A MAN WHO WAS AFRAID,
HEROA STRUGGLES IN A FIELD OF FIRE
own.
IN THE BARRAGE. "Standing in front of us in the trench, sora ten feet away, I saw a bearded sol dier with the stripes of a sergeant and the ribbon of the Médaille Militaire-the highest honour any French soldier, from ranking general down, oui win and the Croix de Guerre with two palms, mean ing that he had been mentioned twice for qonspicuous. bravery in the general orders of the army.
Despite his beard he was a young man, well under thirty, and he stood with a quiet air of confidence and looked at us with a certain amusement,
psychology of fear is one of the The trangest mysteries of the moment, and the story told by Mr, Fred D. Litney in the New York Tribune of the man de scribed above has an illumination entirely Léon Barbèse as called to the but he colours at the outbreak of war, was soon seat home owing to feeble lunga Buffering from an innate terror of the that he did not have to fight. Soon, how
His shame ever. Léon grew ashamed.
are and finally he volunteered. became torturé
God, what a struggle that was" "I walked the road to the caserne with the Sweat running off me. For a year I had of the shells. I had dreamed
ew. They had fallen bround beard them.
im- prot of the steel on my yielding flesh For a year I had spent my days trying to hide my terror from my wife, my friends, and my neighbours. I went at last because I could not stand the torture of failing to do my duty. No one else knew. They sent me to Verdun. It was in the vory, mid of the German attack the left bank of the Meuse. I had boen drafted into a veteran regiment with a lot of others to help all up the gaps, and I joined just in time to go is the
THE DONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH, 1917.
SAN ANGLO-AMERICAN
ENTENTE.".
WHAT AMERICANS HAVE DONE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE ALLIES
Writing to the Daily Chronicle, Mr. John Masefield says:
Will you allow me to back Mr. Whelpley's plea for friendship with the United States by a brief account of what America has dono since, the war began, aud is sow doing, for the cause of the Alli
It is sometimes said, especially by Ame- ricans in the belligerent countries, that America should have entered the war But this upon the side of the Allies. course, though it may seem natural to many here, now in the fever of the war, must seem less obvious four, five, or even six thousand miles away, across an ocean
器 coutiment.
those great and distances from any part of the war the mind of a nation, Re a whole, cannot grasp the war and the passion of a na tion, as a whole, cannot be roused by it. always a strong thing in a young com- munity, is against all entanglement in European affairs.
WASTED SHIPPING.
BAD CONDITIONS AT THE PORTS. RAILWAYS AND DELAY.
SHIPPING
(FROM "THE TIMES
CORRESPONDENT.]
Of the many measures which are now being adopted by the shipping autori line to sope with the present war conditions some may be described as of a showy type and, some as commonplace. There is need for all. Ranking high among the first class is now construction. It may not be expedient as the moment to describe all that is being done in this direction; pos- sibly one day the public will be well catis fied with the results. It is alear, however, that among those who are now directing the mercantile marine affairs of the ng tion there is imagination practical
order, knowledge of the
both in respect of steamship manag
management and construction; and there is driving force. Possibilities in all directions are being plumbed, not from any craven fear of what the enemy is doing or may do, but wy and Army and serve the efficient utiliza
to the lest possible extent by an tion of the mobilized shipping and ship building resources of the country. one little instance of the steps which are now being taken to speed up building it
to introduce in the shipyards a aystem of payments by results as an incentive to the output of the best work.
GEN. SMUTS" TRIBUTE
HIS TROOPS,
TO
SOUTH AFRICA PROUD OF HER SONS.
General Smuta, who was accompanied by General Van Deventer and by General Collyer, his Chief of Staff, received a on his arrivadas public welcome Pretoria on January 26th. Accompanied by a guard of honour farmed of South, African recruits for the Uversena Brigade, he drove through the decorated streets to the amphitheatre of the Union buildings, which was thronged,
defield, he at first cherished the fact Besides this, the tradition of the station, from a determination to back the ban He had been surprised beyond
I had been wounded. I had felt the treaties, and overwhelmed. Colomb is understood that an effort is being made conquer the black German troops, but
Front line.
UNABLE TO SPEAK.
"Everything I did was mechanical,
with
General Smats, when he rose to speak, was received with the utmost enthusiasm. He expressed liis appreciation at being wonderful welcome in given such a phlegmatic Pretoria, and dwelt on the diversity of the forces which he had commanded in East Africa-Imperial, Indian motivo Africa, and South Afri measure at the splendid co-operation of these forces. The difficulties of the cam Aspaign had been far greater than had been anticipated. Young South Africans at the outset had thought they could easily
they soon revised that opinion. · His fellow-offoora declared they had never fought against better or braver troops Bast Africa, General Smuts went on to say was one of the most glorious coun- tries on which he had set eyes, but also the most difficult and dangerous, with. incomparable mountains, forests, and swamps. If the Imperial Govern ment had known what they
army to con- doing in sending an
it, they would have thought. quer twice, but the work had been done, He had not had the luck to see the final sur- render of the brave German troops, but broken. The enemy had now been driven into a small part of the country with his original army reduced to below one- third and bis more? deteriorating owing to losses incurred during his retreats, The task left to General Hoskins would be ably discharged, and the end was not far off.
were:
But though America has not entered the war (and should we enter the war if, say, United South America suddenly ignored the Monroe Doctrine, tore up all fire and rape), the most thoughtful and feeling of her people have helped our cause with a persistent largeness of gen-
LABOUR DIFFICULTIES. erous effort. By their help the funds given for the relief of Belgium and Ser Among the more commonplace problems bis are administered and applied, within quite one of the first is the question of the quicker turn-round of ships at the enemy lines, to the salvation of mil
Unfortunately there can be lions of lives. By their efforts the condi- the ports
no doubt that the conditions at several tion of British prisoners of war in the hands of the enemy, in Central Europe of the leading ports in this country are and in Turkey, is made endurable. By had. A case has just occurred in which their efforts many thousands of our Allies a ship has already been nearly a month have been healed, helped, and conforted discharging her cargo ht Liverpool, with every circumstancer of kindness, whereas in normal times the whole should
It is well-known that some thousands of
have been discharged within a few days generous
regiments; others, like Mr. again. Part of the cargo consisted of a cup of coffee; we were marching along Hall, have enlisted in our own Army; fairly light goods; the rest was heary the road. I had managed it up to then others (certainly many) have enlisted in material. There was comparatively little
True, the French Foreign Legion. Among these difficulty in getting the light stuff unload without giving myself away. talked little to my comrades, and probably latter was the brilliant young poct, Alaned, but the greatest difficulty in getting But the morning we Seeger, who has since given his life for out the heavy cargo, Labourers refused that saved me. marched to the front! What anyod me France Ever since the war began some to work on the heavy goods, and went away to seek lighter work, which was easily then I don't know, except possibly became hundreds of the vest young men in Ame
the very pack and flower of the found. On one occasion, out of two gangs said nothing. I was unable to speak. was dumb with four. I was sick. My graduates and undergraduates of the uni- of men which went away to dinner only so stomach turned. I walked with my hendversities, have been serving under fire with per cent returned to do an afternoon's down, and my feet dragged like great the French armies in the Field Service work This ship is still wasting her time weights.
We had been marching nearly sections of the American Ambulance, a in port, R two hours when I heard my first shell devoted service, in which two of their There was a long thin whine some, place number have been killed, many maimed, It was a new sound, and it and many decorated." The courage and in the air." was so strange to me that I raised my devotion of these young men have been head for the first time since we started praised repeatedly in the French Army on the march. The man next to me and Divisional Orders. Very nearly half laughed.
the members of their company have won either the military medal or the cross of war
We were called before daylight; we had our Canada Americans are serving in and the ship should have proceeded to sea the back of their resistance had been
Ashell," he said.
"I looked all around me I tried to stop to see the path of that queer whine, hat the man behind me prodded ine on. Several of them laughed.
more, the
they
HOSPITAL WORK IN FRANCE. Apart from this service, there are other American institutions in France for the beating and helping of wounded mon, You will hear plenty said.
Freuch and English. There withe Har They thought I was eager for them.vard Unit serving with the British Army It was though I were studying come under the orders of the R.A. BI. C. There other man. There was the me who was is the American Ambulance in the Lycée airail and knew it, and the me who Pasteur at Neuilly, near Paris. This watched to see how afraid I was. I tried ambulance, or military hospital, kaz been to follow the course of every shell. Myitish soldier. It is one of the most since September, 1914, to French and head was continually twisting trol beautiful and most thorough of the many at explosion. I could not control
level of my back and shoulders, large military hepivals now in France
solered out of the line and walked It is wholly the work of France. Many a little way into the field, towards the Franco-American lurers o shells. I wanted to see if I could do it.of the most famous American surgeons got close enough, so that I could hear have given their services to its different piece of shell whizz past my ear. Then departments au have done notable work, I waited for another piece. It was a
ia facial especially
God dental surgery dard job, but I waited. leaning on my face restoration, and in the treatment of rifle and looking at the ground a little gaseous gangrene. This hospital fille a way in front of me, where the last shell large lycée, an anese at Juilly, not far fnd exploded. If I had moved my eyes from Paris, and several convalescent from that spot I could not have stayed homes, mostly in the care of sisters of Not until the third une came did I hear charity, in the district of St. Cloud auther piece of shell. The others had struck too far to one side.
But
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS,
support trenches to our advanced lines in The Bois de Corbeaux. There was n Barrage to be crossed, and volunteers were exited for. I was chosen.
South Africa might always be proud of her sons. They had contributed the main share in a campaign which, perhaps, was the hardest in the history of the world, CONGESTION. ON-THE-EAILWAYS.
Yet what gave him the greatest pleasure was that these young boys were gentle- While part of the difficulties at the ports is due to lack of efficient inbour, at the mon, I have never seen better behaved docks it clearly is not the whole cause of troops in my life, General Smuts pro the trouble. Some relief to the dock ceeded, than the young gentlemen who labour question has been given by the fought under me in East Africa, and if creation of the transport workers batta you want a certificate of character for lions, which are now being raised to them go to the numerous German women 10,000 man. It is stated that a very seri and children scattered over that bar- ous cause of delay at present is to be barous country. Ask them what they found in the state of the railways Goods think of South Africans: They will tel are not being removed from the she railways as they ought to be As regarded the future, General Smuts
flocks by
you... {Prolonged cheers.)..~m ng kam tion is caused, and ships are consequensasorted chas South Africa must do her
in This difficulty on the railways is attritused largely also to the duty--the rest could be left to Providence shortage of labour, The railway com- and all would come right in the end panies declare that they are quite unable He had departed from East Africa with to cope with the traffic owing to the lack feelings of great disappointment. It was all kinds of facilities have been with- of an adequate supply of employees, and very hard when so near the end not to drawn. It is now becoming atter for but his Ministerial colleagues thought it be allowed to enter the promised land, consideration whether the railway con was his duty to go to the War Confer Faces she dipping companies and, dock grate crisis, and that even, South Africa
be given special assist authorities and assisted in cases of emergency by the mobile khaki battalions.
19. might be able to contribute its small May it not be desirable to give the rail mite which mighty important
results way companies similar, issirtance in the form of railway khaki battalions 7
panies
LACK OF COMMERCIAL COMPETITION. There is also a further matter for in- vestigation. The railways are certainly short of lalwar, but is it established that their very at Versailles, Limoges, and near
managed
by Americans bound best efforts into the solution
Gent problems? The railways are now
ence. Be felt that mankind was in a
BIG AMERICAN GIFT FOR BELGIAN RELIEF.
Besides these hospitals there are all the officials are putting the prebert C. Hoover, chairman of the American
oigne,
1
In response to an appeal by Mr. Her-
Commission for Rullefin Belgium, 500-
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Brossed
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with
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ר
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Being the Bole Agente
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Osaka."
for The Fuji Paper
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73)
UNSURPASSED HIGH-CLASH. Passenger BERVICE AT INTERMEDIATE EA E.
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Prince"="Raföljert Le Fraise · Burnet
There was the time when it became to France by long and tender associations Government controlled institutions members of the Rocky Mountain Club, of
2nd at it has not vanished, It seems to be a question whether quite the same amount of thought mining men of the Far West, have decided and work is being put into the efficient to forgo the building of a club house and management of the companies as in the hand over £200,000 the estimated cost keenly competing against each other purposes of Belgian relief, days before the war when the lines were of the building to Mr. Hoover for the NINE WOMEN OUT OF TEN. The question which he been raised of a slackening of effort directly in consequence
Passy par Veron and at Nice. Orangis an English hospital has noteworthy American surgical staff. the earlier stages of the war there were rage? You can walk up to it and draw Aix-les-Bains, but these have now been
Have you ever seen at artillery bar- the American Buspitals at. Pau and a line with a surveyor's chain on the discontinued. In this country Americans ground, marking exactly the limit, where have founded and now support at least the shall fall, and all beyond that Ime three hospitals for soldiers of our own will be in mass of boiling earth, like wave, Armies,
There are now in France many other In a story dashing on a rocky const I
of the nationalization of the railways is i discipline and directed by their own off- a seripas one and evidently deserves in They are billeted in private houses
Oule a railway man can speak near the docks and are paid at the
con
It is an unfortunate fact that nine women out of every ten are victims of Bloodlessness in one form or another. The girl in her teens, the wife and mother, the matron of middle age-11 know its miseries. To be anemic means being.
came within fifty yards of such a barrage [expressions of Américan sympathy for the uthority upon 1: Many of the tract or recognind trade union rates for pallid, with dark marks under the eyes. - path. But no path was possible. No Blaze several distributing centres for thompetition of the pre-war daya dias been recruited argely from mon who weretion; You feel worn out and depressed
50 good Comforts and hospital aut, all the little, landmarks gone, the [equipmeOne of these centres (in the competition ram serve best the aa those now employed in the London doeke night, if you do sleep, you are not re-
rica
companies
competition
lay flat down on the earth. I do not big as t clearing house of a depaigns in all directions that no effort axe qualities which have been unloaded on the pure These Pills purify bad blood; they
of pianis of various size and
whole face of the ground changed by Alcazar d'Eté) in the depot of the Ame
pero dot fit for general service. Most of not digest what little you do eat. AL new rain of shells. My heart sank
interest. The whole matter of deal come from the North of England and freshed, and when it is time to get up stamach west suddenly
I knowrican Fund for French Wounded; another empty. that I had reached the limit beyond which is the truly great business organisation ing with the cargoes passing through the their experience has been in the handling you feel exhausted and unfit for the day's ports is vitally important, since it is of pit timber rather then of deal planks dution. Neglected Ansomia leads to Don- I could not go. I had found the point of the American Clearing House, which
knew that the carrying capacity of the The task of deal portering, was therefore sumption, is now a vorting and delivery business as where my fear was greater than my duty,
giving quicker dispatch. There are
by new to the course the lay thought of Among other charitable works begun
they make your blood by taking Dr. Williams Pink othing. There was only a horrible blank fear
and maintained in France by Americans to use all tonnage to the utmost po hips, and this involves the carrying of blood. You will soon, tell they are doing Then I found that unconsciously Biner the beginning of the war are some was digging my fingers into the ground, private workshops where pour women may extent. Similar signs that the railway heavy loss Clong narrow sleping plasks you good by your improved appetite and authorities are giving as much attendon elatching the roots of grass, and drag earn a living by sewing; some church
to their
siile of tlie problem would be passing trestles Buything from 3ft to the sense of attacks of Indigestion. At first, owing to the strange of You will be better for your food, you will well have been dragging myself the other children: a big depot for the issue way, but I had lain down with my face clothing to refugees; ab asociation for doubt the existence of very great Thou? smaller than the average; bay they threw you continue with Dr. Williams Pink
superficial knowledge of
of the subleux can expert, and their earnings were much wagely charm will be increased, and ar towards my duty., 18 y
rebuilding in the devastated districts: a ties under which the railways me now themselves into the tank with good will Pills you will regain proper stresshould society for supplying delicacies to the severely wounded; a society for providing be working. But the public is led to and determination, and in weeks enjoy life as Lally as Svery woman should
know if the railways are now what they have become much more efficient do remains to them with the utmost ceny The battalion is a mobile one, but to have become weak and nervous following They are equally valuable to men who an excellent studio
disordered state of the blood,
pa
ging myself into the barrage: I might as schools and orphanages for destitute welcome. No one with even the lost the work, the men were slower than the be brighter and more active.
DASHED FORWARD.
of
French soldiers with metrainee ‚end workshop, im
gay
When I made that discovery I got to my feet and stood upright for a second, not more, only tin
time to say I must not give myself time to think and dashed agined, planned and conducted by an forward into the exploding shella American lady, for the invention, manu- floundered blindy into the Taw earth sad facture and supply of surgical apparatus for the extension and flexion of wounded fell again on my face
as This time my mind was working limbs. There was only one thing for me to do.
As this makes a fair record for a neutral and 1 knew it. That was to go on, I country and may not be well known here, crawled forward on my hands and knees, where there are fewer American institu I could not stand; it would he certain tions thon in France, the land bound to death. Twenty times I was knocked flet, America by long traditions of friendship, my wind gone, by the explosion of a shell it may be of interest to your readers. almost beside me, but I crawled os, I
did not know if I had been hit. I thought above, it were his three medals, from left I had. Two hundred yards I crawled to right the Croix de Guerre now with through the barrage and then reached three paluus the Médaille Militaire and ur lines. They gave me the Médaille the Legion d'Honneur. He was waiting Militaire for that aver
Loon was last seen in Paris. His left for the train to take him home to aloere was pinned across his breast and Centre of France, to his wife and hoy.
**I can tell them now that I was (Continued at foot of neat column) afraid," he said.--Baily Express.
the
SUCCESS OF THE TRANSPORT WORKERS" ~ Bervices sre^wvailable only wi there is
BATTALIONUNDA
#87City of S for employers to salisty local
isting of repr
Autho bur, of the reality of the isur applications can ge
Central Port and Tran
The Transport Workers' Bas Jino, the mobile militar, body for civilian work, was the subject of considerable spieton among organized lockers when a firsti formed har completely just There are in the London MAN
he parties of men belonging to
Banction bisa beeli given for the forma tion of more battalings on the same linen, Bald
the Transport Workers. Barahon Yo `and Lancaster Regiment is its proper.. ---working an deal porters slangside liam, and although in efficiency, they not equal to men who has fent their lives at this work their vice area warmly appreciated by the Port of Lea-vists entirely of civilians, who must be
don Authority
The men, it should be clea
stand, are soldiers, mibject; ta mfittur (Continued de foot of next dokuma)
Dr
BEAR IN MIND THAT!
PRIMO Walllems Pink Pills are sold by
Healere everywhere, and by Dr. Williams Medicine Co. 86, Brechnen Road, Bhag- 1 bottle for $1.50, 6 bottles $8, post
OF BALE
ONGKONG HANSARD BEPOR
FUNCEL
consist of soldiers, and wife he 00 an en LKOIN
different Locking from the Docken-
members of the National Union of Dock Labourers, and although they wear a khaki uniform, they are há ano sense under military discipline,
DAILY→PROM: Durity
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The friend of the many,
of The enemy Tried and proved everywhere. Endorsed warld-wide.
The same yesterday, to-day, always !- Obtainable from all Vino Merchants, leading Hotels and Clubs in the Colony,
SOLE AGENTS: H" BUTTONJEK & SON,
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