UNDER THE GERMAN SHELLS
The author at Camp Grant.
The American soldier is Divisional Interpreter Umberto-Gagliasso.
UNDER THE
GERMAN SHELLS
BY
EMMANUEL BOURCIER
MEMBER OF THE FRENCH MILITARY COMMISSION TO AMERICA
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH
BY
GEORGE NELSON HOLT
AND
MARY R. HOLT
WITH PORTRAITS
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1918
Copyright, 1918, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
Published May, 1918
PREFACE
Life is a curious thing. In time of war Lifeis itself the extraordinary and Death seems theonly ordinary thing possible for men.
In time of war man is but a straw throwninto the wide ocean. If the tossing waves donot engulf him he can do no more than floaton the surface. God alone knows his destiny.
This book, Under the German Shells, is anotherinstance of war’s uncertainties. Sent by mygovernment to America to join the new Americanarmy as instructor, I wrote the greaterpart of the book on the steamer which broughtme. The reader will, perhaps, read it whenI am dead; for another steamer is about tocarry me back to France, where I shall againbe “under the German shells,” before the bookwill see the light.
This is the second work which I have writtenduring the war. The first, Gens du Front, appearedin France while I was in America. Iwrote it in the trenches. The second will appear[vi]in America when I shall be in France.The father will not be present at the birth ofeither of his two children. “C’est la Guerre.”
My only wish is that the work may be ofuse. I trust it may, for every word is sincereand true. That it may render the greatestservice, I wish to give you, my reader, a sharein my effort: a part of the money which youpay for the book will be turned over to theFrench Red Cross Society, to care for thewounded and assist the widows whom misfortunehas overtaken while I have been writing.Thus you will lighten the burden of thosewhom the scourge has stricken.
I hope that you will find in the work someinstruction—you who are resolutely preparingto defend Justice and Right and to avenge theinsults of the infamous Boche.
I have no other wishes than these for mywork, and that victory may be with our unitedarms.
Emmanuel Bourcier.
Camp Grant, December 16, 1917.