[Illustration]
_Poilu Hardships_
The work during the past month has put an unusual strain upon every
part of our cars. But it saves the wounded hours of painful travel,
and is appreciated in the most touching manner by men as brave and
uncomplaining as ever did a soldier's duty, who have more to face than
is probably generally realized. All the horrors of modern war are known
here--high explosives, burning oil, asphyxiating gases, and in addition
it is no gentle country to campaign in. There are long marches and hard
climbs, where the wind blows cold, and it rains, and soon will snow,
for days at a time.
It is, indeed, a privilege to see the courage and good cheer of the
men who are facing these things. The _ravitaillement_ may be delayed;
their allotted period in the water-soaked trenches may be doubled,
or trebled, and yet it is always "_Ça ne fait rien._" It is a keen
satisfaction to think that your work will help to make the horrors of
cold weather a little less painful for such as they.