Chapter Ⅲ　At War

In 1914, it happened, as it often had in other years, that my daughters had left Paris for their summer vacation before me. They were accompanied by their governess, in whom I had all confidence, and were living in a small house on the seashore in Brittany, at a place where there were also the families of several of our good friends. My work did not generally permit me to pass the entire vacation near them without interruption.

That year I was preparing to join them in the last days of July, when I was stopped by the bad political news, with its premonitions of an imminent military mobilization. It did not seem possible for me to leave under these conditions, and I waited for further events. The mobilization was announced on August 1st, immediately followed by Germany's declaration of war on France. The few men of the laboratory staff and the students were mobilized, and I was left alone with our mechanic who could not join the army because of a serious heart trouble.

The historic events that followed are known to every one, but only those who lived in Paris through the days of August and September, 1914, can ever really know the state of mind in the capital and the quiet courage shown by it. The mobilization was a general wave of all France passing out to the border for the defense of the land. All our interest now centered on the news from the front.

第三章　战争中的我

1914年暑假期间，同往年一样，两个女儿被她们的家庭教师领着，先于我离开巴黎度假去了。我对这位家庭教师非常信赖，由她照顾我的女儿我十分放心。她们住到了布列塔尼的海滨度假屋，我的一些好朋友和他们的家属也住在那里。我则因为工作太忙，很少能不被打断地同她们度过整个假期。

我本来打算七月底前去海边与女儿们会合，但是很快就会有紧急军事行动这样的坏消息不断传来，使我没能去成布列塔尼。在这种紧张的状态之下，我显然是不可能离开巴黎的，而是需要留下来静观事态发展。没过多久，总动员令颁布了。随后，8月1日，德国便对法国宣战了。除了我和一个有严重心脏病的技师之外，实验室其他的工作人员全部应征入伍了。

接下来的历史事件大家都知道。但是，只有在1914年的8月和9月，住在巴黎的人才能够真正体会到首都人民的心态以及他们所表现出的那种临危不惧的英雄气概。总动员令很快便传遍了整个法国，每一个法国人都勇敢地、急切地想要奔赴前线，去保卫自己的伟大祖国。这一时期，我们每天最急切盼望的就是从前线传来的消息。

After the uncertainties of the first days this news became more and more grave. First, it was the invasion of Belgium and the heroic resistance of that little country; then the victorious march of the German army through the valley of the Oise toward Paris; and soon the departure of the French government to Bordeaux, followed by the leaving of those Parisians who could not, or would not, face the possible danger of German occupation. The overloaded trains took into the country a great number of people, mostly of the well-to-do class. But, on the whole, the people of Paris gave a strong impression of calm and quiet decision in that fateful year of 1914. In the end of August and the beginning of September the weather was radiant, and under the glorious sky of those days the great city with its architectural treasures seemed to be particularly dear to those who remained in it.

When the danger of German attack on Paris became pressing, I felt obliged to put in security the supply of radium then in my laboratory, and I was charged by the government to take it to Bordeaux for safety. But I did not want to be away long, and hence decided to return immediately. I left by one of the trains that were carrying government staff and baggage, and I well remember the aspect of the national highway which is at intervals in view from the train; it showed a long line of motorcars carrying their owners from the capital.

开始几天传回来的消息反复无常，使人摸不着头脑，以后的消息则使人感到事态越来越严峻了。首先，小国比利时未能阻止住德国军队，虽然军民浴血奋战，但是比利时仍被德国入侵了。随后，德军进入到乌瓦兹峡谷，直逼巴黎。没过多久，便有传言说法国政府将要南迁到波尔多，许多巴黎市民也纷纷随政府南下，他们中的大多数人是不愿也不敢去面对德军占领巴黎后所产生的危险的。有钱人纷纷乘坐严重超载的火车逃出巴黎，到外省乡下避难。但是，总体而言，在这多灾多难的1914年，巴黎市民所表现出的那种冷静而又果断的精神还是给我留下了不可磨灭的印象。8月底至9月初的这几天，天气变得风和日丽起来。在仍旧留在巴黎城的人们眼中，蔚蓝天空映衬下的这个拥有着无数建筑宝藏的伟大城市显得更加巍峨清晰了。

德军日益逼近巴黎，情况非常危急，为了防止万一，我觉得必须把我实验室所储存的镭藏到安全的地方去。受到政府的指令，我将把这些镭护送到波尔多，但是因为不愿意留在那里，所以我决定送到之后，便立刻从波尔多返回巴黎。我所乘坐的是运载政府工作人员以及行李物品的专用列车。我仍记得一路上，从车窗向外望去，国路上的混乱情景，排成排的汽车运载着它们的主人逃离首都，到外地去避难。

Arriving at Bordeaux in the evening, I was very embarrassed with my heavy bag including the radium protected by lead. I was not able to carry it and waited in a public place, while a friendly ministry employee who came by the same train managed to find a room for me in a private apartment, the hotels being overcrowded. The next morning I hurried to put the radium in a safe place, and succeeded, although not without difficulty, in taking a military train back to Paris in the evening of the same day. Having opportunity for exchanging a few sentences with persons on the place who wanted to ask information from people coming by the train, I was interested to notice how they seemed surprised and comforted to learn of some one who found it natural to return to Paris.

My trip back was troubled by delays; for several hours the train rested immovable on the rails, while the travelers accepted a little bread from the soldiers who were provided with it. Finally arriving in Paris, I learned that the German army had turned; the battle of the Marne had begun.

In Paris I shared the alternating hope and grief of the inhabitants during the course of that great battle, and had the constant worry of foreseeing a long separation from my children in case the Germans succeeded in occupying the city. Yet I felt that I must stay at my post. After the successful outcome of the battle, however, any immediate danger of occupation being removed, I was able to have my daughters come back from Brittany to Paris and again take up their studies. This was the great desire of my children, who did not want to stay away from me and from their work, even if many other families thought it wiser to stay in the country, far from the front.

到达波尔多时已经是傍晚了。我的镭装在随身携带的箱子里，而箱子又用铅皮密封着，所以实在是太沉了，我根本就提不动，只好在车站等候前来接我的人。后来，与我同车来波尔多的一个友好的政府工作人员帮我把箱子搬到一个私人家中，并请他们腾出一个房间让我度过这个夜晚，这个时候是根本住不上旅馆的，因为旅馆早已爆满。第二天早晨，我急忙将箱子藏到一个安全的地方，虽然经历了一系列的困难，但是最后还是成功地转乘军列在当天晚上返回了巴黎。在波尔多，我曾经有机会同那里的人进行交谈，他们也都很想从巴黎来的人口中打探些确切的消息。当他们知道我在这种时候还认为返回巴黎是很自然的事的时候，所流露出来的那种既惊讶又欣慰的表情，让我觉得十分有趣。

在返回巴黎的途中，列车经常停下来无法行使，有时在途中受阻长达几个小时。车上的军人都带着干粮，看到我们这些乘客饿得不行了，他们便分给我们些许面包，聊以充饥。当最终回到巴黎时，我听说德军改变了进攻方向，马恩河战役已经打响了。

这次大战期间，我和其他的巴黎居民一样，有时因为胜利在望而欢欣鼓舞，有时又因为感觉失败在即而忧愁沮丧。最令我担心的是，假使德国人占领了巴黎，我就将与自己的女儿长久分离。尽管忧心忡忡，但我仍旧决定忠于职守。当法军在马恩河战役中最终胜利时，巴黎被攻陷的危险也就不复存在。于是，我便让女儿们从布列塔尼回到巴黎，继续上学，这也是她们的愿望。许多巴黎居民认为留在外省，离巴黎远些比较安全，所以并不急着回到巴黎来，但是我的两个女儿却毅然回到了我的身边，因为她们不愿意与我分隔两地，也不愿意中断学业。

The dominant duty imposed on every one at that time was to help the country in whatever way possible during the extreme crisis that it faced. No general instructions to this were given to the members of the University. It was left to each to take his own initiative and means of action. I therefore sought to discover the most efficient way to do useful work, turning my scientific knowledge to most profit.

During the rapid succession of events in August, 1914, it was clearly proved that the preparation for defense was insufficient. Public feeling was especially aroused by the realization of the grave failings which appeared in the organization of the Health Service. My own attention was particularly drawn to this situation, and I soon found a field of activity which, once entered upon, absorbed the greatest part of my time and efforts until the end of the war, and even for some time thereafter. The work was the organization of radiologic and radio-therapeutic services for the military hospitals. But I also had to make the change, during these difficult war years, of my laboratory into the new building of the Institute of Radium and to continue, in the measure possible to me, regular teaching, as well as to investigate certain problems, especially interesting the military service.

It is well known that the X-rays offer surgeons and doctors extremely useful means for the examination of the sick and wounded. They make possible the discovery and the exact location of projectiles which have entered the body, and this is a great help in their extraction. These rays also reveal lesions of bones and of the internal organs and permit one to follow the progress of recovery from internal injuries. The use of the X-rays during the war saved the lives of many wounded men; it also saved many from long suffering and lasting infirmity. To all the wounded it gave a greater chance of recovery.

国难当头，每个人都应竭尽所能为自己的国家排忧解难。政府对大学教职员工没有作任何硬性规定，但大家却都积极主动地行动了起来，我也利用自己的科学知识，想方设法地向国家贡献自己的力量。

1914年8月，战场的情况起了急剧的变化，从中也暴露出法国并没有对这场战争做出充分的准备。特别是在伤员救护方面，非常缺乏有效的组织和管理，因此引起了舆论的极大不满。我对这一情况十分关注，很快便认识到自己很适合去做救护工作，于是便迅速地加入到了这项工作当中。从此以后直到战争结束，我将大部分时间与精力都投入到了其中。具体地说，我的工作内容就是为军队医院组建医疗队和组织X射线检查。除此之外，在那艰难的战争期间，我的研究工作也不得不作出改变。我将自己的实验室迁进了镭研所的新楼，并且尽可能多地继续给学生们讲课。同时，我也经常对相关的问题进行研究，特别是有关军事的。

大家都知道，X射线对于内科和外科医生进行疾病或者伤口检查都有极大的帮助。特别是在战争期间，可以通过它来对弹片嵌入体内的确切部位进行检查和确定，从而便于医生开刀将弹片取出。而且，它还可以对骨骼以及体内器官损伤的情况进行显示，医生因此也就可以了解内伤恢复的程度了。战争期间，X射线的应用挽救了无数伤员的性命，减轻了很多人的痛苦并使他们免于落下终身残疾，而且还缩短了他们的恢复时间。

However, at the beginning of the war, the Military Board of Health had no organization of radiology, while the civil organization was also but little developed. Radiologic installations existed in only a small number of important hospitals, and there were only a few specialists in the large cities. The numerous new hospitals that were established all over France in the first months of the war had, as a rule, no installation for the use of X-rays.

To meet this need I first gathered together all the apparatus I could find in the laboratories and stores. With this equipment I established in August and September, 1914, several stations of radiology, the operation of which was assured by volunteer helpers to whom I gave instruction. These stations rendered great service during the battle of the Marne. But as they could not satisfy the needs of all the hospitals of the Paris region, I fitted up, with the help of the Red Cross, a radiologic car. It was simply a touring motorcar, arranged for the transport of a complete radiologic apparatus, together with a dynamo that was worked by the engine of the car, and furnished the electric current necessary for the production of the rays. This car could come at the call of any of the hospitals, large or small, in the surroundings of Paris. Cases of urgent need were frequent, for these hospitals had to take care of the wounded who could not be transported to more distant places.

战争刚开始的时候，军队中任何一个医疗部门都不具备X射线治疗设备，也不具备这方面的技师，即便是地方医院，除了几所大医院外，这种设备也很少见，而且大医院中虽然有X射线设备，但是技师却几乎没有。战争爆发后，法国各地纷纷建立了医院，但也都没有这种设备。

为了解决X射线设备与技师缺乏这一难题，我马上先将各实验室和贮藏室中所有的X射线设备集中到一起，并于1914年8～9月间建立了几个X射线医疗站，由被我培训过的志愿者对这些设备进行操作。在马恩河战役中，这些医疗站发挥了很大的作用。但是，由于它们无法满足整个巴黎所有医院的需要，我便借助红十字会的协助，设计并且装备出了一辆流动X光透视车，它是由一辆普通的敞篷车改装而成的。具体是将一台设备齐全的X射线放射设备和一台发电机固定在车厢里，利用汽车上的发动机来使这台发电机发电，用以满足X光设备对电力的需要。这辆流动车可以前往任何地方，巴黎的任何一家医院，无论大小，只要是有需要，它就立即能够赶到。特别是对于急诊的伤病员来说，这种流动医疗车的作用更加显著。医院经常会收进危急病例和重伤员，而他们又无法被转送到很远的医院，这时这种医疗车就更加有用武之地了。

The first results of this work showed that it was necessary to do more. Thanks to special donations and to the help of a very efficient relief committee called "le Patronage National des Blessés," I succeeded in developing my initiative to a considerable extent. About two hundred radiologic installations were established or materially improved through my efforts in the zone of the French and Belgian armies, and in the regions of France not occupied by the army. I was able, besides, to equip in my laboratory and give to the army twenty radiologic cars. The frames of these cars were donated by, various persons who wished to be helpful; some of them offered also the equipment. The cars were of the greatest service to the army, particularly important in the first two years of the war, when the regular military service possessed but few radiologic instruments. Later the Board of Health created, little by little, a considerable radiologic service of its own, as the utility of the stations was more clearly realized owing to the example given by private initiative. But the needs of the armies were so great, that my cooperation continued necessary to the end of the war, and even afterwards.

I could not have accomplished this work without seeing for myself the needs of the ambulance stations and hospitals. Thanks to the help of the Red Cross and to the agreement of the Board of Health, I was able to make several journeys to the army zones and to the other parts of France. Several times I visited the ambulance stations of the armies of the north and in the Belgian zone, going to Amiens, Calais, Dunkirk, Furnes, and Poperinghe. I went to Verdun, Nancy, Luneville, Belfort, to Compiegne, and Villers-Cotterets. In the regions distant from the front, I took care of many hospitals which had to do very intensive work with little aid. And I keep as a precious recollection of that time, many letters of warm recognition from those to whom I brought help in their difficulties.

最初的结果表明，这种流动医疗车具有强大的作用，它的需求量非常大。感谢社会各界的特别捐赠以及一个全称为“全国伤病员救护会”的机构对我进行的帮助，他们的办事效率很高，我所提出的关于增加流动X光医疗车的重大计划很快便得以落实了。在法国同比利时之间的战区以及法国的其他一些地区，我总共创建和改造成了两百多个X射线医疗站，除此还对二十辆流动X光医疗车进行了装备，以供军队的急用。这些流动车都是由各界人士慷慨捐赠的，此外，还有一些人士捐赠了整套的X光设备。所有这些捐赠对抢救伤兵起到了很大的作用。这些捐赠的车辆、设备，在战争初始的前两年起到了很大的效用，这是因为当时军队中的救护组织很少配备X光设备。没过多久，卫生部见到这些捐赠的设备所起到的重要作用之后，便开始大规模地对这种设备进行生产。但由于军队的需求量很大，卫生部同我的这种合作仍然是不可缺少的，这种合作一直保持到战争结束后的几年。

如果我没有亲自到各医院和救护站视察，不知道他们有多大多急迫的需求的话，我也很难切实地将这项工作完成。感谢红十字会的协助和卫生部的批示，我得以前往法国各地和战区做考察，还对北部战区与比利时军队驻防区所属的救护站进行了视察。我先后到了亚眠、加来、敦克尔刻、弗尔内与波普林格，还去了凡尔登、南锡、贝尔福、吕纳维尔、贡比涅与维耶柯特莱。这些离战区很远的地方的救护站人手紧张，工作又非常繁重，因此我就经常在那里帮助工作。我在他们非常困难的情况下所提供的帮助，令他们非常感动。因此他们还给我写过一些热忱的感谢信，这些信我一直都珍藏着。

The motive of my starting on a journey was usually a demand from surgeons. I went with a radiologic car which I kept for my personal use. In examining the wounded in the hospital, I could gain information of the special needs of the region. When back in Paris, I got the necessary equipment to meet these needs and returned to install it myself, for very often the people on the ground could not do it. I had then to find competent persons to handle the apparatus and show them how to do it, in full detail. After a few days of hard toil, the manipulator knew enough to work the apparatus himself, and at the same time a large number of wounded had been examined. In addition, the surgeons of the region had gained an idea of the usefulness of the radiologic examination (which few of them knew at that time), and friendly relations were established which made the later development of my work much easier.

On several of my trips I was accompanied by my elder daughter, Irene, who was then seventeen years old, and, having finished her preparatory studies, was beginning higher studies at the Sorbonne. Because she greatly desired to be useful, she now studied nursing and learned radiology, and did her best to help me under the most varied circumstances. She did ambulance work at the front between Furnes and Ypres, and also at Amiens, receiving, from the Chiefs of Service, testimonials of work satisfactorily performed and, at the end of the war, a medal.

每当有救护站的医生请求我给予帮助的时候，我便亲自驾着我自用的配有X光设备的流动车前去支援。在替伤员们进行检查的同时，我还捎带着对当地急需些什么进行一下了解，等我返回巴黎之后，便想方设法地为他们解决这些问题。战区救护站的工作人员大多数不会使用X光设备，我必须挑选一些适当的人为他们进行详细的讲解与培训。经过几天的训练，他们掌握了如何对设备进行操作，而伤员们也在对医务人员进行培训的同时做完了必要的检查。刚开始，了解X光设备益处所在的医生并不多。接受了我的培训之后，他们完全清楚了这种设备的作用，我同他们之间的关系也因此变得更加亲切友好。我再去那儿工作的时候，就方便多了。

有几次我驾车到外地救护站去的时候，大女儿艾莱娜也陪着我一同前往，她那时已经17岁了，高中毕业后，正就读于巴黎大学。她同样怀着一颗报国之心，积极地加入到战地服务中来。她学习了看护知识和技术，以及X光拍片技术等，在各种情况下都尽力地帮助我。她到过位于弗尔内与伊普尔之间的战区和亚眠等地参加救护工作。由于工作很出色，她受到过嘉奖，战后还因此获得过奖章。