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A DAY AT ECLISFONTAINE 95
above the outlines of the country with the Argonne forest as
background. Above the village, numerous shells kept bursting,
as evidenced by the little puffs of smoke—they were intended
to make the conquerors’ stay in the village as unpleasant as
possible. At 6 o’clock I counted eight burning villages, of
which however one, west of the Argonne forest, lies within
the fighting zone of the 4th Army. How many gutted homes,
what appalling destruction of private property ! It is pretty
certain that the inhabitants have removed themselves and
their portable valuables to a place of safety. But what will
it look like in the thousands of homes when they return ! Is
it to be wondered at that one feels the deepest pity and com-
passion for the innocent people who are the greatest sufferers
of the war ? Surely it is not an unkindly thought towards
France to strongly condemn the policy which has brought
such nameless misfortune over the north-eastern portions of
the republic. When one has seen with one’s own eyes all the
misery and grief, all the destruction and the ruin following
in the wake of war, surely one cannot with self-respect refrain
from loudly condemning the policy which alone is the cause
of it all !
" But why does not the General Staff move forward, seeing
that the troops have occupied positions six or seven kilometres
in advance of the old ones ?
" I ask.
" Well," is the answer, " it is because it is impossible to
extend immediately the telegraph and telephone lines and to
reorganise the entire system of communications to meet the
new situation."
The following day Varennes was taken, and the whole
machinery was accordingly advanced a step further to the
south-west.
Daylight now began to fail and the sun was sinking towards
the tree tops of the Argonne forest. It had been an instructive
day. I had been allowed to get a glimpse of the inner working
of one of the German armies. I was deeply impressed with
the sangfroid and the relentless certainty with which everything
was carried out. The whole thing seemed like a game, which,
subject to certain premises, it was impossible to lose. Not a
single soul had the slightest doubt of the result. Whence this
terrible assurance of ultimate triumph ? —I need not refer
to the perfected military measures which make it certain that
it is beyond the power of Germany’s present enemies to defeat
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