CHAPTER I_Trooper 3809: A Private Soldier of the Third Republic

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THE QUEEN'S SERVICE

Being the Experiences of a Private

Soldier in the British Infantry

at Home and Abroad

BY HORACE WYNDHAM

Late of the --th Regt.

LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

21 BEDFORD STREET, W.C.

[Illustration: DRAGOON IN FULL DRESS UNIFORM OF 1880]

Trooper 3809

A Private Soldier of the

Third Republic

Lionel Decle

Author of

"Three Years in Savage Africa"

_With Eight Illustrations by H. Chartier_

[Illustration]

London

William Heinemann

1899

FIRST EDITION _August 16, 1899_

REPRINTED _August 26, 1899_

_This Edition enjoys Copyright in all Countries Signatory to

the Berne Treaty, and is not to be imported into the United

States of America._

_All rights including translation reserved._

_NOTE_

_It is right to state that the following pages have not had the

advantage of final revision by the Author, as Mr. Decle was called

upon to take charge of an important mission to Africa on behalf of the

"Daily Telegraph," and was therefore unable to complete the preparation

of his MS. for the press._

PREFACE

The bitter and protracted discussions which have arisen out of the

Dreyfus case, and which have divided France into two hostile camps,

have concentrated the attention of the civilised world on the French

army, but nobody has done more to disgrace it, and to lower it in the

eyes of friends and foes alike, than Frenchmen themselves.

Those who, persuaded of Dreyfus' innocence, made superhuman efforts

to further the noble cause of justice and to obtain the redress of

one of the greatest wrongs ever committed against a human being,

spoiled their noble task by indiscriminate and wholesale abuse of the

army in general, holding the thousands of French officers responsible

for the conduct of a few of their number. Those, on the other hand,

who believed in the guilt of Dreyfus, based their conviction upon

their blind belief in the infallibility of half a dozen officers who

had passed judgment upon the condemned man. Trusting to unworthy

subordinates, the highest officers of the General Staff made of

Dreyfus' guilt a matter on which they staked their own honour and

reputation, and when they discovered that they had been deceived, they

found themselves in the position of having either to acknowledge that

they had been befooled, or else of having to stand by those who had led

them into their awkward predicament. They chose the latter alternative,

and their friends and supporters played into the hands of those who so

fiercely attacked the army, by refusing to admit that there could be a

single black sheep in it, and by thus linking together the whole body

of French officers and making their collective honour dependent on the

honour of every individual member.

A time came, however, when even the most determined partisans of this

system had to turn against those they had extolled but the day before.

First came Esterhazy, the liar, the swindler, and the traitor; then

Henry the forger, and de Paty du Clam, his accomplice.

It is a remarkable fact that amidst all these scenes of violent abuse

there should be but one man who maintained implicit trust in the good

faith of his worst enemies--Dreyfus himself--the victim of this most

abominable conspiracy.

His case is, unfortunately, but a greatly magnified example of what

daily happens throughout the French army, and the recollections I am

now offering to the reader, of the time I served in its ranks, will

show that Dreyfus has been a victim not so much of the malice of

individuals as of a faulty system. It will be seen how, in a regiment,

the Colonel forms his opinion of a private from the character given to

him by his Corporal or Sergeant, and how the mere fact of appealing

against a punishment is considered as an act of insubordination. It

is always the same principle--_le respect de la chose jugée_ (the

upholding of a judgment, without considering upon what grounds or

evidence it has been delivered).

I wish it to be clearly understood that this little book has not been

written for the purpose of attacking the French army as represented

by its officers. It is intended merely as a faithful account of the

hardships I endured when I served my time in the ranks--hardships which

every Frenchman has still to bear. I cannot follow M. Urbain Gohier in

his virulent and indiscriminate attacks upon all French officers--among

whom individuals differ as in other classes of men; but each one of my

readers will be able to draw his own conclusions with regard to the

system which, in practice, is universally in force.

ILLUSTRATIONS

_Dragoon in Full Dress Uniform of 1880_ _Frontispiece_

_Dragoon sitting on his bed eating from Mess-tin_ _To face page_ 56

_The Plank Bed_ " 90

_A Fatigue Party of Dragoons_ " 108

_Exercises in Riding School_ (_vaulting_) " 128

_A Duel in the Riding School_ " 244

INTRODUCTION

Every Frenchman is liable to military service during twenty-five years

of his life--viz., from the age of twenty until he is forty-five.[1]

In time of peace this period of service is thus divided:

(i) Three years of active service.

(ii) Ten years in the reserve of the standing army, during which two

periods of a month each with the colours must be undergone.

(iii) Six years in the territorial army, with two periods of thirteen

days each with the colours, and

(iv) Six years in the reserve of the territorial army.

The conscription lists are thus made out:

Every year the Mayor of each "Commune" draws up a list of all the young

men who have arrived at the age of twenty during the past twelve months.

These lists must be posted up by January 14 at the latest. The names

of the sons of foreigners, if born in France, are included, and unless

they claim foreign nationality they are liable to serve, and on failing

to do so when called upon are regarded as deserters and punished

accordingly.

Domicile is established by the parents' residence.

Every year the War Minister fixes the number of conscripts required

to serve three years with the colours; those in excess of that number

are called upon to serve for one year only; but during the following

two years they are liable to be called upon to complete their time of

active service.

In order to determine those who are to benefit by this arrangement

_tirage au sort_ (drawing lots) is resorted to.

In time of peace, conscripts falling under any of the following

categories, among others, are also called upon to serve for one year

only:

(_a_) The eldest of orphans, or the eldest son of a widow, or of a

family whose father is blind, or has reached his seventieth year.

(_b_) The only son in a family of seven children or more--or the eldest

son of a family of at least seven.

(_c_) The elder of twins.

(_d_) Brothers of men engaged in active service.

(_e_) Brothers of a man who has been killed, or who has died in active

service, or who has been invalided on account of disease contracted, or

wounds received, while serving.

(_f_) Young men who have signed an engagement to serve during ten years

as teachers in the National schools.

(_g_) Students in law, science, or medicine who have already obtained

their admission to the Government Universities or other institutions

mentioned in the Act.

(_h_) Students of the religious institutions who are studying to become

ministers of one of the religions recognised by the State.

Provided that, in classes (_f_), (_g_), (_h_), such young men have

obtained their final degree before their twenty-sixth year, or

that religious students have been ordained before the end of their

twenty-sixth year, failing which, they are called upon to complete

three years' active service.

Whoever has been convicted of theft, obtaining money by false

pretences, rape, and other crimes against morals, and has been

sentenced to more than three months' imprisonment for such crimes,

or has been sentenced twice for similar offences, is sent to special

battalions in Algeria. If, at the time a conscript is called upon to

serve, he is undergoing imprisonment, he begins his service at the

expiration of his sentence.

Instead of joining their regiment like other conscripts, these men

have to report themselves on a certain date at the headquarters of

the military district to which they belong, and they are thence taken

by gendarmes to the dépôt of their battalion. They are subjected to

an iron discipline, being commanded by officers and non-commissioned

officers picked out from other regiments where they have distinguished

themselves for their harshness. Many are the tales of dreadful revenge

taken by these conscripts on their officers. It is no uncommon thing

for a few of them to play away the life of an officer at cards, the

loser being obliged to kill him within a certain time. To quote but

a single instance: A few years ago one of these battalions was being

marched from Biskra to Tuggurt in Southern Algeria. Before leaving,

four of the men had played away the life of their Major at cards. The

loser, who was to carry out the deed, pretended to be ill, and kept to

the rear of the column. On the second day he kept still farther back,

and sat down pretending to be exhausted. The Major, who had fallen

far behind, seeing the man, spoke to him kindly, telling him to make

an effort. "Oh, sir," said the soldier, "I can't; I am done for." The

Major kindly handed the man his flask to take a pull from, and as he

was replacing it in his holster, the man fired his rifle point blank

at his officer. Fortunately the horse swerved, and the bullet missed.

Thereupon the Major drew his revolver, and blew the ruffian's brains

out. A few months later a stone was found on the spot bearing this

inscription:

HERE

ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER 18--

PRIVATE ----

WAS MURDERED BY MAJOR X.

The man who placed the stone there was never discovered, and, although

it was removed by order of the military authorities, another one

bearing a similar inscription soon afterwards stood in its place. Six

times these stones were removed, and six times they were replaced, yet

the guilty parties were never detected. It is hardly to be wondered at

if the officers of these battalions usually carry loaded revolvers.

To return to our description of the mode of recruiting.

The lists having been duly posted up, a day is appointed for drawing

the lots. This public ceremony is presided over by the "Sous-préfet" of

the "Arrondissement." Having counted the number of names on the list,

the Sous-préfet places a corresponding number of tickets, each bearing

a number, in an urn: he then calls out the names of the young men, and

each in turn draws a ticket; in case of absence of one of them his lot

is drawn by the Mayor. As already explained only a certain number of

men being required to serve three years, those who draw the highest

numbers stand a chance of serving for but twelve months, besides those

who have a right to claim the privilege, although the latter are also

bound to draw lots.

All the young men whose names appear in the lists have next to appear

before a _Conseil de Revision_ (Revising Commission).

This Commission consists of:

The Prefect of the Department, who is ex-officio President.

A Conseiller de Préfecture.

A Member of the Conseil Général.

A Member of the Conseil d'arrondissement.

A General or Field Officer appointed by the military authority.

An Intendant militaire (Commissariat officer).

The chief Recruiting Officer of the district.

A military Surgeon, or a Doctor, is appointed by the military

authorities to make a medical examination of all the conscripts, and

upon his report the Commission decides by vote whether each individual

conscript shall serve or not. It should be added that the minimum

height is 5 feet 0½ inch.

The Commission also decides upon claims of exemption made by sons of

foreigners, and upon the claims of those entitled to a service of one

year only.[2]

Each conscript subsequently receives his _feuille de route_, stating

the regiment he must join, and the date on which he must join it,

and making an allowance for his journey to the town where he is to

be quartered.[3] From the moment conscripts receive their _feuilles

de route_ they are under military law, and can only be tried by

court-martial for any crimes or offences they may commit.

Men while serving for a month in the reserve, or for a fortnight in the

territorial army, are also exclusively under martial law for the time

being. Even in the case of a soldier who has finished his service the

fact of his assaulting one of his former superiors (from a Corporal

upwards) renders him liable to be tried by court-martial "should such

assault be considered the result of revenge for a punishment received

during his service."--(Art. 223 and 224 of the Code of Military

Justice.) So that a man who has been abominably treated during his time

of service and who gives a good hiding to one of his former officers

ten or twenty years later, is liable to be tried by the military

authorities.

I may add here that the act of striking a _supérieur_, meaning any man

superior in rank to one's self, from a Corporal upwards, is punished

with DEATH, _even in time of peace_. Two instances occurred while I

served. In the first instance a private had struck a Corporal who had

bullied him in a most shameful way; in the second instance a Corporal

had struck an officer who had called his mother by a vile name. Both

men were found guilty and publicly shot in the presence of their

regiment on special parade. It very seldom occurs that a man who has

struck even a Corporal is reprieved.

In each subdivision of every military district is kept a register in

which are inscribed the names of all the men in that subdivision who

are serving, or have served.

In this register is stated the date at which each man has been

incorporated, as well as the date of his leaving the service, the date

of his passing into the reserve, then into the territorial army and

into the reserve of the territorial army, until he has satisfied all

his military obligations. Every change of address is also noted.

Every soldier receives on joining his regiment a _livret matricule_, a

book in which are stated his age, his name, the address of his parents,

his full description, the list of all the punishments he has received,

and many other particulars.

It is of the utmost importance for every Frenchman to keep this book

carefully, as it has to be produced whenever required by the military,

civil, or judicial authorities, and its loss entails several days'

imprisonment. Whenever a Frenchman--until he has reached the age of

forty-five and has thus satisfied all his military obligations--wishes

to absent himself from his domicile, he is bound to present his

_livret_ at the nearest _gendarmerie_ and to declare where he is

going: this is written down in his _livret_, and on arrival at his

new residence he must have this book "_visé_" anew. If he goes abroad

he must present it to the French Consul, and whenever he changes his

residence for more than three months, he must repeat the operation

exactly after the fashion of a ticket-of-leave man in England. To omit

to do so renders the offender liable to imprisonment. It is therefore

easy to realise the tremendous power of the military authorities in

France.

The military law I have just explained is that which has been in force

since 1889 only. It differs from the previous law chiefly in regard

to the length of service. In my time (1879) the period of service in

the active army was five years instead of three. Young men, however,

who had obtained the degrees of B.A. or B.S., provided they paid

£60 to Government, and provided also they contracted a voluntary

engagement within the year preceding that in which they became liable

to conscription, were allowed to serve only one year instead of

five. During the next four years they still belonged, however, to

the active army, and were liable to be called at any time by decree

of the War Minister. These young men were officially called _Engagés

conditionnels_, but commonly termed _Volontaires d'un an_, or by

abbreviation _Volontaires_. It was as such that I served.

I have roughed it a good deal since those days, but I have no

hesitation in saying that the time of my active service with the

colours was the bitterest experience I ever underwent.

In the case of a nation which possesses no public schools like the

great institutions of England, I believe that compulsory military

service might be made an excellent moral and physical training for

young men in every rank of life. But the French system is vicious. A

system in which gentlemen of refinement and the vilest dregs of the

city slums are subjected to identical treatment, and ruled by identical

measures of discipline, is an impossible one. Take punishments, for

instance. "Equality of punishment" may sound well in theory, but in

practice it becomes the rankest inequality. A gentleman accustomed

to comfort, or perhaps luxury, is for the slightest fault sent to

the _Salle de Police_ to endure the degrading horrors presently to

be described--his companions are perhaps roughs who have never slept

in a bed since they were children, to whom dirt is a mere necessary

condition, and vermin are "familiar beasts."

Where is the equality of punishment in such a case?

It must not be thought either that some compensation lies in the

comparative infrequency of the punishments meted out to gentlemen. The

contrary is the truth. For an equal fault the rough usually gets a

shorter punishment than the man of higher class.

The German system is very different. In Germany they also have the

reduced service of one year for young men who have fulfilled certain

conditions of superior education. But these _ein jahr preiviller_,

as they are called, form a class absolutely distinct from the other

privates, and are distinguished by a uniform of better cloth. During

the first month of their service they live in barracks, where they

learn the routine of a common soldier's duties, but afterwards they are

allowed lodgings in the town where their regiment is quartered, and

they are altogether treated differently from the rest.

Then, again, in the German army non-commissioned officers cannot

punish a private, the Captain alone having the right of punishment,

while in the French army a Corporal could give us two days' _Salle

de Police_; a Sergeant, four; a Sergeant-major, a Sub-lieutenant, or

a Lieutenant, eight; and a Captain could send us to prison. Each of

those punishments was usually increased by the Major, and also by the

Colonel, and it will scarcely be credited that _no man could appeal

against a punishment until he had undergone the whole of it_. Things

have altered a little since General Boulanger was Minister of War, but

very slightly. There is still no higher appeal than to the Colonel, and

such a thing as a private or even an officer having the right to ask

for a court-martial in case he considers himself unjustly punished does

not exist. But more of this in the sequel.

III

In order to enable readers to understand clearly the account of my

adventures, I think it will be necessary to describe somewhat fully the

routine of a French cavalry regiment, as well as the rights and duties

of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates.

Any one desiring further particulars can obtain them from a little book

called "Règlement du Service Intérieur des troupes de Cavalerie."

(Paris: Librairie Militaire de L. Baudoin, 30 rue Dauphine.)

The following are the titles of the officers and non-commissioned

officers of a French cavalry regiment, with the duties and

responsibilities which theoretically devolve upon them. How far those

duties are carried out will appear in the course of my narrative.

COLONEL.

(_Five Gold Stripes._)

The authority of the Colonel extends over every part of the service.

He is responsible for the discipline, military education, instruction,

police, hygiene, and appearance of the regiment he commands. He directs

its administration with the help of a "Conseil d'administration." He

appoints all non-commissioned officers and Corporals.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL.

(_Three Gold and Two Silver Stripes._)

"The Lieutenant-colonel is the intermediary of the Colonel in every

branch of the service. He acts on behalf of the Colonel in the absence

of the latter.... When thus acting he states that the orders are the

Colonel's, so that the authority of the latter should be sustained....

"Among the books he has to keep are those containing the individual

notes on each officer, in which are entered twice yearly the

punishments inflicted on each officer, and information as to their

military as well as private conduct, their instruction, and military

aptitude. These notes are countersigned by the Colonel, who adds

whatever remarks he thinks fit...."

CHEFS D'ESCADRONS (MAJORS).

(_Four Gold Stripes._)

There are two of these in each regiment, each commanding two squadrons.

"The 'Chefs d'Escadrons' see that the Captains commanding their

squadrons carry out their duties, as well as the Colonel's orders, with

zeal and intelligence....

"One of them presides over the _Commission des ordinaires_ (food

supply). The other presides over the _Commission d'abatage_ (killing of

horses)...."

Each of them has also to look carefully into the service of the

kitchens of their squadrons, and they must frequently visit the

canteens.

They take in turns the weekly duty and are in charge of the general

police of barracks. Under their orders they have for this service a

Captain and an _Adjudant_.

MAJOR.

(_Two Gold and Two Silver Stripes._)

The duties of this officer are chiefly connected with the general

administration of the regiment--accounts, purchases, pay, equipment,

barrack furniture, &c. He is in command of the 5th squadron,[4] which

forms the dépôt in case of war.

CAPITAINE INSTRUCTEUR.

The Capitaine Instructeur is chiefly concerned with the instruction

of the non-commissioned officers. He also gives the Lieutenants and

Sub-lieutenants lectures on shooting, artillery, topography, hippology,

&c., and has to teach the _Adjudants_ (to be described later) their

duties.

CAPITAINE TRÉSORIER (PAYMASTER).

He receives all moneys for the use of the regiment; he makes all

payments authorised by the Council of Administration, of which he is a

member.

He keeps the "archives" of the regiment. Every five days he hands

over the pay to the Captain commanding each squadron or to his

Sergeant-major, and issues the demand for forage supplied through the

"Intendant" (an official apart from the regiment).

Under him he has a Deputy, a Lieutenant, or Sub-lieutenant.

CAPITAINE D'HABILLEMENT.

This Captain is in charge of the armoury, clothing, and barrack

furniture, keeping all accounts relating to the same.

All the regimental workshops are under his orders: the chief armourer,

the master saddler, the master tailor, and master bootmaker.

Under this officer is:

THE PORTE ÉTENDARD.

A Lieutenant who helps generally his immediate chief, and carries the

colours on parade.

DOCTORS.

Two Doctors are attached to each cavalry regiment--a _médecin major_

(captain-surgeon) and _médecin aide major_ (lieutenant-surgeon).

Their duties are similar to those of regimental doctors in an English

regiment.

VETERINARY SURGEONS.

Two Veterinary Surgeons are attached to each regiment, and their duties

need not be described here.

CAPITAINES (CAPTAINS).

(_Three Stripes._)

There are two Captains in each squadron--the Captain Commanding

(_capitaine commandant_) and a second Captain (_capitaine en second_).

CAPTAIN COMMANDING.--This officer is in full charge of the squadron (in

time of peace a squadron consists of about 120 men and horses); he is

the real chief and almost the only one the non-commissioned officers

and men of his squadron know, many of them leaving the service without

having ever been spoken to by such an exalted and god-like being

as a Major, much less by their Lieutenant-colonel or Colonel. The

Captain in command is himself a very great man indeed, who has very

little intercourse with such riff-raff as common privates. No leave

nor promotion can be obtained except through him, and punishments are

usually increased when they reach His Mightiness. When I served my time

I think I saw my Captain nearly twenty times in as many months, but

nevertheless I must show what his duties are--in theory. Let us quote

once more from the "Service Intérieur."

"The chief duty of the Captain Commanding is to inspire the soldiers

under his command with zeal and love [!] of the service; to develop

among them feelings of duty, honour, and devotion to their Fatherland.

He must endeavour to make their duties easy by advice, the equitable

use of his authority, and a constant solicitude for their welfare. He

is the necessary intermediary of all their requests.... He must repress

the familiarity and harshness of his subordinates towards the privates,

who must never be illtreated or insulted."

He has also to look after the officers under his direct orders. "He

visits his squadron daily, visits the men in hospital, and signs a

daily report to the Colonel."

"He is responsible for the military education of his squadron, for

the discipline of the rank and file, the condition of the horses and

stables...."

He is also responsible for the moneys and supplies handed over to him.

The Captain receives from the Treasurer the money for the use of the

squadron on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 26th of each month.

This money is divided into two parts: the first being the money to be

spent on the men's food, and the second being the men's pocket-money,

"which," say the regulations, "must not be less than 5 centimes (½_d._)

per day." The money invariably handed over to the men is 2½_d._ every

five days in the infantry, and 4_d._ every five days in the cavalry!

Corporals get about twice as much, while Sergeants get about 4_d._ a

day, and Sergeant-majors 8_d._ What would Tommy Atkins say to that?

All the accounts and books are kept by the Sergeant-major, the Sergeant

_fourrier_, and the Corporal _fourrier_, non-commissioned officers

whose duties will be described more fully later on. All clothes,

saddlery, arms, &c., are supplied to the men in the presence of the

Captain: all repairs are done on his written requisition.

When the men's food is supplied through the _Commission des ordinaires_

the Captain finds every day the amount of supplies required. When,

however, he receives money for the purchase of provisions he must see

that supplies are bought at the cheapest rate.

The daily rations for each private are as follows:

Ten ounces of meat (bone included).

One pound of bread for soup, which is reduced to 3½ ounces if stew is

served instead of soup.

In the same way the ration of meat is reduced if fish, lard, or

preserves are given to the men.

The Captain in Command assigns a horse to each trooper, and has to see

that the horses are kept in good condition. He reports on all matters

to his Major.

SECOND CAPTAIN.--The duties of this officer are two-fold: first, in

the squadron, and secondly, as Captain on regimental duty for the

week--"Captain of the Week."

In the squadron he is under the orders of the Captain Commanding, but

he is specially in charge of all matters connected with the food supply.

In case of the absence of the Captain Commanding he takes the command

of the squadron. The five Second Captains take "the week" by turn. The

"Captain of the Week" is under the immediate orders of the "Major of

the Week." He has to see to the roll-calls, the assemblies, and the

changing of guards. He is in charge of the cells, and is responsible

for the cleanliness of the barracks, and their police and security.

The evening roll-call takes place in the rooms, and is made by each

Sergeant-major, who hands over his report to the _Adjudant_, who makes

out a general bulletin and hands it over to the "Captain of the Week."

This Captain may order extra roll-calls in the middle of the night

should he think fit to do so.

LIEUTENANTS AND SUB-LIEUTENANTS.

There are four of these in each squadron, and they take in turn the

"weekly service" (_service de semaine_). As such they must be, or

ought to be, present at "stables," drill, &c. Let us quote again from

the "Service Intérieur": "They must maintain perfect order in their

_peloton_ [company] excite emulation among their men, advise union"

[the only union I ever saw was in the hatred all the men felt against

them], "develop the love of service, and always show an impartial

example of justice." [But wait until I tell my own story.] "The chief

of a _peloton_ visits it daily. He inquires into everything relating to

it....

"He sees to the cleanliness of his men" [mine must have had peculiar

ideas on the subject].... "Often and without warning he inspects the

clothes of a man whom he suspects of bad conduct.

"He passes constant reviews of the men's effects" [doesn't he], "and

when a man returns after an absence of fifteen days or more he inspects

his kit...."

He does many other things--in theory--but chiefly acts on the principle

that rules are made to be broken.

PETIT ETAT MAJOR AND PELOTON HORS RANG.

Under these titles are known all the skilled assistants (whether

non-commissioned officers or troopers) who are employed as clerks

in the offices of the Treasurer, and other officers employed in

the various administrative services of the regiment. The Capitaine

d'habillement acts as their Captain Commandant.

ADJUDANTS.

The _Adjudants_, although non-commissioned officers, wear the uniform

of a Sub-lieutenant, the only difference being that their galloons are

striped with a small red thread. They receive from the troopers and

other non-commissioned officers the same marks of respect as officers.

There are three _Adjudants_ in each cavalry regiment. The first two

are the _Adjudants_ proper, while the third (_Adjudant vaguemestre_)

has different duties. The two _Adjudants_ have under their immediate

authority all the Sergeants and Corporals so far as the discipline and

the general police of barracks are concerned. They have to keep watch

over the private conduct and appearance of the Sergeants.

They take "the week" in turn under the immediate orders of the "Captain

of the Week." All strangers wishing to enter the barracks are referred

to him when he takes "the week." The _Adjudant_ receives from the one

he has relieved:

(1) The list of all Sergeants and Corporals, so as to arrange their

rotation of duty;

(2) The list of the various Sergeants and Corporals who take "the week"

at the same time as himself;

(3) The register of punishments of non-commissioned officers and

troopers, on which he inscribes all punishments of two days or more of

_Salle de Police_, or confinement to the room, or of four days or more

C.B.;

(4) The list of men under punishment, which he hands over to the

Sergeant of the Guard.

He posts up in the orderly room the list of the officers, Sergeants,

and Corporals "of the week."

He is responsible for all trumpet calls.

The Colonel's orders and decisions are handed over to him for dictation

to the various Sergeant-majors, by whom they are read aloud to the

troopers of each squadron, after afternoon "stables."

He conveys the General's orders to the Colonel. Every morning after

_réveille_ each Sergeant-major hands over to him a report on the

morning roll-call, but this call never actually takes place in the

cavalry.

At the same time the Sergeant of the Guard hands over to him the

barracks after the last roll-call (9 P.M.),[5] and he reports on these

to the "Captain of the Week."

He sees that the canteens are closed at the proper time, and that

lights are extinguished in the rooms at 10 P.M. He has besides the

general control of all men undergoing punishment.

It will thus be seen what enormous power the _Adjudant_ has. With his

connivance a trooper may absent himself for three or four days without

any one being the wiser. Let a Sergeant or a Sergeant-major dare to

report the matter to the Captain and he will soon discover what it will

cost him. How I made use of the _Adjudant_ will be seen when I describe

my personal adventures. "Stand well with your Sergeant-major and one of

the _Adjudants_ and you are all right," is a well-known saying in the

French cavalry.

The _Adjudant-vaguemestre_ is really the regimental postmaster and

postman; he collects letters, cashes money-orders for the troopers, and

does all sorts of dirty work others don't care to undertake; he acts as

Sergeant-major to the _Peloton hors rang_, and is usually chosen from

among old Sergeants who are unfit for anything else.

Of the skilled artisans, armourers, saddlers, tailors, &c., little or

nothing need be said, as they are soldiers but in name.

Let us now return to the true inner life of a regiment, the squadron

and its units.

SERGEANT-MAJOR (MARÉCHAL DES LOGIS CHEF).

The Sergeant-major is the right hand of the Captain commanding a

squadron. In theory he is, of course, far below a Lieutenant or

Sub-lieutenant; in practice--at least in most squadrons--he is the

real head of the squadron in barracks. He is in hourly contact

with the Sergeants, Corporals, and troopers, and it is through the

Sergeant-major that the Captain judges them. Most Sergeant-majors will

send a man to prison in the Captain's name, knowing well that the

latter will approve of and endorse their decision.

"The Sergeant-major," says the "Service Intérieur," "must study

the conduct, the character, and the capabilities of the Sergeants,

Corporals, and troopers of his squadron, in order to give information

to the officers, and chiefly to the Captain commanding the squadron. He

gives all orders with regard to duty, dress, and discipline.... He is

the Captain's agent in all matters of administration and accounts, he

is responsible for the proper keeping of all books, registers, &c., and

for the proper state of all the _matériel_ belonging to the squadron.

"The Sergeant _fourrier_ and Corporal _fourrier_ do the clerical work

under his immediate supervision. He is responsible for the proper

keeping of the squadron stores and must supervise the reception,

distribution or return of every article, whatever may be its

nature...." The Sergeant of the Week hands over to him the list of all

sick men and reports to him on every roll-call.

"It is through him that all applications of the Sergeants, Corporals,

or troopers must be addressed; after informing the Lieutenant he

submits these applications to the Captain. Troopers cannot, without his

leave, change their rotation of duty."

SERGEANT (MARÉCHAL DES LOGIS).

"The Sergeants give the Corporals and troopers all orders relating to

duty, police, discipline, and military instruction." They take in turn

the duty "of the week" in their squadron. Sergeants drill the men of

their _peloton_, and are responsible to their Lieutenant for the horses

of their _peloton_.

They have to take particular care that the rooms are kept in proper

order, that the men have their clothes properly cleaned and arranged

above their beds, and no article of their kit is missing; they take

care that the arms and saddlery are always kept in perfect order; they

are responsible for the cleanliness of their men, seeing that their

clothes are duly mended, and that they are frequently shaved and have

their hair cropped short.

Whenever the _peloton_ is ordered to assemble, the Sergeant passes

through the rooms to see that the troopers are getting ready. If the

_peloton_ has to be mounted, the Sergeant sees that the horses are

properly saddled. He always superintends "stables" and sees that the

horses are properly groomed. When the _peloton_ is ordered to assemble

singly, he calls the roll and reports to the Lieutenant in command; in

case, however, the whole squadron is ordered out, he reports to the

Sergeant-major.

"SERGEANT OF THE WEEK."--The Sergeant of the Week is under the direct

orders of the officer "of the week" and seconds him in every way.

He reports on the morning and evening roll-calls to the Sergeant-major,

and hands over to him the list of the sick troopers. At the daily

parade of the squadron he notes all duties which are ordered and

designates the troopers for the fatigues and distributions. After

_réveille_ he goes to the stables and superintends their cleaning and

airing; he must see that all head-stalls and stable utensils are in

proper order; he transmits to the stable guards their orders, and sees

that these are punctually executed. In case of the sickness of a horse

he sends at once for the Vet.

The Sergeant of the Week also keeps the key of the oat-bin and is

responsible for the proper distribution of its contents as well as of

forage. Before the time fixed for the assembly of the guard of the

day he sees that the troopers who have been ordered for such duty are

properly turned out. He then escorts them to the place which has been

fixed for the parade. He takes to the cells the troopers who are to be

punished, and those who are sick to the Doctor's inspection.

He has to see that all corridors, staircases, and rooms of his squadron

are kept clean, and swept twice daily.

SERGENT-FOURRIER

The Sergeant _fourrier_ is under the direct orders of the

Sergeant-major, keeping all books and accounts under his supervision;

he receives besides, on his behalf, all supplies, and is responsible

for them. He escorts every man sent to hospital.

CAPORAL-FOURRIER.

This N.C.O. helps generally the Sergeant _fourrier_. He enters in a

book all the orders issued by the Colonel, and takes it to each officer

of the squadron; he reads these orders out to the assembled troopers

after afternoon "stables."

CORPORALS.

(In command of an _escouade_ of about ten men.)

"A Corporal sleeps in the same room with the troopers of his

_escouade_; he sees that his troopers wash their heads, faces, hands

and feet." He sees that the beds are properly made, and that the

troopers ordered for special duty are in readiness. Once a week, on the

day fixed by the Captain, he gets all the kits thoroughly cleaned.

"He takes particular care that the troopers change their linen once a

week."

On pay-day he receives the pay from the Sergeant-major and hands it

over to the troopers. He superintends the drill of the recruits,

teaches them how to do their packing, and how to clean their arms and

kit. He also shows them how to groom their horses.

He reports to the Sergeant the punishments he has given, and reports to

him on matters generally.

At _réveille_ he compels the troopers to rise, and calls the roll; he

sees that all beds are uncovered, and that the great-coats which may

have been used at night are properly rolled up. He then sends to the

stables a certain number of men to feed the horses and to clean the

stalls.

"When the other men are dressed he orders the windows to be opened in

order to change the air."

He takes the names of the sick men, and reports on the events of the

night.

He designates a trooper in turn to clean and tidy up the room. (When

several _escouades_ sleep in the same room the senior Corporal is in

charge.) It is his duty to keep proper order. He stops all games likely

to lead to quarrels, he sends men who are drunk to bed; should they

disturb the peace he calls the Sergeant of the Week by whom they are

sent to the _Salle de Police_. He forbids smoking in bed, and sees that

troopers take their meals properly. In winter he takes care that the

stoves are heated in moderation, and in the evening sees that the water

jug is full. When the trumpeter has sounded "lights out," he sees that

all lights are extinguished.

When an officer enters the room the Corporal commands "_Fixe!_"

(attention). The troopers rise, uncover themselves, and stand at

attention until the officer has given the word "_Repos!_" (stand at

ease). Should the officer be a Field or General officer the Corporal

commands "_A vos rangs--Fixe!_" at which command every trooper stands

at the foot of his bed at "attention."

THE "CORPORAL OF THE WEEK" helps generally the "Sergeant of the Week,"

who, in practice, relies upon him for the performance of many of the

duties he is supposed to carry out himself.

CAPORAL D'ORDINAIRE.

This Corporal takes delivery of, or purchases, the supplies required

for the meals of the troopers of his squadron; he has also the

supervision of the kitchen, and collects the washing.

PUNISHMENTS.

"The following are regarded as offences against discipline, and

punished as such according to their gravity:

"On the part of the superior, every act of weakness, abuse of

authority, insulting language, or the unjust infliction of any

punishment.

"On the part of the inferior, murmuring, unseemly answers, lack of

obedience (whatever may be the circumstances or the provocation);

evading a punishment; drunkenness (even without disturbance);

general misconduct, debt, quarrels ... in fact, every dereliction of

military duty, whether it is the result of negligence, laziness, or

stubbornness."

The fact of publishing, even under a _nom de plume_, a book, pamphlet,

article, or letter, whatever may be its subject, without previous leave

from the Minister of War, is considered an offence against discipline.

"_Any man belonging to the army or navy can be punished by another

man holding a rank superior to his own, whatever may be the place

or the circumstances._" To be rightly understood this requires some

explanation. For instance, a Captain in the navy (who ranks as a

Colonel), on leave in Paris, meets at a _café_ a Major of a cavalry

regiment; if the latter does not salute him, or misbehaves himself in

any way, the naval officer can punish him on the spot. It constantly

happens, for instance, that a trooper of a cavalry regiment passing a

Corporal of the line fails to salute him. The Corporal has the right to

punish the trooper forthwith.

"The officer in command of a regiment can increase or reduce

punishments; he can even cancel them. In that case, he points out to

the officer or non-commissioned officer the mistake he has made, and

orders him to cancel himself the punishment he has inflicted...." The

Captain in command of a squadron can increase a punishment inflicted

by one of his direct subordinates. He cannot, however, reduce such

punishment without the Colonel's leave.

PUNISHMENT OF OFFICERS.

The following are the punishments which may be inflicted on regimental

officers:

(a) Arrêts simples (confinement to rooms).

(b) Reprimand by Colonel.

(d) Arrêts de forteresse (confinement in a fortress).

(e) Reprimand by a General.

A Lieutenant can inflict a punishment of four days _arrêts simples_ on

a Sub-lieutenant; a Captain a punishment of eight days on any officer

of lower rank; a Captain of a squadron fifteen days on officers of his

own squadron; a Major fifteen days, and the Colonel thirty days, on any

officer of a rank lower than their own.

An officer thus placed under arrest must attend to his military duties

as usual, but in the intervals he must keep to his room, and may

receive no visits except official ones.

_Arrêts de rigueur_ (viz., confinement to the room, with a sentry

posted at the door) and _arrêts de forteresse_ can be inflicted by the

Colonel alone. He can give any officer under his orders thirty days of

the former and fifteen days of the latter.

(In no case can an officer apply for a court-martial, as in England.

In some regiments, especially in the line, officers get punished more

frequently than privates get mere C.B. in a British regiment.)

"The punishment begins from the moment it has been inflicted."

Let it be also noted that an officer can inflict a punishment on any

other officer inferior in rank to himself, to whatever squadron he may

belong, and can similarly punish officers of other regiments; and, as

stated before, any officer in the navy can punish an officer in the

army of inferior rank, and _vice versâ_!

Recent events in France give special interest to this subject, and I

will therefore give some account of various other punishments which can

be inflicted upon French officers without enabling them to appeal to a

court-martial.

The question is, indeed, one of such high interest at the present

juncture that I will quote verbatim from the Army Regulations:

"When an officer commits a fault, which--without being such as

to entail the loss of his commission or his being sent before

a court-martial--is still serious enough to require a heavier

punishment than those above described, he can be suspended (placed in

_non-activité_) or his commission can be cancelled (_ils peuvent être

mis en réforme_)."

The _non-activité_, which means the temporary exclusion from the

service, is determined by decree of the President of the Republic upon

the report of the Minister of War.

The "superior authority" decides as to the causes which may necessitate

the placing of an officer in _non-activité_, a disciplinary measure

taken in cases of less serious a nature than those for which an officer

may lose his commission (_peut-être mis en réforme--c'est-à-dire,

l'exclusion définitive de l'armée_[6]).

The place of an officer who has been suspended (_non-activité par

suspension d'emploi_) is not filled up during a year, and he can be

sent back to his regiment before the expiration of that period.

An officer placed in non-activity _par retrait d'emploi_ remains in

that position for an unlimited period, but at the end of three years a

court of inquiry (_un conseil d'enquête_) is called upon to give its

opinion as to whether the officer ought to be cashiered or not (_si

l'officier doit être mis en réforme_).

When the officer commanding a regiment considers that an officer under

his orders cannot remain _en activité_ either on account of misconduct

or on account of neglect of duty, or else through incapacity, he

details his complaint against the said officer in a report he sends

to the Major-general commanding his brigade. He specifies whether

he considers that the officer ought to be suspended for a time

or permanently (_si l'officier doit être mis en non-activité par

suspension ou par retrait d'emploi_), and sends with his complaint a

list of the various punishments inflicted on the officer, a copy of the

officer's notes, and, if necessary, documents relating to the facts

upon which the demand is based.

The documents are examined by the General commanding the brigade, who

forwards them to the General commanding the division, who sends them

in his turn to the General commanding the army corps, by whom they

are forwarded to the Minister of War. Each one of the above-mentioned

Generals writes his opinion on the case.

An officer who has been suspended (_mis en non-activité_) remains

subject to military discipline under the _surveillance_ of the

General commanding the military district where he has been allowed to

reside.[7] The _Mise en réforme_[8] (cashiering) is determined by the

President of the Republic upon the proposal of the Minister of War as a

disciplinary measure.

This punishment can be inflicted upon an officer as an immediate

measure without it being necessary that he should have been previously

suspended: it can be inflicted for habitual misconduct, serious neglect

of duty, or breach of discipline, or dishonourable conduct. It can

also become the consequence of three years of non-activity either as

a disciplinary measure or through ill-health. When an officer is, as

above stated, sent before a commission of inquiry (_Conseil d'Enquête_)

the minutes of the proceedings are forwarded to the Minister of War.

The opinion of such a commission cannot be modified except in favour

of the officer[9] (_sic_). An officer who has been cashiered (_en

réforme_) is liberated from all obligations imposed on officers in a

position of activity or non-activity.[10]

I have wandered far away from the regiment, I have quoted dry law, and

I feel afraid that readers will begin to ask, "But what about your

own adventures?" I am as anxious as my readers to get to them, but I

think it better to get rid of all the dreary details first, and this

introduction will enable me to go on with my story without having

constantly to stop to explain this or that. I shall not abuse the

patience of my readers much longer, but there are still a few details I

must explain, and I hope that I shall be forgiven for doing so.

The punishments which may be inflicted on non-commissioned officers are

as follows:--

(i) Confinement to barracks after the evening roll-call. This is given

to Sergeants who show laziness in, or ignorance of, their work, or who

return late to barracks. (N.C.O.s, unless thus punished, can remain out

till 11 P.M.)

(ii) Confinement to barracks. Inflicted on a Sergeant whose personal

appearance is slovenly, or who allows his men to fail in their

appearance.

(iii) Confinement to the room. Inflicted for slight breaches of

discipline. For more serious offences N.C.O.s are sent to prison.

(Except, in the latter case, N.C.O.s under punishment have to do their

duty as usual.)

(iv) Reprimand by Captain commanding the squadron.

(v) Reduction in rank (_retrogradation_).

(vi) Absolute loss of rank (_cassation_).

The appended table explains itself:--

+-----------+-----------------------------------------------------------+

| | Right of Punishment by-- |

| +---------+----------+---------+--------+----------+--------+

| | | his | lieut. | | | |

+-----------+---------+----------+---------+--------+----------+--------+

| (i) | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 30 |

| (ii) | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 30 |

| (iii) | -- | -- | 4 | 8 | 15 | 30 |

| Prison | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 15 |

+-----------+---------+----------+---------+--------+----------+--------+

Corporals in the French army do not rank as N.C.O.s. The latter are

far better treated now than they were in my time, the change being

entirely due to General Boulanger, and being one of the causes of

his great popularity among the soldiers. Until he became Minister of

War, non-commissioned officers could be sent to the _Salle de Police_

(lock-up). An _Adjudant_ could give a Sergeant eight days of _Salle de

Police_, or fifteen days' C.B., and a Sergeant-major could give the

Sergeants four days' _Salle de Police_ and eight days' C.B. Sergeants

could even be sent to prison by the _Adjudants_. There existed a

_Salle de Police_ separate from the one allotted to the men, to which

Sergeants and Corporals were sent together, the only difference being

that Sergeants were allowed a straw mattress and blanket, while the

Corporals were only allowed one blanket and slept on boards.

The punishments inflicted on Corporals are:

(a) Confinement to barracks.

(b) _Salle de Police_ (lock-up).

(d) Reduction to the ranks.

+----------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

| | Right of Punishment by-- |

|----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+

| of | |majors.| in his | and | | and | |

| | | | | | | a | |

+----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+

| (a) | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 30 |

| (b) | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 8 | 15 | 30 |

| (c) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 15 |

+----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+

Corporals are confined to barracks for slight breaches of discipline.

For failing to answer the evening call, bad language,[11] disobedience,

quarrels, drunkenness, Corporals are sent to the _Salle de Police_. For

more serious faults, especially when on duty, Corporals are sent to

prison.

TROOPERS.

The punishments inflicted on troopers are:

(a) Extra work.

(b) Inspection with the guard parade.

(d) _Salle de Police._

(e) Prison.

(f) Cells (solitary confinement).

Punishments (_a_), (_b_), (_c_) were in my time very seldom inflicted

in a cavalry regiment, being regarded as too mild for a trooper and

only fit for men in the line. I am told that this is still the case.

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------+

| | Right of Punishment by-- |

+-----------+----------+---------------+--------------+----------+

| | | | | |

+-----------+----------+---------------+--------------+----------+

| | | | | |

| (_c_) | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 |

| (_d_) | -- | -- | -- | 4 |

| (_e_) | -- | -- | -- | -- |

| (_f_) | -- | -- | -- | -- |

+-----------+----------+---------------+--------------+----------+

+-----------+------------------------------+

| | Right of Punishment by-- |

+-----------+----------+----------+--------+

| | | a | |

+-----------+----------+----------+--------+

| | | | |

| (_c_) | 15 | 30 | 30 |

| (_d_) | 8 | 15 | 30 |

| (_e_) | -- | 8 | 15 |

| (_f_) | -- | -- | 8 |

+-----------+----------+----------+--------+

(Until General Boulanger became Minister of War Corporals could give

a trooper two days' _Salle de Police_; a Sergeant could inflict four

days, a Sergeant-major eight days, and an _Adjudant_ fifteen days, or

four days' prison.)

Troopers confined to barracks are employed in doing the hardest and

dirtiest manual work. They take part in every drill and duty besides.

Those sent to the _Salle de Police_ are kept at night in the lock-up.

Troopers sent to prison do no duty, but undergo special punishment

drill for three hours in the morning and three hours at night. They are

deprived of pay, of sugar, and of coffee.

Troopers in the cells are kept in confinement day and night. Only a

blanket without bedding is allowed to the troopers in prison or in the

cells.

Any Corporal or trooper who, during his three years' service, has been

sent to prison or to the cells, must at the expiration of his three

years' service, remain with the colours for a number of days equal to

those he has spent in prison or in the cells.

I have not yet exhausted the list of punishments which may be inflicted

upon French privates. There is another one more terrible than all the

others I have described. This consists in sending a soldier to the

_Compagnies de discipline_. This means transportation to Algeria.

There the soldier is drafted into one of the special companies

encamped far away in the interior. The men are drilled for several

hours daily, and during the remainder of the time they are employed

at road-making and subjected to other hard labour. Officers and

Sergeants in command are always armed with loaded revolvers, and at the

least sign of disobedience they can blow a man's brains out. For the

slightest fault these men are sent to the _silos_--deep holes dug in

the ground, and funnel-shaped at the bottom, so that neither standing,

sitting, nor lying down is possible. They are left there for one or two

days with bread and water. An awful case occurred some years ago in

connection with these _silos_, which will be described in the course of

my narrative.

"The Minister of War," say the regulations, "has full power to send to

the _Compagnies de discipline_ any private who has committed one or

several faults, the gravity of which makes any other mode of repression

inadequate."

Usually, however, such men are tried before a _Conseil de discipline_.

When the Captain in command of a squadron considers that one of his

troopers has deserved to be sent to a _Compagnie de discipline_ he

sends a written report to the Major stating the faults or misdemeanours

of the trooper and the punishments which have been inflicted upon him,

dwelling upon the recurrence of certain acts which show a perseverance

in ill-doing, a danger to the good order of the service.

This report is endorsed by the Major, and the Lieutenant-colonel, who

hands it over to the Colonel. The latter can either transmit this

report to the Minister of War, who decides upon the case, or (as is

usually done) he can assemble a disciplinary commission (_Conseil de

discipline_) consisting of the following officers of the regiment:

One Major (who presides over the commission).

The two senior Captains and the two senior Lieutenants, provided they

do not belong to the squadron of the trooper to be tried.

The Captain who applies for the infliction of the punishment, as well

as the Major who commands the squadrons to which the trooper belongs,

lay their case before the court. They then retire, and the trooper is

brought in and makes his defence. The court then deliberates and sends

its decision to the Colonel. It must be remembered that the court

merely gives its advice, and this is sent to the General commanding the

division of which the regiment is a unit. Should the court recommend

the trooper to be sent to the _Compagnies de discipline_, the General

can decline to act upon their advice, but should the court decide that

the trooper ought not to be sent there, the General is bound to abide

by the decision. This seems, at first blush, an equitable procedure,

but when we remember the almost unlimited power possessed by a Colonel

over the officers of his regiment, it is easy to realise that a

_Conseil de discipline_ usually sits for the mere purpose of carrying

out the well-ascertained wishes of the supreme regimental authority.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] For full particulars see "Loi du 15 Juillet 1889, sur la

Recrutement de l'Armée." Librairie Militaire L. Baudoin, 30 rue

Dauphine, Paris.

[2] All who for any cause are considered unfit for service have to pay

a yearly tax of 6 francs, and an additional tax proportionate to their

means.

[3] Soldiers pay one-third of ordinary fares on French railways.

[4] French cavalry regiments have five squadrons.

[5] It was 8 P.M. in my time.

[6] The vagueness of this should be noted.

[7] Which means that an officer so punished cannot travel out of his

district without leave.

[8] Colonel Picquart's case.

[9] L'avis du conseil ne peut être modifié qu'en faveur de l'officier.

("Service Intérieur," p. 220.)

[10] It therefore stands to reason that a court-martial could not

legally try Colonel Picquart.

[11] _e.g._, saying that Dreyfus is innocent. Reading a

newspaper--whatever it may be--is also a serious offence.

CHAPTER I

I have already explained that twenty years ago, when I served my time

in the ranks of the French army, French military law differed from

what it is now. It is true that--speaking generally--every able-bodied

Frenchman was then, as now, compelled to undergo five years' active

service, but for young men who had graduated at a University there

was the loop-hole of escape described in the Introduction. Having no

ambition to serve for five years as a private, I naturally determined

to avail myself of the benefit of the law, and accordingly in the month

of August 1879 I went over to the headquarters of the military division

of Paris, and there, after producing all the papers required by French

red-tapeism,[12] I signed a voluntary engagement for a period of one

year (_Engagement conditionnel_).

A month later I received orders to appear before the _Conseil de

revision_, held in the town-hall of my district. About two hundred

fellows, belonging to every class of society, were waiting in the

yard--most of them, indeed, being roughs from la Villette (the

Whitechapel of Paris). We were called up by batches of twenty-five,

and shown by gendarmes into a room, around which stood long benches

with pegs above them. A red-hot stove was burning in a corner of this

room, and as there was no ventilation of any kind, and more than one

hundred unwashed ruffians had already undressed and dressed there, the

smell was abominable. A gendarme then ordered us to strip off all our

clothing, barring our socks, and when we had done so--what a sight we

were!--he called each one of us in turn and placed us under a measuring

gauge. He first took our height with our socks on, and then without

them--except in the case of those who possessed no such garment, and

who formed the majority. The gendarme who measured us was a Sergeant,

and he dictated to a private the result of his measurements. When my

turn came he placed me under the apparatus and then asked for my name.

"Decle," I said.

"And your Christian name?"

"Lionel."

"Lionel," he replied: "that's not a Christian name."

I assured him that it was my Christian name, and, what was more, the

only one I possessed.

"Well, it's a queer Christian name, and I don't know where your people

fished it out," he remarked. After a glance at the scale he dictated

"1·78 metre in his socks," to his subordinate. He then ordered me to

remove my socks, and, measuring me once more, pronounced the verdict

"1·79 metre without socks."

"But, Sergeant," I asked, "how can I be taller without my socks than

with them on?"

"You will perhaps teach me my business!" he angrily replied, and seeing

that the private was hesitating to write down the figures, "D---- you,"

he shouted, "are you going to take that down or not?"

The private silently obeyed, doubtless accustomed for years to passive

obedience.

I was then told to stand aside, and another fellow was called up. We

were then sent, each in turn, into another room, where sat the _Conseil

de revision_, presided over by a General in full uniform, assisted by

officials also in uniform, and a few respectable-looking old gentlemen.

I confess that I felt rather shy at having to appear without clothes

before so ornamental a company, whose uniforms strangely contrasted

with the state of nature I was in. A clerk, having inquired my name,

fished out my papers from a huge bundle, and asked me a long list of

questions about my family history. The President then inquired whether

I could show any cause why I should not serve, and upon my negative

reply, a military surgeon proceeded to examine me. A paper was handed

over to him by the clerk.

"What's this?" he said. "You're one metre seventy-eight in your socks,

and a centimetre more without them?"

"That's just what I said to the gendarme, sir," I replied, "but he told

me to shut up."

The gendarme was called and questioned about the matter.

"All I can say, sir," he replied, "is that a machine can't lie, and

I've had enough experience not to make a mistake."

There was a burst of laughter from all the members of the council,

which seemed to greatly astonish the old gendarme. The doctor took

me back to measure me himself, and finding that my exact height was

one metre seventy-nine without socks, he pointed this out to the

gendarme. The latter, however, shook his head. "Well, sir," he stoutly

declared, "all I can say is that he was one seventy-eight just now."

I was brought back to the council-room and the doctor then proceeded

to take my chest and other measurements, dictating to the clerk a list

of my various "points." He then asked me about my past illnesses, and

inquired into the health of my father, mother, and grand-parents. He

then tested my heart and lungs, felt my legs, and examined my teeth;

concluding the whole performance by making me sit down, walk, and

cough. I felt like a horse under examination by a "Vet." The result

of this inspection was that I was passed as fit for service. Before

retiring I was asked whether I preferred to serve in the infantry,

artillery, heavy or light cavalry. I expressed a desire to serve in the

Dragoons, and my wish was duly noted. Shortly afterwards I received

notice to present myself at one of the Paris cavalry barracks, in

order to pass an examination in riding, for _Volontaires_, having then

to serve only one year, were admitted into the cavalry only if they

could already ride. The examination was a most simple one: we had to

mount a horse, which was saddled, but without stirrups, and then had

to walk, trot, and canter once round the riding-school. About a score

of others passed the examination at the same time as myself, and only

one candidate, who managed to fall off his horse while trotting, was

rejected as unfit to serve in the cavalry, though of the whole batch

hardly three could pretend to a knowledge of horsemanship.

At the beginning of October I received a notification that I was to

serve in the 9th Dragoons, at Dinan in Brittany. I was most anxious

not to go so far from Paris, and as my maternal uncle then held a most

prominent position in the _Senat_, being Leader of the Left Centre, I

obtained a letter from him to the Minister of War, who allowed me to

choose whatever regiment I liked. One year before, a great friend of

mine, Baron de Lanoy, had enlisted for five years in the 50th Dragoons

stationed at Noilly,[13] and he had lately been promoted to the rank of

Sergeant. He had strongly advised me to join his regiment, the Colonel

of which, the Marquis de Vieilleville, was most favourably disposed

towards the _Volontaires_. At my request I was accordingly drafted into

that regiment. Unfortunately, shortly before I joined, the Marquis

died, and was replaced by Colonel Hermann, who hated _Volontaires_, and

proved, as will be seen, a martinet of the worst type.

Towards the end of October I received my _feuille de route_, ordering

me to present myself at 10 A.M. at the cavalry barracks at Noilly.

It was a dull, dreary, miserable, wet day when I took a train at the

_gare du Nord_ at half-past seven in the morning, to begin my military

experiences--experiences which proved, as will be seen, little short of

what I might have had to suffer had I been sentenced to hard labour.

An hour later the train stopped at Noilly, where, following the advice

previously given to me by my friend de Lanoy, I drove to the Crown

Hotel, the best in the place, engaged a room, and hastily swallowed

the last decent breakfast I was to enjoy for many days to come. Half

an hour before the appointed time I drove to the barracks. The sentry

stood shivering in his box, and the thought then flashed across my mind

that it would soon become my lot to stand there myself. I passed the

gate, and seeing one of the troopers standing outside the guardroom, I

was about to ask him where I could find my friend, Sergeant de Lanoy,

when a Sergeant, dragging his sword on the ground, stepped out of the

guard-room and addressed me:

"Hullo! what do you want, you there?"

"Sir," I replied, "I am a _Volontaire_, and I want to go and see a

friend of mine, Sergeant de Lanoy."

"Oh, you're a _Volontaire_, are you? Well, you can wait where you are!"

"But, sir," I asked again, "can't I be allowed to go and see Sergeant

de Lanoy?"

"What! Answers, eh? You'll have to be put through your paces at once,

my fine fellow, or else you will make the acquaintance of the _boite_

(cells) sooner than you care for. Wait there and shut up," he concluded.

There was nothing for it, therefore, but to walk up and down in the

drizzling rain. I had already visited the barracks once, a few months

before, when I came to pay a call on de Lanoy, little thinking then

that I should soon belong to his regiment. Now they presented a much

keener interest for me, and I looked anxiously at my surroundings. On

each side of the gate stood a small lodge. One of these was used as a

guard-room, the other was the residence of the barrack caretaker, a

post usually bestowed on an old pensioned non-commissioned officer.

The barrack yard itself was about 400 yards long and 250 broad; in the

middle of it stood the riding-school, flanked on each side by two rows

of huge two-storied buildings running at right angles to the entrance

gate. On the ground floor of these buildings were the stables, and

above them the men's quarters. The right-hand portion of the barracks

was occupied by an infantry regiment, while the remainder was used by

the Dragoons. It may here be noted that different names are given to

the barracks occupied by cavalry and by infantry, the latter being

called _casernes_, while the former are termed _quartiers_. The yard

was teeming with life: troopers in stable uniforms were running to and

fro, some carrying buckets of water, others empty-handed; in front

of me was a group of half a dozen men pumping water into a long tank

running along the riding-school; other troopers were sweeping the yard

while one of their number collected in a wheelbarrow the little heaps

of refuse gathered by the others; then an officer came out of the

riding-school and called to a trooper to take back his charger to the

stables. In a few moments a man came running to the guard-room, and

shouted to the Trumpeter to call the Sergeants of the Week quickly, as

the Captain of the Week wanted them. The Trumpeter sounded the call,

and had hardly finished when five Sergeants came at a run and went to

the Captain, who stood near the riding-school, where I could hear him

abusing them with frantic gesticulations. My attention was next called

to six troopers in stable dress (but with swords and carbines), their

faces turned towards a wall; they were being drilled by a Sergeant, and

I was struck by the length of time during which they remained in the

same position. While I was looking at them the Sergeant gave a word of

command, and the troopers stood with their swords extended at arm's

length: two, three, minutes elapsed, and I could see the poor fellows

getting so tired that they had to bend their bodies to remain with

their swords in the right position; the Sergeant, walking up and down,

did not seem to mind this, but one of the troopers, having slightly

bent his arm, the Sergeant, in a monotonous tone of voice, calling the

fellow by name, said, "So-and-so, two days more for not holding your

sword straight." This seemed to me little short of barbaric cruelty.

I afterwards realised that this exercise was punishment drill for men

punished with prison. Soon the Trumpeter sounded "Soup," and every

trooper employed in the barrack square hurried to put away his tools,

while men rushed from every corner, shouting like school-boys let

loose. While I was watching the scene I have described I noticed the

arrival of a tall, handsome, and well-groomed young man in civilian

attire, who asked me if I was a _Volontaire_, adding that he was

himself one, and that he wanted to know where he had to report himself.

In order to save him from the Sergeant's abuse, I warned him that he

had better wait with me until the Sergeant of the Guard called us.

While we were talking the Sergeant appeared on the threshhold of the

guard-room, and, at the top of his voice, shouted out, "What the deuce

are you hatching there, you idiots? I suppose you're another of these

(using a double-barrelled adjective) _Volontaires_?" turning to my

companion.

"Yes, sir," replied the young fellow.

"Well, why the devil don't you come and report yourself, you blockhead?"

"Oh, sir," replied Walter--for such we will suppose his name to

be--"this gentleman," pointing to me, "told me----"

"This gentleman told you!" howled the Sergeant, "this _gentleman_,

indeed; you're really too damned polite. You're another colt who

requires breaking in. Now, you two young _pekins_[14] advance to

orders, and show me your papers." We produced our _feuilles de route_,

and the Sergeant having examined them told us to go to the Paymaster's

office in the town. "Oh! you want to speak to Sergeant de Lanoy, do

you?" he said to me. "I'll give you a trooper to take you to him."

Having asked my new comrade to wait a few minutes for me outside the

barracks, so that we might go together to the Paymaster's office, I

was going with the trooper towards de Lanoy's quarters when we met him

coming to look out for me. I told him how I had been treated by the

Sergeant of the Guard, and he replied that he was not in the least

astonished, as the fellow was a brute, adding that he had no right

to keep me waiting when I asked to go and see him. "I'll have it out

with him," he remarked, adding: "You go straight to the Paymaster's

office and ask to be drafted into my squadron, the 3rd, and I'll see

that you're placed under my orders, so that I can look after you." We

then parted, and outside the barracks, I found Jack Walter waiting for

me. Curiously enough, though he was the first acquaintance I made in

the regiment, our friendship, which began that day, has lasted ever

since. My friend is of English origin (his grandfather having been an

Englishman who became naturalised in France), and were I to mention

his real name it would be recognised by most of my readers as that of

a rising painter of undoubted genius, whose works have graced many

a _Salon_. We went to the Paymaster's office, and, although we were

rather upset by the reception we had received from the Sergeant of the

Guard, we were both very keen on serving.

The Paymaster made no difficulty about placing me in the 3rd squadron,

while Walter was drafted into the 2nd, having a letter of introduction

to one of the officers of that squadron. We each received a paper

from the Paymaster's clerk with instructions to hand them over to our

respective Sergeant-majors; the clerk kindly added that we need not

return to barracks before 11 A.M., as the Sergeants were eating their

breakfast. When I returned to the barracks I went to the Sergeant of

the Guard and told him that I was back from the Paymaster's office,

asking him to direct me to my Sergeant-major's office.

"Do you take me for a sign-post?" he answered.

"No, sir," I replied, "but I wanted your leave before asking a trooper

to show me the way."

"You long-nosed chap, you're a soldier now, remember that; so do me the

honour of calling me 'Sergeant,' and not 'sir.'"

"Yes, Sergeant," I replied. He then ordered a trooper who stood in the

guard-room to take me to the office of my Sergeant-major. "By the way,"

he said, as I was going off, "what squadron do you belong to?"

"To the 3rd squadron, Sergeant."

"It's a pity you don't belong to mine," he answered: "I should like

to have had you under my orders; it would have been a real pleasure

to lick you into shape. But God help you if you ever cross my path. I

don't like your face. When I don't like a man's face it's a poor chance

he stands with me. Now go, clear out of this."

I'm sorry to say that it was my misfortune to have this man later on

as my chief, and he duly proved that his boast was no vain one. When I

reached the Sergeant-major's office I met outside the door my friend de

Lanoy, and informed him that I had managed to be placed in his squadron.

"I'm glad of it," he said: "I will go with you to see the

Sergeant-major, and try to get you put in my _peloton_" (company).

The Sergeant-major's office was a small room about sixteen feet

by twelve, and served as a bedroom as well as an office. Three

non-commissioned officers slept in it; the Sergeant-major, the

Sergeant _fourrier_, and the Corporal _fourrier_, who ranks as a

non-commissioned officer.[15] At a huge table in the centre of the

room sat the Sergeant-major, a cold, stern, and distant individual.

He granted de Lanoy's request, and put me in his _peloton_, ordering

him at the same time to assign me a bed. De Lanoy, now my Sergeant,

took me to the room where the 120 men of our squadron lived, ate, and

slept. Two lateral partitions, ten or twelve feet high, ran the whole

length of the room, with beds on each side of them. There were thus

four rows of beds running along the room, each row being occupied by

the troopers belonging to the same company. The beds themselves seemed

so narrow that one could hardly realise how a man could manage to sleep

in one of them. At the head of each bed hung the trooper's sword; on a

nail near it was suspended the bag containing brushes and other stable

implements, while laid on two shelves running along the whole length

of the room, above the beds, each trooper had his clothes carefully

folded, and covered with a canvas bag on which the number under which

he was registered appeared in large figures. On the top of this stood

the helmet, with a pair of boots on each side of it. In each corner of

the room the carbines stood on racks.

"Although you are not allowed to have any one to help you," said de

Lanoy to me, "it is simply impossible for you to make your bed and

to clean yourself, your clothes, your boots, saddlery, and weapons,

for, the moment you begin the special work allotted to _Volontaires_,

you will only have two hours to spare for meals every day; you must

therefore arrange with two men to do your work, and I will place you

between two good fellows whom I can trust to look after you. Only mind

you," he added, "the new Colonel hates _Volontaires_, and as any man

found helping them will be severely punished, you will have to allow

ten francs a week to each of the troopers who look after your things."

He then gave me an empty bed which was placed between those of the two

men he had selected and who were only too glad to look after me. One of

them was a Parisian ruffian, nicknamed _Titi de la Villette_, and the

other a country bumpkin whom every one called "the old un," on account

of his prematurely aged appearance. By de Lanoy's advice I gave Titi

five francs to buy a two-gallon jar of wine for the troopers belonging

to my _peloton_.

I then returned to the Sergeant-major's room, in order to supply him

with particulars about myself such as have to be registered in the

_livret_ (regimental book) handed over to every French soldier.

"What's your name?" he began.

"Decle."

"What's your Christian name?"

"Lionel."

"Your profession?"

"I have none."

"Ah, yes," he replied, "a good-for-nothing, like all the

_Volontaires_." He then asked me for my father's name, Christian name

and profession. I had also to give him my mother's maiden name, and to

tell him whether I had any brothers or sisters. After this followed

some rather ludicrous questions:

"Can you read and write?"

"Well," I said, "I suppose so, considering that I am a _Volontaire_,

and have therefore taken a University degree."

"I want none of your remarks," replied the Sergeant-major, staring at

me from head to foot; "answer my questions. Can you swim?" I replied in

the affirmative.

"How many times have you been convicted?" I protested against the

implication most energetically, but this only brought down on me a few

cutting remarks about my cheek and impertinence. I had then to state

whether I had had small-pox, whether I had been vaccinated or not, and

whether I meant to re-enlist at the end of my year's service. My reply

was in the negative as may well be imagined.

The Sergeant-major having taken down all my answers looked at me

once more from top to toe, and then delivered the following little

speech: "Look here, my boy," he began, "don't you run away with the

idea that military service is all beer and skittles, or you'll soon be

disappointed. I know what you _Volontaires_ are like; you come here

and imagine that you are going to have a good time of it; but I warn

you that you will have a devilish bad time of it if you don't keep

straight. I'm a good sort of fellow enough, but all the troopers will

tell you that I am pretty stiff. I won't punish you often, but when I

do, you'll remember it. You're too much of a fine gentleman for my

taste, so I fancy it won't be long before you get into trouble. Now you

can clear out--Sergeant de Lanoy will tell you what you have to do."

I retired, a sadder but a wiser man.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] Birth certificate, father's consent, certificate of degree,

certificate of respectability and good morals (signed by the local

Police Commissary), father's undertaking to pay £60 on my being

accepted by the _Conseil de revision_.

[13] All names of persons and places in the narrative are fictitious.

[14] An offensive term for "civilian" used by soldiers.

[15] Corporals do not rank as such.