Ethel (in apprehensive whisper which easily reaches her German governess, to whom she is deeply attached). "Mother, shall we have to kill Fräulein?"
[Several journals have pointed out that the type of recruit now offering himself is in a high degree capable of reasoning and initiative.]
"Now I want any of you who are puzzled about anything to ask questions about it," said the instructing sergeant-major... and anon:
"Right about, Number 3 of the front rank! There is no such thing as left about turn. Squad, form———"
"Excuse me," interrupted Number 3, "but why do you say that there is no such thing as left about turn?"
"Because there isn't," said the sergeant-major unsympathetically.
"But, my good man," urged Number 3, "there must be. I've just done it. Why, look here!"
He did it again.
"Such a movement is not in the drill-book," said the sergeant-major curtly.
"But," protested Number 3, "you told us yourself only yesterday that very few of the total possible commands are in the drill-book. For instance, there is no provision for lining a railway embankment, often, I understand, a salutary and even vital evolution."
The sergeant-major considered.
"There's no use," he said at last weightily, "'avin two ways of doin' anything when one will do. It is generally considered that right about turn is enough ways to turning about for any one man."
"By all means," admitted the recruit generously, "let us be frugal. Frugality is the mainspring of efficiency. One way of turning about is ample for me. But why right rather than left?"
"Because right's right, and that's all there is to it," said the sergeant-major, who was tiring of the argument.
"Exactly," admitted Number 3, "and left's left, and that leaves us just where we started. Now if the War Office had tossed up and made a general decision in favour of right I could understand the position. But my impression is that this is not so. Thus, if I were to step off with the right foot———"
"Shut your face," said the sergeant-major, "and do what you're told. Squad! A-bout———Turn!"
"Reasoning," observed Number 3, "is lost upon yonder survival of the old school of stereotyped militarism. The hour for initiative has arrived."
And by way of protest he executed a neat left about turn.
Guns of Verdun point to Metz
From the plated parapets;
Guns of Metz grin back again
O'er the fields of fair Lorraine.
Guns of Metz are long and grey
Growling through a summer day;
Guns of Verdun, grey and long,
Boom an echo of their song.
Guns of Metz to Verdun roar,
"Sisters, you shall foot the score;"
Guns of Verdun say to Metz,
"Fear not, for we pay our debts."
Guns of Metz they grumble, "When?"
Guns of Verdun answer then,
"Sisters, when to guard Lorraine
Gunners lay you East again!"
