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 WAR




 WAR




 BY

 PIERRE LOTI




 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY
 MARJORIE LAURIE


 [Illustration]


 PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
 1917


 COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

 _Printed by J. B. Lippincott Company
 The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. A._


 TO MY FRIEND

 LOUIS BARTHOU, P.L.




CONTENTS


                                                          PAGE

     I. A LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF MARINE                   9

    II. TWO POOR LITTLE NESTLINGS OF BELGIUM                12

   III. A GAY LITTLE SCENE AT THE BATTLE FRONT              18

    IV. LETTER TO ENVER PASHA                               28

     V. ANOTHER SCENE AT THE BATTLE FRONT                   34

    VI. THE PHANTOM BASILICA                                53

   VII. THE FLAG WHICH OUR NAVAL BRIGADE DO NOT YET
        POSSESS                                             68

  VIII. TAHITI AND THE SAVAGES WITH PINK SKINS LIKE
        BOILED PIG                                          80

    IX. A LITTLE HUSSAR                                     85

     X. AN EVENING AT YPRES                                 95

    XI. AT THE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE BELGIAN ARMY    111

   XII. SOME WORDS UTTERED BY HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN OF
        THE BELGIANS                                       127

  XIII. AN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN
        THE EAST                                           139

   XIV. SERBIA IN THE BALKAN WAR                           148

    XV. ABOVE ALL LET US NEVER FORGET!                     151

   XVI. THE INN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN                      157

  XVII. FOR THE RESCUE OF OUR WOUNDED                      174

 XVIII. AT RHEIMS                                          177

   XIX. THE DEATH-BEARING GAS                              192

    XX. ALL-SOULS' DAY WITH THE ARMIES AT THE FRONT        205

   XXI. THE CROSS OF HONOUR FOR THE FLAG OF THE
        NAVAL BRIGADE                                      211

  XXII. THE ABSENT-MINDED PILGRIM                          219

 XXIII. THE FIRST SUNSHINE OF MARCH                        242

  XXIV. AT SOISSONS                                        265

   XXV. THE TWO GORGON HEADS                               299




WAR




I

A LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF MARINE


CAPTAIN J. VIAUD OF THE NAVAL RESERVE, TO THE MINISTER OF
MARINE.

 _Rochefort, August 18th, 1914._

SIR,

When I was recalled to active service on the outbreak of war I had hopes
of performing some duty less insignificant than that which was assigned
to me in our dock-yards.

Believe me, I have no reproaches to make, for I am very well aware that
the Navy will not fill the principal role in this war, and that all my
comrades of the same rank are likewise destined to almost complete
inaction for mere lack of opportunity, like myself doomed, alas! to see
their energies sapped, their spirits in torment.

But let me invoke the other name I bear. The average man is not as a
rule well versed in Naval Regulations. Will it not, then, be a bad
example in our dear country, where everyone is doing his duty so
splendidly, if Pierre Loti is to serve no useful end? The exercise of
two professions places me as an officer in a somewhat exceptional
position, does it not? Forgive me then for soliciting a degree of
exceptional and indulgent treatment. I should accept with joy, with
pride, any position whatsoever that would bring me nearer to the
fighting-line, even if it were a very subordinate post, one much below
the dignity of my five rows of gold braid.

Or, on the other hand, in the last resort, could I not be appointed a
supernumerary on special duty on some ship which might have a chance of
seeing real fighting? I assure you that I should find some means of
making myself useful there. Or, finally, if there are too many rules and
regulations in the way, would you grant