The six French officers who have been detailed by the French Government to train the students of the University are the first officers of any foreign nation who have been sent to this country to drill American troops in time of war since the days of the Revolution. According to reports from Washington, the War Department is to request that several hundred more officers disabled for future service in the field be sent from France to help in the training of our new army.
The gallant and conspicuous part which these Frenchmen have played in the present struggle is shown in the following biographical sketches, taken from the current issue of the Alumni Bulletin:
Veteran of Morocco Campaign.
Major P. J. L. Azan, born in 1874, was a pupil of the military school of St. Cyr. In the second Algerian campaign he was a second lieutenant of Zouaves. He has served in the general headquarters of the Ministry of War, and on historical missions in Germany and Spain, in 1905 and 1906. From 1906 to 1909 he was in Morocco, as captain, under Generals Liautey and d'Amade. At the beginning of the war he was at the headquarters of General Joffre. At his own request he was sent to the fighting line, as commander of a company of the 153d Regiment. He has also been Major of the 69th, and attached to the headquarters of the Sixth Army. He has recently been first instructor of that army and of its training schools.
He has received the Croix de Guerre, is an officer of the Legion of Honor, has been "cited" three times, and three times wounded. His campaigns have been those of the Marne, Yser, Artois, Somme and Aisne. He is a docteur des lettres of the University of Paris, and is well known as a military writer, honored by the Academie Francaise. His original works include "La Campagne de 1800 en Allemagne" and "Souvenirs de Casablanca."
Was Wounded on the Marne.
Major J. de Reviers de Mauny, born in 1878, was also educated at St. Cyr. At the beginning of the war he was a captain in the 2d Regiment of Zouaves. He was wounded first at the battle of the Marne, 1914, again at the battle of the Yser, after which he was decorated with the Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre. In 1906 he was made a major of the 1st Regiment of Tirailleurs Algeriens. At the battle of the Somme he was wounded for the third time. He is a member of the Jockey Club of Paris.
Served in Six Campaigns.
Captain A. Dupont, born in 1874, was a pupil, 1895, of the Polytechnic School of Paris. He was a 2d lieutenant in the School for Artillerists at Fontainebleau, and 1st lieutenant of Artillery, Regiments 10, until 1910, when he became captain of Artillery, Regiments 33 and 23. During the war he has served in campaigns in Belgium, on the Marne, in Champagne, at Arras, Verdun, and again in Champagne. He is a chevalier of the Legion of Honor, has received the Croix de Guerre, and, through his technical ability and his energy, is one of the most highly esteemed commanders of the "75" gun groups of the French Army.
Rose From the Ranks.
Lieutenant A. Morize, born in 1889, is a graduate of the University of Paris, and has been a fellow of the Normal School of Paris and a professor at Bordeaux College. In 1913 he was associate professor of French at Johns Hopkins University. At the beginning of the war he was sergeant of Infantry, Regiment 281; now he is 1st lieutenant in the same regiment, in which he has served all through the war. His campaigns have been in Alsace, where he was wounded, the Vosges, in Artois, in Belgium, on the Somme, and again in Alsace. He was wounded near Mulhouse and was decorated with the Croix de Guerre. He is the author of several works on Voltaire and French philosophy of the 18th century, and editor of the unpublished correspondence of Montesquieu, which was honored with a prize at the Academie.
Studied in Graduate School.
Lieutenant Jean Giraudoux, born in 1882, is a graduate of the University of Paris, was a student in the Harvard Graduate School during the year 1907-08, and received his doctorate form the University of Munich. He is now a member of the Foreign Office in Paris. At the beginning of the war he was sergeant of Infantry, Regiment 298; now he is 2d lieutenant in the 176th Regiment of Infantry. He has served in campaigns in Alsace, on the Marne, the Aisne, the Champagne, and the Dardanelles. He has been wounded four times, has received the Croix de Guerre, and is a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Before coming to America he was secretary of the Anglo-French mission in the Portuguese Army. He is a novel writer of the younger school. His book on the war, "Readings for a Shadow," will appear shortly in America
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