Personal Letters from a Civilian in the Midst of the Beginning of World War I: Propaganda or a Realistic Representation of Events
by
Sasha
MIlDRED ALDRICH 𑁋 WHO IS SHE?
Mildred Aldrich, the author of the letters in the memoir A Hilltop on the Marne, was born 1853 in Providence, Rhode Island, then raised in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from high school in 1872, Aldrich started teaching elementary school in Boston, eventually pursuing a career in journalism. During this career, she worked for the Boston Home Journal, Boston Journal, and the Boston Herald, as well as establishing her own magazine in January 1892, called The Mahogany Tree, which contained a variety of content ranging from poems and fiction stories to editorials and book reviews. She continued to work and edit for the magazine, which lasted for about year until it failed in December of 1892. In 1898 she moved to France where she worked as a foreign correspondent and worked in the field of theater, translating plays to English and negotiating rights for plays of French playwrights for production in America.[1] Mildred Aldrich retired to the french countryside in 1914 at the age of 61 to Huiry overlooking the Marne valley, which is located around 30 miles away from Paris[2]. Aldrich ended up in Huiry coincidentally after her friend had come across a rundown house located at the small commune, though she was close to purchasing an affordable home near Poigny, located about two hours away from Paris, although it was to her taste.
Political views
Mildred Aldrich does not explicitly state her political views or what party she leans towards, as she believes that politics do not do any good for the modern world: “Day after day one reads things in the sheets that call themselves newspapers and knows that the truth is not there, and while politics – the curse of the modern world – are messing things up, one wishes one had the courage not to read the papers. It used to seem sometimes that it was wicked to find it all so interesting…”[3]
Her letters also put forward a pacifistic mindset when she expresses her thoughts on war and modern society.
HER EXPERIENCES OF THE WAR - OVERVIEW OF HER LETTERS
In her letters she tries to capture the military, societal and political impact of the war, treating her letters almost like a diary. Mildred talks about all types of subject ranging from the French countryside and its people to military topics and her views of politics and war. As the war progressed, Mildred’s letters got longer and longer since communication had been cut and opportunities to send letters had greatly diminished.
Before the war: Letters 1 - 3 (June 3rd - 20th)
Mildred Aldrich starts her letters before the outbreak of the World War I, in which she describes her new home and its surroundings. Aldrich responds to her friend, who continually questions her decision of moving to the French countryside and urges her to move back to Paris or home to America. In response, Aldrich explains her relationship with her homeland: “But it is the land of the young, the energetic, and the ambitious, the ideal home of the very rich and the laboring classes. I am none of those 𑁋 hence here I stay.” [4]
In the Wakes of the War: Letters 3-6 (June 20th - August 2nd)
In the later half of letter 3, Aldrich starts to become more political as she starts to discuss her opinions on the conflict in the Balkans and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. She received the news of the assassination and proceeded to criticize the late Franz Ferdinand and his political career, saying that: “If a man will be a crown prince he must take the consequences.” [5]whilst showing sympathy towards his family, especially for the Franz, for whom she feels rather sympathetic towards. “What an unlucky family that has been! Franz Josef must be a tough old gentleman to have stood up against so many shocks.”[6] Aldrich goes on to explain that she believes Austria would not grieve over his death, for he was highly unpopular for many reasons. The first being that he was in a morganatic marriage, his wife being of lower rank than he was which made her ineligible to be crowned as well as meaning that his children would not be able to inherit anything of the Royal Family. Mildred continued to describe him as a “seat warmer” or a placeholder on the throne until someone more eligible and better suited for the throne will come into power.
In letter five she resumes her political discussion, this time focusing on the conflict in the Balkans and assessing the overall political climate in Europe.
“It looks, after all, as if the Servian affair was to become a European affair, and that, what looked as if it might have happened during the Balkan War is really coming to pass 𑁋 a general European uprising.”[7] In this quote she is observing that the conflict between Austria and Serbia is sparking and attracting the attention of the entire European continent which she had not observed since the Balkan Wars (October 8, 1912 – July 18, 1913), although this time she worries continental conflict could arise. Aldrich also makes her observations of Germany’s behaviour and suspicious actions. She realises that Germany is not fooling around, spending a large sum of money on a dreadnaught just to keep England busy, nor mobilizing her army just for amusement, as the media has been pushing forth to her, saying that “the alarmist were right” and that Germany was indeed preparing to fight in this “European uprising”. Mildred anticipates England’s response, for she realises that all the allied countries will follow her actions. If the war will proceed, Aldrich realises that it will be a war unlike any other, stating that: “It will be the bloodiest affair the world has ever seen 𑁋 a war in the air, a war under sea as well as on it, and carried out with the most effective man-slaughtering machines ever used in battle.” [8]
Despite Aldrich being anti-war and military action, she believes that France deserves her revenge for the taking of Alsace and Lorraine, and for the humiliation she suffered during the war in 1870 and the Treaty of Frankfurt. She acknowledges that the experiences France went through in 1870 had shaped the country to be what it is at the time, but now that Germany is preparing for war, France can have her vengeance.
In letter six, Huiry’s communication had been cut off by the War Bureau. Aldrich is realising that as much as she had hoped the war would not have come, it did, when she saw the garde champêtre (the equivalent of Policemen in Huiry) announce mobilization orders for the army and navy.
Aldrich believes that Germany could have prevented the war from happening and used the great influence her great over Austria to stop Austria from declaring war on Serbia. Instead, Germany chose not to because this war would benefit her, and was for her best interest. With the war looming over the horizon, Mildred is aware that France is not in shape to go to war, stating that: “All the world knows that her fortified towns are mostly fortified on the map,”[9]
Well 𑁋 war is declared: Letters 7- 14 (August 3 - September 6th, 1914)
In these letters the war has already been initiated, but she does not experience firsthand battle. During this time period she observes preparations for war and the effects on the French citizens from the sidelines.
As war has been already declared, she begins to witness more aspects of the military and see the modern military technology at the time. On the same day of the declaration of war, Mildred already had seen multiple aeroplanes fly over her home. Aldrich states her astonishment towards these machines and their evolution to become such influential weapons of war, making it nearly impossible for ground forces to make big maneuvers without being discovered. “It is awe-compelling to remember how these cars in the air change military tactics.” [10]
A friend of Mildred’s from Voulangis (4 miles away from Huiry) and suggested to her to that she should pack her belongings and leave Huiry with her back to Voulangis where it was possibly safer than to stay on the Marne, but Aldrich declined the offer.
Mildred reflects on her feelings on the war, describing the political climate and how the people and common citizen of France has reacted to the news.
“It has been so thrilling that I find myself forgetting that it is tragic. Here is a nation 𑁋 which two weeks ago was torn by political dissension 𑁋 suddenly united, and with a spirit I have never seen before.”[11] In this quote, Mildred is expressing her mixed emotions on the matter of war, because on one hand, the rising up and coming together of a nation that was previously divided by class is an extraordinary experience, but on the other hand this unity is due to the imposing threats of a disastrous war. She then continues to compare her experiences of the Civil War as a child in Boston. She explained that the main difference is that in France there were no parades, no loud wartime music and large crowds of spectators, instead, Mildred described it as: “It is a rising up of a Nation as one man 𑁋 all classes shoulder to shoulder, with but one idea 𑁋 “Lift up your hearts, and long live France.”[12]
It is in this letter Mildred also talks about the first sighting of Germans in Demi-Lune (located between Couilly and Meaux), who came disguised as Sisters of Charity. While on the topic of Germans, Mildred addresses the societal shift in the opinion and treatment of German citizens and residents in France. She recounts instances of deportation, destruction and vandalism of property. On multiple occasion she describes what the First World War means to the French people and their attitude, bringing her maids family up as an example 𑁋how her son, despite being shy and timid, he accepted the war for what it is and did not cower away from it. This made her realise that this war is the rise of a nation for its freedom and self defense, men of all class, age and temperament coming together to ensure the safety of the country and her people.
Aldrich addresses the changes that have happened in her commune and how the war has drastically upset the work balance. Despite there only being 200 men who were drafted or joining voluntarily, it had drastically affected the balance of life in the commune. A lot of business and farmwork that had previously been the responsibility of these men has shifted over the women and elderly, who may not have been as capable. Mildred thought that this was remarkable, the coming together of a community, helping one another to keep everything running smoothly and to fill in the void of the men who had left to fight in the war.
On August 19th, Mildred decided to travel to Paris where she observes for the first time the frantic preparation and the citizens of Paris. The reason France is underprepared compared to Germany is because French taxpayers were against spending collected money on military and war preparedness as opposed to Germany which has been spending large sums of money preparing and improving their military for years. Mildred observed that the guards and soldiers do not have proper uniform and some had not yet been issued their uniform and gear. As she made it into Paris she observed that the atmosphere was calm and despite news of German advances, the citizens of Paris are not disheartened or defeated. Mildred also noticed the same changes as were experienced in Huiry 𑁋 most jobs and professions that were previously occupied by men have been vacated and it will take some time to train the women to be able to take over these jobs and restore the city to order. During the next half of the letter, Mildred starts to become more philosophical and discuss her feelings of the war. “ But it is the horror of such a war in our times that bears so heavily on my soul. After all “civilization” is a word we have invented, and its meaning is hardly more relative, just as is the word “religion.” ”[13] She continues to reflect upon modern societies and governments, and how despite how much we have progressed we still can find no better way to settle conflict than with “wholesale slaughter” with weapons of mass destruction that no civilized government should have ever implemented and issued to the military. Aldrich states that as a society we should have already learned that setting the death penalty as the punishment for murder has not worked as a preventative measure for murder and that the same logic applies to what is happening in Europe now 𑁋 that despite war being horrible, this idea does not prevent it from happening. But she is conflicted, for she understands that prolonged peace makes a nation and weak and that even without war there is still death in this world.
Due to the massive amount of refugees and wounded being rushed through the commune and the disarmament of Huiry that was called by the garde champêtre, Aldrich concluded that the Germans are closer than she had been previously informed. Despite the imposing threat of the Germans, Aldrich chose to stay in the commune and not evacuate like everyone else was. On the second of September, Aldrich chose to travel to Paris to ensure that she would have enough money to be able to survive if it came to the point that she truly had to evacuate. Arriving in Paris, she noted that it seemed more “normal” than she had observed it when she previously visited two weeks before, the people still calm as before, completely ignorant towards the fact that the Germans were only 10 miles away.
On September 3, the environment and atmosphere in the commune had changed 𑁋 the army was preparing to blow up bridges and the English forces were cutting telegraph wires, for they anticipated there would be sightings of German forces soon. Despite the fact that Germans were closer than ever, Mildred was persistent about her decision to stay after proposals from neighbours and friends to evacuate with them. . Shortly the English division had blown up yet another bridge she encountered another English officer. Following this encounter she hosted soldiers in her house, feeding and letting them rest. But what was important about her hospitality is that she gave the soldiers the chance to talk to someone of the same tongue after being taken away from home so suddenly. Before leaving, the captain left his address with Mildred so that she could inform him of her safety, and thanked her, saying: “You have given them [soldiers] the only happy day they have had since they left home.”[14]
Capt. T. E Simpson,
King’s Own Yorkshire L. I.
13th Infantry Brigade,
15th Division,
British Expeditionary Force.
A day after Captain Simpson had left with orders to move east, more English troops came over the Marne, this time led by Captain Edwards and Major Ellison. If soldiers were not in need of food, she offered hygiene products, a place to wash and someone to talk to. “𑁋 we were like old friends. I did not know any of them by name, but I did know who was married, who had children; and how one man’s first child had been born since he left England, and no news from home because they had seen their mail wagon burn on the battlefield; and how one of them was only twenty, and had been six years in the army, 𑁋 lied when he enlisted; how none of them had ever seen war before; how they had always wanted to, and “Now”, said the twenty-years older, “I’ve seen it𑁋 good Lord 𑁋 and all I want is to get home.” ”[15] The English officers and soldiers had become rather comfortable around Mildred and frequently discussed the war and their activity in the surrounding areas, giving her information that other French citizens did not have access, though still maintaining a level of secrecy. In return, Aldrich helped them with locating Uhlans, German cavalry that was hidden in the woods near Huiry.
At this time Mildred experiences face to face contact with German soldiers, who asked her for their current location and whether or not the bridges in the surrounding area had yet been destroyed, to which she had answered with a white lie as to not give the enemy information that could be of benefit. On September 5, the battle had reached to the top of the hill visible on the horizon from her garden. This had been the first time Mildred had seen real battle and it was nothing like what she had envisioned. Instead of uniform lines of marching soldiers and cavalry, all she could see was smoke and the noise from the battle.
The Germans have retreated. Letters 15 - 18 (September 7 and 8th, 1914)
After the battle had quieted down, Mildred reflected on all that has happened to her over the past couple of months. She was in disbelief of how lucky she was to have the battle come so close to her and then to turn around and move away, leaving her and her belongings untouched, but for her safety, men pad with their lives. Fresh French troops were brought to the commune, giving Aldrich the opportunity to not only converse with the common English soldier, but also the French. She noticed that the English soldiers never talked about battle, but instead chose to talk about their families they left behind, about the scenery and people of France, and so on, while the French troops talked about their experiences of battle. Her conversation with a soldier in the ambulance corps gave her insight on how the war affected men as the soldier vividly described battle. While the French troops made preparations to advance after they had finally driven out the Uhlans away from the commune, the Chef-Major came to say his goodbyes and allowed her to send a letter to Captain Simpson despite the great censorship in France at the time. Sbe was able to do this because through her hospitality, she gained friendships and acquaintances who were willing to do small favors and requests for her as an act of reciprocity for her kindness. She ends her final letter with a little address to her friend: “But at least it [the letter] is ready, and I shall take the first opportunity I get to cable it to you, as I am afraid before this you have worried, unless your geography is faulty, and the American papers as reticent as ours.”[16]
PROPAGANDA OF WWI
During the First World War both the Allies and Central Powers invested money and resources into propaganda, not only to instill a nationalistic spirit in the population of the native country, but to influence international opinion and neutral countries to join on their side for the war effort. Different types of propaganda included: Literature and written word 𑁋 newspapers, leaflets, books and short stories; visuals𑁋 films, posters, illustrations and cartoons; and verbal 𑁋 Radio programs, speeches, and so on. A variety of styles and devices were used to get the message across to the public.[17]
A Hilltop on The Marne could definitely be classified as propaganda, though Mildred Aldrich may not have intended it to be. Mildred put forward an honest opinion of both sides of the war, although she was biased to the Allies on occasion, which is understandable as she resides in France and sympathises with the French. Since she had the opportunity to converse with such a large amount of people from both the French and the British armies with first hand experience, she was able to put forth a for the most part honest account of her experiences and those of the people around her. She acknowledged the weaknesses and shortcomings of France and its government as well as the strengths of the Germans. Even though she does not explicitly state her political opinions and orientation, it can be concluded from her letters that she does not agree with the idea of war to resolve disputes and criticizes governments for their lack of civility to participate in such wars and to implement weapons of mass destruction, though she does understand that it is inevitable and that everlasting peace also has its downsides.
A HILLTOP ON THE MARNE - A LEGACY
After her first book was published and sold well in the United States, Mildred Aldrich went on to publish three more books on her experiences of the war. On the Edge of the War Zone, published in 1917, The Peak of the Load, published in 1918, in which she recounted her experiences between April of 1917 to July of 1918 and how the United States joining the war effort had relieved the struggle France had been experiencing during those crucial months.[18] The last book she published in 1919, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, which was about her observations shortly after the war had ended. In 1922, Mildred Aldrich was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the highest accolade that can be given in France that was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. She was awarded this because the French government believed that it was her work that had influenced America to join on the side of the allies in 1917. Mildred Aldrich died of a heart attack on February 19, 1928 at the age of 75. [19]
Despite her books allegedly influencing the United States to join on the side of the allies, Mildred’s books did not stay popular for long and are only printed by publishers who, alongside popular classics, produce obscure books that had been previously out of print. Her books can also rarely be found as e-books and on online databases for literature of all topics.
Sources
Footnotes
[1] “Aldrich, Mildred, 1853-1928. Autobiography of Mildred Aldrich, 1926: A Finding Aid”, Harvard University Library, http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00001 (accessed December 31, 2017)
[2] Mildred Aldrich, A Hilltop on the Marne (Atlantic Monthly Company, 1915)
[3] “Mildred: American WWI front-line witness”, The History Press, https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/mildred-american-wwi-front-line-witness/ (Accessed January 13, 2018)
[4] Ibid., 29
[5] Ibid., 38
[6] Ibid., 37
[7] Ibid., 45
[8] Ibid., 46
[9] Ibid., 51
[10] Ibid., 53
[11] Ibid., 58
[12] Ibid., 59
[13] Ibid., 79
[14] Ibid., 116
[15] Ibid., 121
[16] Ibid., 186
[17] Propaganda for Patriotism and Nationalism, British Library, January 29, 2014, https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism, (accessed January 14, 2018)
[18]The Peak of the Load, The Spectator Archive, http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/26th-july-1919/21/the-peak-of-the-load-by-mildred-aldrich-constable- (accessed January 14, 2018)
[19] Mildred Aldrich, Spartacus Educational, http://spartacus-educational.com/Waldrich.htm, (accessed January 14, 2018)
Mildred Aldrich, the author of the letters in the memoir A Hilltop on the Marne, was born 1853 in Providence, Rhode Island, then raised in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from high school in 1872, Aldrich started teaching elementary school in Boston, eventually pursuing a career in journalism. During this career, she worked for the Boston Home Journal, Boston Journal, and the Boston Herald, as well as establishing her own magazine in January 1892, called The Mahogany Tree, which contained a variety of content ranging from poems and fiction stories to editorials and book reviews. She continued to work and edit for the magazine, which lasted for about year until it failed in December of 1892. In 1898 she moved to France where she worked as a foreign correspondent and worked in the field of theater, translating plays to English and negotiating rights for plays of French playwrights for production in America.[1] Mildred Aldrich retired to the french countryside in 1914 at the age of 61 to Huiry overlooking the Marne valley, which is located around 30 miles away from Paris[2]. Aldrich ended up in Huiry coincidentally after her friend had come across a rundown house located at the small commune, though she was close to purchasing an affordable home near Poigny, located about two hours away from Paris, although it was to her taste.
Political views
Mildred Aldrich does not explicitly state her political views or what party she leans towards, as she believes that politics do not do any good for the modern world: “Day after day one reads things in the sheets that call themselves newspapers and knows that the truth is not there, and while politics – the curse of the modern world – are messing things up, one wishes one had the courage not to read the papers. It used to seem sometimes that it was wicked to find it all so interesting…”[3]
Her letters also put forward a pacifistic mindset when she expresses her thoughts on war and modern society.
HER EXPERIENCES OF THE WAR - OVERVIEW OF HER LETTERS
In her letters she tries to capture the military, societal and political impact of the war, treating her letters almost like a diary. Mildred talks about all types of subject ranging from the French countryside and its people to military topics and her views of politics and war. As the war progressed, Mildred’s letters got longer and longer since communication had been cut and opportunities to send letters had greatly diminished.
Before the war: Letters 1 - 3 (June 3rd - 20th)
Mildred Aldrich starts her letters before the outbreak of the World War I, in which she describes her new home and its surroundings. Aldrich responds to her friend, who continually questions her decision of moving to the French countryside and urges her to move back to Paris or home to America. In response, Aldrich explains her relationship with her homeland: “But it is the land of the young, the energetic, and the ambitious, the ideal home of the very rich and the laboring classes. I am none of those 𑁋 hence here I stay.” [4]
In the Wakes of the War: Letters 3-6 (June 20th - August 2nd)
In the later half of letter 3, Aldrich starts to become more political as she starts to discuss her opinions on the conflict in the Balkans and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. She received the news of the assassination and proceeded to criticize the late Franz Ferdinand and his political career, saying that: “If a man will be a crown prince he must take the consequences.” [5]whilst showing sympathy towards his family, especially for the Franz, for whom she feels rather sympathetic towards. “What an unlucky family that has been! Franz Josef must be a tough old gentleman to have stood up against so many shocks.”[6] Aldrich goes on to explain that she believes Austria would not grieve over his death, for he was highly unpopular for many reasons. The first being that he was in a morganatic marriage, his wife being of lower rank than he was which made her ineligible to be crowned as well as meaning that his children would not be able to inherit anything of the Royal Family. Mildred continued to describe him as a “seat warmer” or a placeholder on the throne until someone more eligible and better suited for the throne will come into power.
In letter five she resumes her political discussion, this time focusing on the conflict in the Balkans and assessing the overall political climate in Europe.
“It looks, after all, as if the Servian affair was to become a European affair, and that, what looked as if it might have happened during the Balkan War is really coming to pass 𑁋 a general European uprising.”[7] In this quote she is observing that the conflict between Austria and Serbia is sparking and attracting the attention of the entire European continent which she had not observed since the Balkan Wars (October 8, 1912 – July 18, 1913), although this time she worries continental conflict could arise. Aldrich also makes her observations of Germany’s behaviour and suspicious actions. She realises that Germany is not fooling around, spending a large sum of money on a dreadnaught just to keep England busy, nor mobilizing her army just for amusement, as the media has been pushing forth to her, saying that “the alarmist were right” and that Germany was indeed preparing to fight in this “European uprising”. Mildred anticipates England’s response, for she realises that all the allied countries will follow her actions. If the war will proceed, Aldrich realises that it will be a war unlike any other, stating that: “It will be the bloodiest affair the world has ever seen 𑁋 a war in the air, a war under sea as well as on it, and carried out with the most effective man-slaughtering machines ever used in battle.” [8]
Despite Aldrich being anti-war and military action, she believes that France deserves her revenge for the taking of Alsace and Lorraine, and for the humiliation she suffered during the war in 1870 and the Treaty of Frankfurt. She acknowledges that the experiences France went through in 1870 had shaped the country to be what it is at the time, but now that Germany is preparing for war, France can have her vengeance.
In letter six, Huiry’s communication had been cut off by the War Bureau. Aldrich is realising that as much as she had hoped the war would not have come, it did, when she saw the garde champêtre (the equivalent of Policemen in Huiry) announce mobilization orders for the army and navy.
Aldrich believes that Germany could have prevented the war from happening and used the great influence her great over Austria to stop Austria from declaring war on Serbia. Instead, Germany chose not to because this war would benefit her, and was for her best interest. With the war looming over the horizon, Mildred is aware that France is not in shape to go to war, stating that: “All the world knows that her fortified towns are mostly fortified on the map,”[9]
Well 𑁋 war is declared: Letters 7- 14 (August 3 - September 6th, 1914)
In these letters the war has already been initiated, but she does not experience firsthand battle. During this time period she observes preparations for war and the effects on the French citizens from the sidelines.
As war has been already declared, she begins to witness more aspects of the military and see the modern military technology at the time. On the same day of the declaration of war, Mildred already had seen multiple aeroplanes fly over her home. Aldrich states her astonishment towards these machines and their evolution to become such influential weapons of war, making it nearly impossible for ground forces to make big maneuvers without being discovered. “It is awe-compelling to remember how these cars in the air change military tactics.” [10]
A friend of Mildred’s from Voulangis (4 miles away from Huiry) and suggested to her to that she should pack her belongings and leave Huiry with her back to Voulangis where it was possibly safer than to stay on the Marne, but Aldrich declined the offer.
Mildred reflects on her feelings on the war, describing the political climate and how the people and common citizen of France has reacted to the news.
“It has been so thrilling that I find myself forgetting that it is tragic. Here is a nation 𑁋 which two weeks ago was torn by political dissension 𑁋 suddenly united, and with a spirit I have never seen before.”[11] In this quote, Mildred is expressing her mixed emotions on the matter of war, because on one hand, the rising up and coming together of a nation that was previously divided by class is an extraordinary experience, but on the other hand this unity is due to the imposing threats of a disastrous war. She then continues to compare her experiences of the Civil War as a child in Boston. She explained that the main difference is that in France there were no parades, no loud wartime music and large crowds of spectators, instead, Mildred described it as: “It is a rising up of a Nation as one man 𑁋 all classes shoulder to shoulder, with but one idea 𑁋 “Lift up your hearts, and long live France.”[12]
It is in this letter Mildred also talks about the first sighting of Germans in Demi-Lune (located between Couilly and Meaux), who came disguised as Sisters of Charity. While on the topic of Germans, Mildred addresses the societal shift in the opinion and treatment of German citizens and residents in France. She recounts instances of deportation, destruction and vandalism of property. On multiple occasion she describes what the First World War means to the French people and their attitude, bringing her maids family up as an example 𑁋how her son, despite being shy and timid, he accepted the war for what it is and did not cower away from it. This made her realise that this war is the rise of a nation for its freedom and self defense, men of all class, age and temperament coming together to ensure the safety of the country and her people.
Aldrich addresses the changes that have happened in her commune and how the war has drastically upset the work balance. Despite there only being 200 men who were drafted or joining voluntarily, it had drastically affected the balance of life in the commune. A lot of business and farmwork that had previously been the responsibility of these men has shifted over the women and elderly, who may not have been as capable. Mildred thought that this was remarkable, the coming together of a community, helping one another to keep everything running smoothly and to fill in the void of the men who had left to fight in the war.
On August 19th, Mildred decided to travel to Paris where she observes for the first time the frantic preparation and the citizens of Paris. The reason France is underprepared compared to Germany is because French taxpayers were against spending collected money on military and war preparedness as opposed to Germany which has been spending large sums of money preparing and improving their military for years. Mildred observed that the guards and soldiers do not have proper uniform and some had not yet been issued their uniform and gear. As she made it into Paris she observed that the atmosphere was calm and despite news of German advances, the citizens of Paris are not disheartened or defeated. Mildred also noticed the same changes as were experienced in Huiry 𑁋 most jobs and professions that were previously occupied by men have been vacated and it will take some time to train the women to be able to take over these jobs and restore the city to order. During the next half of the letter, Mildred starts to become more philosophical and discuss her feelings of the war. “ But it is the horror of such a war in our times that bears so heavily on my soul. After all “civilization” is a word we have invented, and its meaning is hardly more relative, just as is the word “religion.” ”[13] She continues to reflect upon modern societies and governments, and how despite how much we have progressed we still can find no better way to settle conflict than with “wholesale slaughter” with weapons of mass destruction that no civilized government should have ever implemented and issued to the military. Aldrich states that as a society we should have already learned that setting the death penalty as the punishment for murder has not worked as a preventative measure for murder and that the same logic applies to what is happening in Europe now 𑁋 that despite war being horrible, this idea does not prevent it from happening. But she is conflicted, for she understands that prolonged peace makes a nation and weak and that even without war there is still death in this world.
Due to the massive amount of refugees and wounded being rushed through the commune and the disarmament of Huiry that was called by the garde champêtre, Aldrich concluded that the Germans are closer than she had been previously informed. Despite the imposing threat of the Germans, Aldrich chose to stay in the commune and not evacuate like everyone else was. On the second of September, Aldrich chose to travel to Paris to ensure that she would have enough money to be able to survive if it came to the point that she truly had to evacuate. Arriving in Paris, she noted that it seemed more “normal” than she had observed it when she previously visited two weeks before, the people still calm as before, completely ignorant towards the fact that the Germans were only 10 miles away.
On September 3, the environment and atmosphere in the commune had changed 𑁋 the army was preparing to blow up bridges and the English forces were cutting telegraph wires, for they anticipated there would be sightings of German forces soon. Despite the fact that Germans were closer than ever, Mildred was persistent about her decision to stay after proposals from neighbours and friends to evacuate with them. . Shortly the English division had blown up yet another bridge she encountered another English officer. Following this encounter she hosted soldiers in her house, feeding and letting them rest. But what was important about her hospitality is that she gave the soldiers the chance to talk to someone of the same tongue after being taken away from home so suddenly. Before leaving, the captain left his address with Mildred so that she could inform him of her safety, and thanked her, saying: “You have given them [soldiers] the only happy day they have had since they left home.”[14]
Capt. T. E Simpson,
King’s Own Yorkshire L. I.
13th Infantry Brigade,
15th Division,
British Expeditionary Force.
A day after Captain Simpson had left with orders to move east, more English troops came over the Marne, this time led by Captain Edwards and Major Ellison. If soldiers were not in need of food, she offered hygiene products, a place to wash and someone to talk to. “𑁋 we were like old friends. I did not know any of them by name, but I did know who was married, who had children; and how one man’s first child had been born since he left England, and no news from home because they had seen their mail wagon burn on the battlefield; and how one of them was only twenty, and had been six years in the army, 𑁋 lied when he enlisted; how none of them had ever seen war before; how they had always wanted to, and “Now”, said the twenty-years older, “I’ve seen it𑁋 good Lord 𑁋 and all I want is to get home.” ”[15] The English officers and soldiers had become rather comfortable around Mildred and frequently discussed the war and their activity in the surrounding areas, giving her information that other French citizens did not have access, though still maintaining a level of secrecy. In return, Aldrich helped them with locating Uhlans, German cavalry that was hidden in the woods near Huiry.
At this time Mildred experiences face to face contact with German soldiers, who asked her for their current location and whether or not the bridges in the surrounding area had yet been destroyed, to which she had answered with a white lie as to not give the enemy information that could be of benefit. On September 5, the battle had reached to the top of the hill visible on the horizon from her garden. This had been the first time Mildred had seen real battle and it was nothing like what she had envisioned. Instead of uniform lines of marching soldiers and cavalry, all she could see was smoke and the noise from the battle.
The Germans have retreated. Letters 15 - 18 (September 7 and 8th, 1914)
After the battle had quieted down, Mildred reflected on all that has happened to her over the past couple of months. She was in disbelief of how lucky she was to have the battle come so close to her and then to turn around and move away, leaving her and her belongings untouched, but for her safety, men pad with their lives. Fresh French troops were brought to the commune, giving Aldrich the opportunity to not only converse with the common English soldier, but also the French. She noticed that the English soldiers never talked about battle, but instead chose to talk about their families they left behind, about the scenery and people of France, and so on, while the French troops talked about their experiences of battle. Her conversation with a soldier in the ambulance corps gave her insight on how the war affected men as the soldier vividly described battle. While the French troops made preparations to advance after they had finally driven out the Uhlans away from the commune, the Chef-Major came to say his goodbyes and allowed her to send a letter to Captain Simpson despite the great censorship in France at the time. Sbe was able to do this because through her hospitality, she gained friendships and acquaintances who were willing to do small favors and requests for her as an act of reciprocity for her kindness. She ends her final letter with a little address to her friend: “But at least it [the letter] is ready, and I shall take the first opportunity I get to cable it to you, as I am afraid before this you have worried, unless your geography is faulty, and the American papers as reticent as ours.”[16]
PROPAGANDA OF WWI
During the First World War both the Allies and Central Powers invested money and resources into propaganda, not only to instill a nationalistic spirit in the population of the native country, but to influence international opinion and neutral countries to join on their side for the war effort. Different types of propaganda included: Literature and written word 𑁋 newspapers, leaflets, books and short stories; visuals𑁋 films, posters, illustrations and cartoons; and verbal 𑁋 Radio programs, speeches, and so on. A variety of styles and devices were used to get the message across to the public.[17]
A Hilltop on The Marne could definitely be classified as propaganda, though Mildred Aldrich may not have intended it to be. Mildred put forward an honest opinion of both sides of the war, although she was biased to the Allies on occasion, which is understandable as she resides in France and sympathises with the French. Since she had the opportunity to converse with such a large amount of people from both the French and the British armies with first hand experience, she was able to put forth a for the most part honest account of her experiences and those of the people around her. She acknowledged the weaknesses and shortcomings of France and its government as well as the strengths of the Germans. Even though she does not explicitly state her political opinions and orientation, it can be concluded from her letters that she does not agree with the idea of war to resolve disputes and criticizes governments for their lack of civility to participate in such wars and to implement weapons of mass destruction, though she does understand that it is inevitable and that everlasting peace also has its downsides.
A HILLTOP ON THE MARNE - A LEGACY
After her first book was published and sold well in the United States, Mildred Aldrich went on to publish three more books on her experiences of the war. On the Edge of the War Zone, published in 1917, The Peak of the Load, published in 1918, in which she recounted her experiences between April of 1917 to July of 1918 and how the United States joining the war effort had relieved the struggle France had been experiencing during those crucial months.[18] The last book she published in 1919, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, which was about her observations shortly after the war had ended. In 1922, Mildred Aldrich was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the highest accolade that can be given in France that was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. She was awarded this because the French government believed that it was her work that had influenced America to join on the side of the allies in 1917. Mildred Aldrich died of a heart attack on February 19, 1928 at the age of 75. [19]
Despite her books allegedly influencing the United States to join on the side of the allies, Mildred’s books did not stay popular for long and are only printed by publishers who, alongside popular classics, produce obscure books that had been previously out of print. Her books can also rarely be found as e-books and on online databases for literature of all topics.
Sources
- “Aldrich, Mildred, 1853-1928. Autobiography of Mildred Aldrich, 1926: A Finding Aid”, Harvard University Library, http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00001 (accessed December 31, 2017)
- “A Part of the Panorama from the Lawn .” A Hilltop on the Marne, Atlantic Monthly Company, 1915.
- Legion D’Honneur, Spartacus Educational, http://spartacus-educational.com/MEDlegion.htm (accesseed January 14, 2018)
- “Map of Huiry and the Surrounding Area.” A Hilltop on the Marne, 10th ed., Atlantic Monthly Company, 1915.
- Mildred Aldrich, Spartacus Educational, http://spartacus-educational.com/Waldrich.htm, (accessed January 14, 2018)
- “Mildred: American WWI front-line witness”, The History Press, https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/mildred-american-wwi-front-line-witness/ (Accessed January 13, 2018)
- The Peak of the Load, The Spectator Archive, http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/26th-july-1919/21/the-peak-of-the-load-by-mildred-aldrich-constable- (accessed January 14, 2018)
Footnotes
[1] “Aldrich, Mildred, 1853-1928. Autobiography of Mildred Aldrich, 1926: A Finding Aid”, Harvard University Library, http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00001 (accessed December 31, 2017)
[2] Mildred Aldrich, A Hilltop on the Marne (Atlantic Monthly Company, 1915)
[3] “Mildred: American WWI front-line witness”, The History Press, https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/mildred-american-wwi-front-line-witness/ (Accessed January 13, 2018)
[4] Ibid., 29
[5] Ibid., 38
[6] Ibid., 37
[7] Ibid., 45
[8] Ibid., 46
[9] Ibid., 51
[10] Ibid., 53
[11] Ibid., 58
[12] Ibid., 59
[13] Ibid., 79
[14] Ibid., 116
[15] Ibid., 121
[16] Ibid., 186
[17] Propaganda for Patriotism and Nationalism, British Library, January 29, 2014, https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/patriotism-and-nationalism, (accessed January 14, 2018)
[18]The Peak of the Load, The Spectator Archive, http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/26th-july-1919/21/the-peak-of-the-load-by-mildred-aldrich-constable- (accessed January 14, 2018)
[19] Mildred Aldrich, Spartacus Educational, http://spartacus-educational.com/Waldrich.htm, (accessed January 14, 2018)