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EMINENT FRENCH TURFMEN DIE IN WAR. Sportsmen have paid their toll to the war. Racing will miss many of its patrons when the roll is called. Count Decazes has unfortunately been added to the number of victims who have fallen on the field of honor. The "Chronlque du Turf" pays a just homage to the amiable young owner who with his elder brother, Due Decazes, cherished the family tradition of racing. Count Jacques Decazes, encouraged by the success of Nemrod, a son of Saint Kris, which won at the first time of asking over hurdles at Enghien, and entered to be sold for 200 sovereigns made 420 sovereigns to the bid of the Due Decazes for joint account, contemplated a considerable extension of his stable. At the outbreak of the war his services were gladly accepted by the Flying Corps, which is mainly responsible for the comparative freedom enjoyed by the good people of Paris from Zeppelin raids. Land, sea and air have witnessed more than one defeat of the German, and Count Decazes. who was only twenty -four years old, distinguished himself by his daring. Within three days he took part in seven attacks, and just previous to the last flight he had the satisfaction of bringing to earth one of the hostile aviators. No omelette can be made without breaking eggs, and more than one promising sportsman will be missed from the weighing -room when we again gather round the scales on a Parisian race course. Count Maurice de Castries, whose family has been identified with racing for many years past, has succumbed to double pneumonia consequent on wounds received in the defense of Verdun. He was related to the late Due de Castries, whose stable at Moulins, in the Midlands, produced Frontin and Little Duck, which in 1883 and 1884 won the dual crown, the Chantilly Derby and the Grand Prize of Paris. Count de Castries held the rank of captain in that famous corps, the "Chasseurs de Vincennes," which has done such good service at the front. He will be sadly missed, not only by his brother officers, but by all who knew him as a gallant gentleman and a good sportsman. — Paris Letter to London Sportsman.
