New-York tribune., 1918-02-04
French Morale Holds After
4 Winters IN the Trenches
Men "Grumble' Behind the Lines but Are Always
Ready to Go Over the Top" When
Their Turn Comes
By The Associated Pressl

WITH The iTi.l=1>;G TRENcH 'SS. ARMY IN
FRANCE, Jan. II (By Mail) although
great military operations have come to
a standstll for the moment, there is
no cessation Of vigilance at any part
Of the French front. Whether in AL
SAGE, Lorraine, around Verdun, in the
Argonne or Champagne, or on the
Laon plateau, the French soldier stands
on guard, just as keen as four winters
ago. In mud, shell holes, in snow and
almost Arctic frosts, he watches, or.
when it is thought necessary to investi
gate what the enemy opposite is doing,
he goes over the top and advances to,
wards the German lines with the same
ardor as at the beginning Of trench
warfare; Only to his dash he has
added the experience gained in num-
DerleSS encounters.
The correspondent Of The Associated
Press, who has been IN the closest
touch with the French troops on doz-
ems of battleields through months and
years of the hardest fighting, has been
able to study the psychology of the
French soldier both while he is en-
gagged in mortal combat and while he
is at his so-callcd reposc.
Nothing strikes the observer more
than tho quiet fatalsm with which
these troopers from the farms and fac
tories and Offices Of all the provinces
and cities Of France go forward to the
attack. Whether it be for a trench
RAID, patrol, 4 reconnaissance or a
general attack in which large numbers
are engaged, the French trooper does
not hesitate when ordered to advance.
TIC Knows that he may not come back
or that he may suffer mutilation. but
when the word is given he moves of,
with calmness and resolution. as
though the work in hand we're merely
an everyday job, to be gotten quickly
off his hands.
Excitement Is Absent
A glance at the troops when thew as
semble in the front line in nrenara-
Ctoh Tor an operation shows an absence
ol excitement. in most cases the men
participating in big attack have been
brought from the cantonments in the
rear only a few hours before they arc
ordered to go over. Arrived in the
'front.' line they crouch and sit and
lie down as we'll as they can in the
muddy and often partially demolished
trenches and advanced saps, waiting
1or their officers to give them the word
mat means death or wounds for prob
ably many of them. Meanwhile. in
most cases, the Germans. made aware
OF the approaching attack by the in
crease Of the French artillery fire. arc
throwing into the French front lines
hundreds and thousands of high cx.
plosive shells and trench mortar bombs.
In spite Of the heavy firing and it's
accompanying casualties among the
French troops, the men awaiting the
final order remain impassivc. Most OF
them have been over the top before
and know the inevitable cost of an ad-
vance over mo Mans Land" and an
assault on the encmy's lines. Their
GOODNESS in face of these perils is mar
vellous. Some Of them smile; others
take sip from their water bottles;
still others look to the sights and
brceches of their rifles or overhaul
their hand grenadcs.
All the time their mon CONS" and
officers. just AS cool-headcd as the
men, walk about among them passing
cheering word here or giving little ad-
vice there, and from time to time con-
sulting their watches SO as not to miss
the time fixed for the attack, for sue
cess depends on :heir absolute punctu-
ality.
At length the minute arrives and
then all along the zigzagging line