# IV explained — No More Parades

> Chapter companion for No More Parades by Ford Madox Ford.

## What happens

Tietjens deals with military bureaucracy, horse care, and the return of a draft, while grappling with the memory of O Nine Morgan and rumors of betrayal from Whitehall. He defends Canadian soldiers against military police harassment and learns of a transfer arranged by his brother Mark, which conflicts with his desire to stay at the front.

## Themes in this chapter

### War and Its Psychological Toll

Tietjens is haunted by the memory of O Nine Morgan, feeling the dead as 'joined to your own identity by a black cord.'

### Bureaucracy and Military Incompetence

Tietjens deals with conflicting orders about horse care, a report on lecturing soldiers, and the provost-marshal's petty police.

### Betrayal and Trust

Rumors that Whitehall is starving the front of troops to sacrifice them for political ends, leading Tietjens to question Levin's inquiries.

## Character check-ins

### Christopher Tietjens

Struggles with obsession over O Nine Morgan's death, deals with horse care and military discipline, and confronts rumors of betrayal from Whitehall.

### Captain McKechnie

Shares the hut with Tietjens, comments on the draft's return and political rumors about General Puffles.

### Sergeant-Major Cowley

Brings news of Tietjens' transfer to a horse depot, arranged by his brother Mark.

### Lieutenant Hotchkiss

Ordered Schomburg to be hardened against Tietjens' instructions, causing conflict.

### Girtin

Canadian private charged with conduct prejudicial to good order after a dispute with military police; Tietjens dismisses the charge.

### General O'Hara

Provost-marshal who loves his police; Tietjens expects a row with him over the Girtin case.

### Mark Tietjens

Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Transport who arranged Tietjens' transfer to a horse depot.

### Valentine Wannop

Tietjens imagines her despair if he rejects the transfer she begged Mark to arrange.

## Key lines

> What the hell, what the hell is the matter with this horse?

Tietjens asks his orderly why Schomburg is moving so poorly.

_Tietjens discovers Hotchkiss countermanded his orders to keep the horse warm._

> If the fellows in Whitehall are determined to do old Puffles in, why don't they recall him?

McKechnie suggests the government is deliberately causing a general's failure.

_Reflects the rumor that civilian leaders are starving the front of troops._

> That obscene Pitkins! I'll have him cashiered for this

Tietjens angrily blames Pitkins for the draft's return.

_Tietjens wakes to find the draft has been called back, increasing his despair._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_more_parades_se/chapters/part-i-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_more_parades_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_more_parades_se/chapters