GAULLE Charles de. 4 L. A. S., 17, 18, 20 and 22 November 1914 to his mother Jeanne de Gaulle in Paris; 4 pages in-8 with envelope, 1 page in-12 with address on reverse (Carte postale militaire, Troupes en campagne), 4 pages in-8 with envelope, 1 page in-12 with address on reverse (carte de Correspondance militaire); in ink-pencil. Four letters from the trenches. 17 November. "All these days the weather is very bad. It often pours and in our trenches it is very difficult to have dry feet. We are hoping for a frost that will allow us to walk on firm ground, because, covered as we are, we are not afraid of the cold. The enemy was very quiet in front of us, except for a few bursts of cannon fire every hour. He gave the impression that above all he wanted us to leave him alone. But we disturb him as best we can. According to the information we have, the furious attacks he has been leading for the last fortnight on each support point from Nieuport to Arras have regularly failed, and in such conditions that each of our counter-attacks has taken prisoners. Finally, the superiority of our artillery is now ours thanks to the recent entry into line of our brand new heavy guns, and this is enough to render futile his desperate efforts to obtain a decisive success here in November in order to begin a new campaign against the Russians. Moreover, the Russians could not take a real offensive until December, when the frosts allowed their guns and vehicles to cross Poland and East Prussia without getting bogged down. Once they had entered the enemy's territory, they could no longer rely on their railways. December will undoubtedly see the Russians' supreme great battle against the reinforced Germans and the reformed Austrians. It is certain that for our allies it will be a third victory followed by a now rapid invasion"... He is worried about the news from Charleroi. 18 November. "My dearest Mummy, Nothing very new as far as I am concerned, except that our relative rest of the last few days ends this evening. Next night we go to the front again, but this time out of the woods, which we are delighted about. It's freezing in the morning now. May it freeze every day from now on and all the time so that we are rid of the mud, the formidable enemy of troops who hardly move. Everyone's morale continues to be excellent. It has now been established in front of the world that our army, more powerful than ever morally and physically after four months of war, is a marvellous instrument, and it will make this increasingly clear"... 20 November. He thanks for the parcels sent: "Writing paper, cigars, an electric lamp, a notepad and a toothpick have been most welcome. You would add to your kindness by sending me a pair of lined gloves, as the ones I had are torn and completely worn out. We have to walk on all fours several times a day, which doesn't help the gloves. Take them for me, warm ones of course, but also very large ones, 8 at least. There's nothing really new around here in that the fronts aren't changing much, but that may not last much longer. In any case, we're on the right track. [...] It's still cold here. It's freezing day and night and as the weather is very clear we can't fire in the front line or we'll be spotted immediately and riddled with shells. So we have to beat our feet and blow on our fingers. Of course, the enemy is at the same point as we are. It's a great consolation. However, we much prefer this dry cold to the slush of the last few days. What we know about the Russians proves that this huge force is applying itself more and more vigorously to the enemy's borders. Thanks to their extreme military activity, supported by very good communications, the Germans have sometimes achieved real successes against the Russians. But nothing can stop this rising tide, and we are continuing to destroy the enemy, both morally and materially. Since the beginning of the current battle, we have lost only one strongpoint, Dixmude, and we have taken many others... 22nd November. "Today I am 24 years old, and as is only right and proper, this birthday is being greeted by an appalling cannonade all night and all morning. It is still cold, but a nice dry cold that is very bearable. The only trouble is that in our trenches we can't fire in the front line, because any smoke is clearly visible through binoculars in the clear sky and is immediately greeted by a volley of cannon fire. But when we were taken to the 2nd line (every 6 days) the situation was more pleasant. [...] The Russians were engaged with the Austro-Germans in a supreme battle. There is no doubt that they will win it. But we must wait a few days"... LNC, I, p. 111, 112 and 113. An L. A. S. from Jeanne de Gaulle to her son Charles, Paris, 10 August 1914 (7 p. in-8, envelope), expressing her concern that her son had already made contact with the enemy.