The right answer is: C) He thinks(...) they are fighting. Frederic and Gino visited posts, and Frederic is briefed on the state of the war. He talks a lot with Gino, and Frederic tells him why he does not believe in war in the mountains. Gino talks about food, and says there is not enough of it for the soldiers. He believes a war is won or lost with food. Frederic says that it helps you lose a war, but not win one. Then Gino says the big battle this summer "could not have been done in vain".