THE TRUTH ABOUT THE -LEGION
By John Gibbons
Is we remember that he is an " outsider " and very largely in the hands of interpreters, Mr. Gibbons' picture of the Legion, The Truth About the Legion (Methuen, 5s.), is remarkable in its accuracy. He has " penetrated " with commendable perspicacity. He has " seen " for himself, and with no mincing of words he has dispelled the common illusions about the Foreign Legion. He has dealt very effectively with the stories of " brutality." He has told the truth, too, about the excellence of the food and the opportunities for a military career in the Legion. Mr. Gibbons not only means what he says but says what he means, and where necessary he hits hard at what needs hitting. He says plainly that the records of Englishmen in the Legion are not a credit to their nation. Great Britain claims the highest percentage of deserters and would-be deserters. ". In one year," he writes, " out of thirty. English enlistments, twenty-two either ran away or tried to." Never before has Great Britain been advertised as breeding cowards. There are only two criticisms to be levelled against Mr. Gibbons' admirable book. One is a very faint atmosphere of lugubriousness. He hardly ever mentions a legionary laughing. The second is that the book would be the better for an index and for slightly more care in preparation. For example, the Legion Depot at Toul is invariably said to be at Toulon, and the recruit training-centre at • Alnaiger " is presumably intended to refer to Ain-el-Hadja. Also, ii Mr. Gibbons strictly accurate in stating that General Relict rose from the ranks ? But these are minor details. Those who want the Truth about the Legion cannot do better than to read and to re-read Mr. Gibbons' book.
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