What strikes you most in this country is the enthusiasm of the people
for their army. They have flocked to the colours by the thousand, and
I fancy the biggest problem here is what to do with the men when you
get them. Our own army looks small beside the French, but it is fit in
every way, and we hear its praises sung in strange places. Some of our
chaps look queer now that they have taken to letting their beards grow,
and you would not know them: _Private G. Busby_.
“Fag” Making
We are always in the thick of it, and we are doing grand work. The
whistle of the shells is not exactly Tango music, but still the troops
are very cheerful. Most of the time we have had good weather, but just
now the rain is a bit troublesome. The behaviour of the French people
in the fighting area is wonderful. They are just splendid. It is very
difficult to get a smoke here, and when anyone strikes a match it is
amusing to see the rush. The British Tommies are getting quite expert
at “fag” making: _Pte. Kay, Northumberland Fusiliers_.