| [CHAPTER I] | PAGE |
The Ministère de la Guerre—The recruiting office—Would-bewarriors—The Commandant—A repulse—Enlisted—Somethingabout the Legion—Marseilles—The Abd-el-Kader—Oran—Sidi-bel-Abbes—In camp—Snow in Africa—Another Briton—Instruction of recruits—AnAmerican—The 3rd Battalion—Barrack-room pranks—Route-marching | |
| [1]-42 | |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
General inspection—The band of the Legion—The caporalsapeur—Off to the manœuvres—A near thing—Convalescence—Arzew—Amateur theatricals—Bel-Abbes again—Volunteers for Tonquin—Oranagain—A good send-off—The troop-ship Bien-Hoa, life onboard—The Padre—Saigon—Along Bay | |
| [43]-68 | |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
Some information concerning Tonquin—Haïphong—Phulang-Thuong—The2nd Battalion—The Yen-Thé Rebellion—General Godin's column—Asurprise at Cao-Thuong—Colonel Frey's column—Nha-Nam—Thebuilding of a fort—Reconnaissance—Night attacks—Native troops | |
| [69]-134 | |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
The difficulties of obtaining military intelligence—Nativespies—Ambuscades—Life at Nha-Nam—Doy-Tho—DeLipthay—A tropical storm—The capture of Linh-Nghi—Monsieurde Lanessan—French colonial administration | |
| [135]-197 | |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
An execution—A rebel chieftain—A bid for liberty—De-Nam'smistake—Linh-Nghi speaks—A new road to Thaï-Nguyen—Inthe enemy's country—A sharp encounter—Cho-Trang—The fever-fiend—Inthe hospital—Quang-Yen | |
| [198]-247 | |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
La Sœur Agnes—Exeat—Nha-Nam again—Picking up thethreads—Bo-Ha—Preparations for the campaign—WithGeneral Voyron's column—An error in the art of war—Abig butcher's bill—Collapse of the rebellion—Stampingout the embers | |
| [248]-301 | |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
The last struggles of a rebellion—Departure of CaptainPlessier—Our new commander—Man-hunting—A friendin need—A false alarm—An unexpected rise in life—Onthe Brigade Staff | |
| [302]-338 | |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | |
General Voyron—Organisation of the Brigade—Piracy on theLang-son railway—Politics and pacification—Topographyand a tiger hunt—Among the Staff records—ColonelGallieni—General Pernot—Hanoï—General Coronnat—Deathof a friend—Adieu to the army | |
| [339]-377 |
LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
| [NATIVE WOMAN CARRIER] | Frontispiece |
| [TONQUINESE NATIVE TYPES] | To face page 72 |
| [RIVER SCENE AT HAÏPHONG] | " 80 |
| [BOULEVARD PAUL PERT, HAÏPHONG] | " 86 |
| [THE FORTIFIED POSITION AT HOU-THUÉ.] From a sketch by a French Staff Officer | " 100 |
| [SECTIONAL SKETCH OF THE REBEL DEFENCES AT HOU-THUÉ] | " 104 |
| [INTERIOR OF THE FORT AT HOU-THUÉ] | " 110 |
| [A NATIVE SPY] | " 136 |
| [PAGODA USED FOR AMBUSH] | " 152 |
| [WATER BUFFALOES] | " 184 |
| [A SAMPAN ON THE RIVER NEAR PHULANG-THUONG] | " 258 |
| [REBEL RAMPARTS FACING POINT A.] | " 282 |
| [MAP OF TONQUIN.] Published by permission of General Frey and Messrs Hachette & Co. of Paris | End of Book |
A SOLDIER OF THE LEGION
The Ministère de la Guerre—The recruiting office—Would-be warriors—The Commandant—A repulse—Enlisted—Something about the Legion—Marseilles—The Abd-el-Kader—Oran—Sidi-bel-Abbes—In camp—Snow in Africa—Another Briton—Instruction of recruits—An American—The 3rd Battalion—Barrack-room pranks—Route-marching.
Most Englishmen, whose knowledge of the gay city of Paris is in the slightest degree superior to that of the ordinary summer tripper, are acquainted with the fine red stone building on the Boulevard St Germain, which is known as the Ministère de la Guerre, therefore it is unnecessary to give a lengthy description of this imposing edifice; above all, as its connection with the present history is of the shortest. It must, however, be explained why I, on the morning of the 26th February 1890, after pushing aside a big swing-door, found myself in the vestibule of this home of the supreme direction of one of the largest standing armies in the world, whose glorious traditions began on the field of Ivry, and amongst whose galaxy of leaders figure the personalities of Condé, Turenne, Carnot, Hoche, Bonaparte, Canrobert and MacMahon.
I chanced one evening, after I had been living for the past two years in the French capital, whilst in the company of several army officers, to meet an Austrian gentleman, of old lineage and great wealth, who entertained us with the recital of his experiences during the Tonquin campaign of 1883-85. Owing to an affaire de cœur, he had enlisted in the Foreign Legion, had risen to the rank of sergeant-major, was twice wounded, and had been decorated with the médaille militaire for bravery in action.