‘Good-morning; good-morning!' the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
The General is introduced as a jovial character, one who is naively perky in the midst of WWI trenches. His cheery greeting suggest he is oblivious to the future suffering of the men and blind to his own inadequacy.
The General