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wereloadedupontofestivelydecoratedrailcarriagesandtransport-
edtorallypointswheretheyjoinedacorps,whichjoinedupwith
othercorpstoformanarmy.Itallproceededaccordingtoadetailed
schedule.TeFrenchandGermanarmiesmobilisedandconcen-
tratedtheirunitsinthemostefcientmanner.InFranceonly1.5%
ofthemencalledupdidnotreportforservice,andinGermanythe
figurewasevenless-0.9%,demonstratingtheefciencyofthestate
authoritiesandperhapsalsothegeneralacceptanceofwarbythe
menwhoweremobilised.EveninRussiamobilisationwentpretty
smoothly,despitethevastdistancesandmeagrecommunications
network.Only4%oftheRussianconscriptsneverreachedbarracks.
Mobilisingcavalrydivisionswasaproblemthough,astransportation
forjustoneofthemrequired40trains-asmanyasforaninfan-
trydivisionfivetimesthesize.Trainswereusedtotransporttroops
tothefront.AGermaninfantrycorpsconsistingoftwodivisions
needed170carriagestotransporttheofcers,965carriagesforthe
men,and1915carriagesforitsartilleryandengineers-atotalof
over3,000carriagesand80trains,andontopofthatananalogous
numberoftrainsforequipmentandvictuals.Mobilisationplanshad
tobeprecise.TatiswhytheGermanandFrenchplansentaileddata
evenonthenumberofaxlesthathadtorolloveragivenbridgein
agiventime.
Temensettingońforbarracksweregivenaheartysend-ońwith
churchbellsringing,andmilitarybandswelcomedthemonarrival
withboisteroustattoos.Enthusiasticcrowdscheeredthematrailway
stationsandonthestreetsoffestivelydecoratedcitieswithhouses
drapedwiththenationalcoloursandportraitsoftheheadofstate.
Wordsofwelcome,gesturesofadmiration,andcommunitysinging
ofnationalanthemsandpatrioticfolksongswereshoweredonthem
intownandcountryalike.Hatsflewupintheairandhandkerchiefs
wavedtogreetthem,andgirlsputflowers-roses,lilies,cornflowers
andeveningstock-intotheirgunbarrels.Teenthusiasmmusthave
haditseńectonthesoldiers,eventhosewhowereleavingforthe
frontwithaheavyheartandanguishontheirfaces,andthosewho
justadayortwobeforehadtakenpartinasadfarewellceremony
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