Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/80

60 through, that the man in overalls owned coal mines in Japan, in South America, in Belgium.

"Of course," he smiled," the Belgian mines must be looked upon for the present as a bad investment.

In overalls, driving soldiers and supplies to the front, this man of exceptional wealth!

"I'm going back after my first permission in more than a year."

"You despise such work?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

One does one's share, and that is arranged according to the best interests of France. My task has its compensations. For instance, at the commencement of the battle of Verdun when things looked rather dark I helped in that marvel of transport You must have heard. We moved fifty thousand men in motor trucks from Revigny to the Verdun sector in a twinkling."

A little later we passed Revigny. He waved his hand, buttoned his coat of overall material, and left us.

Across the aisle a colonel shared a bottle of wine with a private. They chatted amiably. Yet at work the discipline of the French develops results that more than match the iron bound German system.

We halted at Bar-le-Duc, the base for Verdun.