THE FRENCH SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2235, 22 August 1914, Page 8

THE FRENCH SOLDIER

SHABBY BUT EFFICIENT' A' SIFTED CAMPAIGNER

Iho pjou-piou," or infantryman, the backbone of the French army, seems shabby and untidy to visitors who have been struck with the gorgeous appearance of tho Prussian Guards in the lieadgear over two feet high which they lave Kept smeo the time of Frederick the Great, or the other decorative warriors of the nation which holds itself " mgn above tho mere ordinary laws of morality, and honour. German soldiors gaudily attired or not, always wear ex! pensive uniforms that never appear anything but bran new. But with our allies new uniforms are doled out sparttgly; scarlet is allowed to fade to a rusty brown;" tunic and trousors are patched many times by the deft-fingered soldier before he receives a new kit ihe cuirassiers, who look very martial on horseback with their shining breastplates and Greek helmets, from which hang long tails of horsehair, on closer inspection are often found to be shabby warriors, whose finery hae seen bard service. Strangers have been inclined to laugh at these national econpmies. but the savings effected in military 'gewgaws have helped France to purchase her airships and her artillery,, which she .believes to be the best in Europe, lne French army has been trained for work and not for show; the nation years ago resolved to saorifice appearances to efficiency. Soldiers as Coofes. On a campaign-where it is to be feared. ™ at *he British-Tommy would starve, tho JJYencn 'piou-pious" manage to prepare meals which are, at any rate, hot, and look appetising,- even if they are not very., nutritious.. The thick soup which every recruit soon loams to make may be a factor that will shortly turn the scale in the land' conflict. When an infantry regiment is on. the march each squad carries its own cooking utensils. Every soldier carries one article on his back, .and .the clang of fryingpans mingles with the clatter of saucepans, and makes up a sound that must be music in the hungry soldiers'• ears, since it'tells them of the dinner that they .will enjoy beforo long. It is a pleasant sight to 'see a regiment on its way back to barracks after a 25 miles march. Cheerfulness and good nature seem to he unfailing,' Discipline is not rigid, and the men laugh and sing as they advance with tho Bhort, lilting stride of the French army. Most of these soldiers would look small, many of them undersized, in a Neiv Zealand crowd. But only.men in good training could stop out so gaily after a long day's march, during which they have carried a heavy burden'on their backs. A halt is called. They sit down by the roadside, and a babel of conversation begins. When" the word of command is given they jump to thair feet" with lightning rapidity, and form into line again. l Buoyant smartness is o great, characteristic of French soldiers. ': Barrack Discomforts. ! Life in French barracks is far less pleasant than in a New Zealand training camp. For two years young men, ! who have been brought.up in comfortable homes, have to sleep on hard, narrow beds. Some of their companions in the "chambreo" are peasants, who have slept all their lives.on straw in a dirty hovel, and who have rarely waahed till, the; military,,authorities,, .compelled them"to perform 'some , ablutions. Many of their comrades have table manners that appear disgusting to the sons of the bourgebise. When one looks only on th'e disagreeable side of conscription, it sounds like a term of penal servitude, without the advantages that are afforded by solitary confinement. Yet- the soldiers' bear every discomfort with gay eerenity.- These sacrifices are made for "la patrie," and complaints would be unworthy of a'--true Frenchman. One may discuss military'matters with numbers of French people, without over hearing; a man, young, or old, refer ,to any of these discomfort.s. i TVhcn questioned, they are forced, to admit, that they endured many privations; but they cut the interrogatory short by replying cheerfully, "After all, these are only details. One soon gets used to anything, and after a fhard day's work one can sleep soundly on the hardest of beds." . . Tho Arrogant' Germans. Tho patriotic arrogance of'the Germans,- their belief that they ■ are the chosen people of the earth, and that they can neither do wrong .nor make mistakes, . undoubtedly add 1 much to their strength. But against his selfconfidence we must set the saner; more human patriotism. ' The Napoleonic spirit of ( aggression is dead in this, the most civilised of all peoples; But the, memory'of their past glories and their deep, almost passionate affection for France as she has been and as she is, the Frenchman's love for home and family, all these- will stimulate'them to fight as they have never fought before. France. rallied after the partial dismemberment of 1870: but' Frenchmen know that another defeat would mean practical annihilation. The country which has been the mistress of.Europe in many.arts during the long transition from barbarism to civilisation would vanish as an effective and concentrated intellectual and artistio force, and all the -world would bo poorer for the loss. Even the illiterate peasant is dimly aware of this, and will aim none the worse because ho knows how much is at stake. Those who have among the French believe that soldiers and civilians will in this conflict display all the best qualities of a race whose faults are but superficial, while their intellectual gifts are the envy of their-English admirers, and ffieir virtues are solid, deep-seated, and lovable.

A memorable time was passed at tho Sailors' Friend Society's Institute last night, when, before a crowded; audience, Mrs. H. Colpus presented a patriotio programme of a stirring nature. An accordion presented by Mrs. W. H. Jones went to Mr. Batt, H.M. troopship No.. 11, to be used on tlie homeward voyage. .As the concert proceeded a band of 38 ladies worked'busily and-well;-making ditty bags, .containing needles, thread', hooks, etc. These were presented at the close of the concert, with a fine lot of "books and light reading. Mr. Moore, miseioner, who was in the chair, announced that thoso evenings would continue till the last troopship left the harbour. Tho following: took part in- the Programme: —Tho Misses Cunningham, Veale, M'Gee, and Messrs. J. H. Jones, Jenkins and Hilling, Carter," Annilage, H.M.S. N.Z. T. 5, Durham, Roy, H.M.S. N.Z. 10,'Robson, Batt. Quirk, H.M.S. N.Z. 11, and Webb, steamer Kurow, and Grey. Mr. Hubbard, H.M.S. N.Z. T. 5, was tho pianist.

It is a strange coincidence that the Birmingham, which recently sank the German submarine TJIS, is one of three British cruisers which are tho only warships, other than German, that ever passed through tho Kiol Canal. The first light cruiser squadron was attach-' ed to tho British Fleet which visited Kiel seven weeks ago. When tho festivities were over the British Dreadnoughts picked their way out of tho an-: chonage, very neatly it is said. But tho light cruisers Birmingham, Nottingham, and Southampton sailed back to England through tho , Kiel Canal. They wore the first warships to pass through the canal after its opening in _its widened fornii ''■.■-...