When I got to know them better I ceased to wonder; I ceased to doubt what might be the end of it all; this glorious race in its dire trial was indeed setting an example to the whole world. My hosts could not do enough to help me; tea was served: the children ran up and down stairs carrying something, anything, so long as they could show they were anxious to make me welcome. I thought perhaps they imagined the Indian General was some peculiar class of animal, but no! I soon discovered it was because I was an ordinary Englishman and they were typical French, that their kindness was lavished on me. And as months went on and we mixed more and more with them, we all discovered that high as had always been our opinion of our neighbours across the Channel, we had known but little of them after all. The unselfishness of their race is to my thinking unique; and from civilians, men and women alike, I never received anything but the greatest courtesy. For two months my corps held the trenches next to the French, and during that time I conceived a liking for their soldiers, and an admiration for their brave and courteous Generals and Staffs that I had never thought possible to entertain towards any other than our own army. There was never any kind of difficulty in working with a French General; one was only too glad to meet his wishes, for they were always expressed with courtesy, a natural gift with them, sometimes sadly lacking with us. I had the honour of knowing and working with General de Maud’huy, Commanding the Xth Corps, and General Maistre, Commanding the XXIst Corps d’Armée, both splendid comrades in the field. Many others, too, I had dealings with; and amongst Staff Officers attached to the Indian Corps none could have been a greater favourite with British and Indians alike than Captain de la Ferronays. He joined us at Marseilles, and remained for some months until transferred to the French General Staff. One of my saddest days in France was when we had to part from our French comrades for our first period of rest, and we did not serve next to them again except for short periods. My great hope had been that the Indian Corps would not be split up as it arrived but be given a few days wherein to pull themselves together and form some idea of what was before them. This later on became the policy, and troops new to the country and form of warfare were not only kept behind the trenches but were instructed in all that was necessary, so that when their turn came they did not walk blindly into the hurricane.