THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOUR.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 506, 28 October 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOUR.

The Chancellor of the Honour in Paris has published a list of all the women who have from the foundation of the Order been entitled to wear the magic pieces of red ribbon in their buttonhole. The first was Virfrinie Ghesquiere, who served as a cantiniere under Junot in Portugal, and was known as " the pretty sergeant."" One woman only has ever had both the. cross of the Legion and the military medal, and she is still slive. Her name is Juliette Dodu. When the war broke out in 1870, at which time she was only twenty years of age, she was employed in the telegraph office at Pithiviers. The Germans took possession of the town in due course, and a message was sent by the German General Staff to Prince Frederick Charles, which Mile. Dodu had to transmit. Instead of doing so, she destoyed it. The fact was discovered, and she was arrested and sento be shot. Prince Frederick Charles, however, arrived on the spot, learned what was going on, and ordered her to be released, at the same time complimenting her upon her courage. An incident eo honourable to both sides must be rare in the midst of a sanguinary war. The tradition in France is that the young lady saved a whole French army corps from destruction, but that is doubtless an xaggeration.