Contents

CONTENTS

Chapter I. [The True Philosophers] II. [The Bridge At Meaux] III. [Recruiting Rat-Catchers] IV. [A Gun Carriage An Altar] V. [Life Behind The Lines] VI. [Devotion To Animals] VII. [Hunting For Generals] VIII. [An Instance Of Quick Wit] IX. [At The Headquarters Of General Petain] X. [A Meeting With "Forain"] XI. [Value Of Women's Work] XII. [The "Movies" Under Fire] XIII. [A Subterranean City] XIV. [Poilu And Tommy] XV. [Abbreviated French] XVI. [The Brown And Black Sons Of France] XVII. [At General Nivelle's Headquarters] XVIII. [Rheims] XIX. [At The Headquarters Of The Generalissimo] XX. [To The Glory Of The Women Of France]

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.