The French troops are brave and fearless but too impetuous, says a
correspondent of the London _Daily Chronicle_. He adds:
“Careless of quick-firers, which experience should have taught them were
masked behind the enemy’s advance posts, they charged with the bayonet
and suffered needlessly heavy losses during the fighting at Creil and
Compiègne. One can only admire the gallantry of men who dare to charge
on foot against the enemy’s mounted men and who actually put a squadron
of them to flight, but one must say again: ‘_C’est magnifique, mais ce
n’est pas la guerre._’
“There have been many incidents of heroism in these last days of
fighting. It is, for instance, immensely characteristic of the French
spirit that an infantry battalion, having put to flight a detachment of
German outposts in the forest of Compiègne, calmly sat down to have a
picnic in the woods until, as they sat over their hot soup, laughing at
their exploit, they were attacked by a new force and cut to pieces.”