ned to be anything of the sort. The losses show this. This
was due in no small measure to the quality which the troops on both
sides inherited from the stock that furnished his infantry to the Duke
of Wellington. Never to know when they were beaten was a
characteristic of both North and South."

THE CONTEMPTIBLE LITTLE ARMY.--In place of the general decadence of the
British race, upon which the German Staff appear to have relied, this
characteristic {19} quality of endurance was exhibited by French's
"Contemptible Little Army" during the _Retreat from Mons_ in August,
1914, at the _First Battle of Ypres_ (October 20, 1914), and at the
_Second Battle of Ypres_ (April 22, 1915). Of his "Contemptible Little
Army" Marshal French writes in his book, "1914": "The British Army had
indeed suffered severely, and had performed a herculean task in
reaching its present position in such fighting form, and its _moral_
had withstood the ordeal. I think the Germans were probably justified
in doubting our offensive powers, but the thing they forgot was the
nation from which we spring."

THE NEW ARMIES.--From 1915 to 1918 the New Armies, raised, equipped,
and trained during the War, and representing the Empire in arms,
displayed the same inherent quality, and disproved for ever the charge
of decadence that had been brought against the British race. "That
these troops should have accomplished so much under such conditions,
and against an army and a nation whose chief concern for so many years
had been preparation for war, constitutes a feat of which the history
of our nation records no equal. . . . Troops from every part of the
British Isles and from every Dominion and quarter of the Empire,
whether Regulars, Territorials, or men of the New Armies, have borne a
share in the battle. . . . Among all the long roll of victories borne
on the colours of our regiments, there has never been a higher test of
the endurance and resolution of our Infantry. They have shown
themselves worthy of the highest traditions of our race, and of the
proud records of former wars" (Sir D. Haig's Dispatch, December 23,
1916).

"Our new and hastily trained armies have shown once again that they are
capable of meeting and beating the enemy's best troops, even under
conditions which favoured his defence to a degree which it required the
greatest endurance, determination, and heroism to {20} overcome" (Sir
D. Haig's Dispatch, December 25, 1917). "It is no