THE FANCIFUL IDEA OF MAJOR PETIT, VERDUN.
_October_, 1915.
In the middle of the month of October, 1915, I was invited to dinner by
General Coutanceau, Governor of Verdun.
Verdun, at this particular time, still retained its aspect of a little
garrison city in times of peace, and, when I entered Bevaux Barrack, I
felt far away from the war----
I found Colonel Masselin who awaited me in his office, busy as was his
habit and who rose precipitately on seeing me enter the room.
"There you are--it is fine! The general is home and it is the hour to
sit at table--he does not like to be late."
Some moments after, I was in the presence of the Governor of Verdun, a
man very big, very cold, with a severe and glacial face.
We immediately entered the dining-room with its barren walls like those
of a school-room, but brightened by a great wood fire, which burned
joyously on the hearth.
We sat down and the general placed me at his side; the menu was
excellent and the wines perfect. My neighbor, in spite of his severe
mask, was a very fine and spirited conversationist, also this dinner,
I felt, was for me a real luxury, inasmuch as I had the pleasure of
finding myself in the company of this man of _esprit_.
One spoke naturally of the war and I stated that in my opinion this
epoch did not resemble the others from the point of view of the
relations that could exist between two adversaries in the course
of hostilities. In effect, it was our custom in youth to recite of
truce-parties who came with bandaged eyes into enemy lines to make one
or another communication to the commander of the adverse troops.
I added that the perfection of the art of destruction had killed the
romantic side of war and that it was very regrettable.
The general protested, remarking that adventurous examples were not
lacking, and as far as he was concerned, he was able to relate a story
within his knowledge that was worth the trouble of telling.
This is what he told us and to which we all listened with very great
silence.
* * * * *
Some months before war was declared, one of my old friends on his death
bed urgently recommended his son to me.
The young Count de Marnac was a worthy youngster, and to his
misfortune--and to mine--he was a _Camelot du Roi_.[15]
Nevertheless, a boy very daring and full of the best sentiments. I was
convinced he would be an excellent soldier. Sergeant in a regiment of
infantry, he fought like a lion in the Belgian campaign and immediately
distinguished himself. His colonel proposed him for a sub-lieutenant
and I transmitted the request to General Sarrail, under whose orders I
then was.
Was it for political opinions or for some other reason, I know nothing
of it, but the propositions I received from his colonel and which I
hastened to send to the General, were held without reply----
So, during the battle of the Marne, the Division to which my _protégé_
belonged was on the right bank of the Meuse; I came, as you know, to be
completely surrounded by the Germans for a period of forty-eight hours.
From that moment, I depended no longer on General Sarrail, from whom I
was totally cut off.
So, an old order authorized generals commanding a besieged or
surrounded spot to nominate officers up to a certain rank.
Having still in mind the last recommendation of young de Marnac, I
hastened to send him his brevet of sub-lieutenant.
* * * * *
Up to here there is nothing romantic in my story, but you will see how
this animal recompensed me for my kindness.
During the month of November, 1914, his Division was engaged in
murderous fighting.
He had a battalion chief, named Petit, known in his regiment for his
lack of mental equilibrium. He always had ideas more or less strange
and fanciful, and he always caused comment by his eccentricities and
his _bizarreries_.
I had ordered an operation to commence in the morning of the 15th,
and Petit told all his men, before the attack, that he would give one
dollar for every pair of German trousers they brought to him!
Do not laugh, he had more extravagant ideas than that!
* * * * *
The attack was successful and our _poilus_ struck a hard blow; they
took numerous prisoners and reaped a mountain of trousers!
This sight was absolutely grotesque; the boches did not know what we
wanted with them and this "kilty" disguise did not go well with them at
all.
Petit, himself, was literally jubilant, splitting his sides with
laughter before the German column about to start for the rear
trouser-less.
Lieutenant de Marnac was furious, because he could not admit he carried
on war in this manner and took it upon himself to go into the German
lines, on a truce, and present his excuses to the general commanding
the Division in front.
He fixed a white handkerchief on the end of his cane, took a bugler
with him and calmly started out toward the enemy trenches.
All went well enough; the Germans bandaged his eyes and as he
conveniently spoke the language, he asked the first officer he met to
be conducted into the presence of the general of that Division.
The latter lived in a little village ten miles back of the lines so de
Marnac's journey was long enough.
He did not arrive, until darkness had fallen, at the farm which served
as headquarters of the boche general.
The general was at dinner when they presented our young man to him. He
received him courteously and spoke French to him, but with difficulty.
"Sit down--what have you to say to me?"
And turning toward the young girl who served him, he added,
"Mademoiselle, will you place another cover for the lieutenant?
Monsieur, I listen."
"General, I am the interpreter for General Coutanceau, Governor of
Verdun, and have come to present his excuses for an event that occurred
to-day.
"This morning, in course of the attack at Consenvoie Wood, a French
battalion major ordered his soldiers to cut the suspenders of all
German prisoners they might take and to bring him the trousers, in
return for which they would receive a dollar.
"Matters happened this way: our soldiers cut numerous suspenders,
removing quite a few trousers from your infantrymen----
"The Governor General charges me to tell you he deplores this act as
being unchivalrous and to present to you his excuses and his regards."
The boche general turned crimson because he had misunderstood de
Marnac and when the latter had spoken of "cut suspenders" he certainly
imagined some enormous thing----
He showed by his nervousness the lack of linguistic knowledge he
possessed. He called an interpreter and it was explained to him.
He found then that the reason for the truce was very decent and his
face flushed with pleasure.
During all this scene the little girl, who incessantly busied herself
about the table and who had not lost a word, bit her lips to keep from
giggling.
Dinner over, de Marnac requested of the German general that he be
allowed to retire.
He got up and the general charged him with a thousand pleasant
sentiments for me----
At the moment when he stepped out the door the little girl was lying in
wait for him and whispered in his ear:
"We count on you for Victory!"
* * * * *
On leaving the German general's headquarters, his eyes were bandaged
and he and his bugler were led back into our lines.
Having reached his post, he made out a complete report of what had
taken place and forwarded it to me by the usual channels.
Judge my astonishment on reading the pamphlet, I cried:
"They are absolutely crazy, both of them? Ought to be put in a strait
jacket."
Then, I thought immediately of the scandal this story would stir up and
the consequences which would follow. I was absolutely astounded.
After having reflected for some time, I sent this report to General
Sarrail--without comment, naturally, and then I awaited the tempest.
The storm broke!--Sarrail got me on the telephone and called me a lot
of pretty names. He was furious, and I swear he had reason----
"Your _protégé_ is doing nicely, I compliment you!----"
"Yes, general, he is completely crazy----"
"You will have that fellow executed immediately----"
"You forget the story of the trousers, general----"
"It was a fine idea of yours to appoint him sub-lieutenant, I
compliment you----"
"There is also the story of the trousers, general----"
* * * * *
General Sarrail sent Sub-Lieutenant de Marnac's report to great
headquarters. Major Petit and de Marnac were arrested immediately and
things were going entirely wrong----