The White Road to Verdun

THE WHITE ROAD TO VERDUN
This Little Book Is Respectfully And Affectionately Dedicated To Madame Jusserand Ambassadrice de France in Washington and to Monsieur Gaston Liebert, Consul General de France, Dr. C. O. Mailloux, And to all my good friends in the United States and Canada, whose sympathy and encouragement have helped me so much in my work. VIVE LA FRANCE
Contents

The True Philosophers
We left Paris determined to undertake the journey to the Front in the true spirit of the French Poilu, and, no matter what happened, de ne pas s'en faire. This famous motto of the French Army is probably derived from one of two slang sentences, de ne pas se faire des cheveux ( to keep one's hair on, ) or de ne pas se faire de la bile, or, in other words, not to upset one's digestion by unnecessary worrying. The phrase is typical of the mentality of the Poilu, who accepts anything and everything that may happen, whether it be merely slight physical discomfort, or intense suffering, as part of the willing sacrifice which he made on the day that, leaving his homestead and his daily occupation, he took up arms offering his body as a shield to defend the heart of France.
Everything might be worse than it is, says the Poilu, and so he has composed a Litany. Every regiment has a different version, but always with the same basis.
Of two things one is certain: Either you're mobilised or you're not mobilised. If you're not mobilised, there is no need to worry; if you are mobilised, of two things one is certain: Either you're behind the lines or you're on the Front. If you're behind the lines there is no need to worry; if you're on the Front, of two things one is certain: Either you're resting in a safe place or you're exposed to danger. If you're resting in a safe place there is no need to worry; if you're exposed to danger, of two things one is certain: Either you're wounded or you're not wounded. If you're not wounded, there is no need to worry; if you are wounded, of two things one is certain: Either you're wounded seriously or you're wounded slightly. If you're wounded slightly there is no need to worry; if you're wounded seriously, of two things one is certain: Either you recover or you die. If you recover there is no need to worry; if you die you can't worry.