At General Nivelle's Headquarters



From Triancourt we went straight to the Headquarters of General
Nivelle. They had just brought him the maps rectified to mark the
French advance. The advance had been made whilst we were
standing on the terrace at Verdun the night before. We had seen
the rockets sent up, requesting a "tir de barrage" (curtain of fire).
The 75's had replied at once and the French had been able to
carry out the operation.

Good news had also come in from the Somme, and General
Nivelle did not hesitate to express his admiration for the British
soldiers.

He said that there was no need to praise the first troops sent by
Britain to France, every one knew their value, but it should be a
great satisfaction to Britain to find that the new army was living up
to the traditions of the old army.

He added: "We can describe the new Army of Britain in two words:
Ca mord--it bites."

The Father of his own men, it is not surprising that General Nivelle
finds a warm corner in his heart for the British Tommy, since his
Mother was an Englishwoman.

At lunch General Nivelle and the members of his staff asked many
questions as to the work of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. I told