240 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



solution was impossible. " How is it possible that 

 in Europe, in a civilised country, mutual interests 

 should not be reconciled without killing ? " he said. 

 " A war would be madness, even from the point of 

 view of Germany, who risks having to face three 

 great powers. No, war is not possible." 



And yet war was spreading all over Europe. 



The situation of France seemed critical, for the 

 country had just gone through a series of internal 

 storms. The labour question, that of income tax, 

 and that of the three years' military service had 

 raised sharp controversies ; the Caillaux affair had 

 revealed hidden sores in political life ; the insane 

 assassination of Jaures, of which the reason was 

 still unknown, gave rise to the blackest prognostica- 

 tions. 



Already on the 28th July, date of the declaration 

 of war by Austria against Serbia, anxiety had become 

 intense, but it was hoped that Russia would settle 

 matters between the two countries, and that the 

 trouble would remain local. 



On the Ist August, Germany declared war on 

 Russia, and it became obvious that the storm was 

 coming on apace. The aspect of life suddenly 

 changed; a feeling of dread and expectancy un- 

 nerved everybody ; mobilisation was mentioned ; 

 automobiles at full speed hurried along the roads ; 

 the harvest was hastily gathered. . . . We could 

 no longer work, go for walks, or admire nature with- 

 out a feeling of heavy anxiety. 



We went about like automatons, aU our thoughts 

 centred on one point — ^the threatening, inevitable 

 war. Everything had put on a sinister aspect, and 

 Nature herself joined in the general gloom ; the 



