Our chief anxiety was to know what they would do with us.
The general opinion was that we would be in the second line (Reservists. The idea!), that we would only look on from afar at the first terrible encounters.... When the regulars were put out of action, yes, then it would be our turn to take the field. But it was quite possible that the war would already be well advanced.
What day should we leave? And what would our destination be?
Outlandish rumours4 were in circulation. They were hailed with a smile, and passed on in fun, but we ended by believing them. What did we know about it? The "tips" always came from such high-placed[Pg 94] officials, generals, or station-masters. One persistent6 rumour5 was that we were to be sent to Le Havre, and from there shipped ... to what port do you think? You'd never guess, however long you went on trying! To Bremen! A landing party! Heavens, we stopped at nothing, with the British fleet behind us! According to another version we were to form part of a reserve force concentrated at Go?tquidam Brittany! The drawback was that we ran the risk of not seeing anything!
Morale7! What a strange factor it is in deciding the fate of nations! I failed to take it into account now. This uncertainty8 weighed on me. I sounded my companions.
"Look here, how do you think things are going ... all right?"
"What!"
My question astounded9 them. On looking back it seems to me obvious that an insane optimism held sway. What could the Central Powers do against this gigantic coalition10. The Kaiser had lost his head! Driven by the "junker" party, he was risking his all in a fit of despair.
How long would it go on for? The figure quoted was three months.
Three months, I said to myself: three months!
Fate might decide that our army corps12, our regiment13, was not to be engaged more than once or twice.... There would be some rough knocks to put up with! But what of that? Lots would come through! For those who did it would be curiously14 interesting to look on at the reconstruction15 of the world which would follow.... Would life be any the better for it? Yes. In what way?[Pg 95] I did not know. But I was firmly convinced of it.
In Guillaumin I had a surprising source of high spirits and enthusiasm. He lived in a state of exaltation. He was the only one to read between the lines, in the daily reports, endless sensational16 pieces of news, extraordinarily17 favourable18 to us, withheld19, he said, through an excess of modesty20.
"They're afraid the public might lose their heads."
If I pretended to be alarmed:
"What's become of the concentration? Look at all the regulars that are about still!"
He retorted with:
"My dear fellow, they're getting two days ahead of the estimates."
He had been to the station. He had seen any amount of trains passing crammed21 with troops and war material...! An inconceivable number of big guns, and ammunition22 waggons23, and gun carriages! A store of unsuspected riches!
Our staff? Was admirable. Joffre, the great strategist, who left nothing to chance. Pau, the soldier whom the Germans feared more than any one, De Castelnau! Since he had made it his career despite his opinions!
The Government? Perfection. Viviani, the right man in the right place; the strong and many-sided genius that was needed. How fine,—and what a clever move—his letter to Madame Jaurès had been! The results of it were this solidity, and absolute unanimity24; the rising en masse of the peaceful operatives, the internationalists of yesterday, claiming for their great country the right to live and be respected.
[Pg 96]
Guillaumin knew the text of the different official declarations and proclamations by heart; he recited scraps25 of them to me.
"Glorious! What!"
It was not an assumed excitement. I sounded him. He really was delighted to be going. It was the ingenuous26 wish for the unexpected and for adventure in one who led the most dreary27 of lives as a civilian28. And the need to expend29 himself in a cause he felt was just. He did not need much urging to bring out such big words as Duty and Patriotism30!!
His fervour both lowered him and raised him in my estimation. On one side I was inclined to place him in the class of credulous31 boobies, like the young fool of a lawyer's clerk I had met in the railway carriage. At the same time he gave me an example of moral warmth and vigour32 preferable to my frivolity33.
He alone seemed changed by these formidable circumstances. He was thrilled. I should like to have been thrilled.
What made the Descroix and Humels so unbearable34 to me was their peace-time point of view. The way they spent hour after hour playing stupid card games, taking no interest in anything else! It was beyond me, and it worried me. They would not be the ones to save France!
(Should I be!!!)
"Don't you worry about that! You keep your eye on the poilus. That's all that matters!"
I tossed my head. My men? What could I know about them?
I had thirty-three roughs under me, squads36 11 and 12. Guillaumin had the same number, squads 9 and[Pg 97] 10; Lieutenant37 Henriot was in command of the platoon.
Up to now, I had tried only to avoid being unpopular. I thought I was succeeding in it. I relied entirely38 on my corporals, Bouguet and Donnadieu, who were well up in their job.
Chance had thrown together in my section, Judsi and Lamalou, the two scoundrels whom I have already mentioned, among the stolid39 Beaucerons who were all so much alike that they might have been brothers. They were a scurvy40 couple. They had already been caught by a patrol one night in town, and brought back drunk, shouting and storming, and had been in such a dangerous mood next day that Henriot had not dared to haul them over the coals for it.
The impressions I had retained of the few weeks once spent on a company, before going to the "Peloton," the one occasion in which I had come into contact for a short period with the lower classes, were these: The barrack was a den41 of wild beasts, and the peasants real brutes42. The fact that the one thing they looked forward to was Sunday when they could drink themselves stupid, made them lower even than the animals. Beyond that the only thing that had worried me was the "promiscuousness43." The days of ragging were over; I was free with my cigarettes and "drinks." I could always find someone ready to take my fatigues44 for me for the sake of a sixpence, and ever since then Bouillon had been my guardian45 angel. It did not matter how much this pleb was looked down on!
Attached to my original company during the man?uvres, reports had reached the ears of the reserve officer to the effect that I was already well up in my work, and I had at once been made a non[Pg 98]-commissioned officer, a distant and unapproachable being.
My energetic "command" ensured my authority, on the drill-ground at all events. Elsewhere?... There was no elsewhere. As for taking a personal interest in each of the men, and searching into, and investigating their characters, as Guillaumin tried to induce me, and forced himself to do,—the idea had never entered my head. To-day it seemed an idle fancy outside the realms of realisation. I felt that this mass of men was too remote from, and, in all probability, hostile to us. No, they did not count at all as individual souls! I listened to Guillaumin as he extolled46 their sound good sense, and sturdy morale. It was too much to ask of this poor food for cannons47.
But one thing struck me, nevertheless; the small, the infinitesimal number of men who "groused48." Not a sign of "shirkers." It was astounding49 to me to note, in the days that followed, how this spirit had spread. I did not see any great enthusiasm, but rather determination, or perhaps it was resignation. There was at all events, no reluctance50, no little underhand plots, elaborated with a view to remaining at the dep?t. I have quoted our friend Belloeil; but even he would willingly have gone with us, I think, but for his asthma51, which made him pant like a seal, merely at having to go up into billets.
One drama, I remember, caused a sensation: a reservist who had thrown himself successively through a window, under a cart, and under a train. He was hard to kill, that fellow!
How set he was on doing away with himself! At the inquest, a letter which had been discovered established the fact that the only motive52 for this act[Pg 99] had been ... fear. Yes, simply the stupid fear of going to the front.... Poor wretch53. What a fine funeral ovation54 they gave him. Good-for-nothing, rotter, and funk were the mildest terms employed. If he had accounted for a Bosche, his skin would have been of some use.
On the fourth day, Friday, the order arrived in the morning to assemble for field-parade.
Guillaumin was triumphant55.
"There now, you see! Didn't I tell you so? They're coming all right—even to us!"
The men were taking their valises. And what about us; no, we agreed not to.
We started off. A fig11 for marching at attention! That was not expected of us. We followed the railway lines. A train was just passing, the carriages decorated with flowers. Soldiers were laughing at the windows.
The 104th Argentan.
"Halloa, you chaps! Wait for us! We're going on foot to have a look at the Bosches!" Judsi shouted.
We halted farther on in a field by the roadside. Suddenly a whistle was blown, and the word was passed round that the captain was there!
In the twinkling of an eye we were formed up again and got into line as well as might be.
Delafosse, the first lieutenant, gave the order:
"Present ... arms!"
Captain Ribet rode up, mounted on a beautiful grey mare56. He was a tall spare man with a crisp moustache and very bright eyes. An ex-officer in the regulars; we knew he had retired57 when quite young after having won the légion d'honneur.
[Pg 100]
"Skirmishing order," he shouted.
We had about fifty yards to cover at a double.
"Kneel!"
We knelt down.
"Advance!"
We stood erect61, and then immediately had to operate a change of front. The words of command and evolutions followed each other in rapid and varied62 succession. The captain gave the order and looked on coldly at the execution of it without uttering a word. We all lacked enthusiasm but it did not go badly, all the same. Our covering sergeants64 knew what they were about, and Henriot slipped in the necessary explanations. I acquitted65 myself passably in my thankless r?le of supernumerary. The men charged and deployed66, and then returned to their first formation, their movements facilitated by their long experience in former days. During the short intervals67 of respite68, reflections were heard:
"How's that for man?uvres!"
"We are having a dose."
At last arms were piled and while the men amused themselves by pulling out pipes or chunks69 of bread, the captain blew his whistle again.
"The non-commissioned officers!"
The first thing he did was to find fault with us.
"Why haven't you got your valises?"
The subaltern opened his mouth....
"That will do. We'll consider it as said!"
He had a few words of praise for the way we drilled.
"There was a little hesitation70 in the third though."
"Among us! really!"
[Pg 101]
He added a few commonplace remarks on our duties which played such an important part in the field. We must prove the value of the material entrusted71 to us. It was for us to make the most of it.
Seizing the opportunity afforded by a brief silence, Playoust thought he might ask him what the probable date of our departure would be.... Sunday was talked of.
He warned us that he would inspect us next morning at nine o'clock.
"Service marching orders. Ready to leave. And mind you see that nothing is missing!"
Directly we had got away Guillaumin exclaimed:
"A queer fish that!"
"You like him?"
"Yes, I do. It's men like that that we want!"
I protested. My impression of him, on the contrary was an unpleasant one. Who did the man think he was, to treat us as little boys?
When we got back into quarters, I made fun of the sudden zeal72 consuming my comrades. The prospect73 of this inspection74 next day scared them. Each one rushed off to put his men on their mettle75. Guillaumin especially was quite off his chump. I, for my part, contented76 myself with warning my corporals that everything must be in order at the time fixed77! I should hold them responsible!
That done, I did not worry any more! I spent the afternoon resting in my hay-loft.
The best of it was that I was sergeant of the day. I ought to have gone and put myself at the disposi[Pg 102]tion of the adjutant. Bah! He could do without me, without the world coming to an end.
My predecessor78, Belloeil, had told me that I should have to take the men who had been given orders the day before to the barracks on the stroke of five o'clock. They would draw their pay there, and I should countersign79 the register.... The list was handed over to me. They watched for me at the exit, but I arranged to escape them; De Valpic would take them to-morrow.
One of them accosted80 me in the town; I snubbed him, and he went off cursing and swearing. Guillaumin blamed me for it.
"Poor fellow! Suppose he had some purchase to make!"
"Oh rot! I'm doing him a good turn; he'll drink a drop less than usual, that's all!"
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1
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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6
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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fig
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| n.无花果(树) | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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23
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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24
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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36
squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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promiscuousness
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| n.promiscuous（混杂的，乱七八糟的，杂乱的）的变形 | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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groused
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| v.抱怨，发牢骚( grouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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51
asthma
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| n.气喘病，哮喘病 | |
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52
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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55
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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57
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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59
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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60
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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65
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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deployed
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| （尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用 | |
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67
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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68
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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69
chunks
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| 厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分 | |
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70
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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73
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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75
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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77
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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78
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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79
countersign
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| v.副署，会签 | |
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80
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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