The Divisional Artillery came out of action for a period of training near Choques, and on March 1 the Division passed from Corps into G.H.Q. Reserve. The Divisional Commander availed himself of the opportunity to deliver to officers and N.C.O.s a lecture the purport of which is expressed with admirable terseness in its title, “Wits and Guts.” The General gave a vivid picture of the fighting of 1914, and foretold that it was highly probable that the Division before long might find itself similarly situated, and would then have the opportunity to emulate the deeds of the “Old Contemptibles.” The lecture was given to every officer and N.C.O. of each infantry and artillery brigade, and to other units in turn, and a précis was afterwards issued in the Foreword to the Divisional Pocket Book. It was in the course of this address that Major-General Solly-Flood gave the Division its motto, “GO ONE BETTER,” a motto adopted with enthusiasm by all ranks as a very real expression of the spirit that inspired the Division. The training during February and March included some keenly contested and most useful competitions. The basis of training and sport was the platoon. The spirit of the attack was the platoon. There were platoon efficiency competitions, from guard mounting and clean turn-out to contests of skill with all weapons; platoon boxing, football, cricket, sing-songs, and similar rivalries, and also transport competitions. In this way every individual had to take part, and none looked on all the time. There were other interests, too. Larks were singing, and though the wanton lapwing was not in evidence, the fuller “crimson” was showing on the robin’s breast—in short, spring was in the air, and more than one young man’s fancy lightly turned to thoughts of love, and the French maidens were not coy. The rather hazy notions that had been entertained of the French as a light-hearted, frivolous race had been turned inside out. True, they had seen little or nothing of French males under fifty-five years of age, but they had discovered that French women and girls were the most practical, shrewd, clear-headed, and capable in the world. Young girls and middle-aged and elderly women were combining the heavy farm-work of men—and doing it well!—with the house-work of the capable house-wife, the art and craft of the trained milliner and dressmaker, and a mastery of finance worthy of a chartered accountant. The rapid and facile mental arithmetic displayed by girls in “totting up” the sum total of a complicated series of purchases in one lightning utterance, apparently composed entirely of sibillants that reminded the audience of “Sister Susie’s sewing shirts,” took the breath away and compelled admiration. Nor was the admiration wholly one-sided. The Lancashire lad was pronounced _gentil_ and _aimable_. He would fetch and carry, amuse the children, mind the baby, and perform a hundred and one odd jobs to help the overworked women, and many friendships were formed.