

* A few xripttients later he heard apdry. '■ VTis'eompani , ou ? E hand was now at hls "They are doing better,” he said; “They have rectified their ■fire.” raised his leg' as; if io climb ont cS the trench when-a third bullet entered hia shoulder. “Oh, oh/' he - shouted '?■ “theyare making progress.!’ • rTb c now offered to dreSg' his companion's wound, but the latter became angry.. ; ', \ Raising lymself out of the trench, he indicated ..the esact position of the, German?. B,ut stqpn he staggered. A fourth bullet .grazed hj$ v cheek.. “A miss/’ he shouted. “Take careful aim, g€^itinmen. A little more to the left.” Suddenly me signaller stood tip, then fell Jn r a mass at the bottom .of the trench. with' difficuty. The soldier rushed towards this strange hero. ‘‘Don’t trouble,” he said, in a vtfi.ce scarcely above a.' whisper. “It would be better if you killed on; Tor me.” He smiled, then died. - - r - . > ■ V -