THE FOREIGN LEGION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 35, 11 February 1916, Page 7

THE FOREIGN LEGION.

FELL UPHOLDING HONOUR OF FRANCE. A GREAT CHARGE. It has already been stated that, owing to the losses w-hich it suffered during the fighting in Champagne at the latter end of September, the French Foreign Legion a great and remarkable corps, Avith a wonderful record of glory and sacrifice, has, for t-he time being, ceased to exist. Mr. Paul Rockwell, a former member of the Legion, has contributed to the New York Times a brilliant account of the manner in which "The Legion died for France,'' after a year of service at the front, in the course of which, in Artois and in the Vosges, it had earned for itself frosl honours.

"The stupendous bombardment proceding the attack was already in progress when the Legionnaires arrived at their camp a. short distance behind the French lines. The camp was in a hilly, sparsely wooded district between Souain and Pertnes-les-Hurlus. The French batteries rained hundreds of thousands of shells of all calibres on the German lines, and the guns of the fo 0 replied as well as they could. On September 25 the Legionnaires broke camp and moved into the second line of trenches. The first line trenches were filled with colonial regiments, who were leading the attack. The Legion was instructed to act as a. reserve until further orders. At 10 o'clock on the morning of the -sth the Colonials climbed out of their shelters and charged the German lines.

"As th e Colonials left the German first line to pursue the fleeing foe the Legion advanced under a heavy shell fird and occupied the newly captured trenches. The Germans were in full retreat, and many prisoners were already being escorted towards the rear. One of these prisoners recognised the Legion and cried out to the men:— 'The Germans know you are in this attack, and are determined to wipe you out. lam an old Legionnaire.' Towards evening the Legionnaires were ordered to advance, and most of the advancing had to be done crawling on all-fours. A heavy rain began falling and lasted all night.

"The same crawling advance, alweys under shell-fire, was continued throughout the day of the 26th. Fresh troops had relieved the Colonials during the night,, and the Germans steadily fell back. Twilight found the Legion in a stretch of woods, where the men spent a quiet but wet night. About noon the next day the fog lifted, and an enemy aeroplane, flying over, discovered the hiding-place of the Legionnaires. A GLORIOUS END. "Smoke-bombs were dropped, indicating their position, and a heavy shelling of the woods followed. Many men were killed, but it was impossible to leave the woods. The dawn of September 28 us)hered in the fatal day !n the history of the Legion. The Legion was instructed to charge the earthwork, or fortin, in the Eois Sabot, on the right of the: famous Ferae Navarin, which was regarded by the German engineers as one of the strongest in their entire line of defence. About 3.30 in the afternoon the Legionnaires left the shelter of the woods. Twenty per cent, of their original 'effectives had fallen under the shell'-fire without a shot having been fired by the Legion, and they were eager to charge. "In columns of two, under a heavy rain of shrapnel, they started for the position they wore ordered to take. Changing into single file, the Legionnaires charged across the two lines, staight into the fortin. A heavy stream of lead from machine-guns and rifles caught them from in front ami raked them from the sides, but the lino never faltered. Whole sections fell as if mowed down by one sweep of a giant scythe, but others leaped forward into their places. ROLLED ALONG LIKE LEAVES.

I "A veritable death-trap seemed to have b'een set for th e legion, but each I man wlio went down foil facing forward. Nothing could check the onV.'iught of tfie Legionnaires. At points

in the lino the stream of lead was so thick that falling men were turned over and over and rolled along the ground like dead leaves driven before a late autumn wind. Somehow or other men lived through it, and reached t-he barbed-wire entanglements. The wire-cutters were lost or thrown away, but* with butts of rifles a way was pounded through.

"Of the battalion loading the assault only one man got through the entanglements, and he fell headlong into tli e trench with a bullet through •his knoe. Other men were at his heels, however, and leaped into the desired trenches. Those who reached their goal were few in number, but enough to clear out and conquer the position. Keinforcements followed, a.nd found that not many were alive of the defenders or th e assaulting forces, but the Legion had taken the Fortin of the Bois Sabot."

Thus died the Legion, that corps to which Geenral Deligny said, more than 40 years ago—" Soldiers of the Legion, the folds of your flag are not broad enough to hold your claims to glory." But this death is not fov long. Already has come the word that other volunteers are coming forward, and that the Legion will be re-formed.

A Sydney cable states that the Eastern Commission reports that a party of prominent Japanese mining engineers propose visiting Australia to study the ores, with a view to importing. Large contracts are anticipated. A conference of representatives of the Shipowners' Federation and Waterside Workers' Federation ha* now reached an agreement, which represents a substantial increase in wages, and a considerable improvement in conditions. T-Vire are average increases of 3d per hour on day rates, 4d on overtime up to 10 p.m., and 6d on overtime afterwards. Men are not to work more than 14 hours continuously, inclusive of meal times., and are not to be called uon to resume work till' a break of 10 hours without their own consent. The question of working after 10. p.m. is to be referred to the anions; but delegates expect their ready con'sent under the new conditions. The Waterside Federation representatives express much gratification at the result, and say they were met frankly and generously by the other side. ' The whole proceedings were most harmonious, indicating excellent relations between employees and work-