of
Germany had met near Contalmaison the light-hearted boys I had seen
drilling in Hyde Park last year, and in a furious counter-attack,
in which they had attempted to regain the village, had been wiped
out.

These were not merely wounded, but dejected wounded. The whole
atmosphere of the scene was that of intense surprise and
depression. Tradition going back to Frederick the Great, nearly
two hundred years ago, had been smashed--by amateur soldiers. The
callow youth of sixteen who served my lunch was muttering something
to the barmaid, who replied that he was lucky to be in a class that
was not likely to be called up yet.

The extreme cases were carried at a snail's pace by bearers, who
put their feet down as carefully as if they were testing very thin
ice, and who placed the comfortable spring stretchers in the very
few vehicles which had rubber or imitation rubber tyres. The work
was done with military precision and great celerity. The
evacuation of this train was no sooner finished than another took
its place, and the same scene was repeated. Presently the great
furniture vans returned from having deposited their terrible loads,
and were again filled. One van was reserved for those who had
expired on the journey, and it was full.

This, then, was the battered remnant of the five Reserve regiments
of the Prussian Guard which had charged the British lines at
Contalmaison three weeks before in a desperate German
counter-attack to wrest the village from the enemy, who had just
occupied it. Each train discharged between six and seven hundred
maimed passengers. Nor was this the last day of the influx.

The Guard had its garrisons chiefly in Potsdam, but also partly in
Berlin, and represents the physical flower of German manhood. On
parade it was inspiring to look at, and no military officer in the
world ever doubted its prowess. Nor has it failed in the war to
show splendid courage and fighting qualities. English people
simply do not understand its prestige at home and among neutrals.

The Guard is sent only where there is supreme work to be done. If
you hear that it has been hurled into a charge you may rest assured
that it is striving to gain something on which Germany sets the
highest price--for the life-blood of the Guard is the dearest that
she can pay.

In the battle of the Marne the active regiments of the Guard
forming a link between the armies of von Bulow and von Hausen were
dashed like