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FOOD AND
SOCIETY
Edited by
MARK GIBSON
Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier
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This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher
(other than as may be noted herein).
Notices
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our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become
necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and
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material herein.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
(1900-45) trade 82
3.5 POSHV<lr nutritional reconstruction 82
3.6 FAO second world food survey 1952 86
2.1 The agricultural landscape 23
3.7 Gender and work rates 87
2.2 Health and diet: dle final link 25
3.8 The link between malnutrition and
2.3 Technolob'Y and biotechnology close the
infection 88
gap 26
3.9 Genetic engineering further miiesmnes 88
2.4 Governance and early food production 28
3.10 Surpluses and the agricultu ral trade
2.5 Nutrition grows up 30
development and assistance act 89
v
vi mNTENTS
3.11 The European economic community 93 5.5 The GMO backlash 144
3.12 The great leap forward famine (t 958-61) 93 5.6 2010 UN summit on MDGs 145
3.13 Deciara£ion of the rights of the child 5.7 Food crisis and financial chaos 145
(I 959) 94 References 149
3.14 The freedom from hunger campaign 94
3.15 World food program 96
3.16 Hope holds out 97
3.17 The green revoimion 97
II
3.18 Single�ccll prorcins 97 Food and...
3.I 9 Protein and the growing kwashiorkor
marasmus debate 98
6. The beginnings of modem development
3.20 The third world food survey 99
theory
References 99
••
CONTENTS vii
9.3 Size of the glob.1 food sector 206 13.3 Population sustainabili[), and [he carrying
9.4 Employment in agriculture 209 capacity of [he Earth 264
9.5 Commercial control over the supply chain 210 References 267
9.6 Food price volatility Z13
9.7 Current global food situ:uion: production, usage
and needs: food balance sheets 215
9.8 Nutritional status: over� and
III
undernutrition 216 Anthropology of food
9.9 Sufficient food 219
References 220
14. Governance and food
10. Global food waste 14.1 From human rights to food rights 274
14.2 The food g.p 277
10.1 Food waste: hisroricai perspectives 225 14.3 Land use and land ownership rights 277
10.2 Anitudes [0 food: personal and 14.4 Food and global governance 278
cultural 226 14.5 Regulation and trade 279
I 0.3 Terminology and typology 226 14.6 Safety nets and food reserves 281
10.4 Why nowl 227 L4.7 Globalizmion: hegemony, multilateral
10.5 Key causes of food waste 228 cooperation, and people power 282
10.6 Undervaluation of food 230 14.8 Land grabbing 283
10.7 Foodservice styles 233 14.9 Food sovereigmy 284
10.8 Data limitations 236 References 285
10.9 The challenge .he.d 236 Further reading 287
10.10 What can be done: waste prevention
initiatives! 237 15. Food and social trends
References 239
15.1 Food as an important social function 290
11. The Hunger files: food security 15.2 Food and dining styles 290
15.3 Food and social occasions 291
11.1 Food security: what is it? 242 15.4 Food, solar terms, and festivals in China 295
11.2 Pm1dorn's box 246 15.5 Conclusion 303
References 246 References 303
17. Food, culture, and food tourism 19.5 The open kitchen and the questioning of
closed kitchen work 357
17.1 Food and culture 324 19.6 Emotional labor 360
) 7.2 Food functions and beliefs 325 19.7 Theoretical considerations debated 370
17.3 Food habits 327 19.8 Concluding remarks 370
17.4 Food and courism 329 References 371
17.5 Food identiry. culwre. and courism 329
17.6 G.lstronomy tourism and cultural capital 330 20. Food ingredients
17.7 Trends and its importance 331
17.8 UNESCO Creative Cities 20.1 Food additives 378
Network-Gastronomy 332 20.2 Food additives today 379
) 7.9 The recent case of Macao Special 20.3 Preservatives 379
Administrative Region, China 332 20.4 Nutritional <ldditives 380
17.10 Featured case swdy: Macanese cuisine and 20.5 Coloring agents 380
identity 333 20.6 Flavoring agents 380
References 338 20.7 Texrurizing agenrs 381
ZO.8 Genetically modified organisms 381
18. Feeding the future: challenges and 20.9 Internationally deregulated and farmed
genetically modified crops 382
limitations
20.10 Food labeling 385
20.11 Highlights of the final nutrition facts
18.1 Food confused! 342
label 385
18.2 Food choices: evolution or moral and ethical
20.12 Compliance date 386
blackmail! 345
20.13 Information shown on the food label in the
References 348
United Kingdom 387
20.14 Allergens 388
20.15 Food and drink warnings 389
IV 20.16 Hong Kong-Macao labeling/marking
requirements 390
Food, service, and other 20.17 Expiration <lnd use·by dates 391
deliverables in the References 391
Further reading 391
hospitality sector
21. The role of information technology in
19. The SOCiology of the chef: a new
the food industry
theoretical proposition from the open
professional kitchen
21.1 Introduction 393
21.2 MeeHls of interncriviry 394
19.1 Introduction 354
21.3 IT tools for food industry 398
19.2 The restaurant in the industrial era 354
21.4 The new opportuniries 400
19.3 The changing orientation of the
21.5 Big data 402
restaurant 355
21.6 Conclusion 404
19.4 The restaurant kitchen in the service
References 404
economy 356
CONTENTS ix
22. Food service in hospitality 25.4 Plan daily producTion levels 465
25.5 Issue needed products to production
management
areas 466
25.6 Manage the food and beverage production
22.1 Scenario I 406
process 466
22.2 Scenario 2 406
25.7 Price the products at a price so that customers
22.3 CEOs, Director of Operations, and Genenll
feel it is a value for money opermion 468
Managers (operational level) 408
References 471
22.4 CustOmer-oriented (operarional
level) 412
References 413 26. F&B spatial design and functionality
Figure 8.4 Global certified organic hectares show steady growth over
the past two decades, year reported Growth......................................................... 196
Figure 13.2 Predictions of comparative population and food growth rates according
to Thomas Malthus................................................................................................... 260
xi
xii LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 17.1 Photo of guayusa tea cooking in Amazon village. ............................................ 324
Figure 17.2 Yerba mate tea cup and straw. .............................................................................. 326
Figure 17.3 Homemade bridal doll and Macanese cake are typical table centerpieces
and wedding favors in a modern Macanese wedding banquet. ...................... 334
Figure 17.4 Galinha à Portuguesa: A typical Macanese tea party. .............................................. 335
Figure 17.5 Chá Gordo: A typical Macanese tea party. ................................................................ 337
Figure 21.1 Technology and artificial intelligence in the food industry. .............................. 397
Figure 22.2 An executive team will normally report to the Hotel Manager. ...................... 409
Figure 26.1 Simple steps in defining the space planning in kitchens. .................................. 477
Figure 26.2 An example of foodservice design flow by Birchfield (2008). .......................... 478
Table 2.1 Early daily nutritional values as offered by Lusk and Chittenden 26
Table 2.5 Daily calorie requirements as proposed by the Inter-Allied Scientific Food
Commissions 34
Table 2.14 The Food and Nutrition Boards 1941 recommended dietary allowances 69
xiii
xiv LIST OF TABLES
Table 9.3 Global food production commodities by Volume (2009) (million tons) 207
Table 9.4 Top corporations share of the global food processing market 2009 211
Table 14.1 Selected instruments of human rights over the centuries 275
Table 20.4 An appropriate warning must be shown on the label if the food
contains certain ingredients 389
Table 24.3 P&L Statement for Christys Burritos for the past 2 years 435
Table 26.1 Space allocation for different type of foodservice operations 475
Table: A3.1 The official list of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) indicators
that emerged out of the Millennium Summit 493
Table A4.1 Macro- and micronutrient guidelines of the European Union (EU),
United States (USA), and World Health Organization (WHO) for adult
men and women 498
Table of equations
xvii
xviii TABLE OF EQUATIONS
People who have helped shape this book are listed below. Without their valuable con-
tributions, this book would not have been possible. To them, I owe a great deal of gratitude
and respect.
Mark Gibson (PhD) Chammy Lai Peng Tai Msc
John Paull (PhD) Ricky On Peng Sou MSc MBA
Mukta Das (PhD) Cindia Ching Chi Lam (PhD)
Loi Kim Ieng (Connie) (PhD) Grant O’Bree (MSc)
Lei Weng Si (Clara) (PhD) Miguel Gassmann de Oliveira (MBA)
Ubaldino Couto (MSc) Marta Hoi Yan Lam (PhD)
David Graham (PhD) Florence Iok San Lam MSc MBA
David Wiley (MSc) Alan Wan Lok Cheng Master of Accountancy
Christy Ng Yen Nee (PhD)
Front Matter
By Mark Gibson PhD
Mark’s Bio See Below
xix
xx CONTRIBUTORS
Mukta Das studied Anthropology of Food at SOAS Food Studies Centre, SOAS University
of London. Her current research focuses on China’s ascendancy as a global power and South
Asian migration into the Pearl River Delta, exploring this through ideas of taste and
aesthetics, food festivals, and heritage projects. Before this, Mukta worked for several NGOs
as well as in the private sector in Asia. She has a master’s in the Anthropology of Food and
also in History of China and India.
By Lei Weng Si (Clara) PhD and Loi Kim Ieng (Connie) PhD
Lei Weng Si (Clara) PhD
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
Clara is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macau, China. She
received her PhD in International Business from the University of Leeds in the United
Kingdom. Her research interests rest on festivals and event management, management ed-
ucation, and cross-cultural food issues and trends. Prior stepping into the academia, Clara
worked in the industries for some years and took part mostly in marketing and management.
Clara likes traveling and trekking. Her footprint covered six of the seven continents. South
America is her favorite continent, where she trekked Torres del Paine, Patagonia, and enjoyed
the rich food culture very much.
Loi Kim Ieng (Connie) PhD
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
A local of Macao and currently the Assistant Professor at Institute for Tourism Studies
(IFT) Macao, Connie developed her interest in the tourism and hospitality field at an early
age. To pursue this interest, she completed her bachelor degree in Tourism Business Man-
agement with a concentration in Hotel Management at IFT. Thereafter, she obtained MSc in
Financial Management from the University of London. Her PhD in Tourism at the James
xxii CONTRIBUTORS
Chapter 19: The sociology of the chef: a new theoretical proposition from
the open professional kitchen
By David Graham PhD
Department of Service Sector Management; Sheffield Hallam University
David spent the early years of his career in the restaurant and hotel and licensed retail
trade working for large multinational chains, followed by ownership of his own restaurants
and coffee shop businesses. On selling his business interests, he moved into further and
higher education, teaching and researching at Huddersfield Technical College, Leeds Met-
ropolitan University, and more recently at Sheffield Hallam University.
CONTRIBUTORS xxiii
He is committed Principal Lecturer who has a passion for internationalization in the
curriculum and champions the use of technology to facilitate cross-boundary interactions.
David has been a leader in the application of video conferencing to enhance the student
learning experience.
David holds a teaching qualification, degree, and masters from Huddersfield University
and a PhD from Sheffield Hallam University along with other professional qualifications. He
has worked on national committees for teaching and learning, validated degree and master’s
awards for other further and higher education providers, and has externally examined in the
United Kingdom and overseas. He has never lost sight of his early career in hospitality and
continues to teach and research in this area, presenting and writing articles centered on food
and beverage management.
By Chammy Lai Peng Tai Msc, Ricky On Peng Sou MSc MBA and Cindia Ching
Chi Lam PhD
Chammy Lai Peng Tai Msc
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
Chammy Tai received her Master Degree in Public Administration from the Peking
University. She has broad experience in the IT industry lasting for more than 20 years and
focusing on system development areas and academic projects in tertiary education.
Ricky On Peng Sou MSc MBA
General Manager (IT and Operation) of TEDMEV Macau EDI Van, S.A. Macao, China
Ricky On Peng Sou has over 19 years’ experience in the field of information technology,
he is experienced in setting up and managing an entire IT system for several enterprises. He
obtained his Master Degrees in Computer Science at the Macau University of Science and
Technology and University of Macau in Business Administration, respectively. Mr. Sou has
comprehensive knowledge in information security area, and he is a Certified Information
System Auditor and has good experience in auditing ISO27001 system. Mr. Sou possesses
xxiv CONTRIBUTORS
By Florence Iok San Lam MSc, Alan Wan Lok Cheng Master of Accountancy and Cindia
Ching Chi Lam PhD
Florence Iok San Lam MSc
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
CONTRIBUTORS xxv
Florence Iok San Lam is the adjunct Lecturer at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT).
She has taught Leadership, Human Resources Management, and Principles of Management
for the Institute’s Daytime Degree Programmes, as well as Principles of Management and
Tourism Product Management for the Evening Degree Programmes. She is a local from
Macao, graduated from IFT with a Bachelor of Arts and the Excellence Award, and com-
pleted her master degree at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. She has lived,
studied, and worked in Macao, the Netherlands, Scotland, London (UK), Lisbon (Portugal),
and Poland, having worked in the oil and gas, entertainment, and arts and cultural sector.
Currently, she is the Director of Iao Hin Gallery, Macao, and a contributing writer for the
Opinion pages of Macau Closer. As an active member of Macao’s society supporting social
progress and development, she has been included in Macau News as one of the city’s movers
and shakers.
Alan Wan Lok Cheng Master of Accountancy
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
Alan Cheng is an instructor in front office operations at the Institute for Tourism Studies,
Macau SAR. He has been in this position teaching front desk theory and practicum since
August 2012. Alan commenced his hospitality career in 1999 when he was offered an
opportunity to assist with starting a new motel in Sydney, Australia. Then, his position as the
general manager at the property gave him the opportunity of providing on-the-job training to
the front office staff.
Cindia Ching Chi Lam PhD
Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFTM): Colina de Mong-Há Macao, China
Cindia’s Bio e See above
Appendices
Nutritional guidelines
Glossary
Mark Gibson
xxvii
Foreword
By 2050, the population of the Earth is views that rely less on big production in-
expected to top out at just over 9 billion. creases but more toward a suite of initiatives
Such numbers will need to be supported in that include efficiency savings from tech-
terms of clothing, housing, and being fed all nology, etc., as well as measures to decrease
from a single resource: the Earth. From the a shamefully large component of food
perspective of food, this challenge is exacer- wastage.
bated especially when considering that Of course and once again, this is the
presently, and for many years now, there simplified version, and one goal of this book
still exists a large cohort of the population is to highlight the many considerations,
that remain persistently undernourished. arguments, and areas of acrimony that besets
This figure varies a lot e and ranges from a holistic view of food and culture as well
between 8-900 million people. With this in as many other areas vis-a-vis supply and
mind, the global community is without demand, environmentalism, globalization,
doubt in agreement with the need to increase population sustainability, and many others.
the global food supply. However, any in- Moreover, food, being the theme of this
crease in the food supply has to meet book, is discussed at every level and from
persistent present shortfalls as well as future many conceivable angles.
projected needs. Such a rise in production To give some sort of overview, some
has been estimated to be in the region of perspective, or background if you like, the
around 70%. Of course, this is perhaps an first few chapters delve briefly into the recent
unforgiveable oversimplification, as in truth history of the growing importance of food
there currently does exist sufficient produc- from the sole perspective of sustenance
tion to feed the existing population on a through to food and the environment and
daily basis; the problem is one of food many other subjects in between. As a result,
security; in essence there are many issues of these few sections evaluate the definitive
access and stability among other things that growth and maturation in the worldwide
cloud the food issue. Having said that, aspects of food and by extension the multi-
despite such issues, there is a need, a very lateral landscape of social accountability.
real need to increase food availability by a Achievements unfold and are examined and
whopping 70%. evaluated to understand contemporary in-
Without getting into too much detail for fluences or forces in action. Starting with
the moment, the elephant in the room here is communal or social collectivization, a
the use of the word availability. That is to narrative unfolds, whereby agronomy and
say, for a while there was much talk by the technological and scientific advances are
United Nations and others of this need for a shown to adapt to the ever-increasing pop-
70% increase in food productiondonly now ulation numbers.
are people beginning to accept alternative
xxix
xxx FOREWORD
A tall order without a doubt and one in guesstimates, and considered opinions will
which the book tackles in a very overarching be sought in lieu. In essence, the core of this
way. Lastly, this book aims to be academic in work looks to bring together or to assimilate
nature: both rigorous and supported by solid if you like as much of the concept of
data. Much of the data is empirical in food from many different perspectives as is
nature and, where supporting data cannot be possible.
found, alternative acceptable estimates,
Preface: What role food?
Society has always had a unique and Nowadays, food choices are increasingly
special relationship with fooddnot solely based on considerations of more than just
because of the need for sustenance but also in basic survival, instead they go on to include
the way people have developed “cultural” considerations of health, ethics and morality,
values and traditions surrounding the way cultural identity, price, geographic location,
we cherish and treat food and feeding and naturally personal preferences. This
practices. Such values, whether knowingly or in turn invokes considerations of politics,
not, affect all manners of race, religions, economics, technologies, and other
cultures, and subcultures. Indeed, in this variablesdall of which affects or is affected
regard, individuals, groups, races, and by globalization, world trade, and cultural
cultures have formed practices and habits evolution among many other concepts. The
that have dominated the food landscape for following chapters in part-one aim to explore
millennia. Undeniably, practices that have the role of food within some of these contexts;
origins in personal or shared values have, in particular, emphasis is placed on trends
for the most part, transformed food into that have generally influenced today’s food
occasions, into feasts and ceremonies, or choices as well as the drivers of change
more simply into pleasurable past times. within the food we consume. It also serves as
Furthermore, the role of food reflects very a general overviewda barometer of social
personal groups’ or individuals’ values and, constructs and paradigms that have evolved
as such, one person or culture’s food practices over the yearsdoften, but not always, from
might not sit well with another’s set of “food the perspective of three thematic areas: those
values.” From this, it can be seen that the role of food and politics; food and economics; and
of food in society varies greatly and never food and sociocultural perspectives.
more so than in today’s globalized world.
xxxi
Acknowledgments
Writing this book has been an incredible Another individual who I would like to
journey. After having been a chef for over thank is Flora for her patience and under-
20 years and after my Masters, PhD, and standing; indeed, despite her busy schedule,
10-year worth of studies, I thought I was she always made herself accessible for
especially well versed in the subject of food advice, as a mentor or simply for a chat; in
from cooking to culture. The things I never this I am truly grateful. I would lastly like to
knew and indeed the things I wish I had thank others including my students for their
known could have without doubt made me a wit and energy, my colleagues for the never-
more knowledgeable chef. And yet, the more ending banter, which is always a welcome
I research, the more I find of what there is to aside. Collectively these people have pro-
know. Of course, this has had a lot to do vided me with insight, clarification, and di-
with the pure breadth along with the many rection as well as the occasional “push.”
various disciplines within the Food and I would especially like to thank certain
Society field. In this regard I have been very close friends, colleagues, and loved ones who
lucky in working alongside some professional have also been enduringly supportive and
and enthusiastic individuals who have pro- inspirationaldHugo, Christy, Jerome, Jeffrey,
vided both encouragement and the occasional Marieta, Miguel, David G, David Wong,
epiphany. These range from the Institute’s Hans, Helen, Jamie-Leigh, Alan, Leona,
President Dr. Fanny Vong through to Connie Mikey, Dell, Paul Jones, Flora and Awan
and Florence. Wan, Paul and Vee Parsons, Florita Alves,
There are a few other people too, who Widy Astutik, Riri and of course the con-
have helped in this journey and to whom I tributors of the book who are introduced
owe a great deal of gratitude. I would also later as well as many more other people who
like to thank Pat Newsham who was have provided constant support and a little
particularly generous with his time and who nudge now and again.
has provided the illustrations for this book.
xxxiii
Other documents randomly have
different content
voice behind said in English,—“Damn it, that cussed sergeant has
plugged it up.”
From the shelter I could see a nondescript figure clad in an old,
abbreviated bath-robe, tassels hanging down in front, shoes
unlaced, rifle in hand, ruefully gazing at a new stack of sandbags,
which blocked a small exit into “No-Man’s-Land.” He might have
been a soldier but he did not look it. He might have been French,
but America was stamped all over that free-moving, powerful figure,
in his quick acting, decisive manner and set jaws, square-cut, like a
paving block.
Thus, we two Americans, who had arrived from different
directions, each animated by the same idea, sat down at the
jumping off place amid those unnatural surroundings and got
acquainted.
It was bizarre. The devilishness, the beauty, alternately, shocked
the feelings or soothed the senses. Darkness and grotesque
shadows, intermingled with colored illumination, scattering streams
of golden hail, followed by red flame and acolytes, while sharp,
white streaks of cannon fire winked, blinked, and were lost in the
never-ending din. Between the occasional roll of musketry and the
rat-rat-tat-tat of machine guns, we watched the pyrotechnic display
and talked.
Yes, he was an American, and had been ten months without a
furlough. He had been out in front sniping all the afternoon. That
cheapskate sergeant, who is always nosing around, must have
missed him and closed up the outlet.
“Yes,” he soliloquized, “the world is not fit to live in any more. The
Kaiser has mobilized God Almighty. The Crown Prince said he could
bring the Devil from hell with his brave German band. The Mexicans
broke up my business and destroyed my happy home. Here in
France, they made me take off my good clothes and don these glad
rags. This bath robe is all I have left of my ancient grandeur—and
there is not much of it, but it is all wool and a yard wide—not as
long as it used to be, but it is warm. I know it looks like hell, but it is
a sort of comfort to me, and is associated with happier days.
“Yes,” he ruminated, ”if I am not careful I won’t have enough left
to make a pocket handkerchief. Here I have taken five or six pair of
Russian socks from it, and bandaged up Pierre’s wound, and I only
have enough for four more pairs of socks after I have taken some
pieces to clean my rifle with.”
He was a man of unusual history, even for the Legion. Some
months previous, seeing an Alsatian officer strike a small man, the
American stepped up and said: “Why don’t you take a man your own
size?” For answer the officer pulled a revolver and thrust it at his
breast. Dubois, gazing down through the eyes of the officer, clear
into his heart, said: “Shoot, damn you, shoot. You dare not; you
have not got the nerve!”
He was an expert gymnast. He played the piano, accompanying
the singers at concerts, during repose. When encored, he came back
with a song in French. In conquered Alsace, he spoke German with
the natives.
On the day we made the 48-kilometer march to the summit of
Ballon d’Alsace and back, while the company was resting Dubois was
striding up and down, knapsack on back, hands in pockets. I said:
“What are you doing? Can’t you sit down and rest?”
“Oh,” he replied, “I was telling the lieutenant that instead of
poking along with these short, fiddling steps, the men should march
out like this,—like we do in America!” It is a fact that the French take
the longest strides, and are the best marchers in the world!
CHAPTER VIII
JULY 4, 1915
The night before the attack of September 25, 1915, Bouligny and I
went over to Battalion C. He picked up a piece of cheese that Morlae
had. Munching away, he demanded, “Where did you get this?”
“In Suippe.”
“I thought we were forbidden to go out.”
“We are.”
“How did you get by?”
“I told the sentry I did not speak French, showed him my old
Fourth of July pass, and walked through.”
Bouligny said: “Well, we will eat this cheese so they’ll have no
evidence against you.”
Morlae replied: “We shall need somebody to help carry the load
we have stacked up.”
“What have we got?” inquired Casey.
“Two canteens of wine instead of one.”
“Good,” said Casey.
“And 250 rounds of cartridges instead of 120,” called Nelson.
“And a steel helmet, instead of a cloth cap,” from Dowd.
“And four days’ reserve of food instead of two,” added King.
“And a new knife for the nettoyers” (moppers-up), put in Scanlon.
“And a square white patch of cloth sewed on our backs, so our
own artillerymen can recognize and not blow us up,” finished John
Laurent.
“I’d rather be here, leaning against this tree,” said Chatcoff, “than
in little old New York, backed against a telephone pole, trying to
push it into the North River.”
“Yes,” agreed Seeger, “this is the life. The only life worth living is
when you are face to face with death—midway between this world
and the next.”
For one week the Legion had marched each night fifteen
kilometers to the front, dug trenches and returned to camp in the
early morning. Again that night we went out, and daylight,
September 25, found us established in a badly demolished trench
from which we emerged at the time set for the attack, 9:15.
The four hours between daylight and the attack were passed
under a furious bombardment. Many were killed or wounded while
we waited to go over the top.
The French had, unknown to the Germans, brought up their 75
cannon and dug them down in another trench 25 yards behind us.
The din was terrific. Smoke screens and gas shells nearly blinded us.
Men were uneasy and dodged. The captain caught a fellow flopping.
“Here, you young whelp, don’t you know that noise comes from our
own guns behind?”
Pera, a Tunis Jew, tore open his first aid bandage and we filled our
ears with cotton to deaden the noise.
The attack was carried out by seven long lines of soldiers
advancing two yards apart, each line about 100 yards behind the
other.
The Colonials and Moroccans had the first line, the Legion the
second. Owing to the Germans’ concentrated fire on our trenches
and on the outlets, each man did not get out two yards from the
next. Frequently the other man was dead or wounded. But the
objective was the Ferme Navarin, and at 10:30 it was in our
possession.
A soldier’s life, while of some concern to himself, to an officer is
but a means to an end. It is offered, or given, to get results. The
best officer obtains the most results with the least loss. Some give
wrong orders and sacrifice their men. Others seem to grasp every
opening for advancement and gain the objective with very little loss.
In the first run to the outlet the slaughter was terrible. Stretcher
bearers carried a continuous stream of wounded with bloody
bandages on, silent, motionless, pale-faced, dirtily-clothed men,
whose muddy shoes extended over the edge of the stretchers.
Nearer the front line, the worse the carnage. Dead were lying so
thick soldiers walked on upturned faces grazed by hob-nailed shoes.
Side trenches were filled with wounded, waiting transportation.
Some, injured in the hand, held it up watching the blood flow;
others, hurt in the leg, were dragging that member along. Holding
onto their stomachs were those whose blood was running down over
their shoes. At one corner leaning against two corpses lay a young
soldier, smooth shaven, curly-hair, mustache trimmed, his face
settling into the soft, creamy whiteness of death, a smile on his lips.
My mind flashed over to Madam Tussaud’s wax figure exhibition in
London.
Two Moroccans stopped. One pulled off his vest and found a
blackish red bruise on his chest. His comrade said: “It is nothing,
come along.” The other fell over, dead. A Zouave, with back broken,
or something, unable to get up, eyes rolling into his head, twisted
his body in agony. The doctor, walking away, said: “No chance.
Leave him; blood poison.”
The Germans had a sure range on the outlet. Wounded men,
walking back in the trench, were jostled and knocked about by
strong, running men, forcing themselves to the front. Shells were
falling all around as we ran into “No-Man’s-Land.” Machine guns
were out on the slope, “rat-tat-tat-tat,” a continuous noise. Men lying
behind guns, rifle shooting, working, cursing, digging trenches,
throwing dirt, making holes.
At every corner stood calm, square-faced, observing officers
directing, demanding, compelling. What are such men in civil life.
Why do we never see them?
In the open I stopped and took a quick look around. The only man
I knew was Crotti, an Italian. He spoke in English: “Where is the
Legion?” The officer overheard. His face changed. He did not like
that alien tongue just then, but understood, and smiling, said: “The
Legion is there.”
They were crawling up a shallow trench, newly made in open
ground, at an angle of 45 degrees from us. We did not try to force
our way back into the trench against that crowd, so kept out on top
and joined our comrades, who laughed when they saw us running in
from where the Boche was supposed to be.
The man alongside puts on his bayonet as the order is passed
down the line to go over on command. The officers snap out: “Five
minutes, three minutes, one minute, En Avant!” The Colonials, the
Moroccans and the Legionnaires, all mixed up, arrive about the same
time. Up, and over the Boche line trench. Where is the wire? It has
been blown away by artillery. Instead of deep, open trenches, we
find them covered over! Swarming we go up on top the covered
trenches then turn and throw bombs in at the port-holes from which
the Germans are shooting. Boches run out at the entrances, climb
from the dugouts, hands in air, crying, “Kamarad.”
More grenades inside and more German prisoners. The first line
men keep going. German dead lie all about. German equipment is
piled around; we pass the wounded, meet the living enemy. A
running Zouave met a Boche, who goes down with the Zouave’s
bayonet in his chest. The Zouave puts his foot on the man, pulls out
the bayonet, and keeps on his headlong rush.
An old, grey-haired Poilu met a Boche in square combat, bayonet
to bayonet. The old man (his bayonet had broken) got inside the
other’s guard, forced him to the ground, and was choking him to
death when another Frenchman, helping his comrade, pushed the
old man aside in order to get a sure welt at the Boche. The old man,
quick as a cat, jumped up. He thought another German was after
him and recognized his comrade. The German sat up and stuck up
his hands. The Frenchmen looked foolish—it would be murder! Half
a dozen Germans just then came from a dugout. That old man took
his ride with the twisted, broken bayonet, picked up a couple of
German casques, and, lining the prisoners up, took them to the rear.
Prisoners all about. One big German officer surrendered with a
machine gun crew who carried their own gun. Unwounded prisoners
lugged their wounded comrades on their backs while others limped
along, leaning on comrades. Many had broken, bruised heads.
Prisoners bore French wounded on stretchers. The dead lay in all
directions, riddled, peppered by the 75’s, mangled with high
explosives, faces dried-blood, blackened.
Behind the first line, into the newly-made communication
trenches, noticed where dirt had been thrown to the bottom of the
trench, walking on dead Germans’ grazed faces bristling whiskers,
partially covered with loose dirt, so that their bodies were not
noticed by comrades going to the front. Continued bombardment,
more dead. Germans running, equipment strewn everywhere, black
bread, cigars, many casques, more dead, broken caissons, dead
horses, cannon deserted—their crews killed, Boche shells in lots of
three lying about in wicker baskets. Trenches full of dead, legs, arms
and heads sticking out.
We followed the Germans into a maze of gas and got my eyes and
lungs full. Then felt weak and comfortable. The Luxemburg corporal
came along and pulled me out. Dropping behind, we finally came
upon the Legion, waiting in a communication trench to flank the
Germans. A wonderful Legionnaire, with the face of a Greek god
(shot in the stomach), came hobbling along on a stick. He sat down
and renewed an acquaintance with the corporal which had been
started at Toulouse.
Over the top again. A backward glimpse showed the wounded
man hobbling behind us, back again to the front. I noticed the
Legionnaires running, chin forward, bayonet fixed, greatly bunched,
and thought the Germans could not miss hitting so many men. So,
being the last man in the company, I kept running along the outside.
The corporal was killed going over. He fell into a shell hole among a
lot of German wounded and dead. We were ordered to turn to the
right, down this trench. I, the last man, became first.
Blinded with gas, I blundered along, bayonet fixed, finger on
trigger, stumbling over dead and wounded Germans, bumping into
sharp corners of the trench, on into another gas maze, and across
the second line trench. Someone pulled my coat from behind and I
discovered that our men were going down that cross trench. So I fell
in about the middle of the company, pumped the gas from my
stomach, and by the time I was in shape again orders came that we
should hold this trench, which had gradually filled with our men.
It had rained all day. Racing through the trenches, dirt fell into the
magazines of our rifles. It makes one furiously angry when the
magazine will not work. I grabbed a rifle laying alongside a man I
thought dead. He was very much awake. He quite insisted on using
his own gun. The next man was dead. He had a new rifle. I felt
much better.
It was impossible to stay in that crowded trench. I found a large
shell hole in the open, eight feet deep, with water in the bottom.
With shovel and pick, I dug out enough on the side of the crater to
find dry ground and tried to sleep. I was awakened by officers who
wished to make me go into the trenches. I did not understand
French. Those officers insisted I did. Of course, I did not. I knew
they wanted the nice, comfortable place I had constructed for
themselves. So, paid no attention, but covered up my head and tried
to sleep. I could not. Then remembered something—I had eaten no
food for twenty-four hours. So soaked hard tack in the water at the
bottom of the shell hole, dined, and then went to sleep in spite of
the rain, the bombardment, and the homeless officers.
Next day made another attack over the top. Got into a Boche
machine gun cross-fire; orders were to dig down. Noticed a large
shell crater about 20 yards to the left, where a half dozen Poilu were
laying in comfort below the earth level and fairly safe. Was crawling
toward them on my stomach, with nose in the ground, when I felt
the earth shake (impossible to hear in the never-ending cannon
roar), looked up, and about 80 or 100 feet in the air, when they had
rested on a teeter after going up and before coming down,—I saw a
number of blue overcoats, and I looked over to the shell crater and
saw it was larger, fresher and empty. However, I crawled over there
and stayed till darkness relieved me.
Those men were in comparative safety, while I was out in the
open and exposed, yet they were killed, and I lived to tell about it.
Soldiers naturally become fatalists, and will not be called till the shell
comes along with his number on. They see a shell fall, a cloud of dirt
and dust goes up—no damage done. Another shell falls,—a man
stood there,—he goes up,—he was in the wrong place, at the wrong
time,—and out of luck. Why worry? There are too many shells, and
the one that gets you is the one you will never see. If it does not get
you right then it is time enough to worry,—if it does you won’t need
to worry.
On September 28, the Legion attacked the Bois Sabot or wooden
shoe, a wooded eminence protected by fifty yards of barbed wire
entanglements, stretched, tree to tree, behind which bristled three
rows of machine guns. About four o’clock, the Legion lined out to
attack in a long row, a yard apart. The Germans watched our
formation, their guns trained on the first wire, and waited.
Finally, the Colonel said to a Sergeant, “Here, you take this
section. Go over and wake them up.” No one was anxious. The rifles
of the Boche could be seen above their trenches. But Musgrave said,
“Let’s go over and stir them up and see what kind of a show they
put up.” The section went, 35 or 40 men. Just two, both Americans,
Musgrave and Pavelka, came back.
That attack lasted all night. Daybreak was coming. All the officers
had been killed, except a little squeaky voiced Lieutenant. He was
afraid to give the order to retreat. But, daylight in sight, he finally
said, “Gather up the wounded and go back to the trench we left.”
The dead were left in rows by hundreds, as thick as autumn leaves,
each man on his stomach, face to the foe.
Artillery was then brought up. Two days later, we again attacked.
The wire and the whole mountain top had been blown away. The
Germans we met were either dead, wounded or dazed.
CHAPTER XI
LIFE IN DEATH
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