The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-09
GRAND SPECTACLE
OF BRITISH TROOPS
Three Battalions OF Guards Passed in
Review Before British War Lords
and Newspaper Men Were
Permitted to Look On.

Permitted to Look On.
British Headquarters in France, Sept.
o--0fIicers who have been through the
campaign since its start at Mons a year
ago spesk of the recent review of the
British troops at the front as one of the
most compelling scene they have ever
witnessed. Three battalions of guards
made wall Of khaki which melted into
the background OF sward and hills. AT
q review in England they would have
formed a most brilliant display in their
gorgeous parade uniforms these famous
crack regiments Differed by sons OF the
famous families OF England. Again and
again their ranks had been tbinned and
refilled. Officers of the old regular army
who had come as spectators recognized
familiar faces OF the survivors among
the officers and saw many strange faces
who had taken the place OF those who
had fallen.
But the guards are still the guards
Scots or Irish or Grenadiers or Cold
stream" said one of the officers, Lord
minister of war who were seeing the
British front together were to review
them. 1t was tie second visit to the
front paid by "K" as every officer calls
him.
Sir John French appeared first, walk
ing across the parade ground to the re-
viewing station where he welcomed Lord
Kitchener and M. Millerand who arrived
in big limousine. Perhaps there were
in all fifty spectators, mostly officers
stationed in the neighborhood, OF
scene which had thrill for all that no
review in England watched by big
concourse including gaily dressed wom-
en- ever had. Not woman was present,
not civilian except the correspondents.
A bright sun was shining. Five or six
thousand feet overhead British plane
was patrolling the air in great circle
throughout the ceremony.
As the secretaries Of war of England
and France faced the guards their bayo-
nets rose at present arms in cleaning
rigid lines Lord Kitchencr's khaki
made him hardly discernible against the
wall OF khaki as the party walked the
length of the front ranks in formal in
spection. NJ. Millerand in his black suit
with short coat and his slough travelling
hat and trousers tucked into pair Of
CATERS was a distinct moving black
point When they returned to the re-
viewing station the band struck up the
Marseillaise and while Lord Kitchener
and Sir John and other officers stood
at the salute that one civilian figure IN
this military scene stood uncovered.
Then with the march past the band
played the airs associated with the regi-
ment whose companies were going by.
One officer at the head OF his veterans
was conspicuous because he saluted with
lis left hand. His right sleeve was emp
ty. Guardsmen must be tall; and some
of the giants were taller than Lord
Kitchener himself. A number of the
men in the ranks had fought at Mons
and on the Aisne and survived, too, from
the first and second battles of Ypres.
Others had yet to see battle. Every
rife. every hand that held rife, ey-
cry foot as it was lifted seemed per-
fectly in line.
''The guards still know how to march
past though they nave been 10 war lot
a year" said staff officer who had
been in the guards,
As the last company was going past
another kind OF music was heard. All
the ehauffeurs OF the party were crank
ing up their cars. Ii is well known that
TX" wants no time wasted between
functions and inspections when he Is
at the front. A volley of clicks as
limousine doors were closed and the two
war ministers who are at the head OF
the armies Of France and England were
away 70 other scenes. Naturally they
also inspected portions OF the new army
which the French peasants and villsg-
ers all call the "keechenaires.'
Il had always heard of tx" as a grim
stern sort of man" said lieutenant OF
tho new army. "But he was smiling
and genial TO us-quite different from
what we expected. We were little
frightened when we heard he was going
to inspect us"