Here everything was different. This was the real thing. Yet there seemed
less reality in it than in the mock battles of Aldershot, with their
mock situations, tired charges and rattling bolts. Here you knew
nothing, you were barely told where to move. There were none of those
charming little papers headed: "_General Idea, White Army moving on_,
etc...." and: "_Special Idea, the nth Infantry Brigade, commanded by_,
etc. etc...." The "General Idea" of this campaign remained absolute
darkness; and already pessimists began to fear that Christmas would not
see them back at home.

As far as eagerness to meet the enemy was concerned the "morale" was as
high as ever, but nevertheless the temper of the troops was beginning to
be badly shaken. They did not understand the necessity for retreat; for
not a word had been whispered of other set-backs. They had a ridiculous,
but nevertheless firmly lodged, impression that this prolonged retreat
was just another of those needless "fatigues" to which they were so
often put, and vaguely they resented it, distrusted the necessity for
it. Mr. Thomas Atkins found it difficult to believe in the existence of
Germans whom he could not see. In a word, he was beginning to be "fed
up"; especially the reservists, oldish men who had been called from
their homes, bundled once more into uniforms, hurried to a foreign land
of which they knew nothing, and pushed into a battle which showed great
promise of becoming a "débacle."

But you must not blame the men for this. You must remember that they had
left England before the spirit of patriotism had been re-kindled. They
felt, and before reams of paper had been scattered broadcast to prove
the contrary the feeling was very prevalent, that great diplomatic
blunders must have been made for the situation to have reached such an
impasse. Germany had been out for war before: witness Agadir and similar