Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-07
Stories of the War
Review Of RrltI.h rroops.

Officers who have been through the
campaign since its start at Mons o
year ago speak Of the recent review Of
the British troops at the front as one
OF the most compelling scenes they
have ever Witnessed. The spot was O
parade ground not many miles from
the trenches. Three battalions Of
Guards made q wall Of khaki which
melted into the background OF eward
and hills. Al q review in England they
would have formed a most brilliant
display in their gorgeous parade uni
forms these famous crack regiments
lies OF England. Again and again
their ranks had been thinned and re-
| filed. Omcers OF the old regular army
who had come aa spectators recognised
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 ofncers. Lord
Kitchener and NJ. Millerand the French
minister of war who were seeing the
British front together were to review
them. II was the second visit to the
front paid by *" as every ofncer calls
him.
Sir John French appeared first, walk
Ing across the parade ground to the re-
viewing station where he welcomed
Lord Kitchener and NJ Miilerand who
arrived in a big limousine. Perhaps
there were in all fifty spectators. most
hood. of a scene which had a thrill for
all that no review in England watched
by a. big concourse including gaily
dressed women ever had. Not woman
was present, not civilian except the
correspondents, bright sun was
shining. Five or six thousand feet
overhead O. British plane was PATROL
ling the air In great circle through
out the ceremony.
AS the secretaries Of war Of England
and France faced the Guards their bay
onets rose at present arms In gieam-
ing rigid lines. Lord Kitchener
khaki made him hardly discernible
against the wall Of khaki as the party
walked the length Of the fsent ranks IN
his black suit with short coat and his
SLOUGH travelling hat and trousers tuck
ed into pair OF CATERS was a distinct
moving black point. When they re-
turned to the reviewing station the
band struck UP the Marseillaise and
while Lord Kitchener and Sir John and
the 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 reg
iment whose companies were going by
One officer at the head OF his veterans
was conspicuous because he salutec
; with his left hand. His right sleeve
= was empty. Guardsmen must be tall;
|, and some of the giants were taller thar
: Lord Kitchener himself. A number Of
9 the men in the ranks had fought q
1 Mons and on the Aisne and survived
!, too, from the first and second battles
5 of Ypres. Others had yet to see a bat
tie. Every rife, every hand that HEX
n a rifle, every foot as 1t was lifted seem
c ed perfectly in line.
THE Guards still know how 10 marcl
past though they have been to war TO
9 year." said a staff officer who haG
= been in the Guards.
AS the last company was going pas
9 another kind Of music was heard. Al
the chauffeurs Of the party were crank
n ing up their cars. 1t 10, well known
that "K' wants TO time wasted be
tween functions and inspections whei
8 he is at the front. A volley Of click
as limousine doors were closed and tn
: two war ministers who are at the heaa
e OF the armies of France and Engian,
: were away to other scenes Naturalt
: they also inspected portions Of the New
e Army-which the French peasants an
: villagers all call the 'Keecheenaires."
II had always heard of X as a grin
q stern sort OF man." said a lieutenant o
8 the New Army. But he was smiling
,, and genial to us-quite different from
= what we expected We were a littl
9 frightened when we heard he was goin
q to inspect u.s."