PRAYER AT NIGHT, A LITTLE VILLAGE IN SWITZERLAND. _December_ 26, 1916. On entering the door, I hear Anne-Marie, who is saying her prayer _du soir_. "Lil' Jesus, protect papa, who is at war, mamma, my grandparents, my little brothers----" "Louder, Anne-Marie, the good God is neutral and does not hear----" FOOTNOTES: [27] The first letter of each word spells Pétain, the general who assumed command at Verdun, finally breaking the thrust of the Crown Prince actually being maneuvered at this time. General Pétain's strategy upset the boche plans, causing them to abandon Verdun as a by-road to Paris.--Tr. [28] Cold-Ground.--Tr. CHAPTER EIGHT THE BATTLE OF CHAMPAGNE OF 1917 _The author fell seriously ill and spent several weeks from the beginning of January, 1917, in the hospital at Châlons-sur-Marne._ _At the end of February, 1917, he again took up his work with General Pétain._ _In the attack of Mont-sans-Nom, he accompanied the Morocco Division (Champagne, April 17, 1917)._ _Captain Capart left France June 2, 1917, for the United States as a member of a Scientific Mission which collaborated with officials of this Government just two months after America became an Ally against Prussianism._ CHAPTER EIGHT GENERAL GOURAUD'S POILU, CHAMPAGNE. _December_, 1916. General Gouraud, when speaking of his _poilus_, never fails to tell the following story: "It was during a violent bombardment--The men are in their dugouts, save only the lookouts---- "One of them, every time a shell broke near him, responded with a shot from his rifle, so that several times his comrades, passing by the opening in the shelter, got ready to dash out, believing the enemy was attacking. Finally they shouted at him: "'_Nom de Dieu_, what do you mean by shooting like that with your rifle----' "'Eh! _les vieux_, I'm laying down a barrage!'" NENETTE AND RINTININ! CHÂLONS-SUR-MARNE. _March_, 1917. "The morale of our _poilus_," cried our comrade Delormes, "is simply magnificent!" I have just bought some writing paper at the store of _petite Antoinette_, who was literally jubilant the moment I entered her shop. She received a letter from her husband, who is fighting on Maisons-de-Champagne Hill. She made me read the missive, which I would like to see awarded a prize by the Academy: "Do not worry, my Nenette," it read, "we will beat these brutes! Here, our bowels are firm! But what we are doing to _them_! But above all, don't worry!" It was signed "Rintintin!" AT THE HOSPITAL OF CHAUMONT-SUR-ÈRES. _March_, 1917. The poor boy will suffer no longer--he passed away quietly. The nurse is bent over him, and, one after the other, closes his eyes---- She is deeply moved on seeing her _poilu_ go! This exquisite creature, wife of one of our comrades, loves her wounded with all her soul!