At the commencement of the .War, dogs were not utilized to the extent they are at present.  A large number are now with the French Army and the wonderful training they have received, aided by their natural sagacity, renders them a holy terror to prowling bodies and spies.  Those employed in carrying messages or tobacco to the soldiers in dangerous trenches now wear gas masks, as many of these high trained animals have been lost in consequence of too closely investigating the strange odour caused by this Hun war method.

From Sezannes we proceeded direct to the new camp for German prisoners at Connantre.  The prisoners were mostly men who had been taken in the recent fighting on the Somme or around Verdun.  The camp was already excellently installed and the prisoners were busy in groups gardening, making bread, or sitting before great heaps of potatoes preparing them for the evening meal.  In one corner the inevitable German Band was preparing for an evening concert.  The German sense of order was everywhere in evidence.  In the long barracks where the men slept the beds were tidy, and above each bed was a small shelf, each shelf arranged in exactly the same order, the principal ornaments being a mug, fork and spoon; and just as each bed resembled each other bed, so the fork and spoon were placed in their respective mugs at exactly the same angle.  There were small partitioned apartments for the non-commissioned officers.

The French Commander of the camp told us that the German love of holding some form of office was everywhere apparent.  The French made no attempt to command the prisoners themselves, but always chose men from amongst the prisoners who were placed in authority over their comrades.  The prisoners rejoiced exceedingly and promptly increased in self-importance and, alas, decreased in manners, if they were given the smallest position which raised them above the level of the rest of the men.

In the barrack where they were cutting up bread for the prisoners, we asked the men if they deeply regretted their captivity.  They replied unanimously that they were “rather glad to be well fed,” which seemed an answer in itself.  They did not, however, appreciate the white bread, and stated that they preferred their own black bread.  The French officers commanding the camp treat the prisoners as naughty children who must be “kept in the corner” and punished for their own good.  In all my travels through France I have never seen any bitterness shown towards the prisoners.  I remember once at Nevers we passed a group of German prisoners, and amongst them was a wounded man who was lying in a small cart.  A hand bag had fallen across his leg, and none of his comrades attempted to remove it.  A French woman pushing her way between the guards, lifted it off and gave it to one of the Germans to carry.  When the guards tried to remonstrate she replied simply:  “J’ai un fils prisonnier la bas, faut esperer qu’une allemande ferait autant pour lui.” ("I have a son who is a prisoner in their land; let us hope that some German woman would do as much for him.”)