The four men were tried on September 16th and sentenced to death. They were shot on the morning of September 22nd, and died bravely, "standing, their hands free, and their eyes unbandaged." Their last words, shouted together, were: "Vive la France, Vive la République." Their names are inscribed on the Roll of Honour of the Army, and the _Journal Officiel_ of December 8th, 1918, announced that the Legion d'Honneur had been conferred on M. Jacquet. Execution of Léon Trulin When the war broke out, Léon Trulin, a Belgian subject, aged 17, was living at Lille. Intensely patriotic by nature, he burned to serve his country against the hated invader. With the help of a few comrades, among whom were _Raymond Derain_ and _Marcel Gotti_, he got together various documents and succeeded in bringing them to the Allies across the Dutch frontier. In 1915, he decided to go back to France and enlist in the Belgian Army, in company with his friend Derain. On October 3rd they arrived at the frontier. For three hours, in the dark, they burrowed under the "live" wire entanglements, when suddenly the alarm was given. Lights flared up, shots were fired, and Trulin and his companions were taken. The documents found on Trulin proved to be his death warrant. His friends Derain and Gotti were condemned to penal servitude for life. On his way to the place of execution on November 8th, Trulin's nerve (he was 18) gave way for a moment, but recovering himself quickly, he walked to the post with a firm step, and so another name was added to the long list of the victims of Kaiserism. [Illustration: TRULIN'S PASSPORT.] [Illustration: TRULIN'S LAST LETTER TO HIS MOTHER _(pp. 20, 21)_.] [Illustration: (TRANSLATION) November 7, 1915. My dearest Mother, I am very sorry for all I have done since I left home on June 30. I suffered greatly during July, often homeless, then in September life changed, I was a little happier, I had a pleasant time in Holland and England for a month, then came back to Belgium, when suddenly misfortune overtook me. By ill luck I was caught within half a minute of Dutch territory. I beseech you not to despair, live for René, who would be an unfortunate orphan, also for my brothers and sisters, set them an example of resignation and lift up your head, your son has given his life for the Fatherland (Long live little Belgium). I embrace you with all my heart, courage, mother, we shall see each other again some day, kiss my brothers and sisters for me and tell them your son knew how to die. Now I am going to lie down, it is already late, to be ready for the execution to-morrow. I forgive everybody, friends and enemies, I pardon, because they do not pardon me.] [Illustration: (TRANSLATION) You will find a note-book, in which I have noted my last wishes. I ask you to forgive Denèque for what he has done, I have forgiven him, it is the request of a doomed man.