On waking up at about half-past six the storm had abated a little;
it was still raining, but in an ordinary manner. The distribution of
"juice" (coffee) began. A milkman happened to be passing down the
street and my chamber-fellow called to him and made me drink two
quarterns of milk, for which he paid the modest sum of one penny.
We spent the morning in visiting the town. I saw the Place Quand Même,
the Lion of Belfort, and the aviation ground, where new airships were
being built. It was rare to find a street in which there were not one
or two houses bearing marble plaques on which were such inscriptions as
this: "Here was born General ----. Appointed general on such and such
a date. Fought in the following campaigns----. Died in such and such
a year."
In the afternoon we went to a fort, where my comrades received their
equipment--a rifle and bayonet, a knapsack, a cartridge-pouch, a
canteen, a blanket, a pair of leggings, and a covering for the _képi_.
On returning to the cantonment a captain delivered the following
speech:
"My lads, I wish to inform you that one of these days we are going
into action. It may be to-morrow or the day afterwards--I cannot say
exactly. But I would ask this of you: to behave like brave men and
follow your leader, for all the time you follow and obey me I will
undertake to lead you along the path of honor and victory. Remember the
words of your chief. You must not say, 'I shall not be frightened,'
for I myself shall be one of the first, on the first bullet whistling
past my ear, to duck my head and be scared. But I shall salute it and
overcome my fear and never fail you. Therefore recollect that and say
to yourself, continually, 'Yes, I am frightened, but I shall overcome
my fear;' and in that way you will succeed."
This little discourse was heartily applauded by the conscripts, and it
was not until the captain had shaken all of them by the hand that he
left.
We breathed the fresh air for half an hour longer before retiring to
rest. The night passed without incident. I did not awaken until dawn.
The weather was fine. After taking our coffee we were about to go out
when the order came that no one was to leave. At half-past nine we
learnt that we were to go into action--a happy piece of news which
filled all the reservists with joy. Preparations were made. I had been
provided with a rifle, a pouch, a canteen, and a _képi_. At the thought
of seeing the Boches fighting and being overcome I was filled with joy.
But not for long, for at half-past two, before setting out, the company
was passed in review. It was then that an officer caught sight of me
and cried out:
"What's that boy doing there?"
"He is following us, captain," replied my friend.
"Where does he come from?"
"Monaco. He left because his father was mobilized and he was without a
parent."
"What's your name?" demanded the officer.
"Eugène Escloupié," I replied.
"Have you any papers to prove your identity?"
"_Non, mon capitaine._"
"Are you French?"
"_Oui, mon capitaine._"
"It's a pity, but as you cannot prove your identity I cannot keep you.
A strict order has just been given against allowing any foreign person
with the soldiers."
"But I'm not a foreigner, _mon capitaine_."
"I dare say not, but you must prove to me who you are."
There was nothing more to be said. I had to abandon my equipment
and flee. Before leaving, however, my comrade said to me: "Don't be
discouraged. Go to the Bureau de la Place--military headquarters--and
tell them that, being an orphan, you left Monaco to follow a regiment,
and see what they say. _Bonne chance._"
Having embraced him, I set off and went straight to headquarters.
Entering the first office I came to, I saw four or five officers,
including a doctor, in conversation. Hardly had I crossed the threshold
than one of them exclaimed:
"What do you want here, boy?"
"Let me tell you, please, that I was at Monaco----"
"And now you're at Belfort!"
"----at the beginning of the war. My father had left to join his corps,
and being alone I left in a train to come here and go on campaign with
the soldiers."
"You've come here, then, to enlist?"
"No, I cannot do that; I'm not old enough."
"Ah, _bon!_ Why are you here then?"
"To see if you can pass me into some regiment or ambulance."
All the officers had listened attentively during this examination. The
doctor then spoke.
"Since you wish to enter an ambulance, it's to work there?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"In that case I'll take you."
"Thank you, sir."
"Go downstairs and wait for me at the door, and when I come you shall
go with me to the ambulance."
I descended the staircase more joyfully than I had mounted it, and
waited at the appointed spot. It was not long before the doctor
followed and took me off with him to the military hospital.