Page
HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE WAR.
THE RIDDLE OF THE BRITISH.
·and.
[BY HL WELLS.]
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY
WAR A NECESSITY. PEACE IS ABNORMAL, SAYS A
PROFESSOR S
Professor Graham Kerr, Regius Pro- fessor of Zoology in the University of Greenock Philosophical Society recently Glasgow, said, in an address to the that there was one of the great normal phenomena of Nature, and, taking a broad view of Nature, it was not war but ponce, that was abnormal.
In wild Nature it was only where there was donth that there was peace and in the war the fittest survived. Man was one of the most successful climbers of the relationary tree, and the capacity for being. Thus the dream of the pacifist, warless world, was only a beautiful
retin and nothing more
A VAGABOND IN THE TRENCHES.
A LIFE OF BOREDOM The last time I was home on leave
great respect, asked me if it was not true very dear old lady, for whom I have that we had tramlines laid in all the trenches and went to and from our work in little trolley cars. I told her that such was formerly the ease, but that we had to give them up because the noise made by the fonductors when punching the tickets frequently gave away our
15TH, 1917.
* THAT WAS ALL.” AN EXPERIENCE AT THE FRONT.
It is 5 ani, just light, and word is brought that the Adjutant wants to see me. It is poaring with rain, and the Ad-
away, the other side of a muddy morass.. Wondering why any Adjutant was ever jutart's tent is some four hundred yards
permitted to live, peel off my water- proof sheet and struggle up in the down- pour making peering efforts to scramble such of my effects as are not already souked under my water proof.
seemed to be thinking and talking about All the French people I met in France the English. The English bring their own atmosphere with them; to begin with they are not so talkative, and I did, not find
Among them anything like the same vigour of examination, the same resolve to understand the Anglo-French reaction that I found among the French, Tu intellectual processes I will confess that my French
sympathies are undisguisedly with the
The English will never think nor making war was engrained, into his very positious to the watchfal enemy that and then it comes away with an oczy talk clearly until they get clerical **Greek and sham humanities!!
ties out of their
public
and sincere study in our disingenu genuine hume ous Anglican
ompromise is
Hon cou in the
English tion in England is a training in evasion. and the higher educa This is an always lamentable state of affairs, but just now it is particularly lamentable
because quite tremendous opportunities for the gord of mankind turn on the possibility of a thorough and entirely frank mutual understanding between French, Italians, and English, For years there has been a considerable amount of systematic study in France of English thought and English develop ments Upon almost any question of current English opinion and upon most current English social questions the best studies are in French. But there has been
or no reciprocal activity. The
in France seem to confine their French studies to La Vie Parisienne. It is what they have been led to expect of French literature.
BRITAIN AND FRANCE
won for itself a real affection in France wherever it has had a chance to display itself.
A CRITICISM OF METHODS,
There can be no doubt in any reasonable But when it comes to British methis panelled walls thickly incrusted with ward, cursing the Kaiser, the war, the
Then I set off, plugging my way means a dragging strain befor the rear through mud half-knee high every step boot is released from the gripping mud, since found that the old lady was merely and seems to weigh fifty pounds before it is lifted high over the glistening sur- voicing a belief which seems fairly
and dropped when face, swing forward general, though in most cases it would
it sinks deeply simply by its own weight. War must necessarily go on in this seem that such luxuries, owing to the Then commences, the drag for the other
And so it goes on, what time present, war might well be but child's only to be found in the Boche lines icy rain sleets between your turned-up world as long as life went on, and the shameful neglect of our authorities, are leg play to the ware which would surely come Certainly, if you are to believe somo collar and your neck, until a rivulet 19 in the future, when the world had filled of the tiles told by bun war correspon gathered, and this descends in little
back up, and the conflict was not between dents, the Boches must be amazingly runs down your
Kingsley's nations by groups of nations, but between comfortable. I say must be because the hard northenster slaps your dripping entire races; when the stakes, at issue German trenches and dug-outs into which overcoat about your kices and nearly were not mere matters of territory or I have personally penetrated have licensways you over, gets under the awning commercial or political power, but of food only a shade less soul-subduing than our brim of your steel heimet and swings and life
own. And although
speak
your head back, exposing to the slapping The lessons to be learned were that we
from a limited a while our rain the little bit of throat you have been should concentrato put endeavours to gallant war correspondents have noto able to keep warm, whilst the fastening wards staying off an outbreak of war in riously personally explored every trench strap under your chin, strained by the The guus any particular case, and on rendering as we have captured it, if not pulling helmet, cuts sharply.
bootler, I think they must exaggerate are roaring all round, and every now and ourselves as efficient as possible for was just a litle sometimes. I know, at least, again the air thump following the explo in the event of our being forced into it. that I happened to be one of the first to sion throwe you forward on to your enter a certain dug out, formerly the hands, which sink till the mud reaches home of a Boche colonel. Trend, subse your elbows Choking (with exasperation quently, over the signature of well at the foolishness of it all, you carefully known correspondent, that it was a nest instick yourself and plough on, the mud of
_____1___1._remember and water dripping from your fingers, vicious luxury rightly, it had Turkey carpets auth So, buffeted and panting, you labour for- mind that this war is binding France and England very closely together. They then the polite Frenchman's difficulties improper pictures and all appurtenances, Adjutaut, and the whole silly scheme of are not quarrel for the next fifty years, begin. Translating hints into statements including marble bathtubs. wine cellars, things, and wondering if you will even find and coolers, hot and cold water electric yourself in a Christian bed again, dry They are bound to play a central part and guessing at reservations, would say
light,
buzzers, and the like. I personally and worm, and listening snugly to the the World League for the Preservation that the French fall very short of higher did not see any of these things it is rush of the rain ou the windows. of Peace that must follow this struggle. tion of the in There is no question of their practical officers set about their work; they are true the light was bad There certainly washhandstand, union. It is a thing that must be. But disagreeably impressed by a general want one of my met discovered a it is remarkable that while the rench of sedulousness and close method in our ang wind is agog to apprehend every fact and leading. They think we econotuise brains
ains Schnurr-bartbinde,” which detail, it enn about the British, to make and waste blood. They are shocked at the ning little contrivance for giving the thinly not the man, you think despair- the wisest and fullest use of our binding way in which obviously incompetent or moustache an Imperial twist. But I do fully, who would appreciate a merry
strange English inefficient men of the old army elnas are thought very highly of these luxuries. quip, for instance, about the weather ・TEL to use the new lang attains retained in their positions even after
Bo there is not much to say about holy failures, and they were profoundly because it was of this dug-out that the Presence, you stand austendly and
told by the had staff work and need ther officer, who was not a journalist,
steadies
down and your breath comes. the British think about the French. They lessly heavy losses of our opening attacks me the following was his unpleasant wait a few moments till your heart do not think. They feel. At the outbreak in July. They were ready to condone the duty to clean up the trench, after without a gasp, and then step in-you Brahe, war, when the performance of blunderings and flounderings of the 1915 hd luxurious dug out, and, being rather are aware cant you are not in the least France
as the necessary penalties of an the dug-out, enormous feeling for France in Great
to him to you feel like the man that sits over a fre Britain; it was like the formless feeling amateur." army, they had had to learn tired of using such P's a bombs, like a clean, trim, clever soldier; in fact,
their Icon in Champagne, but they gas, and the like, it
OWN Britain had dit brother. It was as if were surprised to find how much the try the light of pure reason. According the road at night. But you have got Britain had discovered a new instinct. If British had still to learn in July, 1918. ly, he called down the entrance stairway
True, the rain drops from the penk of Franco had crumpled up Jike paper, the The British officers exuuse themselves that if there was any one down there he English would have fought on passion because, et
plead, they are still had better come out and look nippy about your cap and from your nose, but there history nosest is ancient amateurs. That is no reason," says the it or the consequences might be unpleasan: faint glow of satisfaction at hay be sent. The result was immediate Yesing done your duty, at having conquered now. Now the still feel Frenchman fraternal and fraternally proud, but in a amateurish, why they should be gone will goro queré-ve will gori veiry the storms you are a soldies, and what German attack on the me but their French have achieved a crescendo. None daylight, I tackled way as to queek," said a voice. And: come very ever the upshot you feel that you have.
that
to its most monumental in this matter.
mate way they aro
was an
admira-
was an iron bedstend and
not think that lie Boches themselves
as
quick
the No Frenchman said as much as
one of my guides in or 90. this matter; I said that it was the plain duty of the French military people to
Wort
of us could have imagined it. It did not seem possible to very many of us at the
Bany could hold on for another year,
if they thought There was mach secret anxiety for France. not easy," he said. - **
tim
to
they
What
have
sharply
bro-
to
they did, to the number of forty
TRENCHIA AND BOTANTOON
17
All this time you are in a hurry, the
jutum, like Independent Jammy is not Adjutant has sent for you, and the Ad
n. man of much dishment!
Arrived at the swaying tent protects
there.
acquired merit. A dripping salute and an attempt to click the heels smartly toge ther foiled by the lumps of mud on the
and you await orders. Oh. Se
boots,
I do!" You stand dante: là
WATCH
THIS
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BEECHAM'S PILLS.
"checkmarkyn the tabiai alyaur memory: Beecham's 'Pain addition to tháir ace kavshidged valss in kiduny, Brut, and stomach disorders, have a specialty benar. ticislaftéct in such mit monta abara pakuliar Do wamen, menny'at whom andare pendinos pain and Ilf-horlth through igračimage of
and of 1913 that either France or Ger- criticise British militan It is at home or even the war correspondents is the Brigade timot Five-twenty |
You cannot altogether blame the folks geant, your watch is pretty reliable, A. There to yet another polst that you British for having rather vague ideas about right, tha doo words to the vague. The Boches, by the much bet through the moruss, and battled with the
for the word is itself anything the trenches,
way, boing mouth way that all Had you toiled a practical people, have a ter name for them. They call them storm simply because the Adjutant want- ed the time? Well, no words could do Shooting graves, Schützengraben.” or “ which is very much what they are. I justice to the situation, not even soldier's very well remember the first trenches I words, and it has been found unwise to over entered, though it is a good time allude to the undoubted ancestry of all since, and I have seen many other varie Adjutantus so you salute vengefully in ties. One of my men once defined a trenca silence, stumble out into the storm, nul down, drag back. Here you hunch yourself on to me as a mud-wall surned
with your back to the lashing rain, waterproof sheet closely around you, and just thole until six o'clock, when hy some djinnerie the cook will have evolved some hot tea the nectar of the gods and this, with a piece of bully and a biscuit, sets you ap for the day.
sample say only
supposo it is wonderful, but, as
wonderful. I did not feel it wonderful
glishman, I do not feel that it is at all war, and that is to make way to learn judged by that one has those the ground, sitting on your Peth your
FRENCH PRAISE.
that we want a stand But to do tempt at digging. The trenches"
COMPOSITE ALMIRĖJ
IB are but he probaby has to report to his happening, so that the cryptic sentence superiors, as we have, that something
the which is the stuff of science and military experience. He and a gable end or two and may appear in the official reports cre
matrial
It has given place now to unstinted con-officers do nnd English people do not like dence and. admiration, In their to learn And we do astonishment the British are apt to forget being told things,
impressive magnitude of their own We could hardly send a French office or effort, the milliong of soldiers, the
abutorial 迦 your headquarters numerable guas, the endless torrent of capacity. You have to do things in your supplies that pour into France to avenge town way. When I tried to draw the little army of Mona. It seems General Castelnau into this dangerous natural -to-us" that we should exert earselves under the circumstances question hy suggesting that we might general or so, be would There is only one way
When was too late, in the lift, I thought of the trenches were not trenches at It was even when I saw the British aeroplanes answer to that. There is only one way a part of the line where it is impos lording it in the air over Martinphich, to make war, and that is by the sacrificesible to dig more than a couple of fent and not a Gorman to be seen. Sinpe of incapables and the rapid promotion down before coming to water. Accord Michael would have it so, there, at last, of able men. If old and tried types fallingly on neither side was there any ut
were they were.
now new types must be
of efficiency merely
eight or nine feet high parapets, There was a good deal of doubt in We want a conception of intellectual made of sandbags, and warfare consisted
Jack I'rance about the vigour of the British quality in performance that is still in each side sending its enemy's trenches effort, until the Somme offensive.
flying about their ears every morning and Trench-life, when unalloyed by pushes that had been dispelled in August when
then aceing which side could build them I reached Paris. There was not the. M. Joseph Reinach, in whose company
kind of existence that history has ever insulting messages, shadow of a doubt remaining anywhere of I visited the French part of the Somme up again quickest These, agreeably great or mall, is, I think, the dullest
varied by thinking out thy power and loyalty of the British. front, was full of a scheme, which he has and exhibiting them on large placards sees Twice a day, perhaps, the Bache ctive sends over four whizz bangs. I don't Biade, because it is in the nature of the recomposition of the French and Brits over the parapet, were the really active think he wants to lie is as bored as we These preliminary assurances have to be since published, for the breaking up and French mind to criticise, and it must not
armies into a series of composite armies pursuits. The rest of the time we gave he supposed that criticisms of detail and which would blend the magnificent British up to botany. Just behind us were the lage. There was nothing left of the method affect the fraternity and complete manhood and material with French ruins of what had been a prosperous vil
relationship.
pointed out the endless advantages of some T.C.F. signposts pointing out the some artillery activity at Hellfor- Nouslyst the French have been emchi tibu. The gemension in mirante direction and distance of towns fa leather Wood yesterday." Twice a day the quality of emulation, the promotion of intimate behind the enemy lines. But the cottage with twice as many eighteenpounders, or we reply that is to say, our guns do, enormously astonished
fraternel
celing between the feeling the
ordinary British soldiers in our nuw
Peoples of
had once possessed gardens, and in the present," he said, thing almost incredible to me almost incredible as
es coming
ming from a Frenchruau except at Amiens or on the Somme Many beautiful, and the roses had survived the day you relieve your sentries for so out, or what passed for such a armour wander sadly up and down your sector it was a matter too solemn for any com of them still have no idea of what the village: Wherefore in my company dug many hours a day you are on pliments or polite exaggerations he English are our old
ed shed, we mostly called it appeared trying to pretend that you are horribly Have I ever
You on the alert. The rest of the time you of said, in touca of wonder and conviction,
suca roses as bonquet overy day a
are too unutteribly best do
nothing. You *They are as good as ours." It was his compulsory Greek at Oxford and Cam-
would be proud to send to your bridge? I asked abruptly. acme of all
Possible praise
beloved. There were butterflies, too-bored to do it even if you have anything What has that to
with do itt!! That means any sort of British soldie
any number of them. I am not an to do. You can't sleep, unless you are 50d scrvant. In Unless he is assisted by a
"Or how two undistinguished Civil kilt the
authority on butterflies, but some of my very lucky and have a ordinary Frenchman is unable to distin Service Commissioners can hold up the
men were. I had to threaten a man with chat case you probably have a bed, made education of our entire guish between one sort of British soldier scientific
the high and the low justice because he of casual bits of wood covered with wire and another. He cannot tell let the administrative class 1
broke camp, or trench, as you prefer to netting. Otherwise you have to Le on ardent nationalist mark the fact a M. Reinach protested further.
call it, and in full daylight went bound the floor, or in it, for it is usually two Because you are proposing to loosen Cookney from an Irishman, or the Cardiff
ing across the fields behind the lines, in inches deep in raud, which has the ar from the Essex note. He finds them all the grip of a certain narrow and limited
full view of the enemy, after a Camber vantage of being soft. extravagantly and unquenchably cheerful elus on though it were a job as easy wall Blue-I think it was. He had his You may get through a certain num revenge later. He was a Council school ber of hours every day opening parcels shildren A generositys like good pose as though
There his praise is a little as rearranging railway fares or sending
master, and be used to write letters to sent you by your friends and contains his class. In his next letter which I had ng innumerable things that von dor to censor, he described his lepidopterical want, and wondering what in the world. triumphs at some length, and added, you are to do with them. I think one "I am sorry to say my dear boys, that of the noblest qualities of the New Armies our platoon officer has little apprecia is their wonderful self control in this tion of the delights of scientific explora matter of gifs. They never complain
thinking England they know that parcelas half of home staying Ends An infinity of pleasure and an I have often wondered if those of my forta proposterous amount of energy affectionate relatives who regard me as which might otherwise be devoted to ngallant fnd in the trenches," and ran thrusting yet other war time reforms s in the upon an already overburdened country. to the four winds Church, the squirearchy, the permanent the remarkable photographs
it ho penny illustrated papers, in which I They write letters full of gratitude, which of
the two countries. A
armies. One Colonial colonel said so Frenchman over sees an Englishman/ gardens were roses, some of them very words to that effect. Su many times
Hight, Heigst a hurricane in the millio
you
the
of
tinged
by doubt. The British are rock- 2 var to dent Englishman is trying less; recklessness in battle a Frenchman that every is can understand, but they are also reckless to solve to day, every man of that Greater about to-morrow's bread and whether the Britain which has supplied these five tent is
magnificent and
wealth of is struck, too, by the fact that temporary
all this the oligarchy is so they are much more vocal than the French munitions. troops, and that they seem to have a invincibly fortified! Do you think it will passion for
for bad lugubrious songs. There let in Frenchmen to share its controls
shoulders, and, It will not even let in Englishmen. indeed, what else can any of us do the holes the class schools, the class Univer" sities the examinations for our publie
rate,
presence of that mystery. At an alien services are iis class shibboleth; it 18
THE GALLANT LAD IN THE TRENCHES,
man has been scattered to Western Army class, permanens officialdomam represented with an abnormal grin they endeavour to express 3
Zold everywhere to become selce 9jd (36 pitt) 1/4) des péria) dhe 279 TERE PETSA),
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is makes every appointment: true; but for the rest they
they are, by the founta
re, by the fountain of honour; what it does not know and with some suffixed legend to the sincerity and after all it passes a certain Freach standards, quicksilver, is not knowledge, what is cannot du must effect that he has three bullets, and a part of the tinte. But sometimes
But I will not expand further anon the not be done. It rules India ignorantly crump in his left kure-cap, but he is wonder if those good, souls who knit general impression made by the English and obstructively; it will wreck the happy to be in the trenches ever sus eternal comforters and spend their money
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