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Transcriber's Note:
Any obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text.
For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document.
In the following pages the reader will find no tactical studies, nomilitary criticism, no vivid picture of a great battle. I have merelytried to make a written record of some of the hours I have livedthrough during the course of this war. A modest Lieutenant ofChasseurs, I cannot claim to form any opinion as to the operationswhich have been carried out for the last nine months on an immensefront. I only speak of things I have seen with my own eyes, in thelittle corner of the battlefield occupied by my regiment.
It occurred to me that if I should come out of the deathly strugglesafe and sound, it would be a pleasure to me some day to read overthese notes of battle or bivouac. I thought, further, that my peoplewould be interested in them. So I tried to set down my impressions inmy intervals of leisure. Days of misery, days of joy, days ofbattle.... [Pg x]What volumes one might write, if one were to follow oursquadrons day by day in their march!
I preferred to choose among many memories. I did not wish to composememoirs, but only to evoke the most tragic or the most touchingmoments of my campaign. And, indeed, I have had only too many fromwhich to choose.
I shall rejoice if I have been able to revive some phases of thetragedy in which we were the actors for my brothers-in-arms.
Further, I gladly offer these "impressions" to any non-combatants theymay interest. They must not look for the talents of a greatstory-teller, nor the thrilling interest of a novel. All they willfind is the simple tale of an eyewitness, the unschooled effort of asoldier more apt with the sword than with the pen.
M.D.
The Editor of SOLDIERS' TALES will be glad to read diaries or[Pg xi]notebo BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!
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