IN REVIEW
The speeding car was lost in a cloud of dust and soon disappeared.
"Are you sure that was President Poincaré?" asked Leon.
"I am sure of it," replied Jacques. "I have seen him several times
before."
"What do you suppose he is doing here?"
"On a tour of inspection probably. He visits the front frequently."
The tired soldiers swung along the road, their ranks thinner than they
had been a few days before. Many a brave son of France had marched to
his death when the _douzième_ had filed down into the trenches to lead
the offensive a short time previous. That the regiment was held in
high esteem, however, was proved by the fact that many a cheer went up
as soon as its battle-scarred standard was recognized.
At length they reached the village where their headquarters had been
established and every man was assigned a place in which he was to live.
Leon, Jacques, Earl, and Dubois found themselves together in the loft
of a barn. Five rude cots, with mattresses far from soft, were placed
there for them to sleep on.
"Five bunks and only four of us," remarked Earl. "I wonder who is
going to use the extra bed."
"Don't call that thing a bed," laughed Leon. "I wouldn't insult a bed."
"That's all right," exclaimed Earl. "It looks pretty good to me after
the trenches. At any rate I can sleep on anything."
"So can I," agreed Leon quickly. "Don't think I'm complaining. I'd
like to know who is going to use the other bunk though."
"Turn around and you'll see," said Dubois.
His three companions followed his bidding and a shout of welcome went
up to the newcomer. He limped slightly but there was a grin on his
face and he appeared to be very happy.
"Armande!" cried Dubois joyfully. "I am glad to see you."
He rushed up to his comrade and following the French custom, kissed him
on both cheeks.
Jacques did the same but Leon and Earl, though they were not less glad
to see their friend, contented themselves with welcoming him with a
hearty handshake.
"How is your leg?" inquired Jacques solicitously.
"As sound as ever," exclaimed Armande quickly. He tried to execute a
few dance steps to show his friends how well his wound had healed, but
his leg sank under him and a shadow of pain crossed his face.
"Be careful," said Leon anxiously. "Don't try anything like that yet."
"I guess it is not as well as I thought," admitted Armande with a wry
smile. "It will be sound soon though."
The five soldiers soon made themselves perfectly at home in their rude
quarters and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. A few days of rest worked
wonders with them and with all the others in their regiment. At the
end of a week the men were clamoring to be sent back into the trenches.
Daily drills were held to keep the troops in good physical condition
and the men indulged in all kinds of sports during their leisure hours.
Thousands and thousands of soldiers were concentrated in and around
this town and so wonderful was the French organization that they could
be shifted to any part of the long battle line almost at a moment's
notice. There seemed to be an endless supply of equipment as well as
of men and no longer could France say that she was unprepared. The
whole question now was whether she was prepared enough to undertake the
great offensive the soldiers knew was coming some time.
One day, at noontime, came the word that that afternoon there was to be
a review of all the troops stationed thereabouts.
"Who is going to review us, do you suppose?" asked Earl of Armande who
now had recovered entirely from his bullet wound.
"I don't know," replied Armande. "I don't like these reviews anyway.
For my part I'd much rather do some actual fighting."
"I guess you'd rather fight than anything else, wouldn't you?" said
Earl laughingly.
"I certainly would," exclaimed Armande. "At least I would as long as
these Boches are in France. When they are driven out I want to go back
to my little farm and never hear the sound of another gun as long as I
live."
"I hope you may be able to do that soon," said Earl fervently.
"If I am still alive."
"We'll hope for the best," said Earl simply.
"Suppose I am killed," exclaimed Armande. "What difference will it
make? I shall die for my country and what happier death is there than
to die for France?"
"If everyone else feels the same way I don't see how France can be
beaten," remarked Earl, much impressed by the fervor of the impulsive
Frenchman.
"Of course she can't be beaten," cried Armande, "and of course everyone
feels as I do. Just as surely as the sun will rise to-morrow France is
going to come out victorious in this war. They can hold some of our
land for a time but they can't kill our spirit. The spirit of France
will live forever and it is spirit that wins; it is unconquerable and
it will never give in until justice and right rule once more in Europe."
"Vive la France!" cried Jacques lustily. He had been sitting on the
edge of one of the bunks attentively listening to the foregoing
conversation.
"Vive la France!" echoed Earl and the rafters of the ramshackle old
barn shook with the violence of the cheer.
"Inspection is at two and the review at three," Dubois reminded his
comrades when they had settled down to a normal state again.
"Then we haven't much time, have we?" exclaimed Leon. "Let's get
ready."
At two o'clock, to the second, the _douzième_ infantry was lined up for
inspection. Every man's uniform had been cleaned, his shoes polished
and his rifle oiled and rubbed. They all wore the steel helmets
adopted by the army since the outbreak of the war; these light metal
head coverings had saved many a life and prevented many a wound. In
the trench warfare the majority of the wounds are apt to be in the
head, for that is all that shows to the enemy; consequently the steel
helmets had proved themselves most useful.
A short time later the regiment marched off down the road towards the
large open plain where the review was to be held. From all directions
came other troops all heading towards the same spot. Bands played and
the scene was indeed a gala one. Few dress uniforms were to be seen
however. Occasionally some high officer, resplendent in gold lace,
whirred past in his motor-car, but as a rule the troops all wore their
service uniforms.
On one edge of the plain the _douzième_ halted. Regiments filed by,
some on foot and some on horseback; batteries of field artillery
rattled past. A murmur of approval swept along the line as the men
recognized the famous 75-millimeter guns, the best field artillery in
the world. These guns were the pride of the French army.
At length the _douzième_ swung into place and preceded by thousands and
followed by thousands it swept along. As far as the eye could see in
front and behind appeared a forest of rifles, the keen-edged bayonets
gleaming in the sun. It was a most impressive sight and one to inspire
confidence. The grim-visaged men were not soldiers in name only but
warriors in every sense of the word.
Far across the field marched the _douzième_ and passed along in front
of those who were there to review it. The troops all held their guns
at attention as they passed and were unable to catch a very clear
glimpse of the little group of men who stood there. Five men stood out
in front of the others however and from the corner of his eye Leon did
his best to see who they were.
"That little man in the khaki suit was King George of England," he said
to Jacques after the review was over and they had returned to their
quarters. "I also recognized General Joffre, but who was the man with
the brown mustache who stood next to King George?"
"Why that was Lord Kitchener," exclaimed Jacques.
"Who was the big man next to him? He was certainly fine looking."
"King Albert of Belgium," said Jacques in a surprised tone. "I should
think you'd recognize him."
"It was stupid of me not to," admitted Leon. "Who was the short man in
the frock coat and silk hat? He didn't look like a soldier to me."
"He isn't," laughed Jacques. "That was President Poincaré; the man who
passed us in the automobile the other day."
"Of course it was," exclaimed Leon. "Quite a distinguished gathering I
should say."
At this moment Dubois entered the loft. He was evidently excited.
"Some of these fellows have been wanting excitement," he exclaimed,
"and I guess they'll get it soon enough all right."
"What do you mean?" demanded Leon.
"Come with me and I'll soon show you," said Dubois.