Poustis, Robert (Oral history)

French trooper served with French Cavalry on Western Front, 1914-1918

REEL 1 Recollections of service with French Cavalry on Western Front, 1914-1918: reactions on mobilisation, 8/1914; account of attack, 25/9/1914, including wet conditions, German machine gun fire and effect of French 75mm guns shell fire; heavy casualties, conditions of service and question of state of morale; signs of mutiny, 1917; story of casualties amongst inexperienced US troops; French pre-war determination to reclaim Alsace Lorraine, conscription and cavalry training on outbreak of war, 2/8/1914; conditions of service during period on Yser Canal, Belgium, 1914; failure of attack in Artois, 9/5/1915; question of French doctrine of attack; corpses during period in line at Neuville St Vaast, 1915; attack, German counter-attack and construction of defensive line in Champagne area, 9/1915; state of unit morale after failure of Nivelle offensive in Aisne area, 16/4/1917; treatment of Russian Bde serving in France following Russian revolution; opinion of US troops during attachment to US Corps during attack on St Mihell, 9/1918.