Our French allies were delighted that Sir John French had been made commander-in-chief of the British army which was to fight side by side with them. Most of the leading French officers knew him well, and admired him greatly. They were specially pleased that his name was French, and they said that he must be a Frenchman by descent. When they discovered that he had Irish blood in his veins they found a new reason for giving him a hearty welcome. Many Irish soldiers, as you know, have fought bravely and died nobly for France. Before setting out for the front, he paid a flying visit to Paris, and was greeted with loud cheers by the Parisians who lined the streets in his honour. * * * * * And now, while millions of men are grasping their rifles, ready for the first clash of arms in this gigantic struggle which will decide the fate of Europe, the first volume of this book comes to an end. The greatest story of the world has yet to be told--a story of strife on a scale far beyond the experiences of mankind, of combats so vast and long enduring that the battles of history seem in comparison but puny skirmishes, of slaughter that has horrified the watching world, and of heroisms that have thrilled it with pride. "Troops to our Britain true Faring to Flanders, God be with all of you And your commanders. "Fending a little friend, Weak but unshaken-- Quick! there's no time to spend, Or the fort's taken. "He hath his all at stake; More can have no man. Quick, ere the barrier break, On to the foeman. "Troops to this Britain true, And your commanders, God be with all of you Fighting in Flanders." [Footnote 270: _Rex et Imperator_, Latin for "King and Emperor." Our King is also Emperor of India.] [Footnote 271: The English come.] [Footnote 272: Born 1852.] [Footnote 273: Governor of the Sudan. He defended Khartum, at the junction of the Blue and White Niles, for several months against the followers of the Mahdi, and was killed by them two days before the relieving force came in sight of Khartum (1885).] [Footnote 274: Town of Natal, on the Klip River; besieged by the Boers from November 2, 1899, to February 25, 1900.] [Footnote 275: Diamond-mining centre of British South Africa, 646 miles by rail north-east of Cape Town. It was besieged by the Boers from October 15, 1899, to February 16, 1900.] [Footnote 276: Thirty miles south-east of Kimberley, on the Modder River. The Boer leader Cronje was here forced to surrender with 4,000 men, February 27, 1900.] [Footnote 277: Capital of the Transvaal. It surrendered to Lord Roberts on June 5, 1900.] End of Volume I.