Page:Ambulance 464 by Julien Bryan.djvu/185

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
"AMBULANCE 464"
139

which slipped in unconsciously. They told me they had been shoved into the trenches, near Moronvilliers three days before, along with thousands of other troops in an attempt to check a big French attack, and had been captured when we advanced. When I asked them what they thought of the Kaiser one shrugged his shoulders but the youngest boy said that Wilhelm was all right and claimed that he was really a peaceful soul. He added that the militaristic ministry was the source of most of their troubles. Concerning the cause of the war, they had the peculiar idea that Russia had unexpectedly attacked them in 1914, and they had been forced to resist. When I questioned them about food, they said they had been getting plenty of meat all spring, but that they had very little bread and scarcely any potatoes. The attacking divisions get better food than any other. They told me our entry into the war was a great shock to the German people, and they could see no reason for our doing so. With the Allies backed by our strength now, they didn't think they would win the war, but supposed it would soon end in a draw. They are sure they won't be forced to accept our terms, however. I got a few buttons, from them before I left, as souvenirs.

There were two German aviators next to these Algerians who had been brought down by Guynemer from about twelve thousand feet. Their machine