These changes are one of the slight distractions of the trade. They must distract still more the handlers of the public funds to judge by the frequency they offer them to us.
But what difference does it make to us whether we do one thing or another? While we wait time passes and the war goes on.
And then “there’s no use trying to understand.”
That is the typical expression in every army. Before the most unexpected orders, the most unusual, which seem the most useless and incoherent, we can only bow without trying to use our intelligence.
“There is no use in trying to understand.” That’s the whole secret of discipline. If one did try to understand, he would never obey—or too late.
We were ordered to assemble on the Place at daybreak, and at daybreak we were there. The clear sky is splendidly luminous.
“Good weather for aeroplanes,” said someone.
Indeed it was good weather for aeroplanes, for there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and no mist on the ground. A reconnaissance in such weather should be easy.
The Boche aviators are early birds. One sees them but rarely during the daytime, when ours mount guard on the lines, but their specialty is getting up early in the morning. We hear them flying over our cantonments long before daybreak, at the first rays of dawn, and see them returning rapidly to shelter as soon as the light becomes clearer and it becomes easier to fire our cannon and machine guns.