In the Rhineland, in the courtyard of Mainz's Grand Ducal Palace, the French 8th Infanterie de Ligne stood at attention last week, each poilu perspiring profusely beneath his mountainous load: haversack, blanket roll, gas mask, mess kit and an extra pair of steel-shod marching boots lashed high above all. The sword of General Adolphe Guillaumat flashed in the air.
"Au drapeau!" he commanded. Rifles slapped to the salute. Buglers twirled their trumpets in the air, blew a fanfare, anti as the band crashed into "La...
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