These things are faintly reflected in my pages together with some appreciation of the English. Sometimes it is a little pale, that praise for the gallant ally: the cause of it I have shown already in a rudderless Governmental policy and a Press starved into undue reticence by the Censor. The harm of it was seen in querulous articles from Boulevard pens. "France has borne the brunt, France has bled, let others now do their share." That was during Verdun, when the trumpets had blown the fame of France over the wide earth and there was no note resonating for England—in spite of her casualty list. Had the chroniclers, then, forgotten the glorious stand of the English in the Great Retreat, how they had saved the French army from being crumpled up by Von Kluck’s furious attacks on the left wing, and how they had shown unparalleled resistance against overwhelming odds? No; the French have not forgotten, it is engraved eternally in their hearts. Those who seem to forget adopt a political pose; yet it is necessary to reassert the facts, not to diminish the "poilu," but rather that we may "realise" him the more, that we may regard him as a brother for whom we have laboured and fought, for whom we have shed our blood. England, by her early heroism in the war, contributed to the full development and glory of the French soldier. It is not the least of our satisfactions that we have helped to build the proud monument whereon is emblazoned the imperishable record of his victories. Thus may we cry with greater fervour, "Vive la France! vive son armée!" If we know that army and know its chiefs, we shall be the readier to protest our faith. *CONTENTS* CHAP. FOREWORD I THE AWAKENING II THE THREE-YEARS LAW III DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL ARMY IV JOFFRE—HIS ORIGIN AND RECORD V PREPARATION VI JOFFRE IN ACTION VII THE SECOND IN COMMAND VIII THE ORGANISATION OF MUNITIONS IX FRENCH DISCIPLINE AND LEADERSHIP X GALLIÉNI AND HIS POPULARITY XI GALLIÉNI AND HIS COLONIAL EXPERIENCE XII THE HERO OF THE OURCQ XIII THE MILITARY POWER OF ENGLAND XIV SOME TYPES OF COMMANDERS XV CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIGHTING XVI MILITARY COMMAND AND THE REVOLUTION XVII THE SPIRIT OF THE TRENCHES XVIII TRENCH JOURNALS AND THEIR READERS XIX THE AIRMAN IN WAR XX THE "POILU’S" HOSPITAL *JOFFRE AND HIS ARMY* *CHAPTER I* *THE AWAKENING*