23 chapters
4 hour read
Selected Chapters
23 chapters
INTRODUCTORY
INTRODUCTORY
“Good luck, my soldier! You Americans are an extraordinary people. You are complex. We have thought we understood you—but, we do not. We never know what you will do next.” I asked my French landlady, who thus responded to the news that I had joined the Foreign Legion, for an explanation. She said: “In the early days of the war, when the Germans advanced upon Paris at the rate of thirty kilometers a day, driving our French people before them, pillaging the country, dealing death and destruction,
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER I JOINING THE LEGION
CHAPTER I JOINING THE LEGION
I entered the service of France in the Hotel des Invalides, Paris, that historical structure upon the banks of the Seine, built by Napoleon Bonaparte as a home and refuge for his worn-out veterans. The well-known statue of the Man of Destiny, with three cornered hat and folded arms, gazed broodingly upon us, as with St. Gaudens and Tex Bondt, I marched up the court yard. At depot headquarters, where I gave my name and American address, a soldier, writing at a desk, spoke up,—“Do you know Winona,
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER II HISTORY OF THE LEGION
CHAPTER II HISTORY OF THE LEGION
The Foreign Legion has a notable record, which extends back to the Crusades. Then, French and Anglo-Saxon marched together, and fought to save the world for Christianity. History, repeating itself, after centuries, today, we see the same forces, side by side, fighting, dying, not only for Christianity, but for civilization. On the result of this clash with the barbarous Hun depends the preservation of the world. At Pontevrault, twenty miles from Saumer, in the valley of the Loire, rest the remai
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER III AMERICANS IN THE LEGION
CHAPTER III AMERICANS IN THE LEGION
The world’s one organization which, for a century, has offered refuge to any man, no matter what nor whence, who wished to drop out of human sight and ken, does not, for obvious reasons, maintain a regular hotel register and publish arrivals. Records of the Foreign Legion are open to no one. This picturesque aggregation of dare-devil warriors neither supports nor invites staff correspondents. Even the names used by the gentlemen present do not, necessarily, have any particular significance. The
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IV FIRST AMERICAN FLAG IN FRANCE
CHAPTER IV FIRST AMERICAN FLAG IN FRANCE
Americans in the Legion came and went. Singly or in groups they went wounded into hospitals, prisoners into Germany. Dead they took the western trail to eternity. Missing they disappeared into oblivion. A few were permitted to exchange into French Regiments, where, mothered by France, they were welcomed as her own. August 21, 1914, in the court yard of the Hotel des Invalides, occurred that grand mobilization of foreigners, who, in admiration for France, placed their lives at her disposal. Group
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER V FOREIGNERS IN THE LEGION
CHAPTER V FOREIGNERS IN THE LEGION
Within this present generation, men like Lord Kitchener, King Peter of Serbia, Vernof, a Russian prince, and Albert F. Nordmann, who died in Algeria and was reported a relative of Kaiser Wilhelm II, belonged to this famous corps. This chapter presents some illustrious foreigners who have served during the present war. Nagar Aza , son of the Persian minister to France, decorated for bravery and three times cited in Army Orders, again cited and decorated for brilliant conduct at Auberieve, April 1
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VI ENGLISHMEN AND RUSSIANS LEAVE
CHAPTER VI ENGLISHMEN AND RUSSIANS LEAVE
About 350 Englishmen were with the Americans in the same Battalion of the 2nd Legion. They had enlisted when the Huns were advancing on Paris. Common peril drew the bravest of all countries to the front. Possibly, they were promised later transfer to the English Army; but, once in the Legion, they were as nuns in a convent, to do as told, dead to the outside world. An American writer has said, “England’s greatest assets are patriotism and money.” He overlooked the foundation of both—MEN, the Eng
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VII TRENCHES
CHAPTER VII TRENCHES
The real, well-made, manicured trench is from two and a half to three feet wide and eight or ten feet deep. The narrower the trench, the better. It gives the least space for German shells to drop in and blow occupants out. The more crooked the trench the better. The enemy has smaller chance to make an enfilading (raking lengthwise) fire. Here only are narrowness and crookedness virtues. Each trench is embellished with channels, mines, saps, tunnels, subterranean passages, and bomb proof structur
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VIII JULY 4, 1915
CHAPTER VIII JULY 4, 1915
Several American journalists, “May their tribe increase!” among them Mr. Grundy, of the New York Sun; Nabob Hedin, of the Brooklyn Eagle; Mr. Mower, of the Chicago Daily News; Mr. Roberts, of the Associated Press, and Wythe Williams, of the New York Times, presented a petition to the Minister of War for the Americans to celebrate Independence Day in Paris. It was granted. The good news made a bigger noise on the front than the heaviest bomb that ever fell. It did not seem possible,—too good to b
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IX OUTPOST LIFE
CHAPTER IX OUTPOST LIFE
In front of Croane, where, in 1814, Frank and Hun fought for mastery, one hundred years later, the same nations again battled. The elaborate, naturally drained trench system of to-day was not. Instead of the horizon blue, the French soldier wore the old red pantaloons and dark blue coat. Occasionally new blue uniforms were sent to the front, which, wet a couple of times—the new dyes not holding—quickly become drab. Torn clothes, ripped, crawling through barbed wire, are held together by finer wi
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER X CHAMPAGNE ATTACK
CHAPTER X CHAMPAGNE ATTACK
The night before the attack of September 25, 1915, Bouligny and I went over to Battalion C. He picked up a piece of cheese that Morlae had. Munching away, he demanded, “Where did you get this?” “In Suippe.” “I thought we were forbidden to go out.” “We are.” “How did you get by?” “I told the sentry I did not speak French, showed him my old Fourth of July pass, and walked through.” Bouligny said: “Well, we will eat this cheese so they’ll have no evidence against you.” Morlae replied: “We shall nee
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XI LIFE IN DEATH
CHAPTER XI LIFE IN DEATH
“If a man die, shall he live?” Aye—and that more abundantly! We know that “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Nature is constantly demonstrating Life as the manifestation of Death. Nature’s laws are the laws of God, to whom are all people subject. So, man, is passing his progress, into a higher, or lower, form of spirit continuance—as he may have chosen and prepared. They do not die,—who instil love of country, an
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XII THE 170TH FRENCH REGIMENT
CHAPTER XII THE 170TH FRENCH REGIMENT
When we Americans went into the 170th, Seeger, Morlae, Narutz and others stayed with the 2nd Legion, which two weeks later was merged with the 1st Legion. Narutz remarked, in his philosophic manner, “The 170th is a regiment volante, always used in quick, double action work. Their specialty is bayonet attack. I am too old to go steeple chasing over barbed wire, in a ripped up country, with not one hundred yards of solid ground, then twenty yards of nothing, a 70 pound sack on my back, a two dolla
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIII 163RD AND 92ND REGIMENTS
CHAPTER XIII 163RD AND 92ND REGIMENTS
Returning to the front I was sent as a reinforcement to the 163rd who had just come from Verdun, where they had one battalion captured by the enemy. After a few days rest while they were getting reinforcements and new clothing and equipment we were sent up to the front where with the exception of ten days when we went to Laveline to be refitted again (but two men left in my squad). My company, the 7th, were in the first and second line trenches for seven continuous months. In the 163rd I saw a F
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIV HOSPITAL LIFE
CHAPTER XIV HOSPITAL LIFE
In 1915 there were 6,400 hospitals in France and 18,000 doctors. During large offensives the wounded arrived in Paris at the rate of thirty trainloads per day. In Lyons at one time there were 15,000 wounded men. At Verdun 28,000 wounded men were treated in one hospital during a 25 day period. In the spring of 1918, 40 per cent of the entire French Army had been killed, captured or hopelessly mutilated. Of the 60 per cent remaining at that time there were 1,500,000 wounded and crippled men in the
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XV AN INCIDENT
CHAPTER XV AN INCIDENT
Early spring, 1916, at Boulogne, dressed, as a French poilu, I stepped off the channel boat from Folkstone, and, hurrying to the railroad station, learned that the express would not leave for Paris till 8 o’clock—a wait of five hours. The day was cold. Snow was blowing around the street corner. The raw sea breeze cut to the marrow. Buttoning a thin overcoat, still crumpled from going through the crumming machine, sure sign of hospital treatment, I walked about aimlessly. “Fish and chips.” Yes, t
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVI NATURE’S FIRST LAW
CHAPTER XVI NATURE’S FIRST LAW
The American soldier in France finds new scenes, new conditions, new customs. Unconsciously he compares life back home with his new experiences, often to the latter’s disadvantage. He sees things he does not like, that he would change, that he could improve. But, what does appeal to him as perfect is the large number of small farms (53 per cent of Frenchmen are engaged in agriculture) with the little chateaux, built upon miniature estates, exquisitely tended, artistically designed, that give joy
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVII THE INVADED COUNTRY
CHAPTER XVII THE INVADED COUNTRY
I have seen the German under many conditions. In the early days of the war, I used to listen to his songs—sung very well. But, he does not sing now. I have watched the smoke rise, in the early morning, as he cooked his breakfast. I have dodged his flares, his grenades, and his sentinels, at night. I have heard his shovels ring as he dug himself down, and have listened to his talk to his neighbor. I have seen him come up on all fours, from his dugout, crying “Kamarad”; and I cannot say, that, as
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVIII LOVE AND WAR
CHAPTER XVIII LOVE AND WAR
Love and war go together. War destroys the body but love lives on with the soul. Love and war have transformed the hitherto seemingly empty-pated, fashionable woman to an angel of mercy. Socialists have developed into patriots, artisans have become statesmen, good-for-nothings are now heroes, misers have grown to be philanthropists. Man, missing woman’s ministrations at the front, turns instinctively to her when opportunity offers. Hard, fierce, unyielding to his fellows, he relaxes in her shelt
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIX DEMOCRACY
CHAPTER XIX DEMOCRACY
Democratic Government is the direct opposite of the German system. In America the individual is superior to the state, on the principle that man was born before the state was organized. He was then first, endowed by Nature with certain inalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He organized a government to make those rights secure with the state as servant—not master of his destiny. The public official is just the people’s hired man. He is not paid to give, or to per
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XX AUTOCRACY
CHAPTER XX AUTOCRACY
German Government is founded on the principle that the State is superior to the individual. Being superior, it is not subject to that code of honor, that respect for decency, which binds men of different races, religions and countries and distinguishes man from the brute. The Reichstag of Germany is supposed to be the popular assembly. In reality, it is the bulwark of wealth. Under this system, man belongs to property, not property to man. Voters, who have paid one-third of the total income tax,
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXI THEIR CRIMES
CHAPTER XXI THEIR CRIMES
We must make it absolutely impossible for the wild beast to break out again. Our living ought to know the crimes committed in the name of Kultur, in order to take the necessary precautions against their recurrence. To our martyred dead, we have a sacred duty, that of Remembrance. A little book was published at Nancy under the patronage of the Prefect of Meurthe, G. Simon, Mayor of Nancy, and G. Keller of Luneville, aided by the Mayors of the following towns, located at or near the battle front:
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
L’ENVOI
L’ENVOI
Into Europe’s seething cauldron of blood and tears, American youth have been cast. Patriotism, pride, resolutely demands that the Devil incarnate, who stirs his awful mess of ghoulhash, shall perish. Our national peril, the whole earth’s dire need, assembling the Country’s selected young manhood, now make this a United States in fact—probably, for the first time since Washington and Valley Forge. I have tried to make you see war as I know it, war with no footballs, portable bath tubs, victrolas
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter