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ELE VEN AMERICANS ON FRENCH FRONT DIE VER YBRA VEL YMembers of the Foreign Legion Give Up Lives for Cause of the Allies.PARIS, May 6.—Confirmation of the ileath of Jack Janz. of Kentucky, killed iho last day of February while taking part in the defense of Fort de Vaux, brings the number of bona-fide citizens of the United States who have been killed fighting In the French ranks during the present war up to eleven. This Is a high percentage. considering that less than one hundred Americans, all toid have engaged to light under the tricolor of France.Janz was n hlg. strapping, cheerv-n a Cured lad, snid to have been descended from one of the Polish volunteers who fought In the American war of independence. Joining the foreign legion at the outbreak of the war. he was pluced in the Fighting First regiment of the legion, and after a hard winter in the trenches wng terribly wounded at the Ilr3t battle of Arras on May 9. 1915. As Janz cxpressod it. he got it gcing and coming. Advancing in the bayonet charge, p. rlfio bullet smashed his right shoulder. He started crawling to the rear and a huge shell exploded near him, wounding him In the hips.After seven months in hospitals Janz returned to the legion and found that his Inseparable comrado at arms, Frank Musgrave, a formci flan Antonio, Tex., lawyer, had been transferred to the OnG Hundred and Seventieth Lino regiment. Janz asked to leave the legion to Join his friend, and Inst January he was sent to the depot of his friend’s regiment. There he fc-und that Musgrave had again been transferred to another regiment. Before Jnnz's second request to change regiments could go through he was sent to the front and in the famous defense of Verdun he was blown to pieces by a German shell.In the meantime, Musgrave had been captured by the Germans and sent to a prison camp.First to Give His Life.The first American volunteer to be hilled while wearing the French uniform was Fred Stone, a New Yorker, who operated a machine gun In Battalion C. of the Second regiment of the foreign legion. Stone was killed by an exploding shell in the trenches opposite the Plateau of Cranne late In January. 1915. Two shrapnel bullets and several pieces of shell casing went through his body and he died at the regimental infirmary several hours later. Stono was at one time secretary at the United states consulate In Buenos Ayres. He spoke fluently eight modern languages and had been nominated for the post of interpreter shortly before he was killed.Rene Phelizot. who was one of the best, known elephant hunters in Africa, wao In battalion C. of tho Second regiment. Late in February’. 1915, the battalion was having a period of repose at Cuiry-leB-Chandares, ft few kilometers back of tlio firing line. The night before the battalion was to return to the trenches two men of the machine gun section, veteran legionaries whom years of hot African sun had so tanned that their original race and color could only he guessed at, and whose polyglot language made their nationality a matter for discussion, began making disparaging remarks about the American volunteers.A Foul Blow.Pheltzot resented these remarks and offered lo light both the old timers. Followed by an eager crowd of spectators, anxious for excitement the Ihree men went into a small courtyard and began n fist fight. Phelizot was a good boxer and speedily knocked out’ one of his adversaries and began severely punishing tho other. At this moment a third old legionnaireTh tweni in ton marc! his c and t him nry. tense kilon: prese There said 1 Pheli nnd s BianeAVenaelyingCulrjdicrwithebackman him r TheWIIRwithrushcseven Thor* to sn Th when Roue eachnameAmer that I his w close who siowlwounout.backXThandlegloitolllossei11U SSIlawycCaryFlakelegloinameWeekthor;ChlcaFitantrend(•my r.* mm
Newspaper Details
The Sunday Telegram
Clarksburg, West Virginia, US
Sun, May 07, 1916
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Ellen B.
USA 15 Aug 2022
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