request to General Debeney in Rheims to allow me to penetrate
with my companions into the city. He then turned to me again and
asked me, with a knowing smile, if that was all I required--for his
Headquarters were hardly on the direct road to Rheims! I hesitated
to express my real wish, when my good counsellor and friend, with
whom I was making the journey, the Commandant Jean de Pulligny,
answered for me: "I feel sure it would be a great happiness and
honour if you would allow us, General, to go to Verdun." General
Petain appeared slightly surprised, and turning to me asked: "Do
you thoroughly realise the danger? You have crossed the Atlantic
and faced submarines, but you will risk more in five minutes in
Verdun than in crossing the Atlantic a thousand times." However,
seeing that I was really anxious to go, and that it might be of great
service to me in my future work to have seen personally the defence
of Verdun, he added smilingly: "Well then, you can go if you wish
at your own risk and peril." He then telephoned to General Nivelle
the necessary permission for us to enter Verdun.

I doubt whether General Petain realises the respect in which he is
held in all the civilised countries of the world. Probably he does not
yet understand that people would come thousands of miles to
have five minutes' audience with him, for he enquired if we were in
any hurry to continue our journey, and added with charming
simplicity--"Because if not, and you do not mind waiting an hour, I
shall be glad if you will lunch with me."




A Meeting With "Forain"