So there is not much to say about how the British think about the French.  They do not think.  They feel.  At the outbreak of the war, when the performance of France seemed doubtful, there was an enormous feeling for France in Great Britain; it was like the formless feeling one has for a brother.  It was as if Britain had discovered a new instinct.  If France had crumpled up like paper, the English would have fought on passionately to restore her.  That is ancient history now.  Now the English still feel fraternal and fraternally proud; but in a mute way they are dazzled.  Since the German attack on Verdun began, the French have achieved a crescendo.  None of us could have imagined it.  It did not seem possible to very many of us at the end of 1915 that either France or Germany could hold on for another year.  There was much secret anxiety for France.  It has given place now to unstinted confidence and admiration.  In their astonishment the British are apt to forget the impressive magnitude of their own effort, the millions of soldiers, the innumerable guns, the endless torrent of supplies that pour into France to avenge the little army of Mons. It seems natural to us that we should so exert ourselves under the circumstances.  I suppose it is wonderful, but, as a sample Englishman, I do not feel that it is at all wonderful.  I did not feel it wonderful even when I saw the British aeroplanes lording it in the air over Martinpuich, and not a German to be seen.  Since Michael would have it so, there, at last, they were.

There was a good deal of doubt in France about the vigour of the British effort, until the Somme offensive.  All that had been dispelled in August when I reached Paris.  There was not the shadow of a doubt remaining anywhere of the power and loyalty of the British.  These preliminary assurances have to be made, because it is in the nature of the French mind to criticise, and it must not be supposed that criticisms of detail and method affect the fraternity and complete mutual confidence which is the stuff of the Anglo-French relationship.

2

Now first the French have been enormously astonished by the quality of the ordinary British soldiers in our new armies.  One Colonial colonel said something almost incredible to me—­almost incredible as coming as from a Frenchman; it was a matter to solemn for any compliments or polite exaggerations; he said in tones of wonder and conviction, “They are as good as ours.” It was his acme of all possible praise.

That means any sort of British soldier.  Unless he is assisted by a kilt the ordinary Frenchman is unable to distinguish between one sort of British soldier and another.  He cannot tell—­let the ardent nationalist mark the fact!—­a Cockney from an Irishman or the Cardiff from the Essex note.  He finds them all extravagantly and unquenchably cheerful and with a generosity—­“like good children.”  There his praise is a little tinged by doubt.  The British are reckless—­recklessness