Chapter XXIII: Appendix

M. Henri Potez, in a farewell article in _Le Journal de Montreuil_ (30th March, 1919), paid the following eloquent tribute to G.H.Q.:--

"We know indeed that quite a host of painters, coming from beyond
the Channel, have sung the praises of our familiar surroundings, of
our clear and happy countryside, of our changing light. Montreuil,
little by little, was becoming a kind of English Barbizon.

"Then the War broke out. The presence of the General Headquarters
of our Allies made of Montreuil, so to speak, the brain of the
British Army. What with telegraphic and telephonic lines, and
wireless telegraphy installations, a whole collection of nervous
threads radiated from Montreuil, carrying incessantly news and
orders. For some months we have been one of the mysterious centres
of the great epic. And the silhouette of the Supreme Chief has
often been marked on our vast horizons. Our heroes have appreciated
the loyalty and the bravery of our Allies on the fields of battle.
Side by side the two nations have withstood the most terrible
trials in defence of the same ideal. The two great liberal peoples
of the West have been the martyrs of Right and of Civilization. At
the time of the heavy offensives in Artois, we have seen the
splendid troops, who, having set out full of animation and
enthusiasm, returned to their camps reduced to mere handfuls of
men. These are the memories that can never be forgotten.

"Behind the front, the civilian populations have, on many
occasions, praised the affability of our friends, their courtesy
and their liberality. War has its exigencies; but it must be
recognised that they have shown the best of goodwill to mitigate
them. Their kindness on several occasions towards the old people
and the children, who had flocked here before the tempest of war,
has often been manifested.

"Let us not forget, either, in our farewell compliments, and our
wishes for a safe return, those of our Allies who have been
represented here by the Missions--Americans, Italians, and
Belgians. It is more than desirable, it is necessary, that the
great union of the West should outlast the war. It is necessary
that the differences and divergencies which may be brought about by
the settlement of this crisis should not be allowed to embitter or
envenom; but that they should be treated, governed, and regulated
with moderation, kindness, and a reciprocal generosity. In that
lies the future of humanity.

"'You live at Montreuil,' a University man who was employed as an
Officer Interpreter at Lille, recently remarked to me; 'the English
speak of it as if it were a kind of magnificent country, a dream
city ... they like its peace, its originality, its memories.' Many
of those who have lived amongst us propose to pay us a return
visit. We shall receive them cordially. We also hope to see again,
in closed up ranks, the pacific Army of the olden days, that Army
which carried easels as its bucklers, and pencils and brushes as
its lances and halberds."

HENRI POTEZ.

Philip Allan & Co., Publishers,

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A CONCISE CHRONICLE
OF EVENTS OF THE
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BY
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Apparent printer's errors have been retained, unless stated below.

Punctuation, capitalization and accents have largely been made consistent.

Page 18, "Montrueil" changed to "Montreuil" for consistency. (In later years of Anglo-French enmity Montreuil was Montreuil-sur-mer only in name)

Page 75, "gun" changed to "guns". (The 18-pounder field guns would shoot 100,000 rounds on a normal day, and on a heavy day would use 200,000 rounds.)

Page 83, "cilicifuge" changed to "cimicifuge". (they are on the track of the perfect cimicifuge which will keep lice off the body)

Page 205 "humourous" changed to "humorous" (annuals of a humorous kind)

Page 218 "suzerainity" changed to "suzerainty" (of admitting a German suzerainty)

Page 240 "Barrés" changed to "Barès" ( Colonel Barès, Chief of the)