Redundant with vitality the several stories show a beautiful insight into the character of the French _poilu_, who, fighting for more than four years, remains unbroken in morale. Unpremeditatedly heroic, killing their adversaries clean, ever chivalrous, witty, smiling in the face of death and obscurity, these soldiers of France will go down in history as martyrs to a definite understanding between peoples. Sordid as war may be, here is the glorious side. _Le Feu_, by Henri Barbusse, the critics write, is pessimistic and deals with the dark side of this momentous conflict. If that be true "A Blue Devil of France," with winning ingenuity, tells us in a simple, straightforward manner that there is another, nobler, majestic view of modern battle. It personifies the spirit of right, forever unquenchable, the champion over material forces seeking to destroy. Students of every free country will find in this book numerous examples of the spirit of sacrifice of those who, for four years, have written history with their blood; they will see that the most beautiful existence for a man is to know well how to live and die for his country! Americans may here visualize the Argonne, Verdun, Saint Mihiel, the Champagne, consecrated spots, where their own blood is now being hypothecated to succeeding generations. They may see the type of the French _poilu_, with whom our boys are fighting arm in arm, as they go plunging on to certain victory. J. C. DROUILLARD. August 5, 1918. New York City. A Blue Devil of France _This chapter comprises several distinct periods in the life of the author._ _Captain Capart left Switzerland, August 2, 1914, to enlist in the Belgian Army._[1] _He took part in the siege of Antwerp up to its fall (October 10, 1914), then as corporal in the dark days of the retreat._ _From the month of December, 1914, he became attached to the French Army. He was commissioned sub-lieutenant, January, 1915._ _The greater part of the stories in this chapter occurred during the period between March 7, 1915 and July of the same year, during which time he fought in the sector held by the Marine Fusiliers and that of the Zouaves in the region of Nieuport._ FOOTNOTE: [1] The Author was born in Brussels, in 1881, of Belgian parents. The two great-grandparents of Captain Capart were soldiers in the armies of Napoleon I.--Tr. CHAPTER ONE NIEUPORT A BLUE DEVIL OF FRANCE CHAPTER ONE A SMALL CITY IN SWITZERLAND. _August_ 2, 1914. War is declared! I feel I must leave all, family, home, position. I clasp my wife and three little ones in my arms.... The iron gate closes behind me and I almost break into tears--the happiest moments of my life are ended and I go toward the UNKNOWN---- One must heed Destiny! MY ENLISTMENT, ANTWERP. _August_ 6, 1914. Already I curse war. I have journeyed seventy-two hours on the railroad to enlist as a soldier. The recruiting officer in charge said to me when I faced him: