Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1915 — BOY GIVES LIFE TO DELIVER ORDERS [ARTICLE]

BOY GIVES LIFE TO DELIVER ORDERS

French Lad, Wounded, Refuses Aid And Offer to Let Another Complete Mission. VOLUNTEERED FOR THE TASK Dies After Whispering Instructions to Commander of Last Company He Was Told to Visit. p&rls.—Rene Granger, a lad of 18 years, enlisted in the first days of the mobilisation, and after a short period of training joined a regiment tn Lorraine. In a few weeks his carriage and Intelligence had gained him the rank of corporal. One day when his regiment was in the trenches the Colonel called for a soldier who should volunteer to carry orders of the staff to different companies. He did not conceal the fact that the mission was one of real danger. Corporal Granger volunteered. He listened tentatively to the Colonel's instractions. Then with a quiet “C’est Men,” went on his mission. He reached the first trench in safety and gave his message. The next stage of his journey was a dangerous one, for he had to pass over an open space of 300 yards, swept by the enemy’s fire. He went down on his hands and knees and crawled, only lifting his head In order to see his way. Within a few yards of the trenches a’ bullet struck him in the thigh. He sheltered behind a tree, hastily dressed the wounds, then dragged himself to the trench, there he delivered his message to the commander. This officer pressed him to remain and let another complete his mission, but Granger refused. “I have given my word,” he said. There remained still two companies to visit One of them was quite near, and he reached it without much difficulty, but the last was 600 yards away, far advanced In the zone of fire. Granger began his terrible journey. At every few yards he was compelled to stop, so fierce was the suffering, caused by his wound. Bullets whistled around him, and one pierced his kept He was within 20 yards of safety when a shell burst in front of him, and fragments struck him, inflicting a terrible wound. He lost consciousness a moment, but he had been seen from the trenches. Two ambulance men ran out, placed him on a stretcher, and carried him to their company-. Young Granger recovered consciousness and remembered that he had a mission fl) fulfill. He asked that the crnnrn finding officer should be called, and almost with his last breath whispered the orders he had been given. The sacrifice of his life was not in vain, for the instructions he had transmitted enabled the French to repulse a fierce German attack with heavy loss.