THE ARMY MOVES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 75, 25 September 1914, Page 4

THE ARMY MOVES

FRENCH MOBILISATION BCENES ON THE FRONTIER

A picturesque description of the mobilisation of the French army was given by Mr. H. H. Fyfe in the Daily Mail. He wrote, on 2nd August :-— The astonishing tiling about the French frontier towns generally is that they are so quiet. I have been up and down the frontier for some days now. Everywhere I have seen the same aspect of the French character, its seriousness, its sense of discipline, its aptitude for solid, hard work. There has been no fuss, no hurry over the preparations for the war which loomed threatening and black on the eastern horizon as soon as Austria's attack on Servia, encouraged by Germany, was begun. Instantly started a steady drive of troops, to the frontier from all available centres. The Government did its part quietly without ostentation. The people responded by doing theirs without excitement. The only time I. nave seen anything like bustle even was on Friday night here. At a very late hour postmen went round delivering summonses to reservists to rejoin their regiments. Immediately the streets were filled with men making their way towards the different rendezvous. At the Post Office I saw a crowd of them in high spirits. But there were women with them ; they were not' chaffing or singing ; they Avere wiping tears from their cheeks, trying not to let the big drops form in their eyes. All night military motor-cars hooted their way swiftly through the streets. In the cafes there were lights and groups of reservists still drinking and talking. A grey-haired man, •carrying a sword wrapped up in newspaper, was cheered as he passed by. There was much joking about a major in the Reserve of Officers who made a needy knife-grinder put an edge to his old sabre in full view of an admiring crowd. There was much recollecting of old days "in the regiment." Some hastened to put on their uniforms at once and were laughingly complimented on their warlike appearance. In many places yesterday and to-day I have seen men recalled to the colours, and have everywhere been struck by the difference between them and the men who are serving their first term in the Army. The latter are bronzed and have an air of vigorous health. Many of the former are pale from working in offices or factories ; very few of them have the trim, alert bearing of the French soldier of to-day. He is exercised on an admirable plan, encouraged to shine as a gymnast ; he is vastly more sober and more self-respecting (which always goes with athletic training) than the piou-piou of poular romance no further than ten years back. "WOMEN MUST WEEP." Soon the reservists will be hardened and bronzed too. They are taking their places in the second line of frontier defence immediately. But as I saw them arriving with their pathetic little parcels,- as I saw them leaving their villages, some on bicycles, some on foot, some in such farm carts as had horses left to draw them, I could not help feeling the pity of it. They went with a good heart — in high spirits even, many of them — and they went for a good purpose — to defend their country against a wanton attack. But there was no blinking the fact that they were being taken from their homes and occupations to be shot at, to offer themselves as marks for the men behind terrible guns. And everywhere women with red eyes. Outside every barrack-yard wives and sweethearts catching at their husbands' or their lovers' hands through the railings. It was such a fine day, too — the sky so limpid, the sun so generous. The cornfields smiled, the -woods murmured pleasant sounds. Yet, in a quarrel none of their own seeking, millions of men, it seemed. 'were going to do their best to kill one another, to trample the cornfields, to leave in the woods shapeless bundles with staring, sightless eyes, that once were men. WHAT MOBILISATION MEANS. Here is an example of what mobilisation means. Last night the Grand Hotel hero was in full activity. There were a number of guests. The dining-room was full of cheerful chatter. Came the order to mobilise, and there was no staff left — no cook, no waiters, no "boots." All the guests but myself and one other man have fled. Our footsteps echo through the silent corridors. In the dark hall sit the manager and his wife, gloomy and furious. It is no use being furious. Mobilisation is mobilisation. War is war. The manager and hie wife are sufferers in common with many— in common with almost all. Shops will be closed, factories must shut down, no business can be carried en. All the men of able body -will be swept into the Army. Men of forty to forty-five and upwards will guard the lines of communication. The rest will go forward into the firing line. Scarce a family in any position but sends one to represent it. Most families send many of their members, and the women, for all their tears, in this part of the country at any rate, would not hold them back. ALL READY. They are satisfied, too, that on this side all is ready, and I believe they are right. The first line of defence a few miles from the frontier is in place, strong in artillery, all soldiers of the present army, nearly 300,000 iv sum. The second line some miles further back will be completed by to-night. All the Reservists in Epinal (where I was yesterday) had orders to leave last night. The Territorials, the older men who have passed out of the Reserve, were to march this morning. In other frontier garnsons the orders were the same. All the hill-forts -in thus second line are well equipped. Within three days the railways will be carrying trainloads of soldiers from every part of France. Carefully the General Stall laid its plans. So far they have been carried out with smooth 'celerity. Over a million men will be available to repulse a German attack within a week. Already to-day, 33 if by magic, a large part of the population has turned out in uniform. Roads are barred, and all who wish to pass along them, on foot or in conveyances,' must explain who they are. I have been stopped constantly, but always politely. The roads are patrolled by middle-aged men, fathers of families, men of "fair round bellies, with good capon lined," many of them, bearded and bewhiskered, but active and eager enough. They have left their counters and their counting-houses, their study tables or professors' chairs, of perhaps they have jast laid down their scythes and mattocks, to put on uniform again, submit themselves to orders, help in their coun•try's defence. "MOBILISED" BICYCLES. On the roads I have parsed a great many wagons laden with uniforms, red trousers, and blue coats. These are always kept ready. To serve them out is a matter of a few hours only. The reservists arrive in all sorts of clothes. Some are smart young men of fashion. Some are clerks and shopmen; some! workmen in blue

blou»es. They disappear into th» barracks and they come out again into the square all looking very much alike. "The clothes make the man." They fully justify Carlyle's philosophy of clothes. Driving aiiout the country is full of interest. There are soldiers everywhere, guarding everything that can possibly be guarded. As I said just now, it makes me feel as if magic had been at work, as if dragons' teeth had been sown and this were the resultant crop of armed men. Here is a. farmhouse being rapidly turned into a military hospital. Here ahorse fair is being held at 7 o'clock in the morning. All those who own horses have to bring them up for inspection. All that the Army can use are at once bought up. In every place of any military importance this scene will be repeated morning after morning till the country is cleared of all the animals that are wanted. % The Army takes whatever it wants now. Owners have to part with their property, whether they iike it or not. They will be paid, of course, but the price is fixed for them. I saw a bicycle shop cleared the other night, and the proprietor rejoiced. It is the end of the season, fle has got rid of his surplus stock ! But owners of other kinds of property are not so easily satisfied. They cannot protest, however. Mobilisation i« mobilisation. War is war.