Voices of the Foreign Legion: The French Foreign Legion in Its Own Words by Adrian D. Gilbert

Author:Adrian D. Gilbert [Gilbert, Adrian D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
Published: 2011-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

By the mid-1890s the tide of the conflict began to turn against the Black Flags. Support from Chinese sources was diminishing and the relentless pressure of the French was taking its toll. According to Manington, not only was the Legion becoming increasingly proficient in counter-insurgency operations, its soldiers actually enjoyed this form of warfare:

At this time, thanks to the experience they had acquired during the past year and a half, and also to their having been employed during the last three months in continually chasing the enemy from place to place, through the wildest country it is possible to imagine, the men of my company had become splendid jungle fighters. Each of them was now not only a hardened, almost fever-proof soldier, but also a good shot and an efficient scout, ever on the alert to notice each sign by the way, to catch each sound in the air, and understand their meaning.

Conversant with the enemy’s methods of fighting in the dark glades and sombre thickets of his favourite haunts, the legionnaires and their officers had learnt to trust no longer to the paths, but to advance swiftly yet silently through the undergrowth, taking advantage of every bit of cover, and making of each tree in the wood, each rise in the ground, a temporary rampart.

Encouraged by their officers, the men took delight in this new sport, which seemed more like a hunt, in which the quarry was a man, than regular warfare. The fact of their not being continually in touch with their officers and NCOs, and having consequently to depend sometimes on their own resources, developed their individual initiative and self-reliance; whilst the novelty of the situation gave full scope to their courage and love of adventure. Perhaps with troops possessing less stamina and morale, even these short periods of independent action would have been dangerous, but with these well-disciplined and seasoned soldiers of the Legion this new method of attack seemed to increase the zeal and self-confidence of the men.

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