diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-0.txt | 3556 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 70772 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-8.txt | 3556 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 70476 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 802821 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/28964-h.html | 5794 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/beat-it.png | bin | 0 -> 73694 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/french-soldier.png | bin | 0 -> 65903 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/front.png | bin | 0 -> 14586 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/johnnie-canuck.png | bin | 0 -> 4476 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/motor.png | bin | 0 -> 67076 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/sub.png | bin | 0 -> 90363 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/the-american.png | bin | 0 -> 4462 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/the-anzac.png | bin | 0 -> 4022 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/the-canadian.png | bin | 0 -> 4910 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/the-crump.png | bin | 0 -> 88481 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/tommy-atkins.png | bin | 0 -> 63832 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/whats-the-use.png | bin | 0 -> 94066 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/whiz-bangs.png | bin | 0 -> 69262 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-h/images/wipers.png | bin | 0 -> 74016 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-pdf.pdf | bin | 0 -> 1252399 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-pdf.zip | bin | 0 -> 909322 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei.zip | bin | 0 -> 790223 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/28964-tei.tei | 5567 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/beat-it.png | bin | 0 -> 73694 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/french-soldier.png | bin | 0 -> 65903 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/front.png | bin | 0 -> 14586 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/johnnie-canuck.png | bin | 0 -> 4476 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/motor.png | bin | 0 -> 67076 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/sub.png | bin | 0 -> 90363 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/the-american.png | bin | 0 -> 4462 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/the-anzac.png | bin | 0 -> 4022 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/the-canadian.png | bin | 0 -> 4910 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/the-crump.png | bin | 0 -> 88481 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/tommy-atkins.png | bin | 0 -> 63832 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/whats-the-use.png | bin | 0 -> 94066 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/whiz-bangs.png | bin | 0 -> 69262 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964-tei/images/wipers.png | bin | 0 -> 74016 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964.txt | 3556 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28964.zip | bin | 0 -> 70450 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
43 files changed, 22045 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28964-0.txt b/28964-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4824f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3556 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Crumps, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who +Went by Louis Keene + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: “Crumps”, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went + +Author: Louis Keene + +Release Date: May 25, 2009 [Ebook #28964] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK “CRUMPS”, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + + + + “Crumps” + + The Plain Story of a Canadian + + Who Went + + By Louis Keene + + Canadian Expeditionary Force + + With a Prefatory Note By + + General Leonard Wood + + Illustrated by the Author + + Boston and New York + + Houghton Mifflin Company + + 1917 + + + + + + + [Illustration] + + + [Illustration] + + The “Sub”. + + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE + + +HEADQUARTERS SOUTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT +CHARLESTON, S.C. + +11th August, 1917 + +Captain Keene has made an interesting contribution to the literature of +the present war in his account of service, which covers the experience of +a young officer in the making and on the battle front,—the transformation +of an artist into a first-class machine-gun officer. He covers the +training period at home and abroad and the work at the front. This direct +and interesting account should serve to bring home to all of us an +appreciation of how much has to be done before troops can be made +effective for modern war, the cost of unpreparedness, and the disadvantage +under which troops, partially equipped, labor when they meet highly +organized ones, prepared, even to the last detail, for all the exigencies +of modern war. It also brings out the splendid spirit of Canada, the +Mother Country, and the distant Colonies,—the spirit of the Empire, united +and determined in a just cause. + +This and similar accounts should serve to make clear to us the wisdom of +the admonition of Washington and many others: “In time of peace prepare +for war.” + +Many young Americans are about to undergo experiences similar to those of +Captain Keene, and a perusal of this modest and straight-forward narrative +will help in the great work of getting ready. + +LEONARD WOOD, +_Maj.-Gen. U.S.A._ + + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Frontispiece. + +The “Sub.” + +“Beat It!” + +The Canadian, Johnnie Canuck, The American, And The ANZAC. + +Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun. + +“Wipers.” + +What’s The Use? + +A French Soldier. + +“Whiz-Bangs.” + +The “Crump.” + +Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + + + + + [Illustration: “Don’t Linger Around Here” + “The Enemy Can See You.” + “Who Me? Yes You. Beat It!”] + + + + + +“CRUMPS” + + +_The Plain Story of a Canadian who went_ + +The Laurentian Mountains in the Province of Quebec are noted for their +beauty, fine hunting and fishing, and are the stamping-grounds for many +artists from the States and Eastern Canada. It was in this capacity that I +was working during the hot summer of 1914. All through June and July I +sketched with my father. Other than black flies my only worry was the +price of my tubes of color. + +We usually received our newspapers two or three days after publication; +consequently we were poorly posted on worldly happenings. Suddenly the war +clouds gathered and almost before we knew it they became so threatening +that we grew restless, and even went in to the depot to get our papers so +that we could have the news sooner. + +The assassination of the Austrian Crown Prince and the subsequent events +were exciting, but it was only when Russia sent that one word “Mobilize” +to Serbia that we suspected serious results. Even the summer visitors from +the States exhibited signs of excitement, yet they were skeptical of the +chances of war; that is, war that would really affect us! My newspaper in +Montreal wired for me to come down to do war cartoons and I left my father +and hiked to the depot. + +The Montreal train was crowded and conversation centered on the one topic, +War; the English Navy’s ability to maintain her rule of the seas, and what +would Canada do. A young Austrian reservist two seats away was telling +some people in a loud voice how much he wanted to get into it. He was +going back to answer the call. And I had already begun to hear my +country’s call. + +A newsboy boarding the train at a junction was overwhelmed and succeeded +in getting twenty-five cents a copy for his papers. + +Montreal teemed with suppressed anxiety and every hour fresh news was +posted. Special bulletin boards were put up on store fronts. Already men +in uniform were seen in the street. And men were trying to enlist. + +The war fever was rising steadily; the chief occupation of Canadians in +those days was watching the bulletin boards. Rumors of sea fights, +ultimatums, disasters, and victories were common. The Kaiser seemed to +declare war on the world at the rate of three countries a day. + +On the night of August 4th, as I was putting the finishing touches on a +cartoon, a friend burst into the room:—“Come out of here! Something must +happen any minute now.” We marched downtown,—everybody marched in those +days; walking was abolished in its favor. One met demonstrations +everywhere, large crowds of cheering men with flags, victrolas at shop +windows played patriotic airs, and soldiers with civilians crowded before +the bulletin boards singing the national anthems with great enthusiasm. +The King had declared war and his message to the fleet had just been put +up! Newspaper extras were given away by thousands and movies of the +British Navy were shown on the street. Any one who thought the British +could not enthuse, changed his mind then. + +The audiences at the theatres and moving picture houses on receipt of the +news rose simultaneously and sang the national anthems, then cheered +themselves hoarse. These were the first days of the war. Several +battalions of militia were called out and posted to protect the bridges +and grain elevators. Battalions were raised overnight, and so many +recruits came forward that men were refused by the score. England was +immediately offered ten battalions. Then an army division was possible. +The Militia Department suddenly became a hive of industry. Men with all +kinds of business capacity tendered their services gratis, and the +Canadian war machine, without the experience of previous campaigns, took +shape. They worked night and day bringing everlasting credit on +themselves. Banks offered full pay to their employees in uniform, and this +example was widely followed. The principle prompting this action being, +“It’s our country; if we can’t fight ourselves, we will help others to +fight for her.” + +Existent camp sites were inadequate, hence new ones were necessary. We had +a few, but none were big enough. We bought Valcartier, one of the best +sites in the world, which was equipped almost over-night with water +service, electric light and drainage. The longest rifle range in the world +with three and one-half miles of butts was constructed. Railroad sidings +were put in and 35,000 troops from all over the Dominion poured into it. +Think of it,—Canada with her population of seven and one-half millions +offering 35,000 volunteers the first few weeks, without calling out her +militia. And even to-day the militia are yet to be called. Thus every +Canadian who has served at the front has been a volunteer. England +accepted an army division. Fifteen hundred qualified officers were told +that they would have to stay and train men for the next contingent. But +this was not fighting. They were dissatisfied. They resigned their +commissions and went as privates. Uniforms, boots, rifles and equipment +were found for everybody. Every man was trained as much as possible in the +time allowed, and within six weeks of the declaration of war, guns, horses +and 35,000 men were going forward to avenge Belgium. + +With me the question of signing up was a big one. In the first place, I +wanted to go; I wanted to go quickly. Several other fellows and myself had +decided upon a certain battalion. But much to our disgust and regret we +were informed that enlistments had stopped only a short time before. + + [Illustration] + + The Canadian + + + [Illustration] + + Johnnie Canuck + + + [Illustration] + + The American + + + [Illustration] + + The ANZAC + + +Then came the announcement of the organization of the First Auto Machine +Gun Brigade, the generous gift of several of Canada’s most prominent +citizens, and it was in this unit that I enlisted with my friend Pat, a +six-foot, husky Scotchman, with the fighting blood of the kilties very +near the surface. We were immediately transported to Ottawa in company +with fifty other picked men from Montreal. At Ottawa the complement of our +battery was completed upon the arrival of one hundred more men from Ottawa +and Toronto. Here we trained until it came time for us to move to +Montreal, and there the battery was embarked on board the Corinthian with +a unit of heavy artillery. We sailed down to Quebec where we joined the +other ships assembled to take over the First Canadian Contingent. + + + _Corinthian, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914._ + + MY DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER:— + + We are now steaming down the St. Lawrence. No one knows where we + are going. + + Our fleet is a wonderful sight. All the ships are painted war + gray—sides, boats and funnels. We are expecting to pick up the + warships which are to convoy us across at Father Point, somewhere + near where the Empress of Ireland was sunk. + + Quebec looked very fine. The big guns were being hoisted into + boats, horses embarking, and battalion after battalion arriving + and going aboard. Those who came from Valcartier have had a rough + time. They actually look as if they had come through a campaign. + It gave me thrills all day to see these fine men come through the + dock-gates with a steady swing. It is a magnificent contribution + to any army. It’s good to think of all these men coming at their + country’s call. + + Some day, if I get back, I want to paint a picture of the fleet + assembled at Quebec. The grays and greens looked really beautiful. + Quebec, the city of history and the scene of many big battles, + views with disdain the Canadian patriotism in the present crisis, + and we had no send-off, no flags and no bands. + + This letter will not be mailed for ten days, until we are well on + the way over. We are crowded, and if we are going through the + tropics we shall have a bad time; it is cold now, so we don’t + notice the congestion. + + We had one hundred and forty horses aboard and two batteries of + heavy artillery, besides our own armored cars. All the transports + are crowded. We were passed by about ten of the other boats, and + as they did so we cheered each other. The thin lines of khaki on + all the ships will make a name for themselves. I’m proud I am one + of them. + + We’ve had a big dose of vaccine pumped into our arms to-day. This + will be the last letter I send before I arrive, wherever we are + going. + + +The Corinthian sailed from Quebec to Father Point, where a patrol boat +arrived with orders. We then sailed into the Gulf, but toward evening we +turned into the coast. When we passed Fame Point Light a small boat, which +afterwards turned out to be another patrol boat, sailing without lights, +flashed further orders to us. The Corinthian immediately turned round and +headed back. The minute the patrol boat’s signal light went out we were +unable to distinguish it from the sea. The coloring is a good protection; +even a boat, close to, sailing without lights, it is impossible to pick +out. Apparently our orders were to cruise around until daylight and then +sail for the Bay of Gaspé, and this morning at daybreak we sailed into +that beautiful, natural harbor, which is big enough to accommodate the +entire British fleet. + +I expect that to the villagers living around this harbor all events will +date from to-day—to-day, when the wonderful sight of twenty-five ocean +liners drawn up in battleship formation in this quiet place, deserted +except for an occasional visit from a river steamer or fishing craft, +greeted their gaze. + +Five gray fighting ships are mounting guard, and by their signals and +pinnaces chasing backward and forward between the troopers are bossing the +show. A corporal, a South African War veteran, as we looked at them, +quoted Kipling’s + + + “The liner she’s a lady + With the paint upon ’er face, + The man o’ war’s ’er ’usband + And keeps ’er in ’er place.” + + +Towards noon a smart launch came alongside. Even at a distance the boys +were quick to recognize our popular minister of militia, Sam Hughes, and a +thundering cheer rang out. With him were several soldiers who threw +bundles of papers aboard. These were printed copies of his farewell to the +troops. His launch sailed by the ship, and then on to the next and so on, +through the fleet. + +Our orders forbade the display of lights or even striking of matches after +6 P.M.; consequently all lights were masked to-night on the vessels, +except those on the Royal Edward. The minute her lights were put out the +Bay resumed its normal condition, not even the outlines of the vessels +being visible. + + ------------------------------------- + +A press photographer on a launch has been taking pictures all the +afternoon. Sailed at five o’clock this afternoon just as the twilight +commenced. We sailed out in three lines. The convoy is now under way and +we extend as far as can be seen in both directions. We have two military +police patrols whose chief duty is to see that no matches are struck on +deck. Bill, who smokes more matches than tobacco, has had to go below so +often to light his pipe, that he has decided to do without smoking on +deck. It is surprising how far a match struck in the dark will show. We +noticed how matches struck on the other ships showed up last night. All +our portholes are screwed down with the heavy weather irons and those of +the second-class cabins are covered with blankets. The authorities are +taking no chances. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are having physical drills and lectures all day, and we are working +just as hard on board as we would ashore. Our speed will not be more than +nine knots; the speed of the slowest vessel regulating the speed of the +whole fleet. + +Matches are getting very scarce. We complained about the tea to the +orderly officer to-day; milk is running out, so the tea is made with milk +and sugar in. We asked to have the three separate, but we were told that +if we complained we would have all three taken away. As a floor stain it’s +great, but as tea it’s a failure. + +We are quartered in the steerage part of the ship and our food is in +keeping. It is really remarkable how they can consistently get that same +coal-oil flavor in all the food. + + ------------------------------------- + +War news is signaled from ship to ship by semaphore flags by day. It is +posted up in the guard room daily. The news that the Indian troops landed +in France on the 29th of September was the chief item on the bulletin +yesterday. We’re short on things to read. Scraps of newspapers are +devoured, even to the advertisements. In our cabin we have a “Saturday +Evening Post” of September 26th which is thumb-marked and torn, but it is +still treasured. We were not allowed to bring anything besides our kit on +board on account of the limited space. + +Reveille blows at six o’clock and we have to answer the roll-call at 6.15. +The idea is, that if the men get up and walk about, they are not so likely +to get seasick, but in spite of that quite a number are sick. We have on +board one hundred of our brigade; two hundred and sixteen heavy artillery +and one hundred and forty horses, together with artillery officers and +equipment. The horses take up the same space which in ordinary times is +occupied by humans. Otherwise, we should have a great many more troops. +Our destination is still a mystery. We’re a fleet without a port. + +Have just been ordered on fatigue to take a prisoner on deck for exercise. +He is to be tried by court-martial to-morrow for striking a sergeant. All +day he is kept locked up and only allowed out at night for exercise, under +escort. The escort consists of two men and a non-com. While on this job we +watched the signalers flashing the war news from the stern of our boat to +the bridge of the next astern, the Virginian. The news is flashed at night +by the lamps—short and long flashes. The news is picked up by wireless on +the flagship, the Charybdis, at the head of our line and signaled back +from ship to ship. + + ------------------------------------- + +This is the list of the fleet. It is written here in the order in which +they are sailing. Three warships are heading the fleet; the flagship is +the H.M.S. Charybdis, commanded by Admiral Wemyss, who distinguished +himself a few weeks ago in the Battle of Heligoland. + +H.M.S. Diana +H.M.S. Eclipse +H.M.S. Charybdis +Caribbean +Megantic +Scotian +Athenia +Ruthenia +Arcadian +Royal Edward +Bermudian +Zealand +Franconia +Alaunia +Corinthian (The transport on which I was shipped.) +H.M.S. Glory +Canada +Ivernia +Virginian +Monmouth +Scandinavian +Sasconia +Manitou +Sicilian +Grampian +Tyrolia +Montezuma +Andania +Tunisian +Lapland +Montreal +Laurentic +Cassandra +Laconia +Royal George +H.M.S. Talbot + +The H.M.S. Glory, the vessel on our starboard beam, altered her course +to-day and held up a tramp steamer. We could just see the two vessels +through our glasses. Apparently everything was all right as the tramp was +allowed to go on her way afterwards. + +We are all given our boat stations. This afternoon a submarine alarm was +sounded. Everybody on board, including the stewards, had to drop +everything and chase to the boats. In the excitement a cook shot a “billy” +of soup over an officer’s legs, much to our silent delight. + +Thinking it over, it will be remarkable if the Germans allow us to cross +without making some attempt to sink a few transports. Besides the actual +loss of the men, the demoralizing effect it will have on the recruiting +would count a great deal. No man likes to be shot or drowned without a +show. + + ------------------------------------- + +I am writing this in my cabin, which is only nine feet by six feet and in +which six of us sleep at night. Besides living in it we have to keep all +our equipment clean, which is some job! + +About eleven this morning a commotion occurred in the middle line. The +cruiser heading it and the second ship, the Royal Edward, turned back. +Also several other boats turned in their course. As we have very little +excitement we hoped it might be a German attack, for we all want to see a +naval battle. I looked at the cruiser through powerful glasses and saw +sailors fixing up the starboard lifeboat, so we presumed that it was +simply a case of “man overboard.” + +A big cruiser has joined our fleet and is acting as a flank guard about +three miles away from our starboard side. + +We have a great deal of physical exercise in spite of the rolling of the +deck. This morning, while in the middle of it I was called away to dress +and form part of an escort to the prisoner who was to be tried by field +court-martial to-day. The court was very dignified, and it took a long +time owing to the inexperience of the officers in such matters. It was the +first court-martial I have seen,—the proceedings are strictly legal, being +conducted according to the book, and with the officers wearing their +swords. The poor devil expects two years. + +We have been pitching and tossing a great deal to-day. Physical exercising +on the sloping decks is becoming a mighty risky thing. + +Quite a number of the transports have guns mounted on board so they are +not entirely dependent on the cruisers. It looks as if we are sailing +north of the usual trade routes. I have just heard that five more +battleships are on the starboard beam. They came into sight early this +morning, but have since been out of sight. We are sailing north of the +trade routes. + + ------------------------------------- + +The fleet is being increased. All ships are stopped. Those sailing west +are allowed to go after being boarded; those going in the same direction +as ourselves are made to fall into line, so there will be no danger of the +news of our sailing reaching Europe ahead of us. If we continue to pick up +ships sailing in our direction, the fleet will be enormous by the time we +arrive at our unknown destination. We sailed two hundred and twelve miles +the last twenty-four hours. + +Two more transports have joined us. They came from Newfoundland. I hear +that we now have forty-three ships in the fleet. We sail at ten cables’ +length apart, about one thousand yards. + +We are getting into more dangerous water evidently. Early this morning the +Royal George steamed up from the end of the line and took up a position at +the head of the fleet, but in line with the battleship Glory about three +miles away on the port. The Laurentic took up a similar position on the +starboard. Both these ships are armored and have guns mounted on them. +They are being used as scouts. + +We all rushed up on deck to see a cruiser pass close to us this midday. It +was a magnificent sight. She was either the H.M.S. Bristol or the H.M.S. +Essex; her name was painted The bluejackets were massed on the decks +forward and as she went by the marines’ band played “The Maple Leaf +Forever.” We returned cheers with the sailors. It gives you a great thrill +to see a British ship and to have the knowledge of what it represents. To +be British is a great thing, and I’m proud to think that I’m going to +fight for my country. When this war is over and men are talking round a +table, it will be, “Where were you fighting during the war?” not “Did you +fight during the war?” + + ------------------------------------- + +I’m in a gun-cleaning squad every afternoon. To-day I cleaned the machine +gun on which I’m second gunner. We treat our machine guns as if they were +pets. No one will ever be able to say that my gun is dirty. It will +probably be my best friend some day. + +The finding of the court-martial was read out to us on full parade this +afternoon. First the “Heavies” were lined up on all sides of the deck, +then the “Mosquitos,” as the Machine Gunners are called, lined up inside; +the prisoner between an escort was led up in the center. It was +wonderfully impressive. I felt that I was to witness the condemning of a +fellow soldier to a number of years of hard labor. Over the whole assembly +there came a deathlike silence and the finding of the court was read to us +by an officer, the sentence being thirty-six days! + +The second steward told me that it took two hundred carpenters twelve +hours to tear down the cabins and fix up horse fittings. First the +authorities made arrangements to ship a thousand troops on this ship. +We’re crowded as we are now with only three hundred odd. I hate to think +what it would have been like with a thousand. + + ------------------------------------- + +Early this morning a large man-o’-war came up on the port at a speed that +made everything else seem to stop. We have now battleships on all sides. +This ship, although a long way off, looks tremendous. She is one of the +latest super-dreadnaughts. + +I was on guard last night when one of the cruisers came alongside to TALK +to the captain about having lights showing in some of the ports. I enjoyed +it immensely, for I discovered that the British Navy, true to tradition, +was still able to maintain its high level of profanity. The ship is in +pitch darkness and there is no moon. On deck it’s almost impossible to +walk it’s so dark. Tonight is supposed to be the night on which the +Germans are going to make a raid. I am going to sleep on deck so that I +shall not miss anything. I’d hate to miss the chance of seeing a naval +engagement. I can’t see how the Germans can possibly let a chance go by. A +nervy cruiser could sink any amount of ships. If the British Navy were up +against us they would have had a cut in before now. + +Slept on deck last night. Nothing happened except that early this morning +a French cruiser joined us, and I got covered with smuts from the +smokestack. + +The Admiral has received one hundred and twenty-six words of war news, but +will not let us have them. Probably they’re disastrous. We break up +to-night or to-morrow. It’s scarcely likely that the whole fleet will be +taken to one port at the same time. + +That super-dreadnaught passed down the columns to-day. She is of +tremendous size and travels at high speed. She is probably the Queen Mary. + +Expect to see land Wednesday. + + ------------------------------------- + +Blowing a gale. All day the spendrift has been blowing over. The decks +have been too wet for parades, thank God! All the way over we have had +physical exercise, sometimes as much as four hours a day. We’re all in +fine physical condition. + +To-day we were allowed to wash our clothes. I can see the advantage of +khaki now. Even after working hard on my clothes, my underwear is still +dark white. The rails were covered with underwear and socks when the storm +started. Now every square inch below is used for drying clothes. Even the +electric lights are festooned. We have a final kit inspection to-morrow +and then we pack for disembarkation. We are only about one hundred miles +from the “Bishop’s Light.” + +It has been a very long voyage and we have been very cramped. All our +equipment has to be carried in our cabins. Try sleeping six men with all +their outfit in a cabin nine feet by six feet. The ship carpenter has a +standing job to repair our cabin. We have rough-housed so much that his +attention was continually necessary. The trip has been so long that we are +now beginning to hate each other. I went down in the stoke-hole and the +engine-room. Even amongst the whirling machines it was more peaceful than +in our quarters. It seems months since I was in Montreal last. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dear Old England in sight! + +We’re passing the Lizard now. + +The kit has all been inspected and we hope to land to-morrow some time. + +We’re lying in the historic harbor of Plymouth; arrived here about two +hours ago. We’re surrounded by fast little torpedo-boat destroyers, which +are chasing round us all the time like dogs loosened from a chain. The +breakwater has searchlights mounted on each end and fixed lights are +playing from the shore. As the lights occasionally flash up the ships in +the bay, it is as bright as day. Nobody is allowed ashore, not even the +officers. We may go on to Southampton, only we must get there before five +at night. After that time nothing is allowed in. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sailed at daybreak on to Devonport. Most of the transports are now lying +in pairs at anchor in the harbor. We’re close to the shore. We can see +naval “jolly boats” and pinnaces sailing back and forth. On one side are +lying the H.M.S Powerful and another boat, both of which in their day were +the pride of the Navy. The Powerful was the boat which made such a name +for herself in the Boer War. Now both of these vessels are training ships +and obsolete so far as this war goes. + +All our haversacks have been boiled in coffee to stain them khaki. + +One of the Navy steam launches came by and we asked them to get us +newspapers. They came back with a bundle and we nearly had a riot trying +to get at them. + +It was only to-day that we heard of the fall of Antwerp, the atrocities of +Belgium, and the treachery of Maritz in Cape Colony. + +We shall be getting off in a few hours and this may be the last I shall +write for some time. I have put in a great deal of time during the voyage +writing and have done so under difficulties. Sometimes the cabin has been +torn in pieces, and often arguments, carried on by leather-lunged +opponents of “Kultur,” have made this work hard. + +We hear that some paper published an account of the sinking of twenty of +the ships. This rumor is false, and it’s a beastly thing for the newspaper +to do, but you must remember to discount all news a great deal. + +Still on board and we shall probably be here for a few days more. My, it’s +galling to be so near to the land and yet to be cooped up in our crowded +quarters. Crowded launches and steamers are sailing round the liners. All +day long cheering crowds come out to see us. Last night another liner +called Florizel, with the First Regiment Newfoundland troops, tied up to +us. They were a fine-looking lot of men. We told them we had no tobacco; +they threw dozens of tins of their tobacco and cigarettes over to us. We +fought for them. I got the remains of one tin with most of the contents +spilt. Still, as many of us haven’t had a smoke for three days, we +appreciated it. Several cruisers have come in to-day, and there seem to be +dozens of submarines and torpedo boats cruising around all day. The reason +we did not go to Southampton is that five German submarines were waiting +for us. + +The transports are unloading at the rate of five or six ships a day. It +will probably be our turn on Sunday. The fleet looks splendid at night now +that we have most of the lights on. All night the steel riveters are at +work on three battleships that are being built close by. Near us are +several “wooden walls.” One is a ship of Nelson’s, the Queen Adelaide. +Every boat, tug, lighter and motor boat here is the property of the +Admiralty. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are probably going to Salisbury Plain for two months. We are the first +Expeditionary Force to land in England from the dominions or colonies, but +others are on their way. The sailors from the training ships serenade us +in boats with bands and play “O Canada,” “The Maple Leaf Forever,” and all +day long on one ship or the other we hear “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” +Every one is singing it; without doubt it is _the_ song of the war. To-day +we got a bundle of papers. We read them right through to the +advertisements. Cigarettes and matches are at a premium and food is +running out on board. The strain of staying here is becoming too great. +We’re all disagreeable and insubordinate. The guard room is already full +and will soon need enlarging. + +On guard to prevent the men of the two ships (our own and the Florizel +with the Newfoundlanders) coming over to visit each other. At ten o’clock +at night I got the tip that a bunch of men were going to make a break for +shore and I was asked to go. I had just come off sentry and was dressed +for shore. We all met up forward, hailed a police boat, climbed down a +rope ladder across two barges unloading shells and into the police launch. +When I got in I found that I and one other fellow were the only privates; +all the rest were sergeants and corporals, thirteen altogether, unlucky +number. The police sergeants asked me if we had passes. I said, “You bet,” +and we sailed away from the ship right under everybody’s nose. We landed +and then took a car to Plymouth and went on the Hoe, which has been in +absolute darkness since the beginning of the war. Girls were very +interested in us and took most of our collar badges and buttons as +souvenirs. One man asked me to give him a cigarette as a souvenir. + +We met an English captain in a tobacconist’s and he invited us up to the +barracks. Two of us went. I was one. To get there we had to go on a street +car. We had just sat down when up the stairs came my Lieutenant McCarthy. +When he saw me he said, “How the hell did you get here?” “Oh, just swam +across.” “Well, if you get caught it’ll be the guard room for you.” I +said, “Never mind, we’ll have company.” He is a pretty good sport. We went +to the barracks, had a session with the captain, then went to the quay, +picked up the rest of the men, and sneaked on board. I got to bed at three +and had to get up this morning at six o’clock to go on guard. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sunday, very tired. On guard all day, two hours on, four off. It’s very +unfortunate having a Sunday guard, because in the ordinary way we have to +attend church parade in the morning and after having listened to a sermon +and sung “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” or, “Fight the good fight,” we are +free for the day, whereas guards stay on twenty-four hours. + +The major noticed one of the sergeants coming on board this morning at six +o’clock. The idiot missed us this morning and of course that dished us. +The sergeants got in wrong. As I am only a private, and therefore ignorant +and simple according to the military code, and, being with +non-commissioned officers who are supposed to possess superior +intelligence, I got away with it. The sergeants have had to do sentry on +the same ladder we went down. + +Everybody is as disagreeable as possible. We are lying in midstream and +can see the town. Can you imagine anything more galling than that? + +While I was on guard the Vicar of Plymouth came aboard and held service. +He said that the last time a Vicar of Plymouth preached to warriors was +just before Drake sailed to meet the Armada. + +Thank God! moving at last. We’ve moored up to the docks just opposite two +magnificent dreadnaughts. Naval men are handling our cargo, our kit bags +are packed and we are ready to disembark. + +Near our ship’s stern is a barge full of ventilators and spare parts of +ships which are taken away when ships are cleared for action. Some of the +rifle racks were marked Cornwall and I noticed a davit post with the name +Highflyer, the boat that sank the Kaiser Wilhelm after she had been +preying on the shipping off South Africa. When a ship is cleared for +action, all inflammable fittings, such as wooden doors, ladders, racks, +extra boats, and davits, etc., are discarded. If the order to “clear the +decks for action” comes at sea, overboard go all these luxuries. It is +calculated that the cost of “clearing decks” on a cruiser is five thousand +dollars. + +Some of our stuff was unloaded yesterday, and when the ship moved a guard +was placed over it. When the corporal went down the gangplank with the +relief, Pat and I walked down behind as if we were part of the same, right +by the officers. We had a devil of a job to get through the dock gates, a +suspicious policeman and sentry on guard. We told the sergeant of the +police a pitiful story, saying that we hadn’t had anything to eat for +three days, and finally he relented. “All right, my lads, only don’t +‘swing the lead’ in town.” We got into Devonport and went to the biggest +hotel. Before they had time to throw us out we ordered breakfast of real +food. It was fine after the ship’s grub. After sitting there ten minutes, +the general commanding the district came in and sat behind us. He stared. +Two privates in the same room as the general!! But all he said was, “If +you boys can fight as you eat, you’ll make an impression.” Then we visited +some other places! + +We went back to the docks and went over the super-dreadnaughts, Tiger and +Benbow, the biggest war vessels in the world. The Tiger’s speed on her +trials was 37.5 knots an hour. + +After we had seen enough, we went back to the ship and tried to look as if +we had been working with one of the fatigue parties on shore. It worked! + +We marched off the ship midday and then I had to go on guard again all +night. That was the first time we were allowed ashore to see the town, and +I was on guard, so if I hadn’t slipped ashore on the two occasions +mentioned, I should not have seen it at all. + + ------------------------------------- + +It rained all night, and when I was off guard I slept on the top of one of +our armored trucks, under a tarpaulin. It’s wonderful how we can sleep now +anywhere, and we often have our clothes on for three days at a time. Many +a time I sleep with all my equipment on. Get wet and dry it by keeping it +on. We all have to do it. The idea of pajamas or baths as necessities +seems funny. At one time I would sooner go without breakfast than miss a +bath. Now I make sure of the breakfast. + +We are going to drive our cars through England to Salisbury Plain. We +started this morning and drove through Devonport. Cheering crowds +everywhere. All our cars wear the streaming pennants: “Canada With the +Empire,” which pleased the people a great deal. + +As we rode through the streets people showered gifts upon us, such as +cakes, chocolates, newspapers and apples, and everywhere made lusty +demonstrations. The people of Taunton, as soon as they heard that the +Canadians were coming, turned out the barracks and we were met by all the +officers, who came in to talk to us. One second lieutenant, after studying +me for some time, said, “Isn’t your name Keene?” “Yes,” I replied, “but +how do you know?” “I went to school with you fifteen years ago.” His name +was Carter; he was in the Second Dorsets. That night he got me out of +barracks for a couple of hours, and we hashed over the schoolboy +reminiscences. The people of Taunton were arranging a dance for us, but +nobody was allowed to attend. The major believes in putting us to bed +early; his theory being that a man can’t drive cars well after a party, +and he couldn’t keep the drivers in alone. + +Ladies from Taunton, of the pleasing English type with beautiful +complexions, handed round all sorts of rubbish, jam puffs, and other +things which belong to the time before we joined the army. + +Traveled all the morning. Everybody turned out to see us. The +Brigadier-General wired ahead, and hastily prepared placards, still wet, +were hanging from the windows,— + + + God Bless the Canadians + Loyal Sons + of + The Empire + + The gathering of + the Lions’ whelps + + +and in one case the haste was so great that “God Save the King” was hung +upside down. + +Everybody wants my badges and buttons, and some men in the unit have not +one left. Hence I have requisitioned an order for a hundred to meet the +demand. + +All over the country you see “Kitchener’s Army” drilling. In one case we +passed about a hundred of them. When they saw us they broke ranks and +shook us by the hands. The people of England are much impressed with our +speed in coming over. Old men and women shouted, “God bless you, +Canadians!” while tears trickled down their cheeks. + +I read this notice in one little shop,— + + + At noon every day the church bell will ring a few chimes and + everybody is asked to stop whatever he is doing and offer this + prayer, “Oh, Lord, help our soldiers and sailors to defeat our + enemies, and let us have Peace.” + + (Signed) The Vicar. + + +Recruiting notices ten feet by six feet with the sentence “Your King and +Country Need You” are to be seen everywhere in shops, on barns, trees, and +even church doors. + +Motorists and cyclists are warned to pull up whenever requested or the +results may be serious. Most of the motors have O.H.M.S. plates above the +number plate. + +We billeted in a village school; all slept in our blankets on the floor. +Left the school and cleaned up before the kids came for their lessons next +day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Salisbury Plain. Arrived to-day. This part is called Bustard and takes its +name from the small Bustard Inn, Headquarters of General Alderson, General +Officer Commanding. Troops are here in thousands and we are no novelty. +The roads are torn up. Mud is two feet deep in places. All through the day +and night motor lorries, artillery and cavalry are traveling over the +ground. Aeroplanes are circling overhead and heavy artillery are firing. +We see the shells bursting on the ranges every day. + +Always raining. Everything is wet, and I am sleeping in a rotten tent +which leaks. Still, we are all so fit that what would kill an ordinary man +doesn’t worry us much. + +We all get three days’ leave and are trying by every means possible to +wangle another day or two. Many men have to see dentists, and lots of men +have grandparents in Scotland who display signs of dying suddenly. If the +excuse is good enough, we get four days and sometimes five. I have a +sweetheart in Scotland, but if that is played out I have to work something +else. + + ------------------------------------- + +Wonderful sight from where I am now. Miles of tents, motors and horse +lines on this desolate moorland. No houses; only camps and a few trees +which have been planted as wind screens. The soil is very poor, too poor +for farming. It is government property and it is only used for troops. We +are ten miles from a railroad. We are so isolated that we might be in +Africa, except that it’s so cold. + +The papers are starting an agitation to get the Canadians to march through +London, and are asking why they should be smuggled in and then shut up on +Salisbury Plain. They want to see us, AND WE WANT TO SEE LONDON!! + +Our ambulance car has been used every day since we came here, taking +wounded from one hospital to another. The rest of our cars have been used +to carry German prisoners. + +One of the spies caught on the ships is said to have been shot. Several +were arrested; two were caught in Devonport while we were there, one in a +Canadian officer’s uniform. + + ------------------------------------- + +Am spending seventy-two hours’ leave in London. Got leave through this +telegram which is from “the girl I’m engaged to”: + + + Disappointed. Met train. Please do come. Leaving for Belgium soon. + Love. + + EDYTHE. + + +She is a Red Cross nurse. This is a new one and it worked. McCarthy sent +it to me. + +London is very dismal. No electric signs, and the tops of all the street +lamps are painted black so that the lights don’t show from above. However, +we managed to have a good time, in spite of it all. The Germans say that +the Canadians are being held in England to repel the invasion. + + ------------------------------------- + +The facilities for bathing are not very extensive. I rode into Salisbury, +a distance of seventeen miles, yesterday, on top of some packing-cases in +a covered transport wagon, for a bath, the first since I was last on +leave. We get a Turkish bath in town for thirty cents. After that we had a +large juicy steak and then started our seventeen-mile trip back through +the pouring rain. Every other mile we got down and helped the driver swear +and push the car out of the mud, vast quantities of which abound on the +Salisbury roads, believe me!! + + ------------------------------------- + +It is Sunday afternoon. Most of the men in camp are asleep or reading. +Outside it is raining. It seems to be always raining, and occasionally we +have such a thick fog that even a trip to get water is exciting before you +can get back to your own lines. + +Owing to our camp having become a swamp we have had to move our quarters +to drier ground. Moving the tents is not a big job, but rebuilding the +cook-house is! I figure that when I leave the army I shall have a few more +professions to choose from. For example, I’m a pretty hefty trench digger; +then as a scavenger I am pretty good at picking up tin cans and pieces of +paper; also I’m an expert in building things such as shelters from any old +pieces of timber that we can steal; then as a cook I can now make that +wonderful tea that I wrote you about, besides many other things which we +didn’t realize that we had to do when we enlisted. + +To-day the paper says “Fair and Warmer.” We could do with some of that. +Years ago, before I joined the army and lost my identity, I rather liked +occasionally getting wet in the refreshing rain; but now the trouble is +that we are always wet and have nowhere to dry our things, except by +sleeping on them. + +Our major has an original scheme of training men in the ranks to qualify +for commissions, sort of having half a dozen embryo officers ready. I have +been picked as one and have to study in all my spare time. It means a +great deal more work, but it’s very interesting and the sort of thing I +would like to do. We start to-day. + + ------------------------------------- + +We began our instruction on the machine gun to the officers and the men +who are up here for a special course; I have a boozy lieutenant, who +doesn’t care a hang, and a bright non-com. Some of the officers we brought +over make good mascots. + + ------------------------------------- + +It was fine to-day. We were even able to open up the tent flap to dry the +place a bit. To-day the major congratulated me on the Christmas card I +designed for the unit. + +Our classes of instruction to the “alien” officers finish to-morrow. Both +the men I was instructing passed. + +The adjutant is very anxious to put us through our officers’ training +course quickly. + +We are now recognized as the specialist corps in the machine-gun work with +the Canadian Division, and he is anxious that we shall be ready to take +commissions when casualties occur. Every battalion of infantry has a +machine-gun section attached, and we have the job of training the officers +and sergeants of these sections. + +Owing to the bombardment of the east coast, several of our battalions are +under orders to move at a moment’s notice. It is thought that the +bombardment was simply a ruse to draw the British fleet away from around +Heligoland. + + ------------------------------------- + +The newspaper boys in Salisbury, when you refuse to buy an “Hextra,” shout +“Montreal Star” and “Calgary Eyeopener,” and all the shopgirls and +barmaids in Salisbury say, “Some kid,” “Believe muh,” “Oh, Boy!” + + ------------------------------------- + +I had been granted Christmas leave at the last minute, and as it was +awkward to telegraph to Northwich, I arrived after a long journey, lasting +sixteen hours, ten minutes ahead of the letter I’d sent saying I was +coming. My arrival soon spread over the town. A Canadian—this was a rather +unique thing for Northwich, a little Cheshire town. Out of a population of +about eighteen thousand, two thousand men have joined the colors. The men +in uniform from the works are all receiving half pay. The other men who +are staying are working twelve hours a day and give up part of their pay +so that the jobs of the soldiers will be open when they come back. +Thirty-five Belgian refugees are being kept here. Money to keep them for +twelve months has been subscribed. One huge house has been taken over as a +hospital with twenty-three nurses, all volunteers from Northwich. +Everybody has done or is doing something in the great struggle. The young +ladies in this neighborhood have no use for a man who is not in khaki, and +with customary north of England frankness tell them so. + +I expect that you know that the Government has sent around forms to every +house asking the men who are going to volunteer to sign, and men long past +the military age have signed the papers, “too old for the war service, but +willing to serve either at home or abroad voluntary for the period of the +war.” Others have offered to do work to allow young men to go, to keep +their jobs for them. This shows the spirit that permeates England. There +is only one end and that MUST be the crushing of the Germans. I don’t +believe people have any idea of the number of men who are at present under +arms, and still the posters everywhere say that we must have more men. + +I wonder if you know that the Germans are shooting British prisoners who +are found with what they consider insulting post-cards of the Kaiser, and +even references to His All Highest in letters are dangerous. As we are +nearing the time when we shall go across I thought I would mention it. + +We expect to leave England somewhere around January 15th. We have been +living in the mud so long that we are getting quite web-footed. + +This is a war Christmas. People are too excited and anxious to celebrate +it. I wonder what sort of a Christmas the next one will be! What a +terrible Christmas the Germans must have had in Germany. They admit over +one million casualties. Fancy a million in less than five months. During +the Napoleonic wars, which extended over twenty years, six million died, +and yet one side in this war already admits one million. + +The Canadian ordnance stores have been given instructions that all +equipments down to the last button must be ready by the 15th of January. +That date seems to be the favorite one. I believe it is the commencement +of big things; a move will then be made to embark large numbers of troops +across to France. + +All our telegraphic addresses were taken when we came away on leave in +case it were decided to send units over before our term of leave expired. + +A German aviator flew over Dover yesterday and made a fierce and terrible +bomb attack on a cabbage patch. Terrible casualty in cabbages. Berlin must +have designs on a bumper crop of sauerkraut. + + ------------------------------------- + +Back in camp. It was hard to come down to it. Our blankets and clothes +left in the tent were mildewed, clammy, and partly submerged. Our feet are +wet and we are again soldiers, dirty and cold. + +Traveled down in the train with thirty-six men of the Canadian contingent +who had formed an escort for fifty-six undesirables who have been shipped +back to Canada. It seems strange when men are needed so badly to ship them +back because they are a bit unruly or get drunk too often. They will all +come back with future contingents. Six of them made a dash for it at +Liverpool. Three of them got away altogether. + +It snowed yesterday. Last night the camp looked beautiful; the tents lit +up through the snow in the moonlight made a pretty picture, a suitable +subject for a magazine cover, but mighty uncomfortable to camp in. + + ------------------------------------- + +In a gale last night many tents were blown down. We spent all day putting +them up again. The cook house, a substantial frame building, has also +blown down again. + +When I got back I found a Christmas hamper, a bunch of holly and a small +box of maple sugar and packet of cigarettes from the Duchess of Connaught +with her Christmas card. All parcels for the troops came in duty free. Our +postal system is very efficient. We get our letters as regularly as we +would in a town. + +People send us so many cigarettes that we sometimes have too many. I wish +we could get more tobacco and fewer cigarettes. If you remember during the +Boer War the authorities tried to break the “Tommy” of his “fags” by +giving him more tobacco. Now they really seem to encourage cigarette +smoking, although it really doesn’t matter; the same things which are +harmful in towns don’t have the same bad effects when we are living in the +open. + +All leave is up by the 10th of January for everybody, officers and men. + +The Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry have gone to the front to +the envy of everybody. It is a splendid battalion with fine officers. They +have been lying next to our lines and we have made many friends with the +“Pats.” + +Cerebro-spinal meningitis has broken out, and in spite of all efforts to +check it, seems to be gaining ground. Several officers have died with it, +and I believe that four battalions are quarantined. We have to use +chloride of lime on the tent floors and around the lines. My friend Pat +calls it “Spike McGuiness.” The worst of a disease like this is that a +patient never recovers. Even a cure means partial paralysis for life. I +believe that Salisbury Plain is known for it, and I hear that all the +ground that troops are now occupying is to be ploughed up when we leave. +As far as that goes we have ploughed it up a bit already, but a systematic +ploughing will make it more regular. The subsoil is only four inches, then +you come to chalky clay. The tent-pegs when they are taken from the ground +are covered with chalk. + +I think that the Canadian Contingent has had a pretty raw deal. We’re not +even included in the six army divisions which are going to France by the +end of March. Wish I had joined the “Princess Pats,” who are already +there. We want to fight. + +We’re having a beastly time as compared with the Belgian refugees and the +German prisoners in England. We’re beginning to wonder if we are ever +going to the front. There is now some talk of billeting us in Bristol. +We’ve been under arms nearly five months and should be good fighting +material by now. With a similar number of men the Germans would have done +something by this time. + + ------------------------------------- + +All the last week the selected few of us have been working separately on a +course of work to qualify us for commissions. We have had to study hard +every spare minute when not drilling each other. + +Several dogs have attached themselves to us; sometimes they find +themselves on a piece of string, the other end being in a man’s hand. One +of these, a big bull terrier, sleeps in the canteen. The beer is quite +safe with him there, but two nights ago the canteen tent, after a great +struggle, tore itself off the tent-poles and went fifteen feet up in the +air like a balloon, then collapsed. The dog, I regret to say, did not stay +at his post, so a quantity of beer will have to be marked down as lost. +This same bull has a pal, a white bull terrier, who came out with the +officers’ class the other morning. We had not been drilling more than +fifteen minutes when he came back with a large rabbit. We stewed it at +night. It certainly was good. + +One of the mechanics has forged an Iron Cross which has been presented to +the dog in recognition of his services. + +I doubt if I shall ever be able to sit up to a table again regularly. I +would much sooner sleep on the floor, and I have found, when on leave, +that I preferred sitting on a hearthrug to a chair. Even while writing +this I am lying on my blankets. My pipe is burnt down on one side from +lighting it from my candle. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day being Sunday and as there were only two of us left in the tent, the +others being on leave, we gave it a thorough spring cleaning. It needed +it! By some oversight the sun came out to-day, so that helped. We also +washed up all our canteens and pannikins with disinfectant. + +The infantry are bayonet-fighting and practicing charges every day. If you +want a thrill, see them coming over the top at you with a yell; the +bayonets catch the light and flash in a decidedly menacing fashion. They +practice on dummies, and are so enthusiastic that they need new dummies +almost every lesson. + +Every man, on becoming a soldier, becomes a man with a number and an +identification disk. My number is 45555 and my “cold meat ticket,” a tag +made of red fiber, is hanging round my neck on a piece of string. + + ------------------------------------- + +We’re packing up and expect to go away next week. Of course, it may be +another bluff, but somehow I think we really are going now, as we have +been fitted out with a “field service-dressing,” a packet containing two +bandages and safety pins, which we have to sew into the right-hand bottom +corner of our tunics. We have also been given our active service pay book, +a little account book in which we have our pay entered. We don’t get paid +much in the field. We carry this book instead. + +It seems always cold and wet. We are very hardened. We look tough and feel +that way. I haven’t had a bath for a month. Since I have been soldiering I +have done every dirty job that there is in the army, and there are many. +Often when a job seemed to be too dirty and too heavy for anybody else, +they looked around for Keene and Pat. + + ------------------------------------- + +“On guard.” Writing this in the guard tent, when we are not actually on +sentry. We keep all our equipment on, as we are liable to be called out at +any minute. We sleep with our belts and revolvers in place. + +A quarter guard is three men and a noncom. The men do two hours on and +four off. When it comes to a man’s turn he has to be on his beat no matter +what the weather is like during the day or night. The cold is pretty bad +and occasionally it snows. Some units have sentry boxes, but we haven’t. +We use a bell tent. I was called this morning at five o’clock to do my +sentry from five to seven. The small oil stove which serves to heat the +guard tents had evidently been smoking for an hour, and over everything +was a thick film of lamp-black. Everybody thought it a great joke until +they looked at themselves in the mirror and caught sight of their own +equipment. We must come off guard as clean as we go on. I got out quickly +and left them swearing and cleaning up. + +From five to seven is the most interesting relief. I had first to wake the +cooks at five o’clock and then I watched the gradual waking up of the +camp. At six o’clock I had to wake the orderly sergeants and then far away +in the distance the first bugle sounded reveille, then it was taken up all +around and gradually the camps all over the Plains woke up. Men came out +of the tents, the calls for the “fall in” sounded, and the rolls were +called and the usual business of the day commenced. The change from the +deadness of the night with its absolute stillness all takes place in a +very short time. To a person with any imagination it seems rather +wonderful. You must remember that we can see for miles, and in every +direction there are hundreds of tents. Each battalion is separate, and +they have great spaces between them; still wherever you look you can see +tents. + +I wonder if I told you that aeroplanes are all the time flying over our +camp. With characteristic British frankness they always have two huge +Union Jacks painted on the undersides of the wings. We have become so used +to them that we scarcely trouble to look up unless they are doing stunts. + + ------------------------------------- + +The frost makes a fine grip for the cars; when the ground freezes over we +can take the cars anywhere, but unfortunately it thaws again too quickly. +As we are a motor battery we are of course a mile from the road, and +sometimes it takes an hour and a half to get on to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is a howling night, wind and rain galore. I’m wondering how long the +tent will last. I have been out three times already to look at the tent +pegs. How often it has been so since we first came on to these plains. If +you are living in tents you notice the changes in weather more than under +ordinary circumstances, and every rain-storm has meant wet feet for us. +But now we have been given new black boots, magnificent things, huge, +heavy “ammunition boots,” and the wonderful thing is they don’t let water +in. They are very big and look like punts, but it’s dry feet now. I can +tell you I am as pleased with them as if some one had given me a present +of cold cash. At first they felt something like the Dutch sabots. They +seemed absolutely unbendable and so we soaked them with castor-oil. Once +they become moulded to the feet they are fine. Of course they are not +pretty, but they keep the wet out. + +We have had new tunics issued to us of the regular English pattern, much +more comfortable than our other original ones, and then instead of the +hard cap we now have a soft one, something like a big golf cap with the +flap on to pull down over the ears. These are much more comfortable. They +have one great advantage over the old kind—we can sleep in them. We can +now lie down in our complete outfits even to our hats. Once I considered +it a hardship to sleep in my clothes. Now to go to bed we don’t undress; +we put on clothes. + +I managed to get a pass to Salisbury on Saturday and went to the local +vaudeville show. In the row in front of me were several young officers of +the British Army, and it was striking what a clean-cut lot they were. +England is certainly giving of her best. They were not very much different +from any others, but at the same time they are the type of Englishmen who +have done things in the past and will do things again. They are all +Kitchener’s Army. Thousands of men who have never been in the army before +threw up everything to go in the ranks. You see side by side professors, +laborers, lawyers, doctors, stevedores, carters, all classes, rich and +poor, a great democratic army, drilling to fight so that this may be a +decent world to live in. + +At present it is almost impossible to use each man in his own profession +as they do in Germany, but sometimes the non-commissioned officers work it +out in this way. + +Sergeant to squad of recruits:— + +“Henybody ’ere know anythink abart cars?” + +“Yes; I do. I own a Rolls Royce.” + +“Olright; fall out and clean the major’s motor bike.” + +One patriotic mother who had a son who was a butcher did her best to get +him to join the Royal Army Medical Corps, because he was proficient at +cutting up meat and would feel quite at home assisting at amputations. + + ------------------------------------- + +Now that we are approaching the time for our departure to France we are +hearing that favorite farewell to all men going to the front, “Good-bye, +I’ll look every day for your name in the casualty list.” + +The “Princess Pats” have already been in action. They had a hard fight and +many of them have been put out of business. We envied them when they went +away and still do, although it only seems yesterday that we were lying +together here and now a number of them are lying “somewhere in France.” + +The jam-making firm of Tickler was awarded a huge contract for the supply +of “Tommy’s” daily four ounces of jam; either plum and apple were the +cheapest combination or else the crop of these two fruits must have been +enormous, because every single tin of jam that went to the training camps, +France, Dardanelles, or Mesopotamia, was of this mixture. + +We became so tired of it that we used the unopened tins to make borders of +flower-beds, or we used them to make stepping-stones across puddles. +Eventually the world’s supply of plums and apples having been used up, the +manufacturers were forced to use strawberries. + +In the army all food is handled by the Army Service Corps, and as soon as +they found real jam coming through they took it for their own and still +forwarded on to us their reserve “plum and apple.” The news got around +amongst the fighting units: result—the Army Service Corps is now known as +the “Strawberry Jam Pinchers.” + +Reviewed by King George V, and it was indeed a very impressive sight. +Although there were only twenty thousand troops, they seemed endless. +During the time that the King was on the parade ground in company with +Lord Kitchener, two aeroplanes kept guard in the sky. Our K. of K. is a +big, fine man who looks the part. An inspection by the King is always a +sure sign of a unit’s impending departure. He traveled down on the new +railway which had just been built by the defaulters of the Canadian +Contingent. + +At the last minute I managed to get weekend leave and went to London. No +Canadians there! I caught sight of a military picket, sergeant and twelve +men, looking for stray ones, though. Another picket held me up and made me +button my greatcoat. I did! It isn’t clever to argue with pickets at any +time! + +The train was three hours late. Troops’ trains were occupying the lines. +From Bulford we walked home in a hail-storm. Got in about five o’clock +just as the reveille was blowing in the other lines. They were just +leaving for the front, and had made great fires where they were burning up +rubbish and stuff they couldn’t take with them. Tons of it! Chairs, +mattresses, and tables. When we move, everything except equipment has to +be discarded. We can’t do anything with extras. We have to cut our own +stuff down to the very smallest dimensions. I walked through the lines +afterward of other battalions who had left, and I saw fold-up bedsteads, +uniforms, equipment, books, buckets, washing-bowls, cartridges and stoves +of every conceivable kind and shape; hundreds, from the single “Beatrice” +to the big tiled heaters. Some tents were half full of blankets thrown in, +others with harness. All the government stuff is collected, but private +stuff is burnt. + +In the army you soon realize that you have to make yourself comfortable +your own way. I don’t hesitate to take anything. If I have on a pair of +puttees which are a bit worn and I find a new pair,—well, I just calmly +yet cautiously annex them and discard the old ones. We found a barrel of +beer had been left by one of the other units, so we carefully carried the +prize to our lines and then tapped it. Zowie! It was a beer barrel all +right, only it was filled with linseed oil. + + ------------------------------------- + +Thank the Lord!! Under a roof, sitting on a real chair; tablecloth, +plates; and I’m dry. We have come to Wilton (of carpet fame) and I’m in a +billet. I have a real bed to sleep in. Last night I lay on the floor of a +mildewed tent; couldn’t sleep on account of the cold. To-night I sleep +between sheets, and the wonderful thing is that I’m not on leave. + +We drove our cars down here, each of us hoping that we would never again +see Bustard Camp, Salisbury Plain, as long as we lived; it had been our +home for five months. Yesterday we felt like mutiny; to-day every one is +smiling. As soon as we were “told off” Pat and I went to our billet, a +nice clean little house close to the center of the town. The owner is a +baker. I felt kind of uncomfortable with my boots and clothes plastered up +with mud, but the good lady said, “Don’t ’e mind, come in, bless you; I’ve +’ad soldiers afore. The last one ’e said as ’ow he couldn’t sleep it were +so quiet ’ere.” + +I had a wash (this is Friday night), the first since Wednesday morning. +The idea of having as much water as you want, without having to go a half +mile over a swamp, pleased me so much that I used about six basinsful in +the scullery. + +When the lady of the house asked us _what_ we would _like_ to eat, we both +fainted. I’m afraid we’re going to get spoiled here. Couldn’t sleep at +first. Cold sheets and having all my clothes off—too great a strain! Had +breakfast and then drove our cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and +washed them down inside and out. + +This afternoon I’ve been into every shop I could find, chiefly to talk to +people who are not soldiers. Even went into the church to look around and +listened to the parrotlike description of the place by the sexton. + +Everybody is happy, and although it has rained ever since we have been +here, we haven’t noticed it yet. I may say there are four or five kids, +and the whole house could be packed into our front room. Still, “gimme a +billet any time.” + + ------------------------------------- + +I have just received the news that I have been given a Second Lieutenancy +in the Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field Artillery, and I go into +camp at Bisley at once. I am very glad that before being an officer I have +been a private, because I now have the latter’s point of view. I am going +to try hard to be a good officer; promotion always means more work and +responsibility,—so here goes. + +I have been very busy lately training my new section, and we are now part +of the 12th Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division British +Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day for the “Great Adventure.” + +Somewhere in France. At last we are here. We landed at a place the name of +which I am not allowed to mention, and were then taken by a guide to a +“Rest Camp” about two miles from the docks. If they had called it a +garbage dump I shouldn’t have been surprised. You would be very much +surprised with the France of to-day. Everybody speaks English; smart khaki +soldiers in thousands everywhere. + +Already I have seen men who have been gassed and the hospitals here are +full of wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and night and marching +away. English money is taken here, but French is more satisfactory as you +are likely to get done on the change. The officers have a mess here just +as in England. Actually we are farther away from the firing line than we +were in camp at Bisley; but we leave to-day on our machines going direct +to it. There was a transport torpedoed just outside; they managed to beach +her just in time. The upper decks and masts are sticking up above water. + +Since I last wrote anything in this diary we have ridden over one hundred +and ten miles by road towards the firing line. All day yesterday it +poured. The country was beautiful, ripening corn everywhere, the villages +are full of old half-timbered houses, the roads are all national roads +built for war purposes by Napoleon, and run straight; on either side are +tall, poplar shade trees, so that the roads run through endless avenues. + +At night we stayed in a quaint village inn. The men all slept in a loft +over their machines. Our soaked clothes were put in the kitchen to dry, +but owing to the number of them, they just warmed up by the morning. One +officer has to follow in the rear of every unit to pick up the stragglers. +I had to bring up the rear of the column to-day—result: I didn’t get in +until early in the morning, only to find the other subalterns “sawing +wood.” + + ------------------------------------- + +Yesterday was the French National Day. We were cheered as we rode along, +and women and children smothered us with flowers. In the morning a funeral +of two small children passed us. Our battery commander called the battery +to attention and officers saluted. The priest was two days overdue with +his shave—soldiers notice things like that, you know. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day we continued our ride; the weather was much better—dried our +clothes by wearing them. Strange to run through Normandy villages and +suddenly come across British Tommies—many of them speaking French. A Royal +Navy car has just passed us; our navy seems omnipresent. I saw an old +woman reading a letter by the side of an old farmhouse to some old people, +evidently from a soldier, probably their son. It reminded me a great deal +of one of Millet’s pictures. Every one thinks of the war here and nothing +but the war; it’s not “Business as Usual.” + +We stay here one night and move away to-morrow. We can hear the guns +faintly. + +The three section officers, myself and two others, are sleeping in a hut +together. It is one of these new collapsible kind, very convenient. We are +now all in bed. Outside the only sound we can hear is the sentries +challenging and the mosquitoes singing. + + ------------------------------------- + +All males are soldiers in France, even the old men. They look very fine in +their blue uniforms, but I have a prejudice for our khaki Tommies. We get +good food as we travel, but pay war prices for it. Cherries are now in +season; we don’t pay for them, however. + + ------------------------------------- + +Rode another sixty miles to-day. A car smashed into the curb, cannoned off +and ran over me, busting my machine up. The front wheel went over my leg. +My revolver and leather holster saved me from a fracture, but I got badly +bruised up. I was very scared that I should not be able to go “up” with +the Battery. It would be almost a disgrace to go back broken up by a car +without even getting a whack at the Boche. Had to ride later on another +machine twenty-five miles through the night without lights, in a blinding +rain. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everything interesting. Should like to have a camera with me. I had to +post mine back. So many things are done in the British Army by putting a +man on his honor. They just ask you to do things. They don’t order you to +do it. It was that way with me; they merely “asked” me to post my camera +back. + +Great powerful cars rush by here all day and all night, regardless of +speed limits. Every hour or so you see a convoy of twenty or thirty motor +lorries in line bringing up ammunition or supplies, or coming back empty. +Every point bristles with sentries who demand passes. If you are not able +to answer satisfactorily, they just shoot. The French soldiers have +magnificent uniforms; the predominating color is a sort of cobalt blue. To +see sentries, French and British together, they make quite a nice color +scheme. + +Officers censor all letters. I censor sometimes fifty letters a day. One +man put in a letter to-day, “I can’t write anything endearing in this, as +my section officer will read it.” Another, “I enclose ten shillings. Very +likely you will not receive this, as my officer has to censor this +letter.” Of course we don’t have time to read all the letters through. We +look for names of places and numbers of divisions, brigades, etc., but I +couldn’t help noticing that one of my men, whom I have long suspected of +being a Don Juan, had by one mail written exactly the same letter to five +different girls in England, altering only the addresses and the +affectionate beginnings. + +The village in which I am now was visited last September by twelve German +officers who came through in motor cars; the villagers cried, “Vivent les +Anglais,” for not having seen an English soldier they took it for granted +that the “Tommy” had come. + +Everybody goes armed to the teeth. I have my belt, a regular Christmas +tree for hanging things on, with revolver and cartridges on even while I’m +writing this. We carry a lot, but we soon get used to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +The corn is being cut now. Through the window opposite I can see it +standing in newly-stacked sheaves. These places are the favorite sketching +grounds of artists in normal times, and I often wonder if they ever will +be again. + +We return salutes with all the French and Belgian officers. It is +difficult sometimes to distinguish them. I got fooled by a Belgian +postman, and then went to work and cut a French general. + +The nearer we get to the firing line the finer the type of soldier. They +are the magnificent Britishers of Kitchener’s First Army. It makes you +proud to see them marching by, dirty and wet with sweat. I watched two +battalions come through; they had marched twenty miles through the sun +with new issue boots; a few of them had fallen out, and other men and +officers were carrying their equipment and rifles; many of the officers +carried two rifles. + +I am now well within sound of the guns. A German Taube was shelled as it +came over our firing line yesterday. One man was lying on his back asleep +with his hat over his eyes, when a piece of shrapnel from one of the +“Archies” hit him in the stomach—result: one blasphemous, indignant +casualty. From the road I can see one of the observation balloons, a queer +sausage-shaped airship. We may be moved up into the thick of it at any +time now. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been over into Belgium to-day: crossed the frontier on my motor +bike; the roads are terrible, all this beastly “pavé” cobblestones; awful +stuff to ride over on a motor cycle. Shell holes on both sides of the +road, and I saw three graves in the corner of a hop garden. All along the +road there were dozens and dozens of old London motor buses, taking men to +the trenches. They still have the advertisements on them and are driven by +the bus-drivers themselves. Three hundred came over with their own +machines. They are now soldiers. The observation balloon I mentioned +yesterday was shelled down to-day. + +I am writing this in an old Flemish farmhouse, and the room I’m sitting in +has a carved rafter ceiling, red brick floor and nasty purple cabbage +wallpaper. All the men of the house with the exception of the old man are +at the war; one son has already died. The Germans have been through here. +They tied the mayor of the town to a tree and shot him. The trenches have +been filled in, all the wreckage cleared, and they have a new mayor. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is not yet 7 A.M. I am an orderly officer and have to take the men out +for a run at six. I came back and bought a London “Daily Mail” of +yesterday from a country-woman. We are at least three miles from the town, +but they are enterprising enough to bring papers to us at this time in the +morning. A “Daily Mail” costs four cents. + +Since I last wrote I have been up to the front line. Everything is +different from what you imagine. The German trenches are easily +distinguished through glasses; their sand-bags are multi-colored. Shrapnel +was bursting over ruins of an old town in their lines. When you look +through a periscope at the wilderness, it is difficult to imagine that +thousands of soldiers on both sides have burrowed themselves into the +earth. The evidence of their alertness is shown by their snipers, who are +always busy whenever the target is up. + +A battery of eight-inch howitzers was opening fire. Our battery commander, +hearing this, sent us up. The guns, big fellows, were well concealed. They +were painted in protective colors and covered with screens of branches to +prevent aerial observation. In the grounds all over the place were +dug-outs, deep rabbit burrows, ten or twelve feet down, into which +everybody went immediately. The Germans started their “hate.” The firing +is done by hand cord; other big guns are fired electrically. An enormous +flash, an ear-splitting crash, a great sheet of flame from the muzzle, and +two hundred pounds of steel is sent tearing through the air to the +“Kultur” exponents. The whole gun lifts off the ground and runs back on +its oil-compression springs. These guns are moved by their own caterpillar +tractors which are kept somewhere close by. In three quarters of an hour +they can get them started on the road. The ground for these emplacements +was the orchard of a chateau. While we were there a whistle blew three +times, an order shouted; immediately the guns were covered up and the men +took cover. The enemy had sent an aeroplane to locate them. If they could +once find them, hundreds of shells would rain on this spot in a few +minutes. At a few yards’ distance I couldn’t see the guns myself. The +“Hows” were firing at a house in the German lines which had been giving +trouble. In three rounds they got it and then started in to “dust” the +neighborhood. Of course, the firing is indirect. The officers and men who +are with the guns don’t see the effects. Apparently they fire straight +away in the air. The observation is done by the forward observing officer +in the fire trenches who corrects them by ’phone. + +After the appointed number of rounds had been fired, we adjourned to the +chateau, a fine house, marble mantelpiece, plaster ceilings, gilt mirror +panels, etc. It has still a few pieces of furniture left, no carpets, most +of the windows are smashed; shells have visited it, but chiefly in +splinters. I saw one picture on the wall with a hole drilled in by a +shrapnel bullet which had gone clean through as though it had been +drilled. It hadn’t smashed the glass otherwise. From a window of the room, +which the officers use as a mess, a neat row of graves is to be seen. +Outside there are great shell holes, most of them big enough to bury a +horse. Suddenly a shriek and a deafening explosion occurred in the garden. +“Sixty-pound shrapnel! Evening hate,” said an artillery sub. We left! We +had been sent up to see the guns fire and not to be fired at. + +To go home we had to pass a village completely deserted, a village that +was once prosperous, where people lived and traded and only wanted to be +left alone. Now grass is growing in the streets. Shops have their +merchandise strewn and rotting in all directions. On one fragment of a +wall a family portrait was still hanging, and a woman’s undergarments. A +grand piano, and a perambulator tied in a knot were trying to get down +through a coal chute. To wander through a village like this one that has +been smashed up, and with the knowledge that the smashing up may be +continued any time, is thrilling. Churches are always hateful to the +Germans. They shell them all; bits of the organs are wrapped around the +tombstones, and coffins, bones and skulls are churned up into a great +stew. In some of the villages a few of the inhabitants had stayed and +traded with the soldiers. They lived in cellars usually and suffered +terribly. British military police direct the traffic when there is any, +and are stationed at crossroads with regular beats like a city policeman. + +While traveling to another part of the line we had an opportunity of +seeing the “Archies” (anti-aircraft guns) working. They were mounted on +lorries and fire quite good-sized shells. They fired about fifty shots at +one Taube, but didn’t register a bull. Later in the evening from a trench +we had the satisfaction of seeing another aeroplane set on fire, burn, and +drop into the German lines like a shot partridge. Aeroplanes are as common +as birds. Yesterday a “Pfeil” (arrow) biplane came right over our lines +and was chased off by our own machines. The enemy’s aeroplanes have their +iron cross painted on the underside of their wings and are more +hawkish-looking than ours. They are more often used for reconnoitering and +taking photographs than for dropping bombs. + +We are being moved up closer to the firing line. I have been made +billeting officer. I went to headquarters; a staff colonel showed me a +subdivision on a map. “Go there and select a place for your unit.” The +place was a wretched village of about six houses, all of which are more or +less smashed about, windows repaired with sacking and pieces of wood. All +of the inhabitants have moved except those who are too poor. Every square +inch is utilized. I managed to get a cow-shed for the officers. It looks +comfortable. On the door I could just decipher, written in chalk, by some +previous billeting officer,— + + + 2 Staff Officers + 6 Officers + 2 Horses + + +Billeting chalk marks are on almost all the shops and houses up from the +coast to the front. + +The field which we are expecting to put the men into belonged to a miller +who lived in a different area. We went to see him. He couldn’t speak +English or French, so I tried him with German. While we were talking, I +noticed some non-coms watching us very intently and was not surprised to +find one following us back down the road. When he saw our car he came up +and apologized for having taken us for spies. They are looking for two +Germans in our lines wearing British uniforms, who have given several gun +positions away. Two days ago the enemy shelled the road systematically on +both sides for half a mile when an ammunition column was due. It was quite +dark before we left; the sky was continually lit up by the star shells, +very pretty white rockets, which light up No Man’s Land. The enemy has a +very good kind which remains alight for several minutes. + +Our days of comfortable billets are over, I am afraid. Unless you are +working hard, it is miserable here,—wrecked towns, bad roads, shell holes, +smells, dirt, soldiers, horses, trenches. The inhabitants are a poor, +wretched lot. Many of them are thieves and spies. We are right in Belgium, +where flies and smells are as varied as in the Orient. + +Wherever we travel by day or night we are constantly challenged by +sentries and have to produce our passes. We stopped in one darkened +shell-riddled town and knocked up an _estaminet_; we got a much finer meal +than you can get at many places farther back. We talked to the woman who +kept it and asked her if she slept in the cellar. “Oh, no! I sleep +upstairs, they never bombard except at three in the morning or nine at +night. Then I go into the cellar.” This woman was a very pleasant, +intelligent person, most probably a spy. Intelligent people generally +leave the danger zone. + +Marching through the sloughed-up mud, through shell holes filled with +putrid water, amongst most depressing conditions, I saw a working party +returning to their billets. They were wet through and wrapped up with +scarves, wool helmets, and gloves. Over their clothes was a veneer of +plastered mud. They marched along at a slow swing and in a mournful way +sang— + + + “Left—Left—Left + We—are—the tough Guys!” + + +Apparently there are no more words to this song because after a pause of a +few beats they commenced again— + + + “Left—Left—Left—” + + +They looked exactly what they said they were. + +Windmills, of which there are a good many, are only allowed to work under +observation. It was found that they were often giving the enemy +information, using the position of the sails to spell out codes in the +same way as in semaphore; clock-hands on church towers are also used in +the same way. + +I saw a pathetic sight to-day. A stretcher came by with a man painfully +wounded; he was inclined to whimper; one of the stretcher-bearers said +quietly to him, “Be British.” He immediately straightened himself out and +asked for a “fag.” He died that night. + + ------------------------------------- + +We had a terrific bombardment last night; the ground shook all night and +the sky was lit up for miles. The Boches used liquid fire on some new +troops and we lost ground. + +I found this piece of poetry on the wall of a smashed-up chateau, and I +have copied it exactly as I found it. The writing was on a darkened wall, +and while I copied it my guide held a torchlight up to it. The place +passes as “Dead Cow Farm” on all official maps. + + + I’ve traveled many journeys in my one score years and ten,” + And oft enjoyed the company of jovial fellow men, + But of all the happy journeys none can compare to me + With the Red-Cross special night express from the trenches to the + sea. + + “It’s Bailleul, Boulogne, Blighty, that’s the burden of the song, + Oh, speed the train along. + If you’ve only half a stomach and you haven’t got a knee, + You’ll choke your groans and try to shout the chorus after me. + + Bailleul, Boulogne, and Blighty, dear old Blighty “cross the sea.” + + “Now some of us are mighty bad and some are wounded slight, + And some will see their threescore years and some won’t last the + night, + But the Red Cross train takes up the strain all in a minor key + And sings Boulogne and Blighty as she rumbles to the sea. + + “Oh, it’s better than the trenches and it’s better than the rain, + It’s better than the mud and stink; we’re going home again, + Though most of us have left some of us on the wrong side of the + sea. + We are a lot of blooming cripples, but—downhearted? No, siree. + + “There’s a holy speed about this train for each of us can see + That we will cross the shining channel that lies ’twixt her and me + To the one and only Blighty, our Blighty, ’cross the sea,’ + Where the blooming Huns can never come, ’twixt her and home and + me.” + + +“Blighty” is the wound which sends a man home to England; it’s a war word +which came originally from the Indians, but now universally adopted in the +new trench language. + +I was walking along a trench when a man, who was sitting on a firestep +looking up into a little trench mirror (which is used by putting the end +of the bayonet between the glass and the frame), just crumpled up, shot +through the heart. He didn’t say a word. The trench had thinned out and +the bullet had come through, nearly four feet down from the top of the +parapet. + +Bad shell fire this afternoon. Saw shells churning things up seventy-five +yards away; many passed overhead; had a ride on my motor cycle with the +other officers to reconnoiter the roads leading down to the part of the +trenches we have taken over; road was shelled as we came along. Two “coal +boxes” hit the road and smashed up a cottage in front of us; we picked up +pieces of the shell too hot to hold. + +Our billet now is another large farm, with the pump in the center of the +manure heap as usual; our machines are parked all round a field close to +the hedges to make a smaller target and also to prevent aerial +observation. + +I went through a town this morning which has been on everybody’s lips for +months—I have never seen such devastation in my life; it baffles +description. The San Francisco earthquake was a joke to this. Thousands +and thousands of shells have pummeled and smashed until very little +remains besides wreckage. Most of the shelling has been done to +deliberately destroy the objects of architectural value. + +My quarters are in a loft amongst rags, old agricultural implements, +sacks, and the accumulation of years of dirt; flies wake me up at +daylight. + +This morning I went for a drink in the _estaminet_ I have mentioned +already. Two shells have been through the sides of the house since we were +last there, but they both came through at the usual scheduled time. + +This poor country is pockmarked with shell craters like a great country +with a skin disease. Trees have been splintered worse than any storm could +do. Nothing has been spared. The mineral rights of this territory should +be very valuable some day. When we have all finished salting the earth +with nickel, lead, steel, copper, and aluminum, old-metal dealers will +probably set up offices in No Man’s Land. + +Belgium will have to be rebuilt entirely, or left as it is, a monument to +“Kultur.” + + ------------------------------------- + +My section has been ordered up to a divisional area on the south of the +salient. In accordance with instructions I went up to Ypres this morning +to find a place to park the machines. + +Contrary to the popular belief, we do not fight our guns from the motor +cycles themselves. We use our machines to get about on, and the guns are +taken up as near as possible to the position we are to occupy, which is +usually behind Brigade Headquarters. Brigadiers have a great aversion to +any kind of motor vehicle being driven past their headquarters, owing to +the movement and noise, which they believe attracts attention to +themselves, and as a rule the sentries posted outside will see that no +machines go by. We get up as far as we can, because after we part from our +machines, everything must be carried up through the trenches by hand. + + [Illustration] + + Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun + + +I arrived at the town early and reported to the major who is in charge of +the town and of the troops quartered there. He was living in the prison, a +substantial brick and stone building, which has been smashed about a bit, +but which is still a fairly good structure. The major is a fine, gruff old +gentleman who was a master of fox hounds in the North of England. He came +over with a detachment of cavalry. He is past the age limit, and it was +decided that although he was a fine soldier, perhaps his age would be a +deterrent and his job ought to be something lighter, so they gave him one +of the fiercest jobs in the world—O. C. Ypres! + +I was sent in, and when he heard my errand he said, “You want to park your +machines in Ypres? Why don’t you take them up in the German front lines? +You’ll be safer there than here. Listen to the shelling now.” I knew this, +but I was doing just exactly what I was told. He continued: “I have now +thousands of troops here and my daily casualties are enormous, so +naturally I don’t want any more men. The best plan for you will be to go +down the Lille road and pick a house below ‘Shrapnel Corner.’ ” + +I went on through the town, under the Lille gate, across the tram lines, +past the famous cross-roads known as “Shrapnel Corner” and chummed up with +some artillery officers. They told me that I could have any of the houses +I wanted. I picked a couple which looked to me to be more complete than +the rest and chalked them up. This whole place was alive with batteries. +While I was there I heard a shout and suddenly a hidden battery of guns, +sunk behind the road with the muzzles almost resting on it, started firing +across in the direction of the part of Belgium occupied by Fritz. I had +passed within two feet of these guns and yet had not seen them, they were +so well “camouflaged.” On my way back I saw the “Big Berthas” bursting in +the town, and I was surprised that so little damage had been actually done +to the Lille gate itself. Shells had visited everywhere in the +neighborhood, but had not smashed this old structure. + +I went home, collected my men together, and told them the importance of +the work we were to undertake. I have found it always a good thing to make +the men think the job that they are doing is of great importance. Better +results are obtained that way. + +We went to an “engineer dump” on the way up just after the enemy had +landed a shell on a wagon loading building material, and wounded were +being carried off and the mangled horses had been dragged on one side. As +the wounded came by I called my section to attention, the compliment due +to wounded men paid by units drawn up. + +We drew our sandbags in the usual way by requisitioning for five thousand +and getting one thousand. Always ask for more than you expect to get. + +As we came into Ypres, a military policeman on duty told me it was +unhealthy to go the usual way through the Market Square, because the +shelling was bad in that part of the town, so I spread the machines out +and started on down a side street. We were getting on finely and I was +congratulating myself on getting through, when two houses, hit from the +back, collapsed across the street in front of my machine. Without any +ceremony I turned my machine back along the street which we had come and +went through the Market Square down the Lille road, under the gate, being +followed by my section. About four hundred yards down I stopped; holding +my solo motor cycle between my legs, standing up, I looked back. I counted +my machines as they came up. If it hadn’t been so scary, it really would +have been funny, to see these machines coming down the road through shell +holes and over piles of bricks, as fast as the drivers could make them go. +The men were hanging on for dear life and the machines rocked from side to +side, but they were all there. + +Down the road we went to the houses; there we parked the machines and +unpacked. A guard was placed over them and the rest of us marched down to +the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +An officer has to buy all his own equipment and is allowed two hundred and +fifty dollars by the Government towards the cost. An officer carries a +revolver, but all junior officers as soon as possible acquire a rifle. The +men of a “salvage company” were collecting all the rifles, bayonets, and +parts of equipment near where I was to-day and I managed to get a +Lee-Enfield (British rifle) in good shape. I felt that I would like to +have a rifle and bayonet handy. I found a good-looking bayonet sticking in +the side of a sandbag wall. It looked lonely. The scabbard I am using was +resting in a loft of a deserted brewery. I am now complete with rifle, +bayonet, and scabbard. + + [Illustration] + + "Wipers" + + +Sometimes you see a man smashed about in a terrible way, such a mess that +you think he is a goner; he may recover. Another man may have just a small +wound and will die. A bullet hitting a man in the head will smash it as +effectually as a sledge-hammer. Once a man leaves your unit, wounded, you +don’t see him again. You get a fresh draft. + +No one thinks of peace here. Germany must be put in a similar state to +Belgium first. + +We never travel anywhere without our smoke helmets; they come right over +our heads and are tucked into our shirts; they have two glass eye-pieces. +When we have them on we look like the old Spanish gentleman who ran the +“Star Chamber.” Helmets must always be ready to put on instantly. Gas is a +matter of seconds in coming over. The helmets are better than respirators, +but have to be constantly inspected. A small hole, or if one is allowed to +dry, means a casualty. + +Storm brewing. Flies bad, driven in by the wind. Nature goes on just the +same. I suppose that this farm would be just as fly-ridden in an ordinary +summer. During the bombarding yesterday I noticed swallows flying about +quite unconcerned. Corn, mostly self-planted, grows right up to the +trenches. Cabbages grow wild. Communicating trenches run right through +fields of crops; flowers grow in profusion between the lines, big red +poppies and field daisies, and there are often hundreds of little frogs in +the bottom of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +A trip to No Man’s Land is an excursion which you never forget. It varies +in width and horrors. My impression was similar to what I should feel +being on Broadway without any clothes—a naked feeling. Forty-seven and one +half inches of earth are necessary to stop a bullet, and it’s nice to have +that amount of dirt between you and the enemy’s bullets. The dead lie out +in between the lines or hang up on the wire; they don’t look pretty after +they have been out some time. It’s a pleasant job to have to get their +identification disks, and we have to search the bodies of the enemy dead +for papers and even buttons so that we can know what unit is in front of +us. Flowers grow in between, butterflies play together, and birds nest in +the wire. When the grass becomes too high it has to be cut, because +otherwise it would prevent good observation. In some places grass doesn’t +have a chance to even take root, let alone grow. The shells take care of +that. + +I managed to get a translation of a diary kept by a German soldier who +fell on the field. Below is an exact translation and gives the point of +view of a man in the trenches on the other side of the line. He was +writing his diary at the same time I was writing mine, and we were both +fighting around the salient at Ypres, Hooge being on the point of the +salient farthest east. This part, which was once a place of beauty which +people came long distances to see, is now like a great muddy Saragossa Sea +which at the height of its fury has suddenly become frozen with the +tortured limbs of trees and men, and wreckage and reeking smells, until it +can again lash itself in wild fury into whirlpools. It is in all respects +Purgatory, but of greater horror than Dante ever dreamt of. + + ------------------------------------- + +_Diary of F---- P---- of the 6th Company, 3d Battalion, 132d Regiment. +Killed at Hooge on August 9th, 1915._ + +On May 10, we were told to prepare for the journey to the front. Each man +received his service ammunition and two days’ rations, and we then started +with heavy packs on our backs and our water-bottles full of coffee. After +a long march we reached our reserve position, where we were put into rest +billets for two days in wooden huts hidden in a wood. We could hear from +here the noise of the shells coming through the air. + +On May 13, we moved into the trenches, in the night. We were a whole hour +moving along a communication trench one and one-half metres deep, right up +to the front line some fifty metres from the enemy. This was to be our +post. We had hardly got in before the bullets came flying over our heads. +Look out for the English! They know how to shoot! I need hardly say we did +not wait to return the compliment. We answered each one of their greetings +and always with success, inasmuch as we stood to our loopholes for +twenty-four hours with two-hour reliefs. + +At length early on the 15th, at four o’clock, came our first attack. After +a preliminary smoking-out with gas, our artillery got to work, and about +ten o’clock we climbed out of the trenches and advanced fifty metres in +the hail of bullets. Here I got my first shot through the coat. Three +comrades were killed at the outset of the assault, and some twenty +slightly or severely wounded, but we had obtained our object. The trench +was ours, although the English twice attempted to turn us out of it. + +The fight went on till eleven o’clock that evening. We were then relieved +by the 10th Company, and made our way back along the communication +trenches to our old positions. Here we remained until the third day, +standing by at night and passing two days without sleep. We were hardly +able to get our meals. From every side firing was going on, and shots came +plugging two metres deep into the ground. This was my baptism of fire. It +cannot be described as it really is—something like an earthquake, when the +big shells come at one and make holes in the ground large enough to hold +forty or fifty men comfortably. How easy and comfortable seemed our road +back to the huts. + +We remained in the huts for three days, resting before we went up again to +“Hell Fire,” as they call the first line trenches in front of Ypres. + +Then suddenly in the middle of the night an alarm. Our neighbors had +allowed themselves to be driven out of our hard-won position, and the 6th +Company, with the 8th and 5th, had to make good the lost ground. A hasty +march through the communication trenches up to the front, the night lit up +far and wide with searchlights and flares and ourselves in a long chain +lying on our bellies. Towards two in the morning the Englishmen came on, +1500 men strong. The battle may be imagined. About 200 returned to the +line they started from. Over 1300 dead and wounded lay on the ground. Six +machine guns and a quantity of rifles and equipment were taken back by us, +the 132d Regiment, and the old position was once more in our possession. +What our neighbors lost the 132d regained. There was free beer that +evening and a concert! At 11 P.M. once more we withdrew to the rear, our +2d, 4th and 10th Companies relieving us. We slept a whole day and night +like the dead. + +On June 15th, we again went back to rest billets, but towards midday we +were once more sent up to the front line to reinforce our right wing, +which was attacked by French and English. Just as we got to our trenches +we were greeted by a heavy shell fire, the shells falling in front of our +parapets, making the sandbags totter. Seeing this, I sprang to the spot +and held the whole thing together till the others hurried up to my +assistance. Just as I was about to let go, I must have got my head too +high above the parapet, as I got shot in the scalp. In the excitement I +did not at once realize that I was wounded, until Gubbert said—“Hullo, +Musch! Why, you’re bleeding!” The stretcher-bearer tied me up, and I had +to go back to the dressing-station to be examined. Happily it was nothing +more than a mere scalp wound, and I was only obliged to remain on the +sick-list four days, having the place attended to. + +June 24th. All quiet in the West, except for sniping. The weather is such +that no offensive can take place. The English will never have a better +excuse for inactivity than this—“It is raining.” Thank God for that! Less +dust to swallow to-day! Odd that here in Belgium we are delighted with the +rain, while in Germany they are watching it with anxiety. + +To-day we shall probably be relieved. Then we go to Menin to rest. Ten +days without coming under fire. It is Paradise! + +Sunday, June 27th. At nine o’clock clean up. At eleven roll-call. At three +o’clock went to the Cinema—very fine pictures. In the afternoon all the +men danced till seven, but we had to take each other for partners—no +girls. + +July 2d. 11 P.M. Alarm. Three persons have been arrested who refused to +make sandbags. They were pulled out of bed and carried off. Eight o’clock +marched to drill. This lasts till 11. Then 1 to 4 rest. Six, physical +drill and games. I went to the Cinema in the evening. + +July 6th. Inspection till eleven. Three hours standing in the sun—enough +to drive me silly. Twenty-three men fell out. Three horses also affected +by the heat. Eleven to one Parade march—in the sun. Thirty-six more men +reported sick. I was very nearly one of them. + +July 9th. Preparation for departure. From seven to ten pack up kits. +Eleven, roll-call. One-thirty, march to light railway. At seven reached +firing trench. The English are firing intermittently over our heads; +otherwise, all is quiet. We are now on the celebrated, +much-bewritten-about “Hill 60.” Night passes without incident. + +July 12th. At three in the morning the enemy makes a gas attack. We put on +respirators. Rifle in hand we leap from the trenches and assault. In front +of Hill 60 the enemy breaks, and we come into possession of a trench. +Rapid digging. Counter-attack repulsed. At nine o’clock all is quiet, only +the artillery still popping. This evening we are to be relieved. The 132d +Regiment is much beloved by the English! In a dugout we found two labels. +One of them had the following writing on it: “God strafe the 132d Regiment +(not ‘God strafe England’ this time). Sergeant Scott (?) Remington, +Sewster Wall (?).” On the other was, “I wish the Devil would take you, you +pigs.” + +At 7.20 Hill 60 is bombarded by artillery, and shakes thirty to fifty +metres, as if from an earthquake. Two English companies blown into the +air—a terrible picture. Dug-outs, arms, equipment—all blown to bits. + +July 17th. Marched to new quarters. We have got a new captain. He wants to +see the company, so at 8 A.M. drill in pouring rain. Four times we have to +lie on our belly, and get wet through and through. All the men grumbling +and cursing. At eleven we are dismissed. I, with a bad cold and a +headache. I wish this soldiering were all over. + +July 19th. At seven sharp we marched off to our position. Heavy +bombardment. At nine we were buried by a shell. I know no more. At eleven +I found myself lying in the Field Hospital. I have pains inside me over my +lungs; and headache, and burning in the joints. + +July 20th. The M.O. has had a look at me. He says my stomach and left lung +are suffering from the pressure which was put on them. The principal +remedy is rest. + +July 21st. Thirty-nine degrees of fever (temp. 100° Fahr.). Stay in bed +and sleep, and oh! how tired I am! + +July 22d. I slept all day. Had milk and white bread to eat. + +July 26th. Returned to duty with three days’ exemption, i.e., we do not +have any outdoor work. + +July 28th and 29th. Still on exemption. Nothing to do but sleep and think +of home and of my dear wife and daughter. But dreaming does not bring +peace any sooner. How I would love an hour or two back home. + +July 31st. In rest. Baths going. Duke of Württemberg passed through our +camp. + +August 1st. Up to the trenches. Shrapnel flying like flies. A heavy +bombardment; bombardment of Hooge. Second Battalion, 132d Regiment, sent +up to reinforce 126th Regiment, which has already lost half its men. + +August 4th. Heavy artillery fire the whole night. The English are +concentrating 50,000 Indians on our front to attack Hooge and Hill 60. +Just let them come, we shall stand firm. At three marched off to the +front. Watch beginning again. Five o’clock marched off to the Witches’ +Cauldron, Hooge. A terrible night again. H.E. and shrapnel without number. +Oh, thrice-cursed Hooge! In one hour eleven killed and twenty-three +wounded and the fire unceasing. It is enough to drive one mad, and we have +to spend three days and three nights more. It is worse than an earthquake, +and any one who has not experienced it can have no idea what it is like. +The English fired a mine, a hole fifteen metres deep and fifty to sixty +broad, and this “cauldron” has to be occupied at night. At present it +isn’t too badly shelled. At every shot the dug-outs sway to and fro like a +weather-cock. This life we have to stick to for months. One needs nerves +of steel and iron. Now I must crawl into our hole, as trunks and branches +of trees fly in our trench like spray. + +August 6th. To-night moved to the crater again, half running and half +crawling. At seven a sudden burst of fire from the whole of the artillery. +From about eleven yesterday fires as if possessed. This morning at four we +fall back. We find the 126th have no communication with the rear, as the +communication trenches have been completely blown in. The smoke and thirst +are enough to drive one mad. Our cooker doesn’t come up. The 126th gives +us bread and coffee from the little they have. If only it would stop! We +get direct hits one after another and lie in a sort of dead end, cut off +from all communication. If only it were night. What a feeling to be +thinking every second when I shall get it! ---- has just fallen, the third +man in our platoon. Since eight the fire has been unceasing; the earth +shakes and we with it. Will God ever bring us out of this fire? I have +said the Lord’s Prayer and am resigned. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day I saw the “Mound of Death” at Saint-Eloi; it has been mined a +number of times, and thousands of shells have beaten it into a disorderly +heap of earth; the trenches are twenty-five yards apart; all the grass and +vegetation has been blown away and never has had time to grow up again. + +It’s all arranged for you, if there’s a bit of shell or a bullet with your +name on it you’ll get it, so you’ve nothing to worry about. You are a +soldier—then be one. This is the philosophy of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + What’s The Use? + + +War is a great ager. Young men grow old quickly here. It can be seen in +their faces; they have lost all the irresponsibility of youth. I have met +many men who have been here since Mons; they all look weary and worn out +by the strain. Now new troops are coming forward and it is hoped that they +will be able to send some back for a rest. + +Several days ago the adjutant of the Tenth Battalion Sherwood Foresters +came to me with this message which was sent through our lines:— + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrest Officer Royal Engineers with orderly. Former, six feet, black +moustache, web equipment, revolver. Latter, short, carries rifle, canvas +bandolier. Please warn transports and all concerned. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everybody kept a good lookout for these spies. One sentry surprised a real +R.E. officer named Perkins who was working out a drainage scheme. Seeming +to answer the above description, he stalked him,—“Come ’ere, you ---- +----, you’re the ---- I’ve been looking for.” The officer, nonplussed, +commenced to stutter. “Sergeant, I’ve got ’im and he can’t speak a word of +English.” The sergeant collected him in and guarded him until another +engineer officer, known to the guard, came along. As soon as Perkins saw +him, he said, “F-r-r-ed, t-t-tell this d-d-damn fool wh-ho I am.” “Who the +hell are you calling Fred? I don’t know him; hold him, sergeant, he’s a +desperate one.” Scarcely able to contain his joy, Fred went back to the +Engineers’ Camp to tell the great news and Perkins spent three hours in +the sandbag dugout listening to a description of what the sergeant and his +guard would do to him if they only had their way. + +The real spies, who did a great deal of damage, were finally rounded up +and shot in a listening post trying to regain their own lines. + + ------------------------------------- + +Enemy snipers give us a great deal of trouble. It is very difficult to +locate them. One of our men tried out an original scheme. He put an empty +biscuit tin on the parapet. Immediately the sniper put a bullet through +it. Now thought the Genius, “If I look through the two holes it will give +me my direction,”—so getting up on the firestep he looked through, only to +roll over with the top of his head smashed off by a bullet. The sniper was +shooting his initials on the tin. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all used to dead bodies or pieces of men, so much so that we are +not troubled by the sight of them. There was a right hand sticking out of +the trench in the position of a man trying to shake hands with you, and as +the men filed out they would often grip it and say, “So long, old top, +we’ll be back again soon.” One man had the misfortune to be buried in such +a way that the bald part of the head showed. It had been there a long time +and was sun-dried. Tommy used him to strike his matches on. A corpse in a +trench is quite a feature, and is looked for when the men come back again +to the same trench. + +We live mostly on bully beef and hard tack. The first is corned beef and +the second is a kind of dog biscuit. We always wondered why they were so +particular about a man’s teeth in the army. Now I know. It’s on account of +these biscuits. The chief ingredient is, I think, cement, and they taste +that way too. To break them it is necessary to use the handle of your +entrenching tool or a stone. We have fried, baked, mashed, boiled, +toasted, roasted, poached, hashed, devilled them alone and together with +bully beef, and we have still to find a way of making them into +interesting food. + +However, the Boche likes our beef. He prefers the brand canned in Chicago +to his own, and will almost sit up and beg if we throw some over to him. +The method is as follows: Throw one over ... sounds of shuffling and +getting out of the way are heard in the enemy trench. Fritz thinks it’s +going to go off. Pause, and throw another. Fritz not so suspicious this +time. Keep on throwing until happy voices from enemy trenches shout, +“More! Give us more!” Then lob over as many hand grenades as you can pile +into that part of the trench and tell them to share those too. + +It takes some time to distinguish whether shells are arrivals or +departures, but after a while you get into the way of telling their +direction and size by sound. Roads are constantly shelled, searching for +troops or supply columns. I was coming home to-day, up a road which ran +approximately at right angles to main fire trenches. At one place the road +was exposed for a matter of thirty or forty feet, and again farther up it +was necessary to go over the brow of a small hill. This was about three +hundred yards farther on and was exposed to the enemy’s view. Thinking +they wouldn’t bother about a single rider on a motor cycle, I went up past +the first exposed position. My carburetor was giving me some trouble and I +thought I would see if any rain had got into it, so I turned off the road +down a cross-road and dismounted when _crash_! a shell landed right in the +middle of the road as far up the exposed place as I was round the corner. +Then five more followed the first shell. Had I gone on I could not +possibly have missed collecting most of the fragments. The German gunners +had spotted me in the first position and decided that a lone man on a +motor cycle must be either an officer or despatch rider. So they tried to +get him. The shells were shrapnel and the time was calculated splendidly. +They had taken into consideration the speed of my motor cycle. Cross-roads +are particularly attended to, for there is a double chance of hitting +something, and in consequence it is always unhealthy to linger on a +crossroad. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dugouts are often made very comfortable with windows, tiled floors and +furniture taken from neighboring shattered chateaux. I have even seen them +with flowers growing in window-boxes over the entrance. They all have +names. Some I saw yesterday were called “Anti-Krupp Cottage,” “Pleasant +View,” and “Little Grey Home in the West.” There was one very homey site, +well equipped and fitted, which had been dubbed the “Nut,”—the colonel +lived there. + +My old corps brought an aeroplane down with a machine gun last night. They +were in a shell hole between the main and support trenches. + +For the last few days I have been “up” looking for gun positions. + +The lice are getting to be a torment. You have no idea how bad they are. +Everybody up here is infested with them. I have tried smearing myself with +kerosene, but that does not seem to trouble them at all. Silk underwear is +supposed to keep them down. I suppose their feet slip on the shiny +surface. + +The food lately has taken on a wonderful flavor and I now know how +dissolved German tastes. The cook, instead of sending back two miles for +water to cook with, has been using water from the moat in which a Boche +had been slowly disintegrating. + +To-day I was able to see what a German seventeen-inch shell could do; one +had made a crater fifty feet across and twenty feet deep in the middle of +the road. The top of the road was paved—think it over—and pieces kill at a +thousand yards. Thirty horses were buried in another hole. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been given a special job by the general to enfilade a wood over the +Mound. I have my section now in the second-line trenches waiting till it +is dark before making a move. We have to make a machine-gun emplacement in +a piece of ground which is decidedly unhealthy to visit during daylight. I +have been there in daylight, but I had to creep out of it. On the map it +is called a farm, but the highest wall is only three feet six inches high. + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrived home about two o’clock this morning. We crawled to the place we +have to take up, and I put some men filling sandbags in the ruins and +others even digging a dugout. The enemy had “the wind up” and were using a +great number of star shells. When one goes up we all “freeze,” remain +motionless, or lie still. They send them up to see across their front, and +if they locate a working party, then they start playing a tune with their +machine guns. Bullets and shells whistled through the trees all the time. +They seemed to come from all directions. The men didn’t like it at all. I +wasn’t altogether comfortable myself, but an officer must keep going. I +walked about and joked and laughed with them. The range-taker said, “Some +of us are getting the didley-i-dums, Sir.” I don’t know what that is, but +I had a feeling that I had them too. + +Of course, to start with, everybody thinks every single shell and bullet +is coming straight for him. Then you find out how much space there is +around you. One man came to tell me that two men were firing at him with +his own rifle from the ruins of the alleged farmhouse, ten yards away from +the dugout we are making. Just then a field mouse squeaked, and he jumped +up in the air and said, “There’s another.” I told the men to fill sandbags +from the ruins; they all crowded behind this three-foot-six wall for +protection; they dug up a French needle bayonet—that was all right, but +they afterwards dug up a rifle and I noticed a suspicious smell, so I +moved them. + +We came home very tired. We are attacking Hooge, a counter-attack, to take +back trenches lost in the liquid fire attack—you will hear what we did +from the papers, probably in three months’ time. + + ------------------------------------- + +I’m writing this in a new home, this time a splinter-proof dugout. The +Huns are again strafing us—last shell burst fifty yards away a few minutes +ago. Several times since I started writing I have had to shake off the +dust and debris thrown by shell bursts on to these pages. I was again +sniped at with shrapnel this morning on my machine while reconnoitering +the roads—they all missed, but they’re not nice. I’m filthy, alive, and +covered with huge mosquito bites; you get sort of used to the incessant +din in time. Even the forty-two centimeter shells, which make a row like +freight trains with loose couplings going through the air, are not so +terrible now. + +Through a hole in my dugout I can see the Huns’ shells Kulturing a +chateau. It was once a very beautiful place with a moat, bridges, and +splendid gardens. Now it’s useless except that the timber and the +furniture come in useful for our dugouts and the making of “duck walks,” +the grated walks which line the bottom of the trenches. + +Last night I was sitting in the Medical Officer’s dugout when a man I knew +came in. He was an officer in the Second Gordons. “I feel pretty bad, +doc.” He explained his symptoms. “Trench fever; you go down the line.” +“No, fix me up for tonight and maybe I won’t need anything else.” He +didn’t! All that is left of him is being buried now, less than a hundred +yards from where I write this. + + ------------------------------------- + +Before I came here I had to go to another part of the line, in which the +“Princess Pats” distinguished themselves. We have been hanging on ever +since, and a mighty stiff proposition it is. The O.C. to-day told me that +he had not slept for fifty-six hours. The Germans in one place are only +twenty-five yards away—so close that conversation is carried on in a +whisper. + +In one place they had stuck up a board with “Warsaw Captured” on it. + +My section worked until two o’clock and then the sandbags gave out, so we +had to come home. This was a disappointment to me. I wanted to get the job +finished. My men went on filling sandbags from the same place last night +and discovered the remains of the late owner of the sword bayonet. He has +now been decently buried, with a little wooden cross marked— + + + TO AN UNKNOWN FRENCH SOLDIER + R.I.P. + + +When you read in the newspapers, that a trench was lost or taken, just +think what it means. Think what happens to the men in the trenches; that’s +the part of it we see. Stretchers pass by all day. Since I have been here +the cemetery has grown—a new mound—a simple wooden cross. Nobody talks +about it, but everybody wonders who’s next. The men here are splendid, the +best in the world, and the officers are gentlemen. + + [Illustration] + + A French Soldier. + + + ------------------------------------- + +We have moved to the famous Langhof Chateau on the Lille road. This is +supposed to have belonged to Hennessey of “Three Star” fame, but the +Germans had been through the wine cellars. We looked very, very carefully, +but only found empties. My batman has made me comfortable. I’m writing +this on a washstand; in front of me I have a bunch of roses in a broken +vase. My trench coat is hanging on a nail from a coat-hanger. A large +piece of broken wardrobe mirror has been nailed up to a beam for my use. +One of the men just came in to ask if a trousers press would be of any +use. We have a fine little bureau cupboard of carved oak; we use this for +the rations. A pump, repaired with the leather from a German helmet, has +been persuaded to work and has been busy ever since. The roof of my cellar +is arched brick and has a few tons of fallen debris on the floor upstairs. +That strengthens it. It is shored up from inside with rafters. This makes +the roof shell-proof, except for big shells, and the enemy always use big +shells. The cellar floors are concrete. + +It is very strange the lightness with which serious things are taken by +men here, and it took me some time to understand it. I met a young captain +of the Royal Marine Artillery who was in charge of a battery of trench +mortars. He was telling me of how one of his mortars and the crew were +wiped out by a direct hit. He referred to it as though he had just missed +his train. + +Two days later I went up with the Machine-Gun Officer of the Second +Gordons to look at a piece of ground. To get there we had to crawl on our +hands and knees. In one part of our journey we came to a sunken road. The +day was fine, so we lay there. He asked me about Canada. He wanted to know +something about the settler’s grant. He said: “Of course you know after a +chap has been out here in the open, it will be impossible to go back again +to office life.” I boosted Canada and suddenly the irony of the situation +occurred to me. Here we were lying down in a road quite close to the +German lines, so close that it would be suicide to even stand up, and yet +here we were calmly discussing the merits of Canadian emigration. I +commented on this and he replied: “My dear fellow, when you have been out +as long as I have, you will come to realize that being at the front is a +period of intense boredom punctuated by periods of intense fear, and that +if you allow yourself to be carried away by depression it will be your +finish.” He had been out since just after Mons. + +I remembered this and I found that the nonchalant and care-free attitude +of the average British officer was really a mask and simulated to keep his +mind off the whole beastly business: this great big dirty job which white +people must do. + +I was sitting one afternoon by the side of the canal bank about two +hundred yards in front of my chateau having tea with the officers of the +East Yorks when suddenly the chateau-smashing started again. To go back +was dangerous and useless. My men were under cover, resting, so that they +would be ready for the night work. The shelling was intermittent. One +shell went over and presently I heard _crack_,—_crack_,—_boom_, _crack_, +_crack_,—_crack_; my heart was in my boots and I was unable to move. + +The colonel listened for a few seconds, then said: “Keene, do you know +what that is?” I lied: “No, sir.” I thought it was the explosion of my +machine-gun bullets in their web belts and I dreaded to go up to see my +section. I had worked with them and tried hard to be a good officer and +the feeling that I should probably only find their mangled remains +sickened me. The colonel said: “That’s the ‘Archie’ in Bedford House. I +think the last ‘crump’ got it. You two”—indicating myself and another +officer—“go up and see if we can do anything. See if they want a working +party and let me know.” + +We started to run. On the way up I looked into the cellars to see the men +whom I, the minute previously, had mourned for, and found two asleep, +three hunting through their shirts, and the rest breaking the army orders +by “shooting craps.” From Bedford House a long trail of smoke was rising +and the explosions became louder. We suddenly discovered the “Archie” in +flames. It was in the courtyard and for camouflage had been covered with +branches. It was mounted on an armored Pierce-Arrow truck. The “crump” had +hit it, and gasoline, paint, branches, and hubs were supplying the fuel +which was cooking out the ammunition, the _crack_, _crack_, being the +report of single shells, whereas one loud _boom_ signified the explosion +of an entire box. These shells were going off in all directions and it +became dangerous to stay too near. + +The flames on the car were of pretty colors. It is surprising the amount +of inflammable material there is on a car. The late owner of the car, a +lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery, was cursing in a low, but +emphatic, marine manner, and several other officers from nearby batteries +were attracted by the noise and the pyrotechnic display. I spoke to the +lieutenant and sympathized with him, and he retorted: “Gott strafe +Germany. Why they should hit the ‘bus’ when I have a brand-new pair of +trench boots that I had never worn, I dunno.” Just then and there the case +cooked out and a piece of shell cut between us and buried itself deep in +the support of a dugout, so we got under cover. + + [Illustration] + + “Whiz-Bangs.” + + +In the group was a splendid type of army chaplain. He came over almost at +the start of the war and had seen a great deal of the open warfare at the +commencement of hostilities. He said: “My friend Fritz is not through; +he’ll try to do some more yet.” As the smoke died down and the cracking +stopped, the enemy decided that an attempt would be made either to carry +out salvage of whatever they had hit or else we would try to get the +wounded away. So without any preliminary warning the whole area was +covered by a battery fire of _whiz bangs_, and the shrapnel bullets came +down like rain, several men being hit. The fire eventually died down and +the wreck was allowed to cool off. The “Archies” are used so much to keep +the aeroplanes up, and next to the loss of his boots the officer in charge +was worried by the fact that the enemy would send an aeroplane over to see +what they had hit. It was very necessary to keep the planes away, because +at this time there were one hundred and fourteen batteries of artillery in +the neighborhood. + +Later on the battery commander came down, and as he looked at the red-hot +armor plates he said: “Five thousand pounds gone up in smoke. Sorry I +missed the fireworks.” The Divisional general called him up at the dugout +and gave him areas for the distribution of the four anti-aircraft guns and +cars comprising his battery. After he was through the commander replied: +“Very good, sir, that will be done with all the guns except the third +gun.” The voice over the wire became very dignified, a preliminary to +becoming sulphuric. “What do you mean, all but the third gun?” “Because, +sir, the enemy has just ‘crumped’ the third gun and all that remains of it +is scrap iron.” + +One of the battalions has a fine victrola in the officers’ mess dugout +with a good selection of records. I have heard Caruso accompanied on the +outside by an orchestra of guns. It was a wonderful mixture. Speaking of +canned music reminds me we have a small portable trench machine, which +closes up like a valise, easily handled and carried about. One man near +had a box full of needles distributed in his back by a bomb; he considers +himself disgraced; he says it will be kind of foolish in years to come to +show his grandchildren twenty-five or thirty needles and tell them that +they were the cause of his wounds. + +The Tommies play mouth organs a great deal and it is much easier to march +to the sound of one, even + + + ’Ere we are; ’ere we are, + ’Ere we are agin. + We beat ’em on the Marne, + We beat ’em on the Aisne, + We gave ’em ’ELL at Neuve Chapelle, + And ’ere we are agin— + + +sounds well with the addition of a little music. + +Anything is used for trench work; often if we waited for the proper +materials we should be uncomfortable, so it is one of the qualifications +of a good soldier to find things. Sometimes we steal material belonging to +other units, then stick around until the owners come back and help them +look for them; however, it is always advisable to steal materials from +juniors in rank; if they find it out, and are senior, then you are in for +a one-sided strafe. + +One of the other battery subalterns found a deserted carpenter’s shop and +he let his men loose to dismantle it. They took the parts of steel +machines and used them for the construction of a dugout. One man said, +“It’s like coming home drunk and smashing up the grand piano with an axe.” +They must have attracted the attention of the ever-alert Boche, for no +sooner had they moved out than the place was shelled to the ground. +Everything I now look at with an eye to its value for trench construction; +thus, telegraph poles, doors, iron girders, and rails are more valuable to +us out here than a Rolls Royce. + + [Illustration] + + The “Crump.” + + + ------------------------------------- + +Slang or trench language is used universally. My own general talks about +“Wipers,” the Tommy’s pronunciation of Ypres, and I have seen a reference +to “Granny” (the fifteen-inch howitzer) in orders “mother” is the name +given to the twelve-inch howitzer. The trench language is changing so +quickly that I think the staff in the rear are unable to keep up to date, +because they have recently issued an order to the effect that slang must +not be used in official correspondence. Now instead of reporting that a +“dud Minnie” arrived over back of “mud lane,” it is necessary to put, “I +have the honor to report that a projectile from a German Minnenwerfer +landed in rear of Trench F 26 and failed to explode.” + +Sometimes names of shells go through several changes. For example, high +explosives in the early part of the war were called “black Marias,” that +being the slang name for the English police patrol wagon. Then they were +called “Jack Johnsons,” then “coal boxes,” and finally they were +christened “crumps” on account of the sound they make, a sort of +_cru-ump!_ noise as they explode. “Rum jar” is the trench mortar. +“Sausage” is the slow-going aerial torpedo, a beastly thing about six feet +long with fins like a torpedo. It has two hundred and ten pounds of high +explosive and makes a terrible hole. “Whiz bang” is shrapnel. + +Shelling is continuous. We have thousands of pieces of shells and fuse +caps about the premises. I have in front of me a fragment of a shell about +fourteen inches long and about four and one-half inches across, which came +from a German gun. The edges are so sharp that it cuts your hand to hold +it. I use it as a paper-weight. + + ------------------------------------- + +This morning I experienced a wonderful surprise. I had gone up to one of +the North Stafford Batteries to borrow a clinometer. The major, while he +was getting the instrument for me, casually remarked: “There’s yesterday’s +‘Times’ on the bench if you care to look at it.” I turned first to the +casualty list and later to the “London Gazette” for the promotions, and +wholly by accident perused carefully the Motor Machine Gun Service list +and there noted the announcement, “Keene, Louis, 2d Lieut., to be 1st +Lieut.,” and for a fact this was the “official” intimation that I had been +promoted. I had a couple of spare “pips”, rank stars, in my pocket-book, +so I got my corporal to sew them on right away. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all very happy at times, very dirty, and covered with stings and +bites; have no idea how long we are to remain up. Getting used to the +shell fire, and can sleep through it if it’s not too close. When it comes +near it makes you very thoughtful. Still working at night and resting +during the day. Made another emplacement for one of my machine guns last +night; had twenty men digging; surprising how fast men dig when the +bullets are flying. + + ------------------------------------- + +It’s about 2 A.M. We have just come in. My new emplacement is splendid; +we’ve made it shell-proof and have it ready for firing. I was coming home +this afternoon after having been to the fire trenches when I heard a +shout: “Keene!” I looked up on the canal bank and I saw the general with +one of his A.D.C.’s sitting watching an aeroplane duel. “I’ve come up to +see your gun position, Keene.” I saluted, waited for him, and took him to +it. It is below the level of the ground under tons of bricks in the ruins +of a farmhouse. He was standing on the roof of it and said, “Well, where’s +the emplacement?” “You’re standing on it, sir.” “Tut, tut, ’pon my word, +that’s good.” He was delighted and congratulated me on it. My preliminary +work under the eyes of the general has gone off quite well. I start firing +to-night. + +Intimacy between generals and lieutenants is unusual, but it looks as if +mine had taken an interest in me, because when he noticed my insect-bitten +face, he sent me down some dope he had used with good effect in India. I +expect the mosquitoes in India were the ordinary kind, but, believe me, +trench “skeeters” are constructed differently and are proof against the +general’s pet concoction. + +I have several miners in my section who take a personal pride in the +digging and shoring up of dugouts. So far the other two sections of the +Battery are always behind in this work but they may look better on parade. + +The canal has one big lock suitable for swimming; a lot of “jocks” were +bathing there to-day. I ordered a bathing parade for my section. Later I +found that the swimming had livened three Germans, long submerged—the +bathing parade is off. + +A Belgian battery commander has just wakened up and his shells are +rattling overhead. From the fire trenches an incessant rattle of rifles is +heard; all the bullets seem to come over here; constantly the whine of a +musical ricochet bullet is heard. Otherwise things are dead quiet. It’s +getting on for three, so I’m going to bed in my blankets on one of the +late chateau owner’s splendid spring mattresses and carved oak bedstead. +Oh! how nice it would be to sleep without lice. From an adjoining cellar +my section are snoring, and I’m going to add to the chorus. Good-night, +everybody. + + ------------------------------------- + +We have been having Sunday “hate.” Eight-inch crumps are once more busting +“up” the chateau. How they must detest this place. My tea and bully beef +are covered with dust of the last shell. You have no idea how terrible the +shell-fire is. First you hear the whistle and then a terrific burst which +shakes the ground for a hundred yards around; when it clears away you find +a hole ten feet across and six feet deep. At least fifteen have dropped +around us in the last half hour. + +This place isn’t somewhere in France, it’s somewhere in Hell! It has been +the scene of a great many encounters; decayed French uniforms, old rifles, +ammunition and leather equipment and bundles of mildewed tobacco leaves +are strewn all over the place. I found the chin-strap of a German +“Pickelhaube” in the grounds, the helmet of a French cuirassier, and the +red pants of a Zouave, close together. When digging in the trenches or +anywhere near the firing line you have to be careful: corpses, dead +horses, and cattle are buried everywhere. I’m building a trench to my +emplacement and we have a stinking cow in the direct line; this will have +to be buried before we can cut through. + +Everybody is cheerful and going strong. Yesterday some of my men went +swimming in the moat of the chateau; a shell dropped in the water near +them, and threw up a lot of fish on to the bank. That kind of discouraged +the Tommies swimming, so they cooked the fish and decided that safety +comes before cleanliness out here. + +It’s hot and sticky, and when you have to wear thick clothes and equipment +it makes you very uncomfortable, but it’s all in the game. + +All through the night we fired single shots from a machine gun; my orders +were to fire between half-past eight at night and four o’clock in the +morning. We have a number of guns doing this. It harasses the enemy and +keeps them from sleeping; anything that will wear a man down is practiced +here. + +I’ve constructed a fire emplacement amongst the ruins underground; to get +to it you have to travel through a tunnel eighteen feet long; inside it’s +very damp. I was working with my corporal, crouched up; we were both wet +and cold, and so to cheer things up every now and again we let off a few +rounds and warmed our hands on the barrel. Outside it poured with rain, +and mosquitoes sought refuge inside and mealed off me. The corporal was +immune. I had a water bottle full of whiskey and water. We used it to keep +out the cold, but it wasn’t strong enough. In a case like that you need +wood alcohol. I would like to have had some Prohibitionists with me here. +We had no light except the flash of the gun and the enemy star shells. + +At daybreak I came home dead beat. I got into my cellar, was so tired that +I threw myself down on the bed and wrapped myself up in my blankets, +boots, mud, lice and all. I hadn’t been asleep long before the Huns +started “hating” the chateau. They have put over twenty-five large calibre +shells into my place, the grounds and the house. They are still at it. +Every time a shell bursts it makes a hole big enough to bury five horses, +and it shakes the foundations all round. The shells are bigger than usual. +The smoke and earth are blown up fifty or sixty feet in the air. The +effect is a moral disruption. _Why can’t they keep that cotton out of +Germany?_ + +I have divided my section up into two teams, one in the cellars and one in +the gun-pits. I relieve them every twenty-four hours, and I practically +have to be in both places at once, but I have got a telephone in between +the two places. I have it by my bed so that I can constantly know how +things are going. However, the wire is cut two or three times a day by +bullets and shell splinters, my linesman has a constant job. + +Fired all night; came back at six o’clock this morning, very tired. Had a +telegram from the general to fire two thousand rounds in twenty-four +hours; this is quite hard work. Actually we could fire the lot in five +minutes, but it would attract too much attention. The enemy use whole +batteries of artillery to blot out machine guns which attract attention, +so we have to fire single shots. + +We have for neighbors four dead cows and an unexploded six-inch shell, +liable to go off any time, all in a radius of one hundred yards. We have +smashed holes through five walls so that we can go through the ruins +unobserved. In one place we pass over a dead cow, and in another we wade +through several tons of rotten potatoes, and I believe we have a corpse +handy; and part of our trench goes through another heap of rotten mangles. +I’m an authority on smells. I can almost tell the nationality of a corpse +now by the smell. It will soon be necessary to wear our smoke-helmets to +go into the emplacement. I don’t think that I have told you that I cross +the Yser canal about six times a day. I’d been up a week before I knew +what it was. Now it only has a few feet of water in it, the rest being +held in the German locks. The part I cross over is full of bulrushes, and +is the home of moor-hens, water rats, mosquitoes and frogs. + +On one side of the canal is a bank which is in great demand by the machine +gunners, who are able to get a certain amount of height and observation of +their fire. The general has ordered a field gun to take up a position on +this bank. He refers to it as his “Sniping eighteen-pounder.” It is firing +at seven hundred yards right at the German line and smashes up their +parapet in a style that is pretty to watch. The machine gunners are in a +great state, because the enemy will soon be “searching” with his artillery +for the eighteen-pounder and the lairs of the smaller hidden guns will +suffer. + +The men are hunting for lice in their underwear. This is the kind of +conversation that is coming through from the next cellars: “I’ve got you +beat—that’s forty-seven.” “Wait a minute”—a sound of tearing cloth—“but +look at this lot, mother and young.” “With my forty and these you’ll have +to find some more.” They were betting on the number they could find. I +peel off my shirt myself and burn them off with a candle. I glory in the +little pop they make when the heat gets to them. All the insect powder in +the world has been tried out on them and they’ve won. + +All sentries here are doubled; one thing it’s safer, and another it’s +company; even when things are quiet, rats and mice scamper about and it +sets your nerves on end. Things which are inanimate during the day become +alive at night. Trees seem to walk about. I wonder what it tastes like to +have a real meal in which tinned food does not figure; fancy a tablecloth; +my tablecloth is a double sheet of newspaper, and even then I can’t have a +new one every day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Had a good night’s rest; came in about twelve o’clock and slept until +eight-thirty this morning. One eye is completely closed up by a sting. + +A German aeroplane has been hovering over our positions looking for my +gun, so we have stopped firing and all movement. I know just how the +chicken feels when the hawk hovers over it. Few people realize how much +aeroplanes figure in this war, for war would be much different without +them. They do the work of Cavalry only in the sky. Whenever they come +over, the sentries blow three blasts on their whistles and everybody runs +for cover or freezes; guns stop firing and are covered up with branches +made on frames. If men are caught in the open they stand perfectly still +and do not look up, for on the aeroplane photographs faces at certain +heights show light; dugouts are covered over with trees, straw or grass. +We use aeroplane photographs a great deal; they show trenches distinctly +and look very like the canals on Mars. + +The Huns have been “hating” the road one quarter of a mile away all the +morning. That doesn’t worry us a bit as long as they don’t come any +closer. I’m willing always to share up on the shelling. + +This order has just been issued. It speaks for itself:— + + + All ranks are warned that bombs and grenades must not be used for + fishing and killing game. + + +I went over another farm to-day. It is one of the well-ventilated kind, +punched full of holes. In the kitchen, stables and outhouses there was a +most wonderful collection of junk: ammunition, British and French +bandoliers, old sheepskin coats abandoned by the British troops from last +winter, smashed rifles, bayonets, meat tins, parts of broken equipment, +sandbags, stacks of rotten potatoes and three dead cows. The fruit trees +are laden with fruit, and vines are growing up the houses with their +bunches of green grapes. + +In the garden several lonely graves are piled high with old boots, straw, +American agricultural implements, rotting sacks and rubbish of every +description, pieces of shells, barrels, and in one room the rusty remains +of a perambulator and sewing machine; rats are the only inhabitants now. +In the garret (the staircase leading up to it gone long ago) I found a +British rifle, bayonet fixed, ten rounds in the magazine, and the bolt +partly drawn out. Evidently the owner was in the act of reloading his +chamber when something happened. The graves were dated second and third +months of this year. The poor wooden crosses were made of pieces of ration +cases and the names written with an indelible pencil. The wretchedness of +this farm, which was flourishing only a short time ago, is very pathetic. + +We have adopted an old Belgian mother cat with her family of three kittens +in the dugout. Now we find that three more little wild kittens are living +in the bricks which we have piled around the windows to protect us against +shells. They are all encouraged to live with us in the cellars. I like +cats, and they will help to keep the rats down. Although some of the rats +are nearly the size of cats. + +It has been raining again and the trenches are filling up with slush. We +carry a big trench stick, a thick sapling about four feet long with a +ferrule made from a cartridge of a “very-light” (star shell), to help +ourselves in walking; our feet are beginning to get wet and cold as a +regular thing now, and we are revetting our trenches firm and solid for +the winter. Eleven P.M. A mine under the Boche line has just been +exploded. The fighting has just started for the crater. + +I took a German Uhlan helmet from a gentleman who had no further use for +it. It was pretty badly knocked about; still, if I can get it home it’s a +trophy. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + +It’s about eight o’clock Sunday evening. All day long shells have been +coming over like locomotives. Every five seconds one goes over into the +old town; every five seconds for the last two hours. The chateau has been +shelled again with “crumps”; they are such rotten shots; if only they +would put in two good ones in the center it would blow it to bits and then +they might leave us alone. The whole of the ground is pitted because they +can’t hit it squarely. + + ------------------------------------- + +My work lies behind the front line and in front of the support, firing +over the heads of the men in the main trenches. The emplacement was +shelled to-day; one shell hit the roof, burst and knocked over one of my +men, cutting his head open. He is not very badly hurt, but has gone to the +hospital. The shelling has been terrible to-day. + +The Germans have been very quiet lately, and working parties are out all +along their front lines at night—something’s up. Dirty work can be +expected at any time now. We have steel helmets to protect us from spent +bullets and splinters. They look like the old Tudor steel helmets and they +are fine to wash in. + +You have no idea what a big part food plays in our life. Yesterday morning +I went with the machine-gun officer of another outfit to crawl about +looking for positions. We were in an orchard. I happened to look up and +saw ripe plums! Terrified lest he should see them and forestall me, I +said, “Let’s beat it, this is too unhealthy,” so we crawled back. Last +night in the light of a big moon such as coons always steal watermelons +by, a section officer and his cook crawled to the plum tree. The section +officer, being large, stood underneath while the cook climbed the tree and +dropped them into a sandbag held open by the S.O. They got about ten +pounds. They go well stewed, believe me. The fact that bullets whistled +through the trees most of the time made them taste better to-day. Sat the +rest of the night in a hedge firing at the Boches with a Lewis gun. I +struck for bed just as dawn broke. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day the guns are again “hating” the chateau, and they have put sixty +shells in the neighborhood. Still, “there’s no cloud without a silver +lining.” I’ve got a new way home. Instead of going right around the +kennels, stables, and through the yards, I go “through” the greenhouse +direct, thereby saving a lot of time. The Huns’ calendar is wrong. They +have always shelled me Sunday and Wednesday. To-day’s Tuesday! + +We use up the window frames and doorways for kindling, and consequently +the doors have gone long ago. I have been smashing up mouldings this +morning with an axe. We prefer the dry wood which is built into the walls; +it burns better and doesn’t cause smoke. As soon as smoke is seen rising, +the enemy’s range-finders get busy and then we suffer. + +Another mine went up yesterday; nobody seems to know where. I think it +came south from the French lines; it rocked the whole neighborhood for +miles. The ground here is a kind of quicksand for a few feet down, and +shock is easily transmitted, the whole ground being honeycombed with +mines, old trenches, shafts, saps made by French, Belgians, Germans and +our own people. + +The use for timber of any description is manifold; every little bit is +used up. Our chief source of supply of dry wood is from the smashed-up +chateaux. Langhof, my home, has been punished almost every day, and after +the bombardment lets up men from the neighborhood come to collect the wood +torn up by the shelling. The men of the Tenth East Yorks came up this +morning and climbed to the remains of the second story, ripping up the +floor boards. The enemy evidently saw them, for the shelling soon started. +We have been shelled often here before, but it was nothing compared to +this. The shells were carefully placed and came over with disgusting +regularity. The buildings rocked and the whole neighborhood shook. +Fountains of bricks, mortar, and dirt were spewed up into the air. Trees +were torn to shreds, a wall in front of me was hit—and disappeared, a lead +statue of Apollo in the garden was hurled through the air and landed fifty +yards away crumpled up against the balustrade of the moat. + +We were in our cellars, and gradually the shelling crept up towards us. +Slowly a solemn dread which soon moulded into a sordid fear took +possession of my being. In a flash I began to devise a philosophy of death +for my chances were fading with every crash. I took out my pocketbook, +containing some letters from my mother and some personal things, and put +them on one of the beams, so that, being in another part of the building, +they might perhaps be found some day. The shelling continued and shells +dropped completely round the cellars, demolishing nearly everything in +sight. The enemy evidently wanted to obliterate the whole place. The smell +of the smoke and the dirt from the debris was choking, and every minute we +expected to be our last. Suddenly it stopped. Philosophy and fear +disappeared simultaneously as I sputtered out a choking laugh of relief. +Then Hawkins, my servant, in a scared voice started, and the others joined +in, singing the old marching refrain of the Training Camps:— + + + “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here, + What the hell do we care! + What the hell do we care! + Hail, hail, the gang’s all here, + What the hell do we care NOW!” + + +When a man has lived night after night in a trench, he gradually finds it +quite possible to snatch a good night’s sleep. In other words, it is +merely a case of becoming acclimated to rackets, smells and food. I had +always been able to sleep, but on the night following the bombardment of +the chateau I just could not doze off. I thrashed about continuously, and +while in this restless state harbored the notion that trouble was brewing +for me. Every one has had that feeling, the feeling that hangs in your +bones and warns you to watch out. Well, that is how I felt. + +At last the sun rose and with it came a beautiful morning, warm and sunny. +I walked out amongst the ruins to see the extent of the damage caused by +the shelling of the previous day. I was waiting for the stew which was +cooking on a little fire near the side of the cellar. The “dixie” was +resting on two old bayonets, and they in turn rested on bricks at either +side. Towards noon a big shell came over and landed in the moat, covering +everything around with a coat of evil-smelling, black mud. This shell was +followed by another, arriving in the part of the ruins where once a +cow-shed stood. I was talking to Hawkins, my batman, when I saw him dive +across my front and fall flat on his face. At the same time I was in the +center of an explosion, a great flame of light and then bricks, wood and +cement flew in all directions. For a few seconds I thought I was dead, +then I picked myself up and saw that blood was pouring down the front of +my jacket. I followed up the stream and found that my right hand was +smashed and hanging limp. My men rushed out and I told them it was +nothing, but promptly fell in a heap. When I came to, my hand was wrapped +up in an emergency bandage, and a stretcher was coming down from Bedford +House, an advanced dressing-station, the next house back. To the delight +of the men who were carrying it, I waved them away and told them I could +walk. Assisted up to the dressing-station by one of my men, I made it. I +then made a discovery. A soldier is a man until he’s hit, then he’s a +case. I first had an injection of “anti-tetanus” in the side, and the fact +was recorded on a label tied to my left-hand top pocket button. The doctor +tied me up, then said: “You’ll soon be all right. Will you have a bottle +of English beer or a drop of whiskey?” I had the whiskey. I needed it. All +the time I was there the wounded poured in. Seeing them I felt ashamed to +be there with only a smashed hand. A corporal came in with both hands +blown off and fifty-six other wounds. He had tried to save the men in his +bay by throwing back a German bomb and it had gone off in his hands. +Hawkins came up later on with my helmet and the fuse head of the shell +which blew me up. We were all collected together and waited in the dugouts +of the dressing station until dusk. Several shells came close to us. I +tried to write to my mother with my left hand, so that when she received +the War Office cable she would know I was able to write. + +Dusk came, then night, and finally the Ford ambulance cars which were to +take us out of Hell. It was a beautiful night. Belgium looked lovely. The +merciful night had thrown a veil over the war scars on the land and a moon +was shining. I was told to sit up in the seat with the driver. We traveled +along one road, then the shelling became so bad that the drivers decided +to go back and take another road which was running nearly parallel. Back +over the line the planes of the Royal Flying Corps were bombing the Forest +of Houltholst, and the bursting of the shrapnel from the German +anti-aircraft guns pierced the velvet of the sky like stars as we went out +of Belgium into France. + + ------------------------------------- + +Several times shells burst on the road, and from the inside of the car +came the stifled groans of the men as the Ford hit limbs of trees and +shell-holes. + +Our first stop was a ruined windmill, the walls of which were nearly six +feet thick. Here the dangerous cases were taken off and attended to. The +last I saw of the corporal was after they had cut off his coat at the +seams and the doctors were taking a piece of wire out of his chest. While +I was waiting a chaplain asked me if I would like a cup of coffee or some +whiskey, realising that it would take some time to get the coffee made I +had some more whiskey. + +I was given two more tags, which this time were tied on buttons at the top +of my jacket. I stayed here about two hours, then I was sent to a clearing +hospital. It was here that I met the first nurses. They were two fine, +splendid women who were wearing the scarlet hoods of the British Regular +Army nurse. They were both strong and quite capable of handling a man, +even if he became delirious. One of them quickly got me into bed. I +apologized for my terribly dirty state, but I was told that it made no +difference; they were used to it. To be between clean sheets again was +wonderful. I felt I wanted to go to sleep forever. Suddenly a roar, and a +terrible explosion. The hospital was being bombed; a bomb had dropped +within a hundred yards of my tent. This was the German reprisal for our +bombing Houltholst. They deliberately bombed a hospital. The doctor at +this hospital next day looked at my hand and said in a nonchalant way, +“Looks as though you will lose it.” At that time it didn’t strike me as a +great loss to lose a hand, even if it was my “painting hand.” + +The hospital train of the next day was crowded and the nurse in charge of +my coach was named Keene. We tried in the little spare time she had to see +if we couldn’t work out our genealogy and find out if we were even +remotely connected, but before we did we came to the station of Étaples +and then went to the Duchess of Westminster Hospital at Latouquet. Here I +was operated on. A piece of Krupp’s steel was taken out of my hand and a +rubber drainage tube inserted instead. The Duchess used to come round a +great deal and won everybody’s affection. She used to sit on my bed and +talk to me about pleasant things. So unlike many people who visit +hospitals and ask the patients silly war questions, such as: “How does it +feel to be wounded?” or “Which hurts more, a bayonet or a shell wound?” +One exasperated Tommy, when asked if the shell hit him, said: “Naw, it +crept up behind and bit me.” + +FINIS + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRUMPS, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + +CREDITS + + +May 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. (This file was + produced from images generously made available by The Internet + Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 28964-0.txt or 28964-0.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/9/6/28964/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of +this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away +— you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks. +Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), +you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ +License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. + + +General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + + +1.A. + + +By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, +you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the +terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) +agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this +agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee +for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work +and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may +obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set +forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + + +1.B. + + +“Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or +associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be +bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can +do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying +with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are +a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you +follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + + +1.C. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or +PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual +work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in +the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, +distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on +the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of +course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of +promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project +Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for +keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can +easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you +share it without charge with others. + + +1.D. + + +The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you +can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant +state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of +your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before +downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating +derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. +The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of +any work in any country outside the United States. + + +1.E. + + +Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + + +1.E.1. + + +The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access +to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever +any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase +“Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” +is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or +distributed: + + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + + +1.E.2. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from the +public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with +permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and +distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or +charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you +must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 +or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.3. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the +permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply +with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed +by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project +Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the +copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + + +1.E.4. + + +Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License +terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any +other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. + + +1.E.5. + + +Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic +work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying +the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate +access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License. + + +1.E.6. + + +You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, +marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word +processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted +on the official Project Gutenberg™ web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. +Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as +specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + + +1.E.7. + + +Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, +copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply +with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.8. + + +You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or +distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to + the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to + donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 + days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally + required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments + should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, + “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary + Archive Foundation.” + + You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. + You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the + works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and + all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works. + + You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + + +1.E.9. + + +If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic +work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this +agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the +Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in +Section 3 below. + + +1.F. + + +1.F.1. + + +Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to +identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain +works in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these +efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they +may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, +incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright +or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk +or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot +be read by your equipment. + + +1.F.2. + + +LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the “Right of +Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for +damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE +NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH +OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE +FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT +WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, +PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY +OF SUCH DAMAGE. + + +1.F.3. + + +LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in this +electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund +of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to +the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a +physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. +The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect +to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the +work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose +to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in +lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a +refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. + + +1.F.4. + + +Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in +paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ’AS-IS,’ WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + + +1.F.5. + + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the +exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or +limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state +applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make +the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state +law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement +shall not void the remaining provisions. + + +1.F.6. + + +INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark +owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and +any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs +and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from +any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of +this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect +you cause. + + +Section 2. + + + Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ + + +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic +works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including +obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the +efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks +of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance +they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring +that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for +generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for +Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations +can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at +http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. + + + Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of +Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. +The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. +Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full +extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North +1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information +can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official page at +http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. + + + Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive + Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the +number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment +including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are +particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. +Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable +effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these +requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not +received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or +determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have +not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against +accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us +with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the +United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods +and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including +checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please +visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. + + + General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with +anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ +eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, +all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright +notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance +with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook’s eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed +(zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the +old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org + + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how +to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, +how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email +newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + + + + +***FINIS*** +
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/28964-0.zip b/28964-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..24dda11 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-0.zip diff --git a/28964-8.txt b/28964-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5897746 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3556 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Crumps, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who +Went by Louis Keene + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: "Crumps", The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went + +Author: Louis Keene + +Release Date: May 25, 2009 [Ebook #28964] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO 8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "CRUMPS", THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + + + + "Crumps" + + The Plain Story of a Canadian + + Who Went + + By Louis Keene + + Canadian Expeditionary Force + + With a Prefatory Note By + + General Leonard Wood + + Illustrated by the Author + + Boston and New York + + Houghton Mifflin Company + + 1917 + + + + + + + [Illustration] + + + [Illustration] + + The "Sub". + + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE + + +HEADQUARTERS SOUTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT +CHARLESTON, S.C. + +11th August, 1917 + +Captain Keene has made an interesting contribution to the literature of +the present war in his account of service, which covers the experience of +a young officer in the making and on the battle front,--the transformation +of an artist into a first-class machine-gun officer. He covers the +training period at home and abroad and the work at the front. This direct +and interesting account should serve to bring home to all of us an +appreciation of how much has to be done before troops can be made +effective for modern war, the cost of unpreparedness, and the disadvantage +under which troops, partially equipped, labor when they meet highly +organized ones, prepared, even to the last detail, for all the exigencies +of modern war. It also brings out the splendid spirit of Canada, the +Mother Country, and the distant Colonies,--the spirit of the Empire, united +and determined in a just cause. + +This and similar accounts should serve to make clear to us the wisdom of +the admonition of Washington and many others: "In time of peace prepare +for war." + +Many young Americans are about to undergo experiences similar to those of +Captain Keene, and a perusal of this modest and straight-forward narrative +will help in the great work of getting ready. + +LEONARD WOOD, +_Maj.-Gen. U.S.A._ + + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Frontispiece. + +The "Sub." + +"Beat It!" + +The Canadian, Johnnie Canuck, The American, And The ANZAC. + +Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun. + +"Wipers." + +What's The Use? + +A French Soldier. + +"Whiz-Bangs." + +The "Crump." + +Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + + + + + [Illustration: "Don't Linger Around Here" + "The Enemy Can See You." + "Who Me? Yes You. Beat It!"] + + + + + +"CRUMPS" + + +_The Plain Story of a Canadian who went_ + +The Laurentian Mountains in the Province of Quebec are noted for their +beauty, fine hunting and fishing, and are the stamping-grounds for many +artists from the States and Eastern Canada. It was in this capacity that I +was working during the hot summer of 1914. All through June and July I +sketched with my father. Other than black flies my only worry was the +price of my tubes of color. + +We usually received our newspapers two or three days after publication; +consequently we were poorly posted on worldly happenings. Suddenly the war +clouds gathered and almost before we knew it they became so threatening +that we grew restless, and even went in to the depot to get our papers so +that we could have the news sooner. + +The assassination of the Austrian Crown Prince and the subsequent events +were exciting, but it was only when Russia sent that one word "Mobilize" +to Serbia that we suspected serious results. Even the summer visitors from +the States exhibited signs of excitement, yet they were skeptical of the +chances of war; that is, war that would really affect us! My newspaper in +Montreal wired for me to come down to do war cartoons and I left my father +and hiked to the depot. + +The Montreal train was crowded and conversation centered on the one topic, +War; the English Navy's ability to maintain her rule of the seas, and what +would Canada do. A young Austrian reservist two seats away was telling +some people in a loud voice how much he wanted to get into it. He was +going back to answer the call. And I had already begun to hear my +country's call. + +A newsboy boarding the train at a junction was overwhelmed and succeeded +in getting twenty-five cents a copy for his papers. + +Montreal teemed with suppressed anxiety and every hour fresh news was +posted. Special bulletin boards were put up on store fronts. Already men +in uniform were seen in the street. And men were trying to enlist. + +The war fever was rising steadily; the chief occupation of Canadians in +those days was watching the bulletin boards. Rumors of sea fights, +ultimatums, disasters, and victories were common. The Kaiser seemed to +declare war on the world at the rate of three countries a day. + +On the night of August 4th, as I was putting the finishing touches on a +cartoon, a friend burst into the room:--"Come out of here! Something must +happen any minute now." We marched downtown,--everybody marched in those +days; walking was abolished in its favor. One met demonstrations +everywhere, large crowds of cheering men with flags, victrolas at shop +windows played patriotic airs, and soldiers with civilians crowded before +the bulletin boards singing the national anthems with great enthusiasm. +The King had declared war and his message to the fleet had just been put +up! Newspaper extras were given away by thousands and movies of the +British Navy were shown on the street. Any one who thought the British +could not enthuse, changed his mind then. + +The audiences at the theatres and moving picture houses on receipt of the +news rose simultaneously and sang the national anthems, then cheered +themselves hoarse. These were the first days of the war. Several +battalions of militia were called out and posted to protect the bridges +and grain elevators. Battalions were raised overnight, and so many +recruits came forward that men were refused by the score. England was +immediately offered ten battalions. Then an army division was possible. +The Militia Department suddenly became a hive of industry. Men with all +kinds of business capacity tendered their services gratis, and the +Canadian war machine, without the experience of previous campaigns, took +shape. They worked night and day bringing everlasting credit on +themselves. Banks offered full pay to their employees in uniform, and this +example was widely followed. The principle prompting this action being, +"It's our country; if we can't fight ourselves, we will help others to +fight for her." + +Existent camp sites were inadequate, hence new ones were necessary. We had +a few, but none were big enough. We bought Valcartier, one of the best +sites in the world, which was equipped almost over-night with water +service, electric light and drainage. The longest rifle range in the world +with three and one-half miles of butts was constructed. Railroad sidings +were put in and 35,000 troops from all over the Dominion poured into it. +Think of it,--Canada with her population of seven and one-half millions +offering 35,000 volunteers the first few weeks, without calling out her +militia. And even to-day the militia are yet to be called. Thus every +Canadian who has served at the front has been a volunteer. England +accepted an army division. Fifteen hundred qualified officers were told +that they would have to stay and train men for the next contingent. But +this was not fighting. They were dissatisfied. They resigned their +commissions and went as privates. Uniforms, boots, rifles and equipment +were found for everybody. Every man was trained as much as possible in the +time allowed, and within six weeks of the declaration of war, guns, horses +and 35,000 men were going forward to avenge Belgium. + +With me the question of signing up was a big one. In the first place, I +wanted to go; I wanted to go quickly. Several other fellows and myself had +decided upon a certain battalion. But much to our disgust and regret we +were informed that enlistments had stopped only a short time before. + + [Illustration] + + The Canadian + + + [Illustration] + + Johnnie Canuck + + + [Illustration] + + The American + + + [Illustration] + + The ANZAC + + +Then came the announcement of the organization of the First Auto Machine +Gun Brigade, the generous gift of several of Canada's most prominent +citizens, and it was in this unit that I enlisted with my friend Pat, a +six-foot, husky Scotchman, with the fighting blood of the kilties very +near the surface. We were immediately transported to Ottawa in company +with fifty other picked men from Montreal. At Ottawa the complement of our +battery was completed upon the arrival of one hundred more men from Ottawa +and Toronto. Here we trained until it came time for us to move to +Montreal, and there the battery was embarked on board the Corinthian with +a unit of heavy artillery. We sailed down to Quebec where we joined the +other ships assembled to take over the First Canadian Contingent. + + + _Corinthian, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914._ + + MY DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER:-- + + We are now steaming down the St. Lawrence. No one knows where we + are going. + + Our fleet is a wonderful sight. All the ships are painted war + gray--sides, boats and funnels. We are expecting to pick up the + warships which are to convoy us across at Father Point, somewhere + near where the Empress of Ireland was sunk. + + Quebec looked very fine. The big guns were being hoisted into + boats, horses embarking, and battalion after battalion arriving + and going aboard. Those who came from Valcartier have had a rough + time. They actually look as if they had come through a campaign. + It gave me thrills all day to see these fine men come through the + dock-gates with a steady swing. It is a magnificent contribution + to any army. It's good to think of all these men coming at their + country's call. + + Some day, if I get back, I want to paint a picture of the fleet + assembled at Quebec. The grays and greens looked really beautiful. + Quebec, the city of history and the scene of many big battles, + views with disdain the Canadian patriotism in the present crisis, + and we had no send-off, no flags and no bands. + + This letter will not be mailed for ten days, until we are well on + the way over. We are crowded, and if we are going through the + tropics we shall have a bad time; it is cold now, so we don't + notice the congestion. + + We had one hundred and forty horses aboard and two batteries of + heavy artillery, besides our own armored cars. All the transports + are crowded. We were passed by about ten of the other boats, and + as they did so we cheered each other. The thin lines of khaki on + all the ships will make a name for themselves. I'm proud I am one + of them. + + We've had a big dose of vaccine pumped into our arms to-day. This + will be the last letter I send before I arrive, wherever we are + going. + + +The Corinthian sailed from Quebec to Father Point, where a patrol boat +arrived with orders. We then sailed into the Gulf, but toward evening we +turned into the coast. When we passed Fame Point Light a small boat, which +afterwards turned out to be another patrol boat, sailing without lights, +flashed further orders to us. The Corinthian immediately turned round and +headed back. The minute the patrol boat's signal light went out we were +unable to distinguish it from the sea. The coloring is a good protection; +even a boat, close to, sailing without lights, it is impossible to pick +out. Apparently our orders were to cruise around until daylight and then +sail for the Bay of Gasp, and this morning at daybreak we sailed into +that beautiful, natural harbor, which is big enough to accommodate the +entire British fleet. + +I expect that to the villagers living around this harbor all events will +date from to-day--to-day, when the wonderful sight of twenty-five ocean +liners drawn up in battleship formation in this quiet place, deserted +except for an occasional visit from a river steamer or fishing craft, +greeted their gaze. + +Five gray fighting ships are mounting guard, and by their signals and +pinnaces chasing backward and forward between the troopers are bossing the +show. A corporal, a South African War veteran, as we looked at them, +quoted Kipling's + + + "The liner she's a lady + With the paint upon 'er face, + The man o' war's 'er 'usband + And keeps 'er in 'er place." + + +Towards noon a smart launch came alongside. Even at a distance the boys +were quick to recognize our popular minister of militia, Sam Hughes, and a +thundering cheer rang out. With him were several soldiers who threw +bundles of papers aboard. These were printed copies of his farewell to the +troops. His launch sailed by the ship, and then on to the next and so on, +through the fleet. + +Our orders forbade the display of lights or even striking of matches after +6 P.M.; consequently all lights were masked to-night on the vessels, +except those on the Royal Edward. The minute her lights were put out the +Bay resumed its normal condition, not even the outlines of the vessels +being visible. + + ------------------------------------- + +A press photographer on a launch has been taking pictures all the +afternoon. Sailed at five o'clock this afternoon just as the twilight +commenced. We sailed out in three lines. The convoy is now under way and +we extend as far as can be seen in both directions. We have two military +police patrols whose chief duty is to see that no matches are struck on +deck. Bill, who smokes more matches than tobacco, has had to go below so +often to light his pipe, that he has decided to do without smoking on +deck. It is surprising how far a match struck in the dark will show. We +noticed how matches struck on the other ships showed up last night. All +our portholes are screwed down with the heavy weather irons and those of +the second-class cabins are covered with blankets. The authorities are +taking no chances. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are having physical drills and lectures all day, and we are working +just as hard on board as we would ashore. Our speed will not be more than +nine knots; the speed of the slowest vessel regulating the speed of the +whole fleet. + +Matches are getting very scarce. We complained about the tea to the +orderly officer to-day; milk is running out, so the tea is made with milk +and sugar in. We asked to have the three separate, but we were told that +if we complained we would have all three taken away. As a floor stain it's +great, but as tea it's a failure. + +We are quartered in the steerage part of the ship and our food is in +keeping. It is really remarkable how they can consistently get that same +coal-oil flavor in all the food. + + ------------------------------------- + +War news is signaled from ship to ship by semaphore flags by day. It is +posted up in the guard room daily. The news that the Indian troops landed +in France on the 29th of September was the chief item on the bulletin +yesterday. We're short on things to read. Scraps of newspapers are +devoured, even to the advertisements. In our cabin we have a "Saturday +Evening Post" of September 26th which is thumb-marked and torn, but it is +still treasured. We were not allowed to bring anything besides our kit on +board on account of the limited space. + +Reveille blows at six o'clock and we have to answer the roll-call at 6.15. +The idea is, that if the men get up and walk about, they are not so likely +to get seasick, but in spite of that quite a number are sick. We have on +board one hundred of our brigade; two hundred and sixteen heavy artillery +and one hundred and forty horses, together with artillery officers and +equipment. The horses take up the same space which in ordinary times is +occupied by humans. Otherwise, we should have a great many more troops. +Our destination is still a mystery. We're a fleet without a port. + +Have just been ordered on fatigue to take a prisoner on deck for exercise. +He is to be tried by court-martial to-morrow for striking a sergeant. All +day he is kept locked up and only allowed out at night for exercise, under +escort. The escort consists of two men and a non-com. While on this job we +watched the signalers flashing the war news from the stern of our boat to +the bridge of the next astern, the Virginian. The news is flashed at night +by the lamps--short and long flashes. The news is picked up by wireless on +the flagship, the Charybdis, at the head of our line and signaled back +from ship to ship. + + ------------------------------------- + +This is the list of the fleet. It is written here in the order in which +they are sailing. Three warships are heading the fleet; the flagship is +the H.M.S. Charybdis, commanded by Admiral Wemyss, who distinguished +himself a few weeks ago in the Battle of Heligoland. + +H.M.S. Diana +H.M.S. Eclipse +H.M.S. Charybdis +Caribbean +Megantic +Scotian +Athenia +Ruthenia +Arcadian +Royal Edward +Bermudian +Zealand +Franconia +Alaunia +Corinthian (The transport on which I was shipped.) +H.M.S. Glory +Canada +Ivernia +Virginian +Monmouth +Scandinavian +Sasconia +Manitou +Sicilian +Grampian +Tyrolia +Montezuma +Andania +Tunisian +Lapland +Montreal +Laurentic +Cassandra +Laconia +Royal George +H.M.S. Talbot + +The H.M.S. Glory, the vessel on our starboard beam, altered her course +to-day and held up a tramp steamer. We could just see the two vessels +through our glasses. Apparently everything was all right as the tramp was +allowed to go on her way afterwards. + +We are all given our boat stations. This afternoon a submarine alarm was +sounded. Everybody on board, including the stewards, had to drop +everything and chase to the boats. In the excitement a cook shot a "billy" +of soup over an officer's legs, much to our silent delight. + +Thinking it over, it will be remarkable if the Germans allow us to cross +without making some attempt to sink a few transports. Besides the actual +loss of the men, the demoralizing effect it will have on the recruiting +would count a great deal. No man likes to be shot or drowned without a +show. + + ------------------------------------- + +I am writing this in my cabin, which is only nine feet by six feet and in +which six of us sleep at night. Besides living in it we have to keep all +our equipment clean, which is some job! + +About eleven this morning a commotion occurred in the middle line. The +cruiser heading it and the second ship, the Royal Edward, turned back. +Also several other boats turned in their course. As we have very little +excitement we hoped it might be a German attack, for we all want to see a +naval battle. I looked at the cruiser through powerful glasses and saw +sailors fixing up the starboard lifeboat, so we presumed that it was +simply a case of "man overboard." + +A big cruiser has joined our fleet and is acting as a flank guard about +three miles away from our starboard side. + +We have a great deal of physical exercise in spite of the rolling of the +deck. This morning, while in the middle of it I was called away to dress +and form part of an escort to the prisoner who was to be tried by field +court-martial to-day. The court was very dignified, and it took a long +time owing to the inexperience of the officers in such matters. It was the +first court-martial I have seen,--the proceedings are strictly legal, being +conducted according to the book, and with the officers wearing their +swords. The poor devil expects two years. + +We have been pitching and tossing a great deal to-day. Physical exercising +on the sloping decks is becoming a mighty risky thing. + +Quite a number of the transports have guns mounted on board so they are +not entirely dependent on the cruisers. It looks as if we are sailing +north of the usual trade routes. I have just heard that five more +battleships are on the starboard beam. They came into sight early this +morning, but have since been out of sight. We are sailing north of the +trade routes. + + ------------------------------------- + +The fleet is being increased. All ships are stopped. Those sailing west +are allowed to go after being boarded; those going in the same direction +as ourselves are made to fall into line, so there will be no danger of the +news of our sailing reaching Europe ahead of us. If we continue to pick up +ships sailing in our direction, the fleet will be enormous by the time we +arrive at our unknown destination. We sailed two hundred and twelve miles +the last twenty-four hours. + +Two more transports have joined us. They came from Newfoundland. I hear +that we now have forty-three ships in the fleet. We sail at ten cables' +length apart, about one thousand yards. + +We are getting into more dangerous water evidently. Early this morning the +Royal George steamed up from the end of the line and took up a position at +the head of the fleet, but in line with the battleship Glory about three +miles away on the port. The Laurentic took up a similar position on the +starboard. Both these ships are armored and have guns mounted on them. +They are being used as scouts. + +We all rushed up on deck to see a cruiser pass close to us this midday. It +was a magnificent sight. She was either the H.M.S. Bristol or the H.M.S. +Essex; her name was painted The bluejackets were massed on the decks +forward and as she went by the marines' band played "The Maple Leaf +Forever." We returned cheers with the sailors. It gives you a great thrill +to see a British ship and to have the knowledge of what it represents. To +be British is a great thing, and I'm proud to think that I'm going to +fight for my country. When this war is over and men are talking round a +table, it will be, "Where were you fighting during the war?" not "Did you +fight during the war?" + + ------------------------------------- + +I'm in a gun-cleaning squad every afternoon. To-day I cleaned the machine +gun on which I'm second gunner. We treat our machine guns as if they were +pets. No one will ever be able to say that my gun is dirty. It will +probably be my best friend some day. + +The finding of the court-martial was read out to us on full parade this +afternoon. First the "Heavies" were lined up on all sides of the deck, +then the "Mosquitos," as the Machine Gunners are called, lined up inside; +the prisoner between an escort was led up in the center. It was +wonderfully impressive. I felt that I was to witness the condemning of a +fellow soldier to a number of years of hard labor. Over the whole assembly +there came a deathlike silence and the finding of the court was read to us +by an officer, the sentence being thirty-six days! + +The second steward told me that it took two hundred carpenters twelve +hours to tear down the cabins and fix up horse fittings. First the +authorities made arrangements to ship a thousand troops on this ship. +We're crowded as we are now with only three hundred odd. I hate to think +what it would have been like with a thousand. + + ------------------------------------- + +Early this morning a large man-o'-war came up on the port at a speed that +made everything else seem to stop. We have now battleships on all sides. +This ship, although a long way off, looks tremendous. She is one of the +latest super-dreadnaughts. + +I was on guard last night when one of the cruisers came alongside to TALK +to the captain about having lights showing in some of the ports. I enjoyed +it immensely, for I discovered that the British Navy, true to tradition, +was still able to maintain its high level of profanity. The ship is in +pitch darkness and there is no moon. On deck it's almost impossible to +walk it's so dark. Tonight is supposed to be the night on which the +Germans are going to make a raid. I am going to sleep on deck so that I +shall not miss anything. I'd hate to miss the chance of seeing a naval +engagement. I can't see how the Germans can possibly let a chance go by. A +nervy cruiser could sink any amount of ships. If the British Navy were up +against us they would have had a cut in before now. + +Slept on deck last night. Nothing happened except that early this morning +a French cruiser joined us, and I got covered with smuts from the +smokestack. + +The Admiral has received one hundred and twenty-six words of war news, but +will not let us have them. Probably they're disastrous. We break up +to-night or to-morrow. It's scarcely likely that the whole fleet will be +taken to one port at the same time. + +That super-dreadnaught passed down the columns to-day. She is of +tremendous size and travels at high speed. She is probably the Queen Mary. + +Expect to see land Wednesday. + + ------------------------------------- + +Blowing a gale. All day the spendrift has been blowing over. The decks +have been too wet for parades, thank God! All the way over we have had +physical exercise, sometimes as much as four hours a day. We're all in +fine physical condition. + +To-day we were allowed to wash our clothes. I can see the advantage of +khaki now. Even after working hard on my clothes, my underwear is still +dark white. The rails were covered with underwear and socks when the storm +started. Now every square inch below is used for drying clothes. Even the +electric lights are festooned. We have a final kit inspection to-morrow +and then we pack for disembarkation. We are only about one hundred miles +from the "Bishop's Light." + +It has been a very long voyage and we have been very cramped. All our +equipment has to be carried in our cabins. Try sleeping six men with all +their outfit in a cabin nine feet by six feet. The ship carpenter has a +standing job to repair our cabin. We have rough-housed so much that his +attention was continually necessary. The trip has been so long that we are +now beginning to hate each other. I went down in the stoke-hole and the +engine-room. Even amongst the whirling machines it was more peaceful than +in our quarters. It seems months since I was in Montreal last. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dear Old England in sight! + +We're passing the Lizard now. + +The kit has all been inspected and we hope to land to-morrow some time. + +We're lying in the historic harbor of Plymouth; arrived here about two +hours ago. We're surrounded by fast little torpedo-boat destroyers, which +are chasing round us all the time like dogs loosened from a chain. The +breakwater has searchlights mounted on each end and fixed lights are +playing from the shore. As the lights occasionally flash up the ships in +the bay, it is as bright as day. Nobody is allowed ashore, not even the +officers. We may go on to Southampton, only we must get there before five +at night. After that time nothing is allowed in. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sailed at daybreak on to Devonport. Most of the transports are now lying +in pairs at anchor in the harbor. We're close to the shore. We can see +naval "jolly boats" and pinnaces sailing back and forth. On one side are +lying the H.M.S Powerful and another boat, both of which in their day were +the pride of the Navy. The Powerful was the boat which made such a name +for herself in the Boer War. Now both of these vessels are training ships +and obsolete so far as this war goes. + +All our haversacks have been boiled in coffee to stain them khaki. + +One of the Navy steam launches came by and we asked them to get us +newspapers. They came back with a bundle and we nearly had a riot trying +to get at them. + +It was only to-day that we heard of the fall of Antwerp, the atrocities of +Belgium, and the treachery of Maritz in Cape Colony. + +We shall be getting off in a few hours and this may be the last I shall +write for some time. I have put in a great deal of time during the voyage +writing and have done so under difficulties. Sometimes the cabin has been +torn in pieces, and often arguments, carried on by leather-lunged +opponents of "Kultur," have made this work hard. + +We hear that some paper published an account of the sinking of twenty of +the ships. This rumor is false, and it's a beastly thing for the newspaper +to do, but you must remember to discount all news a great deal. + +Still on board and we shall probably be here for a few days more. My, it's +galling to be so near to the land and yet to be cooped up in our crowded +quarters. Crowded launches and steamers are sailing round the liners. All +day long cheering crowds come out to see us. Last night another liner +called Florizel, with the First Regiment Newfoundland troops, tied up to +us. They were a fine-looking lot of men. We told them we had no tobacco; +they threw dozens of tins of their tobacco and cigarettes over to us. We +fought for them. I got the remains of one tin with most of the contents +spilt. Still, as many of us haven't had a smoke for three days, we +appreciated it. Several cruisers have come in to-day, and there seem to be +dozens of submarines and torpedo boats cruising around all day. The reason +we did not go to Southampton is that five German submarines were waiting +for us. + +The transports are unloading at the rate of five or six ships a day. It +will probably be our turn on Sunday. The fleet looks splendid at night now +that we have most of the lights on. All night the steel riveters are at +work on three battleships that are being built close by. Near us are +several "wooden walls." One is a ship of Nelson's, the Queen Adelaide. +Every boat, tug, lighter and motor boat here is the property of the +Admiralty. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are probably going to Salisbury Plain for two months. We are the first +Expeditionary Force to land in England from the dominions or colonies, but +others are on their way. The sailors from the training ships serenade us +in boats with bands and play "O Canada," "The Maple Leaf Forever," and all +day long on one ship or the other we hear "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." +Every one is singing it; without doubt it is _the_ song of the war. To-day +we got a bundle of papers. We read them right through to the +advertisements. Cigarettes and matches are at a premium and food is +running out on board. The strain of staying here is becoming too great. +We're all disagreeable and insubordinate. The guard room is already full +and will soon need enlarging. + +On guard to prevent the men of the two ships (our own and the Florizel +with the Newfoundlanders) coming over to visit each other. At ten o'clock +at night I got the tip that a bunch of men were going to make a break for +shore and I was asked to go. I had just come off sentry and was dressed +for shore. We all met up forward, hailed a police boat, climbed down a +rope ladder across two barges unloading shells and into the police launch. +When I got in I found that I and one other fellow were the only privates; +all the rest were sergeants and corporals, thirteen altogether, unlucky +number. The police sergeants asked me if we had passes. I said, "You bet," +and we sailed away from the ship right under everybody's nose. We landed +and then took a car to Plymouth and went on the Hoe, which has been in +absolute darkness since the beginning of the war. Girls were very +interested in us and took most of our collar badges and buttons as +souvenirs. One man asked me to give him a cigarette as a souvenir. + +We met an English captain in a tobacconist's and he invited us up to the +barracks. Two of us went. I was one. To get there we had to go on a street +car. We had just sat down when up the stairs came my Lieutenant McCarthy. +When he saw me he said, "How the hell did you get here?" "Oh, just swam +across." "Well, if you get caught it'll be the guard room for you." I +said, "Never mind, we'll have company." He is a pretty good sport. We went +to the barracks, had a session with the captain, then went to the quay, +picked up the rest of the men, and sneaked on board. I got to bed at three +and had to get up this morning at six o'clock to go on guard. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sunday, very tired. On guard all day, two hours on, four off. It's very +unfortunate having a Sunday guard, because in the ordinary way we have to +attend church parade in the morning and after having listened to a sermon +and sung "Onward, Christian Soldiers," or, "Fight the good fight," we are +free for the day, whereas guards stay on twenty-four hours. + +The major noticed one of the sergeants coming on board this morning at six +o'clock. The idiot missed us this morning and of course that dished us. +The sergeants got in wrong. As I am only a private, and therefore ignorant +and simple according to the military code, and, being with +non-commissioned officers who are supposed to possess superior +intelligence, I got away with it. The sergeants have had to do sentry on +the same ladder we went down. + +Everybody is as disagreeable as possible. We are lying in midstream and +can see the town. Can you imagine anything more galling than that? + +While I was on guard the Vicar of Plymouth came aboard and held service. +He said that the last time a Vicar of Plymouth preached to warriors was +just before Drake sailed to meet the Armada. + +Thank God! moving at last. We've moored up to the docks just opposite two +magnificent dreadnaughts. Naval men are handling our cargo, our kit bags +are packed and we are ready to disembark. + +Near our ship's stern is a barge full of ventilators and spare parts of +ships which are taken away when ships are cleared for action. Some of the +rifle racks were marked Cornwall and I noticed a davit post with the name +Highflyer, the boat that sank the Kaiser Wilhelm after she had been +preying on the shipping off South Africa. When a ship is cleared for +action, all inflammable fittings, such as wooden doors, ladders, racks, +extra boats, and davits, etc., are discarded. If the order to "clear the +decks for action" comes at sea, overboard go all these luxuries. It is +calculated that the cost of "clearing decks" on a cruiser is five thousand +dollars. + +Some of our stuff was unloaded yesterday, and when the ship moved a guard +was placed over it. When the corporal went down the gangplank with the +relief, Pat and I walked down behind as if we were part of the same, right +by the officers. We had a devil of a job to get through the dock gates, a +suspicious policeman and sentry on guard. We told the sergeant of the +police a pitiful story, saying that we hadn't had anything to eat for +three days, and finally he relented. "All right, my lads, only don't +'swing the lead' in town." We got into Devonport and went to the biggest +hotel. Before they had time to throw us out we ordered breakfast of real +food. It was fine after the ship's grub. After sitting there ten minutes, +the general commanding the district came in and sat behind us. He stared. +Two privates in the same room as the general!! But all he said was, "If +you boys can fight as you eat, you'll make an impression." Then we visited +some other places! + +We went back to the docks and went over the super-dreadnaughts, Tiger and +Benbow, the biggest war vessels in the world. The Tiger's speed on her +trials was 37.5 knots an hour. + +After we had seen enough, we went back to the ship and tried to look as if +we had been working with one of the fatigue parties on shore. It worked! + +We marched off the ship midday and then I had to go on guard again all +night. That was the first time we were allowed ashore to see the town, and +I was on guard, so if I hadn't slipped ashore on the two occasions +mentioned, I should not have seen it at all. + + ------------------------------------- + +It rained all night, and when I was off guard I slept on the top of one of +our armored trucks, under a tarpaulin. It's wonderful how we can sleep now +anywhere, and we often have our clothes on for three days at a time. Many +a time I sleep with all my equipment on. Get wet and dry it by keeping it +on. We all have to do it. The idea of pajamas or baths as necessities +seems funny. At one time I would sooner go without breakfast than miss a +bath. Now I make sure of the breakfast. + +We are going to drive our cars through England to Salisbury Plain. We +started this morning and drove through Devonport. Cheering crowds +everywhere. All our cars wear the streaming pennants: "Canada With the +Empire," which pleased the people a great deal. + +As we rode through the streets people showered gifts upon us, such as +cakes, chocolates, newspapers and apples, and everywhere made lusty +demonstrations. The people of Taunton, as soon as they heard that the +Canadians were coming, turned out the barracks and we were met by all the +officers, who came in to talk to us. One second lieutenant, after studying +me for some time, said, "Isn't your name Keene?" "Yes," I replied, "but +how do you know?" "I went to school with you fifteen years ago." His name +was Carter; he was in the Second Dorsets. That night he got me out of +barracks for a couple of hours, and we hashed over the schoolboy +reminiscences. The people of Taunton were arranging a dance for us, but +nobody was allowed to attend. The major believes in putting us to bed +early; his theory being that a man can't drive cars well after a party, +and he couldn't keep the drivers in alone. + +Ladies from Taunton, of the pleasing English type with beautiful +complexions, handed round all sorts of rubbish, jam puffs, and other +things which belong to the time before we joined the army. + +Traveled all the morning. Everybody turned out to see us. The +Brigadier-General wired ahead, and hastily prepared placards, still wet, +were hanging from the windows,-- + + + God Bless the Canadians + Loyal Sons + of + The Empire + + The gathering of + the Lions' whelps + + +and in one case the haste was so great that "God Save the King" was hung +upside down. + +Everybody wants my badges and buttons, and some men in the unit have not +one left. Hence I have requisitioned an order for a hundred to meet the +demand. + +All over the country you see "Kitchener's Army" drilling. In one case we +passed about a hundred of them. When they saw us they broke ranks and +shook us by the hands. The people of England are much impressed with our +speed in coming over. Old men and women shouted, "God bless you, +Canadians!" while tears trickled down their cheeks. + +I read this notice in one little shop,-- + + + At noon every day the church bell will ring a few chimes and + everybody is asked to stop whatever he is doing and offer this + prayer, "Oh, Lord, help our soldiers and sailors to defeat our + enemies, and let us have Peace." + + (Signed) The Vicar. + + +Recruiting notices ten feet by six feet with the sentence "Your King and +Country Need You" are to be seen everywhere in shops, on barns, trees, and +even church doors. + +Motorists and cyclists are warned to pull up whenever requested or the +results may be serious. Most of the motors have O.H.M.S. plates above the +number plate. + +We billeted in a village school; all slept in our blankets on the floor. +Left the school and cleaned up before the kids came for their lessons next +day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Salisbury Plain. Arrived to-day. This part is called Bustard and takes its +name from the small Bustard Inn, Headquarters of General Alderson, General +Officer Commanding. Troops are here in thousands and we are no novelty. +The roads are torn up. Mud is two feet deep in places. All through the day +and night motor lorries, artillery and cavalry are traveling over the +ground. Aeroplanes are circling overhead and heavy artillery are firing. +We see the shells bursting on the ranges every day. + +Always raining. Everything is wet, and I am sleeping in a rotten tent +which leaks. Still, we are all so fit that what would kill an ordinary man +doesn't worry us much. + +We all get three days' leave and are trying by every means possible to +wangle another day or two. Many men have to see dentists, and lots of men +have grandparents in Scotland who display signs of dying suddenly. If the +excuse is good enough, we get four days and sometimes five. I have a +sweetheart in Scotland, but if that is played out I have to work something +else. + + ------------------------------------- + +Wonderful sight from where I am now. Miles of tents, motors and horse +lines on this desolate moorland. No houses; only camps and a few trees +which have been planted as wind screens. The soil is very poor, too poor +for farming. It is government property and it is only used for troops. We +are ten miles from a railroad. We are so isolated that we might be in +Africa, except that it's so cold. + +The papers are starting an agitation to get the Canadians to march through +London, and are asking why they should be smuggled in and then shut up on +Salisbury Plain. They want to see us, AND WE WANT TO SEE LONDON!! + +Our ambulance car has been used every day since we came here, taking +wounded from one hospital to another. The rest of our cars have been used +to carry German prisoners. + +One of the spies caught on the ships is said to have been shot. Several +were arrested; two were caught in Devonport while we were there, one in a +Canadian officer's uniform. + + ------------------------------------- + +Am spending seventy-two hours' leave in London. Got leave through this +telegram which is from "the girl I'm engaged to": + + + Disappointed. Met train. Please do come. Leaving for Belgium soon. + Love. + + EDYTHE. + + +She is a Red Cross nurse. This is a new one and it worked. McCarthy sent +it to me. + +London is very dismal. No electric signs, and the tops of all the street +lamps are painted black so that the lights don't show from above. However, +we managed to have a good time, in spite of it all. The Germans say that +the Canadians are being held in England to repel the invasion. + + ------------------------------------- + +The facilities for bathing are not very extensive. I rode into Salisbury, +a distance of seventeen miles, yesterday, on top of some packing-cases in +a covered transport wagon, for a bath, the first since I was last on +leave. We get a Turkish bath in town for thirty cents. After that we had a +large juicy steak and then started our seventeen-mile trip back through +the pouring rain. Every other mile we got down and helped the driver swear +and push the car out of the mud, vast quantities of which abound on the +Salisbury roads, believe me!! + + ------------------------------------- + +It is Sunday afternoon. Most of the men in camp are asleep or reading. +Outside it is raining. It seems to be always raining, and occasionally we +have such a thick fog that even a trip to get water is exciting before you +can get back to your own lines. + +Owing to our camp having become a swamp we have had to move our quarters +to drier ground. Moving the tents is not a big job, but rebuilding the +cook-house is! I figure that when I leave the army I shall have a few more +professions to choose from. For example, I'm a pretty hefty trench digger; +then as a scavenger I am pretty good at picking up tin cans and pieces of +paper; also I'm an expert in building things such as shelters from any old +pieces of timber that we can steal; then as a cook I can now make that +wonderful tea that I wrote you about, besides many other things which we +didn't realize that we had to do when we enlisted. + +To-day the paper says "Fair and Warmer." We could do with some of that. +Years ago, before I joined the army and lost my identity, I rather liked +occasionally getting wet in the refreshing rain; but now the trouble is +that we are always wet and have nowhere to dry our things, except by +sleeping on them. + +Our major has an original scheme of training men in the ranks to qualify +for commissions, sort of having half a dozen embryo officers ready. I have +been picked as one and have to study in all my spare time. It means a +great deal more work, but it's very interesting and the sort of thing I +would like to do. We start to-day. + + ------------------------------------- + +We began our instruction on the machine gun to the officers and the men +who are up here for a special course; I have a boozy lieutenant, who +doesn't care a hang, and a bright non-com. Some of the officers we brought +over make good mascots. + + ------------------------------------- + +It was fine to-day. We were even able to open up the tent flap to dry the +place a bit. To-day the major congratulated me on the Christmas card I +designed for the unit. + +Our classes of instruction to the "alien" officers finish to-morrow. Both +the men I was instructing passed. + +The adjutant is very anxious to put us through our officers' training +course quickly. + +We are now recognized as the specialist corps in the machine-gun work with +the Canadian Division, and he is anxious that we shall be ready to take +commissions when casualties occur. Every battalion of infantry has a +machine-gun section attached, and we have the job of training the officers +and sergeants of these sections. + +Owing to the bombardment of the east coast, several of our battalions are +under orders to move at a moment's notice. It is thought that the +bombardment was simply a ruse to draw the British fleet away from around +Heligoland. + + ------------------------------------- + +The newspaper boys in Salisbury, when you refuse to buy an "Hextra," shout +"Montreal Star" and "Calgary Eyeopener," and all the shopgirls and +barmaids in Salisbury say, "Some kid," "Believe muh," "Oh, Boy!" + + ------------------------------------- + +I had been granted Christmas leave at the last minute, and as it was +awkward to telegraph to Northwich, I arrived after a long journey, lasting +sixteen hours, ten minutes ahead of the letter I'd sent saying I was +coming. My arrival soon spread over the town. A Canadian--this was a rather +unique thing for Northwich, a little Cheshire town. Out of a population of +about eighteen thousand, two thousand men have joined the colors. The men +in uniform from the works are all receiving half pay. The other men who +are staying are working twelve hours a day and give up part of their pay +so that the jobs of the soldiers will be open when they come back. +Thirty-five Belgian refugees are being kept here. Money to keep them for +twelve months has been subscribed. One huge house has been taken over as a +hospital with twenty-three nurses, all volunteers from Northwich. +Everybody has done or is doing something in the great struggle. The young +ladies in this neighborhood have no use for a man who is not in khaki, and +with customary north of England frankness tell them so. + +I expect that you know that the Government has sent around forms to every +house asking the men who are going to volunteer to sign, and men long past +the military age have signed the papers, "too old for the war service, but +willing to serve either at home or abroad voluntary for the period of the +war." Others have offered to do work to allow young men to go, to keep +their jobs for them. This shows the spirit that permeates England. There +is only one end and that MUST be the crushing of the Germans. I don't +believe people have any idea of the number of men who are at present under +arms, and still the posters everywhere say that we must have more men. + +I wonder if you know that the Germans are shooting British prisoners who +are found with what they consider insulting post-cards of the Kaiser, and +even references to His All Highest in letters are dangerous. As we are +nearing the time when we shall go across I thought I would mention it. + +We expect to leave England somewhere around January 15th. We have been +living in the mud so long that we are getting quite web-footed. + +This is a war Christmas. People are too excited and anxious to celebrate +it. I wonder what sort of a Christmas the next one will be! What a +terrible Christmas the Germans must have had in Germany. They admit over +one million casualties. Fancy a million in less than five months. During +the Napoleonic wars, which extended over twenty years, six million died, +and yet one side in this war already admits one million. + +The Canadian ordnance stores have been given instructions that all +equipments down to the last button must be ready by the 15th of January. +That date seems to be the favorite one. I believe it is the commencement +of big things; a move will then be made to embark large numbers of troops +across to France. + +All our telegraphic addresses were taken when we came away on leave in +case it were decided to send units over before our term of leave expired. + +A German aviator flew over Dover yesterday and made a fierce and terrible +bomb attack on a cabbage patch. Terrible casualty in cabbages. Berlin must +have designs on a bumper crop of sauerkraut. + + ------------------------------------- + +Back in camp. It was hard to come down to it. Our blankets and clothes +left in the tent were mildewed, clammy, and partly submerged. Our feet are +wet and we are again soldiers, dirty and cold. + +Traveled down in the train with thirty-six men of the Canadian contingent +who had formed an escort for fifty-six undesirables who have been shipped +back to Canada. It seems strange when men are needed so badly to ship them +back because they are a bit unruly or get drunk too often. They will all +come back with future contingents. Six of them made a dash for it at +Liverpool. Three of them got away altogether. + +It snowed yesterday. Last night the camp looked beautiful; the tents lit +up through the snow in the moonlight made a pretty picture, a suitable +subject for a magazine cover, but mighty uncomfortable to camp in. + + ------------------------------------- + +In a gale last night many tents were blown down. We spent all day putting +them up again. The cook house, a substantial frame building, has also +blown down again. + +When I got back I found a Christmas hamper, a bunch of holly and a small +box of maple sugar and packet of cigarettes from the Duchess of Connaught +with her Christmas card. All parcels for the troops came in duty free. Our +postal system is very efficient. We get our letters as regularly as we +would in a town. + +People send us so many cigarettes that we sometimes have too many. I wish +we could get more tobacco and fewer cigarettes. If you remember during the +Boer War the authorities tried to break the "Tommy" of his "fags" by +giving him more tobacco. Now they really seem to encourage cigarette +smoking, although it really doesn't matter; the same things which are +harmful in towns don't have the same bad effects when we are living in the +open. + +All leave is up by the 10th of January for everybody, officers and men. + +The Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry have gone to the front to +the envy of everybody. It is a splendid battalion with fine officers. They +have been lying next to our lines and we have made many friends with the +"Pats." + +Cerebro-spinal meningitis has broken out, and in spite of all efforts to +check it, seems to be gaining ground. Several officers have died with it, +and I believe that four battalions are quarantined. We have to use +chloride of lime on the tent floors and around the lines. My friend Pat +calls it "Spike McGuiness." The worst of a disease like this is that a +patient never recovers. Even a cure means partial paralysis for life. I +believe that Salisbury Plain is known for it, and I hear that all the +ground that troops are now occupying is to be ploughed up when we leave. +As far as that goes we have ploughed it up a bit already, but a systematic +ploughing will make it more regular. The subsoil is only four inches, then +you come to chalky clay. The tent-pegs when they are taken from the ground +are covered with chalk. + +I think that the Canadian Contingent has had a pretty raw deal. We're not +even included in the six army divisions which are going to France by the +end of March. Wish I had joined the "Princess Pats," who are already +there. We want to fight. + +We're having a beastly time as compared with the Belgian refugees and the +German prisoners in England. We're beginning to wonder if we are ever +going to the front. There is now some talk of billeting us in Bristol. +We've been under arms nearly five months and should be good fighting +material by now. With a similar number of men the Germans would have done +something by this time. + + ------------------------------------- + +All the last week the selected few of us have been working separately on a +course of work to qualify us for commissions. We have had to study hard +every spare minute when not drilling each other. + +Several dogs have attached themselves to us; sometimes they find +themselves on a piece of string, the other end being in a man's hand. One +of these, a big bull terrier, sleeps in the canteen. The beer is quite +safe with him there, but two nights ago the canteen tent, after a great +struggle, tore itself off the tent-poles and went fifteen feet up in the +air like a balloon, then collapsed. The dog, I regret to say, did not stay +at his post, so a quantity of beer will have to be marked down as lost. +This same bull has a pal, a white bull terrier, who came out with the +officers' class the other morning. We had not been drilling more than +fifteen minutes when he came back with a large rabbit. We stewed it at +night. It certainly was good. + +One of the mechanics has forged an Iron Cross which has been presented to +the dog in recognition of his services. + +I doubt if I shall ever be able to sit up to a table again regularly. I +would much sooner sleep on the floor, and I have found, when on leave, +that I preferred sitting on a hearthrug to a chair. Even while writing +this I am lying on my blankets. My pipe is burnt down on one side from +lighting it from my candle. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day being Sunday and as there were only two of us left in the tent, the +others being on leave, we gave it a thorough spring cleaning. It needed +it! By some oversight the sun came out to-day, so that helped. We also +washed up all our canteens and pannikins with disinfectant. + +The infantry are bayonet-fighting and practicing charges every day. If you +want a thrill, see them coming over the top at you with a yell; the +bayonets catch the light and flash in a decidedly menacing fashion. They +practice on dummies, and are so enthusiastic that they need new dummies +almost every lesson. + +Every man, on becoming a soldier, becomes a man with a number and an +identification disk. My number is 45555 and my "cold meat ticket," a tag +made of red fiber, is hanging round my neck on a piece of string. + + ------------------------------------- + +We're packing up and expect to go away next week. Of course, it may be +another bluff, but somehow I think we really are going now, as we have +been fitted out with a "field service-dressing," a packet containing two +bandages and safety pins, which we have to sew into the right-hand bottom +corner of our tunics. We have also been given our active service pay book, +a little account book in which we have our pay entered. We don't get paid +much in the field. We carry this book instead. + +It seems always cold and wet. We are very hardened. We look tough and feel +that way. I haven't had a bath for a month. Since I have been soldiering I +have done every dirty job that there is in the army, and there are many. +Often when a job seemed to be too dirty and too heavy for anybody else, +they looked around for Keene and Pat. + + ------------------------------------- + +"On guard." Writing this in the guard tent, when we are not actually on +sentry. We keep all our equipment on, as we are liable to be called out at +any minute. We sleep with our belts and revolvers in place. + +A quarter guard is three men and a noncom. The men do two hours on and +four off. When it comes to a man's turn he has to be on his beat no matter +what the weather is like during the day or night. The cold is pretty bad +and occasionally it snows. Some units have sentry boxes, but we haven't. +We use a bell tent. I was called this morning at five o'clock to do my +sentry from five to seven. The small oil stove which serves to heat the +guard tents had evidently been smoking for an hour, and over everything +was a thick film of lamp-black. Everybody thought it a great joke until +they looked at themselves in the mirror and caught sight of their own +equipment. We must come off guard as clean as we go on. I got out quickly +and left them swearing and cleaning up. + +From five to seven is the most interesting relief. I had first to wake the +cooks at five o'clock and then I watched the gradual waking up of the +camp. At six o'clock I had to wake the orderly sergeants and then far away +in the distance the first bugle sounded reveille, then it was taken up all +around and gradually the camps all over the Plains woke up. Men came out +of the tents, the calls for the "fall in" sounded, and the rolls were +called and the usual business of the day commenced. The change from the +deadness of the night with its absolute stillness all takes place in a +very short time. To a person with any imagination it seems rather +wonderful. You must remember that we can see for miles, and in every +direction there are hundreds of tents. Each battalion is separate, and +they have great spaces between them; still wherever you look you can see +tents. + +I wonder if I told you that aeroplanes are all the time flying over our +camp. With characteristic British frankness they always have two huge +Union Jacks painted on the undersides of the wings. We have become so used +to them that we scarcely trouble to look up unless they are doing stunts. + + ------------------------------------- + +The frost makes a fine grip for the cars; when the ground freezes over we +can take the cars anywhere, but unfortunately it thaws again too quickly. +As we are a motor battery we are of course a mile from the road, and +sometimes it takes an hour and a half to get on to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is a howling night, wind and rain galore. I'm wondering how long the +tent will last. I have been out three times already to look at the tent +pegs. How often it has been so since we first came on to these plains. If +you are living in tents you notice the changes in weather more than under +ordinary circumstances, and every rain-storm has meant wet feet for us. +But now we have been given new black boots, magnificent things, huge, +heavy "ammunition boots," and the wonderful thing is they don't let water +in. They are very big and look like punts, but it's dry feet now. I can +tell you I am as pleased with them as if some one had given me a present +of cold cash. At first they felt something like the Dutch sabots. They +seemed absolutely unbendable and so we soaked them with castor-oil. Once +they become moulded to the feet they are fine. Of course they are not +pretty, but they keep the wet out. + +We have had new tunics issued to us of the regular English pattern, much +more comfortable than our other original ones, and then instead of the +hard cap we now have a soft one, something like a big golf cap with the +flap on to pull down over the ears. These are much more comfortable. They +have one great advantage over the old kind--we can sleep in them. We can +now lie down in our complete outfits even to our hats. Once I considered +it a hardship to sleep in my clothes. Now to go to bed we don't undress; +we put on clothes. + +I managed to get a pass to Salisbury on Saturday and went to the local +vaudeville show. In the row in front of me were several young officers of +the British Army, and it was striking what a clean-cut lot they were. +England is certainly giving of her best. They were not very much different +from any others, but at the same time they are the type of Englishmen who +have done things in the past and will do things again. They are all +Kitchener's Army. Thousands of men who have never been in the army before +threw up everything to go in the ranks. You see side by side professors, +laborers, lawyers, doctors, stevedores, carters, all classes, rich and +poor, a great democratic army, drilling to fight so that this may be a +decent world to live in. + +At present it is almost impossible to use each man in his own profession +as they do in Germany, but sometimes the non-commissioned officers work it +out in this way. + +Sergeant to squad of recruits:-- + +"Henybody 'ere know anythink abart cars?" + +"Yes; I do. I own a Rolls Royce." + +"Olright; fall out and clean the major's motor bike." + +One patriotic mother who had a son who was a butcher did her best to get +him to join the Royal Army Medical Corps, because he was proficient at +cutting up meat and would feel quite at home assisting at amputations. + + ------------------------------------- + +Now that we are approaching the time for our departure to France we are +hearing that favorite farewell to all men going to the front, "Good-bye, +I'll look every day for your name in the casualty list." + +The "Princess Pats" have already been in action. They had a hard fight and +many of them have been put out of business. We envied them when they went +away and still do, although it only seems yesterday that we were lying +together here and now a number of them are lying "somewhere in France." + +The jam-making firm of Tickler was awarded a huge contract for the supply +of "Tommy's" daily four ounces of jam; either plum and apple were the +cheapest combination or else the crop of these two fruits must have been +enormous, because every single tin of jam that went to the training camps, +France, Dardanelles, or Mesopotamia, was of this mixture. + +We became so tired of it that we used the unopened tins to make borders of +flower-beds, or we used them to make stepping-stones across puddles. +Eventually the world's supply of plums and apples having been used up, the +manufacturers were forced to use strawberries. + +In the army all food is handled by the Army Service Corps, and as soon as +they found real jam coming through they took it for their own and still +forwarded on to us their reserve "plum and apple." The news got around +amongst the fighting units: result--the Army Service Corps is now known as +the "Strawberry Jam Pinchers." + +Reviewed by King George V, and it was indeed a very impressive sight. +Although there were only twenty thousand troops, they seemed endless. +During the time that the King was on the parade ground in company with +Lord Kitchener, two aeroplanes kept guard in the sky. Our K. of K. is a +big, fine man who looks the part. An inspection by the King is always a +sure sign of a unit's impending departure. He traveled down on the new +railway which had just been built by the defaulters of the Canadian +Contingent. + +At the last minute I managed to get weekend leave and went to London. No +Canadians there! I caught sight of a military picket, sergeant and twelve +men, looking for stray ones, though. Another picket held me up and made me +button my greatcoat. I did! It isn't clever to argue with pickets at any +time! + +The train was three hours late. Troops' trains were occupying the lines. +From Bulford we walked home in a hail-storm. Got in about five o'clock +just as the reveille was blowing in the other lines. They were just +leaving for the front, and had made great fires where they were burning up +rubbish and stuff they couldn't take with them. Tons of it! Chairs, +mattresses, and tables. When we move, everything except equipment has to +be discarded. We can't do anything with extras. We have to cut our own +stuff down to the very smallest dimensions. I walked through the lines +afterward of other battalions who had left, and I saw fold-up bedsteads, +uniforms, equipment, books, buckets, washing-bowls, cartridges and stoves +of every conceivable kind and shape; hundreds, from the single "Beatrice" +to the big tiled heaters. Some tents were half full of blankets thrown in, +others with harness. All the government stuff is collected, but private +stuff is burnt. + +In the army you soon realize that you have to make yourself comfortable +your own way. I don't hesitate to take anything. If I have on a pair of +puttees which are a bit worn and I find a new pair,--well, I just calmly +yet cautiously annex them and discard the old ones. We found a barrel of +beer had been left by one of the other units, so we carefully carried the +prize to our lines and then tapped it. Zowie! It was a beer barrel all +right, only it was filled with linseed oil. + + ------------------------------------- + +Thank the Lord!! Under a roof, sitting on a real chair; tablecloth, +plates; and I'm dry. We have come to Wilton (of carpet fame) and I'm in a +billet. I have a real bed to sleep in. Last night I lay on the floor of a +mildewed tent; couldn't sleep on account of the cold. To-night I sleep +between sheets, and the wonderful thing is that I'm not on leave. + +We drove our cars down here, each of us hoping that we would never again +see Bustard Camp, Salisbury Plain, as long as we lived; it had been our +home for five months. Yesterday we felt like mutiny; to-day every one is +smiling. As soon as we were "told off" Pat and I went to our billet, a +nice clean little house close to the center of the town. The owner is a +baker. I felt kind of uncomfortable with my boots and clothes plastered up +with mud, but the good lady said, "Don't 'e mind, come in, bless you; I've +'ad soldiers afore. The last one 'e said as 'ow he couldn't sleep it were +so quiet 'ere." + +I had a wash (this is Friday night), the first since Wednesday morning. +The idea of having as much water as you want, without having to go a half +mile over a swamp, pleased me so much that I used about six basinsful in +the scullery. + +When the lady of the house asked us _what_ we would _like_ to eat, we both +fainted. I'm afraid we're going to get spoiled here. Couldn't sleep at +first. Cold sheets and having all my clothes off--too great a strain! Had +breakfast and then drove our cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and +washed them down inside and out. + +This afternoon I've been into every shop I could find, chiefly to talk to +people who are not soldiers. Even went into the church to look around and +listened to the parrotlike description of the place by the sexton. + +Everybody is happy, and although it has rained ever since we have been +here, we haven't noticed it yet. I may say there are four or five kids, +and the whole house could be packed into our front room. Still, "gimme a +billet any time." + + ------------------------------------- + +I have just received the news that I have been given a Second Lieutenancy +in the Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field Artillery, and I go into +camp at Bisley at once. I am very glad that before being an officer I have +been a private, because I now have the latter's point of view. I am going +to try hard to be a good officer; promotion always means more work and +responsibility,--so here goes. + +I have been very busy lately training my new section, and we are now part +of the 12th Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division British +Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day for the "Great Adventure." + +Somewhere in France. At last we are here. We landed at a place the name of +which I am not allowed to mention, and were then taken by a guide to a +"Rest Camp" about two miles from the docks. If they had called it a +garbage dump I shouldn't have been surprised. You would be very much +surprised with the France of to-day. Everybody speaks English; smart khaki +soldiers in thousands everywhere. + +Already I have seen men who have been gassed and the hospitals here are +full of wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and night and marching +away. English money is taken here, but French is more satisfactory as you +are likely to get done on the change. The officers have a mess here just +as in England. Actually we are farther away from the firing line than we +were in camp at Bisley; but we leave to-day on our machines going direct +to it. There was a transport torpedoed just outside; they managed to beach +her just in time. The upper decks and masts are sticking up above water. + +Since I last wrote anything in this diary we have ridden over one hundred +and ten miles by road towards the firing line. All day yesterday it +poured. The country was beautiful, ripening corn everywhere, the villages +are full of old half-timbered houses, the roads are all national roads +built for war purposes by Napoleon, and run straight; on either side are +tall, poplar shade trees, so that the roads run through endless avenues. + +At night we stayed in a quaint village inn. The men all slept in a loft +over their machines. Our soaked clothes were put in the kitchen to dry, +but owing to the number of them, they just warmed up by the morning. One +officer has to follow in the rear of every unit to pick up the stragglers. +I had to bring up the rear of the column to-day--result: I didn't get in +until early in the morning, only to find the other subalterns "sawing +wood." + + ------------------------------------- + +Yesterday was the French National Day. We were cheered as we rode along, +and women and children smothered us with flowers. In the morning a funeral +of two small children passed us. Our battery commander called the battery +to attention and officers saluted. The priest was two days overdue with +his shave--soldiers notice things like that, you know. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day we continued our ride; the weather was much better--dried our +clothes by wearing them. Strange to run through Normandy villages and +suddenly come across British Tommies--many of them speaking French. A Royal +Navy car has just passed us; our navy seems omnipresent. I saw an old +woman reading a letter by the side of an old farmhouse to some old people, +evidently from a soldier, probably their son. It reminded me a great deal +of one of Millet's pictures. Every one thinks of the war here and nothing +but the war; it's not "Business as Usual." + +We stay here one night and move away to-morrow. We can hear the guns +faintly. + +The three section officers, myself and two others, are sleeping in a hut +together. It is one of these new collapsible kind, very convenient. We are +now all in bed. Outside the only sound we can hear is the sentries +challenging and the mosquitoes singing. + + ------------------------------------- + +All males are soldiers in France, even the old men. They look very fine in +their blue uniforms, but I have a prejudice for our khaki Tommies. We get +good food as we travel, but pay war prices for it. Cherries are now in +season; we don't pay for them, however. + + ------------------------------------- + +Rode another sixty miles to-day. A car smashed into the curb, cannoned off +and ran over me, busting my machine up. The front wheel went over my leg. +My revolver and leather holster saved me from a fracture, but I got badly +bruised up. I was very scared that I should not be able to go "up" with +the Battery. It would be almost a disgrace to go back broken up by a car +without even getting a whack at the Boche. Had to ride later on another +machine twenty-five miles through the night without lights, in a blinding +rain. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everything interesting. Should like to have a camera with me. I had to +post mine back. So many things are done in the British Army by putting a +man on his honor. They just ask you to do things. They don't order you to +do it. It was that way with me; they merely "asked" me to post my camera +back. + +Great powerful cars rush by here all day and all night, regardless of +speed limits. Every hour or so you see a convoy of twenty or thirty motor +lorries in line bringing up ammunition or supplies, or coming back empty. +Every point bristles with sentries who demand passes. If you are not able +to answer satisfactorily, they just shoot. The French soldiers have +magnificent uniforms; the predominating color is a sort of cobalt blue. To +see sentries, French and British together, they make quite a nice color +scheme. + +Officers censor all letters. I censor sometimes fifty letters a day. One +man put in a letter to-day, "I can't write anything endearing in this, as +my section officer will read it." Another, "I enclose ten shillings. Very +likely you will not receive this, as my officer has to censor this +letter." Of course we don't have time to read all the letters through. We +look for names of places and numbers of divisions, brigades, etc., but I +couldn't help noticing that one of my men, whom I have long suspected of +being a Don Juan, had by one mail written exactly the same letter to five +different girls in England, altering only the addresses and the +affectionate beginnings. + +The village in which I am now was visited last September by twelve German +officers who came through in motor cars; the villagers cried, "Vivent les +Anglais," for not having seen an English soldier they took it for granted +that the "Tommy" had come. + +Everybody goes armed to the teeth. I have my belt, a regular Christmas +tree for hanging things on, with revolver and cartridges on even while I'm +writing this. We carry a lot, but we soon get used to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +The corn is being cut now. Through the window opposite I can see it +standing in newly-stacked sheaves. These places are the favorite sketching +grounds of artists in normal times, and I often wonder if they ever will +be again. + +We return salutes with all the French and Belgian officers. It is +difficult sometimes to distinguish them. I got fooled by a Belgian +postman, and then went to work and cut a French general. + +The nearer we get to the firing line the finer the type of soldier. They +are the magnificent Britishers of Kitchener's First Army. It makes you +proud to see them marching by, dirty and wet with sweat. I watched two +battalions come through; they had marched twenty miles through the sun +with new issue boots; a few of them had fallen out, and other men and +officers were carrying their equipment and rifles; many of the officers +carried two rifles. + +I am now well within sound of the guns. A German Taube was shelled as it +came over our firing line yesterday. One man was lying on his back asleep +with his hat over his eyes, when a piece of shrapnel from one of the +"Archies" hit him in the stomach--result: one blasphemous, indignant +casualty. From the road I can see one of the observation balloons, a queer +sausage-shaped airship. We may be moved up into the thick of it at any +time now. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been over into Belgium to-day: crossed the frontier on my motor +bike; the roads are terrible, all this beastly "pav" cobblestones; awful +stuff to ride over on a motor cycle. Shell holes on both sides of the +road, and I saw three graves in the corner of a hop garden. All along the +road there were dozens and dozens of old London motor buses, taking men to +the trenches. They still have the advertisements on them and are driven by +the bus-drivers themselves. Three hundred came over with their own +machines. They are now soldiers. The observation balloon I mentioned +yesterday was shelled down to-day. + +I am writing this in an old Flemish farmhouse, and the room I'm sitting in +has a carved rafter ceiling, red brick floor and nasty purple cabbage +wallpaper. All the men of the house with the exception of the old man are +at the war; one son has already died. The Germans have been through here. +They tied the mayor of the town to a tree and shot him. The trenches have +been filled in, all the wreckage cleared, and they have a new mayor. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is not yet 7 A.M. I am an orderly officer and have to take the men out +for a run at six. I came back and bought a London "Daily Mail" of +yesterday from a country-woman. We are at least three miles from the town, +but they are enterprising enough to bring papers to us at this time in the +morning. A "Daily Mail" costs four cents. + +Since I last wrote I have been up to the front line. Everything is +different from what you imagine. The German trenches are easily +distinguished through glasses; their sand-bags are multi-colored. Shrapnel +was bursting over ruins of an old town in their lines. When you look +through a periscope at the wilderness, it is difficult to imagine that +thousands of soldiers on both sides have burrowed themselves into the +earth. The evidence of their alertness is shown by their snipers, who are +always busy whenever the target is up. + +A battery of eight-inch howitzers was opening fire. Our battery commander, +hearing this, sent us up. The guns, big fellows, were well concealed. They +were painted in protective colors and covered with screens of branches to +prevent aerial observation. In the grounds all over the place were +dug-outs, deep rabbit burrows, ten or twelve feet down, into which +everybody went immediately. The Germans started their "hate." The firing +is done by hand cord; other big guns are fired electrically. An enormous +flash, an ear-splitting crash, a great sheet of flame from the muzzle, and +two hundred pounds of steel is sent tearing through the air to the +"Kultur" exponents. The whole gun lifts off the ground and runs back on +its oil-compression springs. These guns are moved by their own caterpillar +tractors which are kept somewhere close by. In three quarters of an hour +they can get them started on the road. The ground for these emplacements +was the orchard of a chateau. While we were there a whistle blew three +times, an order shouted; immediately the guns were covered up and the men +took cover. The enemy had sent an aeroplane to locate them. If they could +once find them, hundreds of shells would rain on this spot in a few +minutes. At a few yards' distance I couldn't see the guns myself. The +"Hows" were firing at a house in the German lines which had been giving +trouble. In three rounds they got it and then started in to "dust" the +neighborhood. Of course, the firing is indirect. The officers and men who +are with the guns don't see the effects. Apparently they fire straight +away in the air. The observation is done by the forward observing officer +in the fire trenches who corrects them by 'phone. + +After the appointed number of rounds had been fired, we adjourned to the +chateau, a fine house, marble mantelpiece, plaster ceilings, gilt mirror +panels, etc. It has still a few pieces of furniture left, no carpets, most +of the windows are smashed; shells have visited it, but chiefly in +splinters. I saw one picture on the wall with a hole drilled in by a +shrapnel bullet which had gone clean through as though it had been +drilled. It hadn't smashed the glass otherwise. From a window of the room, +which the officers use as a mess, a neat row of graves is to be seen. +Outside there are great shell holes, most of them big enough to bury a +horse. Suddenly a shriek and a deafening explosion occurred in the garden. +"Sixty-pound shrapnel! Evening hate," said an artillery sub. We left! We +had been sent up to see the guns fire and not to be fired at. + +To go home we had to pass a village completely deserted, a village that +was once prosperous, where people lived and traded and only wanted to be +left alone. Now grass is growing in the streets. Shops have their +merchandise strewn and rotting in all directions. On one fragment of a +wall a family portrait was still hanging, and a woman's undergarments. A +grand piano, and a perambulator tied in a knot were trying to get down +through a coal chute. To wander through a village like this one that has +been smashed up, and with the knowledge that the smashing up may be +continued any time, is thrilling. Churches are always hateful to the +Germans. They shell them all; bits of the organs are wrapped around the +tombstones, and coffins, bones and skulls are churned up into a great +stew. In some of the villages a few of the inhabitants had stayed and +traded with the soldiers. They lived in cellars usually and suffered +terribly. British military police direct the traffic when there is any, +and are stationed at crossroads with regular beats like a city policeman. + +While traveling to another part of the line we had an opportunity of +seeing the "Archies" (anti-aircraft guns) working. They were mounted on +lorries and fire quite good-sized shells. They fired about fifty shots at +one Taube, but didn't register a bull. Later in the evening from a trench +we had the satisfaction of seeing another aeroplane set on fire, burn, and +drop into the German lines like a shot partridge. Aeroplanes are as common +as birds. Yesterday a "Pfeil" (arrow) biplane came right over our lines +and was chased off by our own machines. The enemy's aeroplanes have their +iron cross painted on the underside of their wings and are more +hawkish-looking than ours. They are more often used for reconnoitering and +taking photographs than for dropping bombs. + +We are being moved up closer to the firing line. I have been made +billeting officer. I went to headquarters; a staff colonel showed me a +subdivision on a map. "Go there and select a place for your unit." The +place was a wretched village of about six houses, all of which are more or +less smashed about, windows repaired with sacking and pieces of wood. All +of the inhabitants have moved except those who are too poor. Every square +inch is utilized. I managed to get a cow-shed for the officers. It looks +comfortable. On the door I could just decipher, written in chalk, by some +previous billeting officer,-- + + + 2 Staff Officers + 6 Officers + 2 Horses + + +Billeting chalk marks are on almost all the shops and houses up from the +coast to the front. + +The field which we are expecting to put the men into belonged to a miller +who lived in a different area. We went to see him. He couldn't speak +English or French, so I tried him with German. While we were talking, I +noticed some non-coms watching us very intently and was not surprised to +find one following us back down the road. When he saw our car he came up +and apologized for having taken us for spies. They are looking for two +Germans in our lines wearing British uniforms, who have given several gun +positions away. Two days ago the enemy shelled the road systematically on +both sides for half a mile when an ammunition column was due. It was quite +dark before we left; the sky was continually lit up by the star shells, +very pretty white rockets, which light up No Man's Land. The enemy has a +very good kind which remains alight for several minutes. + +Our days of comfortable billets are over, I am afraid. Unless you are +working hard, it is miserable here,--wrecked towns, bad roads, shell holes, +smells, dirt, soldiers, horses, trenches. The inhabitants are a poor, +wretched lot. Many of them are thieves and spies. We are right in Belgium, +where flies and smells are as varied as in the Orient. + +Wherever we travel by day or night we are constantly challenged by +sentries and have to produce our passes. We stopped in one darkened +shell-riddled town and knocked up an _estaminet_; we got a much finer meal +than you can get at many places farther back. We talked to the woman who +kept it and asked her if she slept in the cellar. "Oh, no! I sleep +upstairs, they never bombard except at three in the morning or nine at +night. Then I go into the cellar." This woman was a very pleasant, +intelligent person, most probably a spy. Intelligent people generally +leave the danger zone. + +Marching through the sloughed-up mud, through shell holes filled with +putrid water, amongst most depressing conditions, I saw a working party +returning to their billets. They were wet through and wrapped up with +scarves, wool helmets, and gloves. Over their clothes was a veneer of +plastered mud. They marched along at a slow swing and in a mournful way +sang-- + + + "Left--Left--Left + We--are--the tough Guys!" + + +Apparently there are no more words to this song because after a pause of a +few beats they commenced again-- + + + "Left--Left--Left--" + + +They looked exactly what they said they were. + +Windmills, of which there are a good many, are only allowed to work under +observation. It was found that they were often giving the enemy +information, using the position of the sails to spell out codes in the +same way as in semaphore; clock-hands on church towers are also used in +the same way. + +I saw a pathetic sight to-day. A stretcher came by with a man painfully +wounded; he was inclined to whimper; one of the stretcher-bearers said +quietly to him, "Be British." He immediately straightened himself out and +asked for a "fag." He died that night. + + ------------------------------------- + +We had a terrific bombardment last night; the ground shook all night and +the sky was lit up for miles. The Boches used liquid fire on some new +troops and we lost ground. + +I found this piece of poetry on the wall of a smashed-up chateau, and I +have copied it exactly as I found it. The writing was on a darkened wall, +and while I copied it my guide held a torchlight up to it. The place +passes as "Dead Cow Farm" on all official maps. + + + I've traveled many journeys in my one score years and ten," + And oft enjoyed the company of jovial fellow men, + But of all the happy journeys none can compare to me + With the Red-Cross special night express from the trenches to the + sea. + + "It's Bailleul, Boulogne, Blighty, that's the burden of the song, + Oh, speed the train along. + If you've only half a stomach and you haven't got a knee, + You'll choke your groans and try to shout the chorus after me. + + Bailleul, Boulogne, and Blighty, dear old Blighty "cross the sea." + + "Now some of us are mighty bad and some are wounded slight, + And some will see their threescore years and some won't last the + night, + But the Red Cross train takes up the strain all in a minor key + And sings Boulogne and Blighty as she rumbles to the sea. + + "Oh, it's better than the trenches and it's better than the rain, + It's better than the mud and stink; we're going home again, + Though most of us have left some of us on the wrong side of the + sea. + We are a lot of blooming cripples, but--downhearted? No, siree. + + "There's a holy speed about this train for each of us can see + That we will cross the shining channel that lies 'twixt her and me + To the one and only Blighty, our Blighty, 'cross the sea,' + Where the blooming Huns can never come, 'twixt her and home and + me." + + +"Blighty" is the wound which sends a man home to England; it's a war word +which came originally from the Indians, but now universally adopted in the +new trench language. + +I was walking along a trench when a man, who was sitting on a firestep +looking up into a little trench mirror (which is used by putting the end +of the bayonet between the glass and the frame), just crumpled up, shot +through the heart. He didn't say a word. The trench had thinned out and +the bullet had come through, nearly four feet down from the top of the +parapet. + +Bad shell fire this afternoon. Saw shells churning things up seventy-five +yards away; many passed overhead; had a ride on my motor cycle with the +other officers to reconnoiter the roads leading down to the part of the +trenches we have taken over; road was shelled as we came along. Two "coal +boxes" hit the road and smashed up a cottage in front of us; we picked up +pieces of the shell too hot to hold. + +Our billet now is another large farm, with the pump in the center of the +manure heap as usual; our machines are parked all round a field close to +the hedges to make a smaller target and also to prevent aerial +observation. + +I went through a town this morning which has been on everybody's lips for +months--I have never seen such devastation in my life; it baffles +description. The San Francisco earthquake was a joke to this. Thousands +and thousands of shells have pummeled and smashed until very little +remains besides wreckage. Most of the shelling has been done to +deliberately destroy the objects of architectural value. + +My quarters are in a loft amongst rags, old agricultural implements, +sacks, and the accumulation of years of dirt; flies wake me up at +daylight. + +This morning I went for a drink in the _estaminet_ I have mentioned +already. Two shells have been through the sides of the house since we were +last there, but they both came through at the usual scheduled time. + +This poor country is pockmarked with shell craters like a great country +with a skin disease. Trees have been splintered worse than any storm could +do. Nothing has been spared. The mineral rights of this territory should +be very valuable some day. When we have all finished salting the earth +with nickel, lead, steel, copper, and aluminum, old-metal dealers will +probably set up offices in No Man's Land. + +Belgium will have to be rebuilt entirely, or left as it is, a monument to +"Kultur." + + ------------------------------------- + +My section has been ordered up to a divisional area on the south of the +salient. In accordance with instructions I went up to Ypres this morning +to find a place to park the machines. + +Contrary to the popular belief, we do not fight our guns from the motor +cycles themselves. We use our machines to get about on, and the guns are +taken up as near as possible to the position we are to occupy, which is +usually behind Brigade Headquarters. Brigadiers have a great aversion to +any kind of motor vehicle being driven past their headquarters, owing to +the movement and noise, which they believe attracts attention to +themselves, and as a rule the sentries posted outside will see that no +machines go by. We get up as far as we can, because after we part from our +machines, everything must be carried up through the trenches by hand. + + [Illustration] + + Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun + + +I arrived at the town early and reported to the major who is in charge of +the town and of the troops quartered there. He was living in the prison, a +substantial brick and stone building, which has been smashed about a bit, +but which is still a fairly good structure. The major is a fine, gruff old +gentleman who was a master of fox hounds in the North of England. He came +over with a detachment of cavalry. He is past the age limit, and it was +decided that although he was a fine soldier, perhaps his age would be a +deterrent and his job ought to be something lighter, so they gave him one +of the fiercest jobs in the world--O. C. Ypres! + +I was sent in, and when he heard my errand he said, "You want to park your +machines in Ypres? Why don't you take them up in the German front lines? +You'll be safer there than here. Listen to the shelling now." I knew this, +but I was doing just exactly what I was told. He continued: "I have now +thousands of troops here and my daily casualties are enormous, so +naturally I don't want any more men. The best plan for you will be to go +down the Lille road and pick a house below 'Shrapnel Corner.' " + +I went on through the town, under the Lille gate, across the tram lines, +past the famous cross-roads known as "Shrapnel Corner" and chummed up with +some artillery officers. They told me that I could have any of the houses +I wanted. I picked a couple which looked to me to be more complete than +the rest and chalked them up. This whole place was alive with batteries. +While I was there I heard a shout and suddenly a hidden battery of guns, +sunk behind the road with the muzzles almost resting on it, started firing +across in the direction of the part of Belgium occupied by Fritz. I had +passed within two feet of these guns and yet had not seen them, they were +so well "camouflaged." On my way back I saw the "Big Berthas" bursting in +the town, and I was surprised that so little damage had been actually done +to the Lille gate itself. Shells had visited everywhere in the +neighborhood, but had not smashed this old structure. + +I went home, collected my men together, and told them the importance of +the work we were to undertake. I have found it always a good thing to make +the men think the job that they are doing is of great importance. Better +results are obtained that way. + +We went to an "engineer dump" on the way up just after the enemy had +landed a shell on a wagon loading building material, and wounded were +being carried off and the mangled horses had been dragged on one side. As +the wounded came by I called my section to attention, the compliment due +to wounded men paid by units drawn up. + +We drew our sandbags in the usual way by requisitioning for five thousand +and getting one thousand. Always ask for more than you expect to get. + +As we came into Ypres, a military policeman on duty told me it was +unhealthy to go the usual way through the Market Square, because the +shelling was bad in that part of the town, so I spread the machines out +and started on down a side street. We were getting on finely and I was +congratulating myself on getting through, when two houses, hit from the +back, collapsed across the street in front of my machine. Without any +ceremony I turned my machine back along the street which we had come and +went through the Market Square down the Lille road, under the gate, being +followed by my section. About four hundred yards down I stopped; holding +my solo motor cycle between my legs, standing up, I looked back. I counted +my machines as they came up. If it hadn't been so scary, it really would +have been funny, to see these machines coming down the road through shell +holes and over piles of bricks, as fast as the drivers could make them go. +The men were hanging on for dear life and the machines rocked from side to +side, but they were all there. + +Down the road we went to the houses; there we parked the machines and +unpacked. A guard was placed over them and the rest of us marched down to +the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +An officer has to buy all his own equipment and is allowed two hundred and +fifty dollars by the Government towards the cost. An officer carries a +revolver, but all junior officers as soon as possible acquire a rifle. The +men of a "salvage company" were collecting all the rifles, bayonets, and +parts of equipment near where I was to-day and I managed to get a +Lee-Enfield (British rifle) in good shape. I felt that I would like to +have a rifle and bayonet handy. I found a good-looking bayonet sticking in +the side of a sandbag wall. It looked lonely. The scabbard I am using was +resting in a loft of a deserted brewery. I am now complete with rifle, +bayonet, and scabbard. + + [Illustration] + + "Wipers" + + +Sometimes you see a man smashed about in a terrible way, such a mess that +you think he is a goner; he may recover. Another man may have just a small +wound and will die. A bullet hitting a man in the head will smash it as +effectually as a sledge-hammer. Once a man leaves your unit, wounded, you +don't see him again. You get a fresh draft. + +No one thinks of peace here. Germany must be put in a similar state to +Belgium first. + +We never travel anywhere without our smoke helmets; they come right over +our heads and are tucked into our shirts; they have two glass eye-pieces. +When we have them on we look like the old Spanish gentleman who ran the +"Star Chamber." Helmets must always be ready to put on instantly. Gas is a +matter of seconds in coming over. The helmets are better than respirators, +but have to be constantly inspected. A small hole, or if one is allowed to +dry, means a casualty. + +Storm brewing. Flies bad, driven in by the wind. Nature goes on just the +same. I suppose that this farm would be just as fly-ridden in an ordinary +summer. During the bombarding yesterday I noticed swallows flying about +quite unconcerned. Corn, mostly self-planted, grows right up to the +trenches. Cabbages grow wild. Communicating trenches run right through +fields of crops; flowers grow in profusion between the lines, big red +poppies and field daisies, and there are often hundreds of little frogs in +the bottom of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +A trip to No Man's Land is an excursion which you never forget. It varies +in width and horrors. My impression was similar to what I should feel +being on Broadway without any clothes--a naked feeling. Forty-seven and one +half inches of earth are necessary to stop a bullet, and it's nice to have +that amount of dirt between you and the enemy's bullets. The dead lie out +in between the lines or hang up on the wire; they don't look pretty after +they have been out some time. It's a pleasant job to have to get their +identification disks, and we have to search the bodies of the enemy dead +for papers and even buttons so that we can know what unit is in front of +us. Flowers grow in between, butterflies play together, and birds nest in +the wire. When the grass becomes too high it has to be cut, because +otherwise it would prevent good observation. In some places grass doesn't +have a chance to even take root, let alone grow. The shells take care of +that. + +I managed to get a translation of a diary kept by a German soldier who +fell on the field. Below is an exact translation and gives the point of +view of a man in the trenches on the other side of the line. He was +writing his diary at the same time I was writing mine, and we were both +fighting around the salient at Ypres, Hooge being on the point of the +salient farthest east. This part, which was once a place of beauty which +people came long distances to see, is now like a great muddy Saragossa Sea +which at the height of its fury has suddenly become frozen with the +tortured limbs of trees and men, and wreckage and reeking smells, until it +can again lash itself in wild fury into whirlpools. It is in all respects +Purgatory, but of greater horror than Dante ever dreamt of. + + ------------------------------------- + +_Diary of F---- P---- of the 6th Company, 3d Battalion, 132d Regiment. +Killed at Hooge on August 9th, 1915._ + +On May 10, we were told to prepare for the journey to the front. Each man +received his service ammunition and two days' rations, and we then started +with heavy packs on our backs and our water-bottles full of coffee. After +a long march we reached our reserve position, where we were put into rest +billets for two days in wooden huts hidden in a wood. We could hear from +here the noise of the shells coming through the air. + +On May 13, we moved into the trenches, in the night. We were a whole hour +moving along a communication trench one and one-half metres deep, right up +to the front line some fifty metres from the enemy. This was to be our +post. We had hardly got in before the bullets came flying over our heads. +Look out for the English! They know how to shoot! I need hardly say we did +not wait to return the compliment. We answered each one of their greetings +and always with success, inasmuch as we stood to our loopholes for +twenty-four hours with two-hour reliefs. + +At length early on the 15th, at four o'clock, came our first attack. After +a preliminary smoking-out with gas, our artillery got to work, and about +ten o'clock we climbed out of the trenches and advanced fifty metres in +the hail of bullets. Here I got my first shot through the coat. Three +comrades were killed at the outset of the assault, and some twenty +slightly or severely wounded, but we had obtained our object. The trench +was ours, although the English twice attempted to turn us out of it. + +The fight went on till eleven o'clock that evening. We were then relieved +by the 10th Company, and made our way back along the communication +trenches to our old positions. Here we remained until the third day, +standing by at night and passing two days without sleep. We were hardly +able to get our meals. From every side firing was going on, and shots came +plugging two metres deep into the ground. This was my baptism of fire. It +cannot be described as it really is--something like an earthquake, when the +big shells come at one and make holes in the ground large enough to hold +forty or fifty men comfortably. How easy and comfortable seemed our road +back to the huts. + +We remained in the huts for three days, resting before we went up again to +"Hell Fire," as they call the first line trenches in front of Ypres. + +Then suddenly in the middle of the night an alarm. Our neighbors had +allowed themselves to be driven out of our hard-won position, and the 6th +Company, with the 8th and 5th, had to make good the lost ground. A hasty +march through the communication trenches up to the front, the night lit up +far and wide with searchlights and flares and ourselves in a long chain +lying on our bellies. Towards two in the morning the Englishmen came on, +1500 men strong. The battle may be imagined. About 200 returned to the +line they started from. Over 1300 dead and wounded lay on the ground. Six +machine guns and a quantity of rifles and equipment were taken back by us, +the 132d Regiment, and the old position was once more in our possession. +What our neighbors lost the 132d regained. There was free beer that +evening and a concert! At 11 P.M. once more we withdrew to the rear, our +2d, 4th and 10th Companies relieving us. We slept a whole day and night +like the dead. + +On June 15th, we again went back to rest billets, but towards midday we +were once more sent up to the front line to reinforce our right wing, +which was attacked by French and English. Just as we got to our trenches +we were greeted by a heavy shell fire, the shells falling in front of our +parapets, making the sandbags totter. Seeing this, I sprang to the spot +and held the whole thing together till the others hurried up to my +assistance. Just as I was about to let go, I must have got my head too +high above the parapet, as I got shot in the scalp. In the excitement I +did not at once realize that I was wounded, until Gubbert said--"Hullo, +Musch! Why, you're bleeding!" The stretcher-bearer tied me up, and I had +to go back to the dressing-station to be examined. Happily it was nothing +more than a mere scalp wound, and I was only obliged to remain on the +sick-list four days, having the place attended to. + +June 24th. All quiet in the West, except for sniping. The weather is such +that no offensive can take place. The English will never have a better +excuse for inactivity than this--"It is raining." Thank God for that! Less +dust to swallow to-day! Odd that here in Belgium we are delighted with the +rain, while in Germany they are watching it with anxiety. + +To-day we shall probably be relieved. Then we go to Menin to rest. Ten +days without coming under fire. It is Paradise! + +Sunday, June 27th. At nine o'clock clean up. At eleven roll-call. At three +o'clock went to the Cinema--very fine pictures. In the afternoon all the +men danced till seven, but we had to take each other for partners--no +girls. + +July 2d. 11 P.M. Alarm. Three persons have been arrested who refused to +make sandbags. They were pulled out of bed and carried off. Eight o'clock +marched to drill. This lasts till 11. Then 1 to 4 rest. Six, physical +drill and games. I went to the Cinema in the evening. + +July 6th. Inspection till eleven. Three hours standing in the sun--enough +to drive me silly. Twenty-three men fell out. Three horses also affected +by the heat. Eleven to one Parade march--in the sun. Thirty-six more men +reported sick. I was very nearly one of them. + +July 9th. Preparation for departure. From seven to ten pack up kits. +Eleven, roll-call. One-thirty, march to light railway. At seven reached +firing trench. The English are firing intermittently over our heads; +otherwise, all is quiet. We are now on the celebrated, +much-bewritten-about "Hill 60." Night passes without incident. + +July 12th. At three in the morning the enemy makes a gas attack. We put on +respirators. Rifle in hand we leap from the trenches and assault. In front +of Hill 60 the enemy breaks, and we come into possession of a trench. +Rapid digging. Counter-attack repulsed. At nine o'clock all is quiet, only +the artillery still popping. This evening we are to be relieved. The 132d +Regiment is much beloved by the English! In a dugout we found two labels. +One of them had the following writing on it: "God strafe the 132d Regiment +(not 'God strafe England' this time). Sergeant Scott (?) Remington, +Sewster Wall (?)." On the other was, "I wish the Devil would take you, you +pigs." + +At 7.20 Hill 60 is bombarded by artillery, and shakes thirty to fifty +metres, as if from an earthquake. Two English companies blown into the +air--a terrible picture. Dug-outs, arms, equipment--all blown to bits. + +July 17th. Marched to new quarters. We have got a new captain. He wants to +see the company, so at 8 A.M. drill in pouring rain. Four times we have to +lie on our belly, and get wet through and through. All the men grumbling +and cursing. At eleven we are dismissed. I, with a bad cold and a +headache. I wish this soldiering were all over. + +July 19th. At seven sharp we marched off to our position. Heavy +bombardment. At nine we were buried by a shell. I know no more. At eleven +I found myself lying in the Field Hospital. I have pains inside me over my +lungs; and headache, and burning in the joints. + +July 20th. The M.O. has had a look at me. He says my stomach and left lung +are suffering from the pressure which was put on them. The principal +remedy is rest. + +July 21st. Thirty-nine degrees of fever (temp. 100 Fahr.). Stay in bed +and sleep, and oh! how tired I am! + +July 22d. I slept all day. Had milk and white bread to eat. + +July 26th. Returned to duty with three days' exemption, i.e., we do not +have any outdoor work. + +July 28th and 29th. Still on exemption. Nothing to do but sleep and think +of home and of my dear wife and daughter. But dreaming does not bring +peace any sooner. How I would love an hour or two back home. + +July 31st. In rest. Baths going. Duke of Wrttemberg passed through our +camp. + +August 1st. Up to the trenches. Shrapnel flying like flies. A heavy +bombardment; bombardment of Hooge. Second Battalion, 132d Regiment, sent +up to reinforce 126th Regiment, which has already lost half its men. + +August 4th. Heavy artillery fire the whole night. The English are +concentrating 50,000 Indians on our front to attack Hooge and Hill 60. +Just let them come, we shall stand firm. At three marched off to the +front. Watch beginning again. Five o'clock marched off to the Witches' +Cauldron, Hooge. A terrible night again. H.E. and shrapnel without number. +Oh, thrice-cursed Hooge! In one hour eleven killed and twenty-three +wounded and the fire unceasing. It is enough to drive one mad, and we have +to spend three days and three nights more. It is worse than an earthquake, +and any one who has not experienced it can have no idea what it is like. +The English fired a mine, a hole fifteen metres deep and fifty to sixty +broad, and this "cauldron" has to be occupied at night. At present it +isn't too badly shelled. At every shot the dug-outs sway to and fro like a +weather-cock. This life we have to stick to for months. One needs nerves +of steel and iron. Now I must crawl into our hole, as trunks and branches +of trees fly in our trench like spray. + +August 6th. To-night moved to the crater again, half running and half +crawling. At seven a sudden burst of fire from the whole of the artillery. +From about eleven yesterday fires as if possessed. This morning at four we +fall back. We find the 126th have no communication with the rear, as the +communication trenches have been completely blown in. The smoke and thirst +are enough to drive one mad. Our cooker doesn't come up. The 126th gives +us bread and coffee from the little they have. If only it would stop! We +get direct hits one after another and lie in a sort of dead end, cut off +from all communication. If only it were night. What a feeling to be +thinking every second when I shall get it! ---- has just fallen, the third +man in our platoon. Since eight the fire has been unceasing; the earth +shakes and we with it. Will God ever bring us out of this fire? I have +said the Lord's Prayer and am resigned. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day I saw the "Mound of Death" at Saint-Eloi; it has been mined a +number of times, and thousands of shells have beaten it into a disorderly +heap of earth; the trenches are twenty-five yards apart; all the grass and +vegetation has been blown away and never has had time to grow up again. + +It's all arranged for you, if there's a bit of shell or a bullet with your +name on it you'll get it, so you've nothing to worry about. You are a +soldier--then be one. This is the philosophy of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + What's The Use? + + +War is a great ager. Young men grow old quickly here. It can be seen in +their faces; they have lost all the irresponsibility of youth. I have met +many men who have been here since Mons; they all look weary and worn out +by the strain. Now new troops are coming forward and it is hoped that they +will be able to send some back for a rest. + +Several days ago the adjutant of the Tenth Battalion Sherwood Foresters +came to me with this message which was sent through our lines:-- + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrest Officer Royal Engineers with orderly. Former, six feet, black +moustache, web equipment, revolver. Latter, short, carries rifle, canvas +bandolier. Please warn transports and all concerned. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everybody kept a good lookout for these spies. One sentry surprised a real +R.E. officer named Perkins who was working out a drainage scheme. Seeming +to answer the above description, he stalked him,--"Come 'ere, you ---- +----, you're the ---- I've been looking for." The officer, nonplussed, +commenced to stutter. "Sergeant, I've got 'im and he can't speak a word of +English." The sergeant collected him in and guarded him until another +engineer officer, known to the guard, came along. As soon as Perkins saw +him, he said, "F-r-r-ed, t-t-tell this d-d-damn fool wh-ho I am." "Who the +hell are you calling Fred? I don't know him; hold him, sergeant, he's a +desperate one." Scarcely able to contain his joy, Fred went back to the +Engineers' Camp to tell the great news and Perkins spent three hours in +the sandbag dugout listening to a description of what the sergeant and his +guard would do to him if they only had their way. + +The real spies, who did a great deal of damage, were finally rounded up +and shot in a listening post trying to regain their own lines. + + ------------------------------------- + +Enemy snipers give us a great deal of trouble. It is very difficult to +locate them. One of our men tried out an original scheme. He put an empty +biscuit tin on the parapet. Immediately the sniper put a bullet through +it. Now thought the Genius, "If I look through the two holes it will give +me my direction,"--so getting up on the firestep he looked through, only to +roll over with the top of his head smashed off by a bullet. The sniper was +shooting his initials on the tin. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all used to dead bodies or pieces of men, so much so that we are +not troubled by the sight of them. There was a right hand sticking out of +the trench in the position of a man trying to shake hands with you, and as +the men filed out they would often grip it and say, "So long, old top, +we'll be back again soon." One man had the misfortune to be buried in such +a way that the bald part of the head showed. It had been there a long time +and was sun-dried. Tommy used him to strike his matches on. A corpse in a +trench is quite a feature, and is looked for when the men come back again +to the same trench. + +We live mostly on bully beef and hard tack. The first is corned beef and +the second is a kind of dog biscuit. We always wondered why they were so +particular about a man's teeth in the army. Now I know. It's on account of +these biscuits. The chief ingredient is, I think, cement, and they taste +that way too. To break them it is necessary to use the handle of your +entrenching tool or a stone. We have fried, baked, mashed, boiled, +toasted, roasted, poached, hashed, devilled them alone and together with +bully beef, and we have still to find a way of making them into +interesting food. + +However, the Boche likes our beef. He prefers the brand canned in Chicago +to his own, and will almost sit up and beg if we throw some over to him. +The method is as follows: Throw one over ... sounds of shuffling and +getting out of the way are heard in the enemy trench. Fritz thinks it's +going to go off. Pause, and throw another. Fritz not so suspicious this +time. Keep on throwing until happy voices from enemy trenches shout, +"More! Give us more!" Then lob over as many hand grenades as you can pile +into that part of the trench and tell them to share those too. + +It takes some time to distinguish whether shells are arrivals or +departures, but after a while you get into the way of telling their +direction and size by sound. Roads are constantly shelled, searching for +troops or supply columns. I was coming home to-day, up a road which ran +approximately at right angles to main fire trenches. At one place the road +was exposed for a matter of thirty or forty feet, and again farther up it +was necessary to go over the brow of a small hill. This was about three +hundred yards farther on and was exposed to the enemy's view. Thinking +they wouldn't bother about a single rider on a motor cycle, I went up past +the first exposed position. My carburetor was giving me some trouble and I +thought I would see if any rain had got into it, so I turned off the road +down a cross-road and dismounted when _crash_! a shell landed right in the +middle of the road as far up the exposed place as I was round the corner. +Then five more followed the first shell. Had I gone on I could not +possibly have missed collecting most of the fragments. The German gunners +had spotted me in the first position and decided that a lone man on a +motor cycle must be either an officer or despatch rider. So they tried to +get him. The shells were shrapnel and the time was calculated splendidly. +They had taken into consideration the speed of my motor cycle. Cross-roads +are particularly attended to, for there is a double chance of hitting +something, and in consequence it is always unhealthy to linger on a +crossroad. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dugouts are often made very comfortable with windows, tiled floors and +furniture taken from neighboring shattered chateaux. I have even seen them +with flowers growing in window-boxes over the entrance. They all have +names. Some I saw yesterday were called "Anti-Krupp Cottage," "Pleasant +View," and "Little Grey Home in the West." There was one very homey site, +well equipped and fitted, which had been dubbed the "Nut,"--the colonel +lived there. + +My old corps brought an aeroplane down with a machine gun last night. They +were in a shell hole between the main and support trenches. + +For the last few days I have been "up" looking for gun positions. + +The lice are getting to be a torment. You have no idea how bad they are. +Everybody up here is infested with them. I have tried smearing myself with +kerosene, but that does not seem to trouble them at all. Silk underwear is +supposed to keep them down. I suppose their feet slip on the shiny +surface. + +The food lately has taken on a wonderful flavor and I now know how +dissolved German tastes. The cook, instead of sending back two miles for +water to cook with, has been using water from the moat in which a Boche +had been slowly disintegrating. + +To-day I was able to see what a German seventeen-inch shell could do; one +had made a crater fifty feet across and twenty feet deep in the middle of +the road. The top of the road was paved--think it over--and pieces kill at a +thousand yards. Thirty horses were buried in another hole. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been given a special job by the general to enfilade a wood over the +Mound. I have my section now in the second-line trenches waiting till it +is dark before making a move. We have to make a machine-gun emplacement in +a piece of ground which is decidedly unhealthy to visit during daylight. I +have been there in daylight, but I had to creep out of it. On the map it +is called a farm, but the highest wall is only three feet six inches high. + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrived home about two o'clock this morning. We crawled to the place we +have to take up, and I put some men filling sandbags in the ruins and +others even digging a dugout. The enemy had "the wind up" and were using a +great number of star shells. When one goes up we all "freeze," remain +motionless, or lie still. They send them up to see across their front, and +if they locate a working party, then they start playing a tune with their +machine guns. Bullets and shells whistled through the trees all the time. +They seemed to come from all directions. The men didn't like it at all. I +wasn't altogether comfortable myself, but an officer must keep going. I +walked about and joked and laughed with them. The range-taker said, "Some +of us are getting the didley-i-dums, Sir." I don't know what that is, but +I had a feeling that I had them too. + +Of course, to start with, everybody thinks every single shell and bullet +is coming straight for him. Then you find out how much space there is +around you. One man came to tell me that two men were firing at him with +his own rifle from the ruins of the alleged farmhouse, ten yards away from +the dugout we are making. Just then a field mouse squeaked, and he jumped +up in the air and said, "There's another." I told the men to fill sandbags +from the ruins; they all crowded behind this three-foot-six wall for +protection; they dug up a French needle bayonet--that was all right, but +they afterwards dug up a rifle and I noticed a suspicious smell, so I +moved them. + +We came home very tired. We are attacking Hooge, a counter-attack, to take +back trenches lost in the liquid fire attack--you will hear what we did +from the papers, probably in three months' time. + + ------------------------------------- + +I'm writing this in a new home, this time a splinter-proof dugout. The +Huns are again strafing us--last shell burst fifty yards away a few minutes +ago. Several times since I started writing I have had to shake off the +dust and debris thrown by shell bursts on to these pages. I was again +sniped at with shrapnel this morning on my machine while reconnoitering +the roads--they all missed, but they're not nice. I'm filthy, alive, and +covered with huge mosquito bites; you get sort of used to the incessant +din in time. Even the forty-two centimeter shells, which make a row like +freight trains with loose couplings going through the air, are not so +terrible now. + +Through a hole in my dugout I can see the Huns' shells Kulturing a +chateau. It was once a very beautiful place with a moat, bridges, and +splendid gardens. Now it's useless except that the timber and the +furniture come in useful for our dugouts and the making of "duck walks," +the grated walks which line the bottom of the trenches. + +Last night I was sitting in the Medical Officer's dugout when a man I knew +came in. He was an officer in the Second Gordons. "I feel pretty bad, +doc." He explained his symptoms. "Trench fever; you go down the line." +"No, fix me up for tonight and maybe I won't need anything else." He +didn't! All that is left of him is being buried now, less than a hundred +yards from where I write this. + + ------------------------------------- + +Before I came here I had to go to another part of the line, in which the +"Princess Pats" distinguished themselves. We have been hanging on ever +since, and a mighty stiff proposition it is. The O.C. to-day told me that +he had not slept for fifty-six hours. The Germans in one place are only +twenty-five yards away--so close that conversation is carried on in a +whisper. + +In one place they had stuck up a board with "Warsaw Captured" on it. + +My section worked until two o'clock and then the sandbags gave out, so we +had to come home. This was a disappointment to me. I wanted to get the job +finished. My men went on filling sandbags from the same place last night +and discovered the remains of the late owner of the sword bayonet. He has +now been decently buried, with a little wooden cross marked-- + + + TO AN UNKNOWN FRENCH SOLDIER + R.I.P. + + +When you read in the newspapers, that a trench was lost or taken, just +think what it means. Think what happens to the men in the trenches; that's +the part of it we see. Stretchers pass by all day. Since I have been here +the cemetery has grown--a new mound--a simple wooden cross. Nobody talks +about it, but everybody wonders who's next. The men here are splendid, the +best in the world, and the officers are gentlemen. + + [Illustration] + + A French Soldier. + + + ------------------------------------- + +We have moved to the famous Langhof Chateau on the Lille road. This is +supposed to have belonged to Hennessey of "Three Star" fame, but the +Germans had been through the wine cellars. We looked very, very carefully, +but only found empties. My batman has made me comfortable. I'm writing +this on a washstand; in front of me I have a bunch of roses in a broken +vase. My trench coat is hanging on a nail from a coat-hanger. A large +piece of broken wardrobe mirror has been nailed up to a beam for my use. +One of the men just came in to ask if a trousers press would be of any +use. We have a fine little bureau cupboard of carved oak; we use this for +the rations. A pump, repaired with the leather from a German helmet, has +been persuaded to work and has been busy ever since. The roof of my cellar +is arched brick and has a few tons of fallen debris on the floor upstairs. +That strengthens it. It is shored up from inside with rafters. This makes +the roof shell-proof, except for big shells, and the enemy always use big +shells. The cellar floors are concrete. + +It is very strange the lightness with which serious things are taken by +men here, and it took me some time to understand it. I met a young captain +of the Royal Marine Artillery who was in charge of a battery of trench +mortars. He was telling me of how one of his mortars and the crew were +wiped out by a direct hit. He referred to it as though he had just missed +his train. + +Two days later I went up with the Machine-Gun Officer of the Second +Gordons to look at a piece of ground. To get there we had to crawl on our +hands and knees. In one part of our journey we came to a sunken road. The +day was fine, so we lay there. He asked me about Canada. He wanted to know +something about the settler's grant. He said: "Of course you know after a +chap has been out here in the open, it will be impossible to go back again +to office life." I boosted Canada and suddenly the irony of the situation +occurred to me. Here we were lying down in a road quite close to the +German lines, so close that it would be suicide to even stand up, and yet +here we were calmly discussing the merits of Canadian emigration. I +commented on this and he replied: "My dear fellow, when you have been out +as long as I have, you will come to realize that being at the front is a +period of intense boredom punctuated by periods of intense fear, and that +if you allow yourself to be carried away by depression it will be your +finish." He had been out since just after Mons. + +I remembered this and I found that the nonchalant and care-free attitude +of the average British officer was really a mask and simulated to keep his +mind off the whole beastly business: this great big dirty job which white +people must do. + +I was sitting one afternoon by the side of the canal bank about two +hundred yards in front of my chateau having tea with the officers of the +East Yorks when suddenly the chateau-smashing started again. To go back +was dangerous and useless. My men were under cover, resting, so that they +would be ready for the night work. The shelling was intermittent. One +shell went over and presently I heard _crack_,--_crack_,--_boom_, _crack_, +_crack_,--_crack_; my heart was in my boots and I was unable to move. + +The colonel listened for a few seconds, then said: "Keene, do you know +what that is?" I lied: "No, sir." I thought it was the explosion of my +machine-gun bullets in their web belts and I dreaded to go up to see my +section. I had worked with them and tried hard to be a good officer and +the feeling that I should probably only find their mangled remains +sickened me. The colonel said: "That's the 'Archie' in Bedford House. I +think the last 'crump' got it. You two"--indicating myself and another +officer--"go up and see if we can do anything. See if they want a working +party and let me know." + +We started to run. On the way up I looked into the cellars to see the men +whom I, the minute previously, had mourned for, and found two asleep, +three hunting through their shirts, and the rest breaking the army orders +by "shooting craps." From Bedford House a long trail of smoke was rising +and the explosions became louder. We suddenly discovered the "Archie" in +flames. It was in the courtyard and for camouflage had been covered with +branches. It was mounted on an armored Pierce-Arrow truck. The "crump" had +hit it, and gasoline, paint, branches, and hubs were supplying the fuel +which was cooking out the ammunition, the _crack_, _crack_, being the +report of single shells, whereas one loud _boom_ signified the explosion +of an entire box. These shells were going off in all directions and it +became dangerous to stay too near. + +The flames on the car were of pretty colors. It is surprising the amount +of inflammable material there is on a car. The late owner of the car, a +lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery, was cursing in a low, but +emphatic, marine manner, and several other officers from nearby batteries +were attracted by the noise and the pyrotechnic display. I spoke to the +lieutenant and sympathized with him, and he retorted: "Gott strafe +Germany. Why they should hit the 'bus' when I have a brand-new pair of +trench boots that I had never worn, I dunno." Just then and there the case +cooked out and a piece of shell cut between us and buried itself deep in +the support of a dugout, so we got under cover. + + [Illustration] + + "Whiz-Bangs." + + +In the group was a splendid type of army chaplain. He came over almost at +the start of the war and had seen a great deal of the open warfare at the +commencement of hostilities. He said: "My friend Fritz is not through; +he'll try to do some more yet." As the smoke died down and the cracking +stopped, the enemy decided that an attempt would be made either to carry +out salvage of whatever they had hit or else we would try to get the +wounded away. So without any preliminary warning the whole area was +covered by a battery fire of _whiz bangs_, and the shrapnel bullets came +down like rain, several men being hit. The fire eventually died down and +the wreck was allowed to cool off. The "Archies" are used so much to keep +the aeroplanes up, and next to the loss of his boots the officer in charge +was worried by the fact that the enemy would send an aeroplane over to see +what they had hit. It was very necessary to keep the planes away, because +at this time there were one hundred and fourteen batteries of artillery in +the neighborhood. + +Later on the battery commander came down, and as he looked at the red-hot +armor plates he said: "Five thousand pounds gone up in smoke. Sorry I +missed the fireworks." The Divisional general called him up at the dugout +and gave him areas for the distribution of the four anti-aircraft guns and +cars comprising his battery. After he was through the commander replied: +"Very good, sir, that will be done with all the guns except the third +gun." The voice over the wire became very dignified, a preliminary to +becoming sulphuric. "What do you mean, all but the third gun?" "Because, +sir, the enemy has just 'crumped' the third gun and all that remains of it +is scrap iron." + +One of the battalions has a fine victrola in the officers' mess dugout +with a good selection of records. I have heard Caruso accompanied on the +outside by an orchestra of guns. It was a wonderful mixture. Speaking of +canned music reminds me we have a small portable trench machine, which +closes up like a valise, easily handled and carried about. One man near +had a box full of needles distributed in his back by a bomb; he considers +himself disgraced; he says it will be kind of foolish in years to come to +show his grandchildren twenty-five or thirty needles and tell them that +they were the cause of his wounds. + +The Tommies play mouth organs a great deal and it is much easier to march +to the sound of one, even + + + 'Ere we are; 'ere we are, + 'Ere we are agin. + We beat 'em on the Marne, + We beat 'em on the Aisne, + We gave 'em 'ELL at Neuve Chapelle, + And 'ere we are agin-- + + +sounds well with the addition of a little music. + +Anything is used for trench work; often if we waited for the proper +materials we should be uncomfortable, so it is one of the qualifications +of a good soldier to find things. Sometimes we steal material belonging to +other units, then stick around until the owners come back and help them +look for them; however, it is always advisable to steal materials from +juniors in rank; if they find it out, and are senior, then you are in for +a one-sided strafe. + +One of the other battery subalterns found a deserted carpenter's shop and +he let his men loose to dismantle it. They took the parts of steel +machines and used them for the construction of a dugout. One man said, +"It's like coming home drunk and smashing up the grand piano with an axe." +They must have attracted the attention of the ever-alert Boche, for no +sooner had they moved out than the place was shelled to the ground. +Everything I now look at with an eye to its value for trench construction; +thus, telegraph poles, doors, iron girders, and rails are more valuable to +us out here than a Rolls Royce. + + [Illustration] + + The "Crump." + + + ------------------------------------- + +Slang or trench language is used universally. My own general talks about +"Wipers," the Tommy's pronunciation of Ypres, and I have seen a reference +to "Granny" (the fifteen-inch howitzer) in orders "mother" is the name +given to the twelve-inch howitzer. The trench language is changing so +quickly that I think the staff in the rear are unable to keep up to date, +because they have recently issued an order to the effect that slang must +not be used in official correspondence. Now instead of reporting that a +"dud Minnie" arrived over back of "mud lane," it is necessary to put, "I +have the honor to report that a projectile from a German Minnenwerfer +landed in rear of Trench F 26 and failed to explode." + +Sometimes names of shells go through several changes. For example, high +explosives in the early part of the war were called "black Marias," that +being the slang name for the English police patrol wagon. Then they were +called "Jack Johnsons," then "coal boxes," and finally they were +christened "crumps" on account of the sound they make, a sort of +_cru-ump!_ noise as they explode. "Rum jar" is the trench mortar. +"Sausage" is the slow-going aerial torpedo, a beastly thing about six feet +long with fins like a torpedo. It has two hundred and ten pounds of high +explosive and makes a terrible hole. "Whiz bang" is shrapnel. + +Shelling is continuous. We have thousands of pieces of shells and fuse +caps about the premises. I have in front of me a fragment of a shell about +fourteen inches long and about four and one-half inches across, which came +from a German gun. The edges are so sharp that it cuts your hand to hold +it. I use it as a paper-weight. + + ------------------------------------- + +This morning I experienced a wonderful surprise. I had gone up to one of +the North Stafford Batteries to borrow a clinometer. The major, while he +was getting the instrument for me, casually remarked: "There's yesterday's +'Times' on the bench if you care to look at it." I turned first to the +casualty list and later to the "London Gazette" for the promotions, and +wholly by accident perused carefully the Motor Machine Gun Service list +and there noted the announcement, "Keene, Louis, 2d Lieut., to be 1st +Lieut.," and for a fact this was the "official" intimation that I had been +promoted. I had a couple of spare "pips", rank stars, in my pocket-book, +so I got my corporal to sew them on right away. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all very happy at times, very dirty, and covered with stings and +bites; have no idea how long we are to remain up. Getting used to the +shell fire, and can sleep through it if it's not too close. When it comes +near it makes you very thoughtful. Still working at night and resting +during the day. Made another emplacement for one of my machine guns last +night; had twenty men digging; surprising how fast men dig when the +bullets are flying. + + ------------------------------------- + +It's about 2 A.M. We have just come in. My new emplacement is splendid; +we've made it shell-proof and have it ready for firing. I was coming home +this afternoon after having been to the fire trenches when I heard a +shout: "Keene!" I looked up on the canal bank and I saw the general with +one of his A.D.C.'s sitting watching an aeroplane duel. "I've come up to +see your gun position, Keene." I saluted, waited for him, and took him to +it. It is below the level of the ground under tons of bricks in the ruins +of a farmhouse. He was standing on the roof of it and said, "Well, where's +the emplacement?" "You're standing on it, sir." "Tut, tut, 'pon my word, +that's good." He was delighted and congratulated me on it. My preliminary +work under the eyes of the general has gone off quite well. I start firing +to-night. + +Intimacy between generals and lieutenants is unusual, but it looks as if +mine had taken an interest in me, because when he noticed my insect-bitten +face, he sent me down some dope he had used with good effect in India. I +expect the mosquitoes in India were the ordinary kind, but, believe me, +trench "skeeters" are constructed differently and are proof against the +general's pet concoction. + +I have several miners in my section who take a personal pride in the +digging and shoring up of dugouts. So far the other two sections of the +Battery are always behind in this work but they may look better on parade. + +The canal has one big lock suitable for swimming; a lot of "jocks" were +bathing there to-day. I ordered a bathing parade for my section. Later I +found that the swimming had livened three Germans, long submerged--the +bathing parade is off. + +A Belgian battery commander has just wakened up and his shells are +rattling overhead. From the fire trenches an incessant rattle of rifles is +heard; all the bullets seem to come over here; constantly the whine of a +musical ricochet bullet is heard. Otherwise things are dead quiet. It's +getting on for three, so I'm going to bed in my blankets on one of the +late chateau owner's splendid spring mattresses and carved oak bedstead. +Oh! how nice it would be to sleep without lice. From an adjoining cellar +my section are snoring, and I'm going to add to the chorus. Good-night, +everybody. + + ------------------------------------- + +We have been having Sunday "hate." Eight-inch crumps are once more busting +"up" the chateau. How they must detest this place. My tea and bully beef +are covered with dust of the last shell. You have no idea how terrible the +shell-fire is. First you hear the whistle and then a terrific burst which +shakes the ground for a hundred yards around; when it clears away you find +a hole ten feet across and six feet deep. At least fifteen have dropped +around us in the last half hour. + +This place isn't somewhere in France, it's somewhere in Hell! It has been +the scene of a great many encounters; decayed French uniforms, old rifles, +ammunition and leather equipment and bundles of mildewed tobacco leaves +are strewn all over the place. I found the chin-strap of a German +"Pickelhaube" in the grounds, the helmet of a French cuirassier, and the +red pants of a Zouave, close together. When digging in the trenches or +anywhere near the firing line you have to be careful: corpses, dead +horses, and cattle are buried everywhere. I'm building a trench to my +emplacement and we have a stinking cow in the direct line; this will have +to be buried before we can cut through. + +Everybody is cheerful and going strong. Yesterday some of my men went +swimming in the moat of the chateau; a shell dropped in the water near +them, and threw up a lot of fish on to the bank. That kind of discouraged +the Tommies swimming, so they cooked the fish and decided that safety +comes before cleanliness out here. + +It's hot and sticky, and when you have to wear thick clothes and equipment +it makes you very uncomfortable, but it's all in the game. + +All through the night we fired single shots from a machine gun; my orders +were to fire between half-past eight at night and four o'clock in the +morning. We have a number of guns doing this. It harasses the enemy and +keeps them from sleeping; anything that will wear a man down is practiced +here. + +I've constructed a fire emplacement amongst the ruins underground; to get +to it you have to travel through a tunnel eighteen feet long; inside it's +very damp. I was working with my corporal, crouched up; we were both wet +and cold, and so to cheer things up every now and again we let off a few +rounds and warmed our hands on the barrel. Outside it poured with rain, +and mosquitoes sought refuge inside and mealed off me. The corporal was +immune. I had a water bottle full of whiskey and water. We used it to keep +out the cold, but it wasn't strong enough. In a case like that you need +wood alcohol. I would like to have had some Prohibitionists with me here. +We had no light except the flash of the gun and the enemy star shells. + +At daybreak I came home dead beat. I got into my cellar, was so tired that +I threw myself down on the bed and wrapped myself up in my blankets, +boots, mud, lice and all. I hadn't been asleep long before the Huns +started "hating" the chateau. They have put over twenty-five large calibre +shells into my place, the grounds and the house. They are still at it. +Every time a shell bursts it makes a hole big enough to bury five horses, +and it shakes the foundations all round. The shells are bigger than usual. +The smoke and earth are blown up fifty or sixty feet in the air. The +effect is a moral disruption. _Why can't they keep that cotton out of +Germany?_ + +I have divided my section up into two teams, one in the cellars and one in +the gun-pits. I relieve them every twenty-four hours, and I practically +have to be in both places at once, but I have got a telephone in between +the two places. I have it by my bed so that I can constantly know how +things are going. However, the wire is cut two or three times a day by +bullets and shell splinters, my linesman has a constant job. + +Fired all night; came back at six o'clock this morning, very tired. Had a +telegram from the general to fire two thousand rounds in twenty-four +hours; this is quite hard work. Actually we could fire the lot in five +minutes, but it would attract too much attention. The enemy use whole +batteries of artillery to blot out machine guns which attract attention, +so we have to fire single shots. + +We have for neighbors four dead cows and an unexploded six-inch shell, +liable to go off any time, all in a radius of one hundred yards. We have +smashed holes through five walls so that we can go through the ruins +unobserved. In one place we pass over a dead cow, and in another we wade +through several tons of rotten potatoes, and I believe we have a corpse +handy; and part of our trench goes through another heap of rotten mangles. +I'm an authority on smells. I can almost tell the nationality of a corpse +now by the smell. It will soon be necessary to wear our smoke-helmets to +go into the emplacement. I don't think that I have told you that I cross +the Yser canal about six times a day. I'd been up a week before I knew +what it was. Now it only has a few feet of water in it, the rest being +held in the German locks. The part I cross over is full of bulrushes, and +is the home of moor-hens, water rats, mosquitoes and frogs. + +On one side of the canal is a bank which is in great demand by the machine +gunners, who are able to get a certain amount of height and observation of +their fire. The general has ordered a field gun to take up a position on +this bank. He refers to it as his "Sniping eighteen-pounder." It is firing +at seven hundred yards right at the German line and smashes up their +parapet in a style that is pretty to watch. The machine gunners are in a +great state, because the enemy will soon be "searching" with his artillery +for the eighteen-pounder and the lairs of the smaller hidden guns will +suffer. + +The men are hunting for lice in their underwear. This is the kind of +conversation that is coming through from the next cellars: "I've got you +beat--that's forty-seven." "Wait a minute"--a sound of tearing cloth--"but +look at this lot, mother and young." "With my forty and these you'll have +to find some more." They were betting on the number they could find. I +peel off my shirt myself and burn them off with a candle. I glory in the +little pop they make when the heat gets to them. All the insect powder in +the world has been tried out on them and they've won. + +All sentries here are doubled; one thing it's safer, and another it's +company; even when things are quiet, rats and mice scamper about and it +sets your nerves on end. Things which are inanimate during the day become +alive at night. Trees seem to walk about. I wonder what it tastes like to +have a real meal in which tinned food does not figure; fancy a tablecloth; +my tablecloth is a double sheet of newspaper, and even then I can't have a +new one every day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Had a good night's rest; came in about twelve o'clock and slept until +eight-thirty this morning. One eye is completely closed up by a sting. + +A German aeroplane has been hovering over our positions looking for my +gun, so we have stopped firing and all movement. I know just how the +chicken feels when the hawk hovers over it. Few people realize how much +aeroplanes figure in this war, for war would be much different without +them. They do the work of Cavalry only in the sky. Whenever they come +over, the sentries blow three blasts on their whistles and everybody runs +for cover or freezes; guns stop firing and are covered up with branches +made on frames. If men are caught in the open they stand perfectly still +and do not look up, for on the aeroplane photographs faces at certain +heights show light; dugouts are covered over with trees, straw or grass. +We use aeroplane photographs a great deal; they show trenches distinctly +and look very like the canals on Mars. + +The Huns have been "hating" the road one quarter of a mile away all the +morning. That doesn't worry us a bit as long as they don't come any +closer. I'm willing always to share up on the shelling. + +This order has just been issued. It speaks for itself:-- + + + All ranks are warned that bombs and grenades must not be used for + fishing and killing game. + + +I went over another farm to-day. It is one of the well-ventilated kind, +punched full of holes. In the kitchen, stables and outhouses there was a +most wonderful collection of junk: ammunition, British and French +bandoliers, old sheepskin coats abandoned by the British troops from last +winter, smashed rifles, bayonets, meat tins, parts of broken equipment, +sandbags, stacks of rotten potatoes and three dead cows. The fruit trees +are laden with fruit, and vines are growing up the houses with their +bunches of green grapes. + +In the garden several lonely graves are piled high with old boots, straw, +American agricultural implements, rotting sacks and rubbish of every +description, pieces of shells, barrels, and in one room the rusty remains +of a perambulator and sewing machine; rats are the only inhabitants now. +In the garret (the staircase leading up to it gone long ago) I found a +British rifle, bayonet fixed, ten rounds in the magazine, and the bolt +partly drawn out. Evidently the owner was in the act of reloading his +chamber when something happened. The graves were dated second and third +months of this year. The poor wooden crosses were made of pieces of ration +cases and the names written with an indelible pencil. The wretchedness of +this farm, which was flourishing only a short time ago, is very pathetic. + +We have adopted an old Belgian mother cat with her family of three kittens +in the dugout. Now we find that three more little wild kittens are living +in the bricks which we have piled around the windows to protect us against +shells. They are all encouraged to live with us in the cellars. I like +cats, and they will help to keep the rats down. Although some of the rats +are nearly the size of cats. + +It has been raining again and the trenches are filling up with slush. We +carry a big trench stick, a thick sapling about four feet long with a +ferrule made from a cartridge of a "very-light" (star shell), to help +ourselves in walking; our feet are beginning to get wet and cold as a +regular thing now, and we are revetting our trenches firm and solid for +the winter. Eleven P.M. A mine under the Boche line has just been +exploded. The fighting has just started for the crater. + +I took a German Uhlan helmet from a gentleman who had no further use for +it. It was pretty badly knocked about; still, if I can get it home it's a +trophy. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + +It's about eight o'clock Sunday evening. All day long shells have been +coming over like locomotives. Every five seconds one goes over into the +old town; every five seconds for the last two hours. The chateau has been +shelled again with "crumps"; they are such rotten shots; if only they +would put in two good ones in the center it would blow it to bits and then +they might leave us alone. The whole of the ground is pitted because they +can't hit it squarely. + + ------------------------------------- + +My work lies behind the front line and in front of the support, firing +over the heads of the men in the main trenches. The emplacement was +shelled to-day; one shell hit the roof, burst and knocked over one of my +men, cutting his head open. He is not very badly hurt, but has gone to the +hospital. The shelling has been terrible to-day. + +The Germans have been very quiet lately, and working parties are out all +along their front lines at night--something's up. Dirty work can be +expected at any time now. We have steel helmets to protect us from spent +bullets and splinters. They look like the old Tudor steel helmets and they +are fine to wash in. + +You have no idea what a big part food plays in our life. Yesterday morning +I went with the machine-gun officer of another outfit to crawl about +looking for positions. We were in an orchard. I happened to look up and +saw ripe plums! Terrified lest he should see them and forestall me, I +said, "Let's beat it, this is too unhealthy," so we crawled back. Last +night in the light of a big moon such as coons always steal watermelons +by, a section officer and his cook crawled to the plum tree. The section +officer, being large, stood underneath while the cook climbed the tree and +dropped them into a sandbag held open by the S.O. They got about ten +pounds. They go well stewed, believe me. The fact that bullets whistled +through the trees most of the time made them taste better to-day. Sat the +rest of the night in a hedge firing at the Boches with a Lewis gun. I +struck for bed just as dawn broke. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day the guns are again "hating" the chateau, and they have put sixty +shells in the neighborhood. Still, "there's no cloud without a silver +lining." I've got a new way home. Instead of going right around the +kennels, stables, and through the yards, I go "through" the greenhouse +direct, thereby saving a lot of time. The Huns' calendar is wrong. They +have always shelled me Sunday and Wednesday. To-day's Tuesday! + +We use up the window frames and doorways for kindling, and consequently +the doors have gone long ago. I have been smashing up mouldings this +morning with an axe. We prefer the dry wood which is built into the walls; +it burns better and doesn't cause smoke. As soon as smoke is seen rising, +the enemy's range-finders get busy and then we suffer. + +Another mine went up yesterday; nobody seems to know where. I think it +came south from the French lines; it rocked the whole neighborhood for +miles. The ground here is a kind of quicksand for a few feet down, and +shock is easily transmitted, the whole ground being honeycombed with +mines, old trenches, shafts, saps made by French, Belgians, Germans and +our own people. + +The use for timber of any description is manifold; every little bit is +used up. Our chief source of supply of dry wood is from the smashed-up +chateaux. Langhof, my home, has been punished almost every day, and after +the bombardment lets up men from the neighborhood come to collect the wood +torn up by the shelling. The men of the Tenth East Yorks came up this +morning and climbed to the remains of the second story, ripping up the +floor boards. The enemy evidently saw them, for the shelling soon started. +We have been shelled often here before, but it was nothing compared to +this. The shells were carefully placed and came over with disgusting +regularity. The buildings rocked and the whole neighborhood shook. +Fountains of bricks, mortar, and dirt were spewed up into the air. Trees +were torn to shreds, a wall in front of me was hit--and disappeared, a lead +statue of Apollo in the garden was hurled through the air and landed fifty +yards away crumpled up against the balustrade of the moat. + +We were in our cellars, and gradually the shelling crept up towards us. +Slowly a solemn dread which soon moulded into a sordid fear took +possession of my being. In a flash I began to devise a philosophy of death +for my chances were fading with every crash. I took out my pocketbook, +containing some letters from my mother and some personal things, and put +them on one of the beams, so that, being in another part of the building, +they might perhaps be found some day. The shelling continued and shells +dropped completely round the cellars, demolishing nearly everything in +sight. The enemy evidently wanted to obliterate the whole place. The smell +of the smoke and the dirt from the debris was choking, and every minute we +expected to be our last. Suddenly it stopped. Philosophy and fear +disappeared simultaneously as I sputtered out a choking laugh of relief. +Then Hawkins, my servant, in a scared voice started, and the others joined +in, singing the old marching refrain of the Training Camps:-- + + + "Hail, hail, the gang's all here, + What the hell do we care! + What the hell do we care! + Hail, hail, the gang's all here, + What the hell do we care NOW!" + + +When a man has lived night after night in a trench, he gradually finds it +quite possible to snatch a good night's sleep. In other words, it is +merely a case of becoming acclimated to rackets, smells and food. I had +always been able to sleep, but on the night following the bombardment of +the chateau I just could not doze off. I thrashed about continuously, and +while in this restless state harbored the notion that trouble was brewing +for me. Every one has had that feeling, the feeling that hangs in your +bones and warns you to watch out. Well, that is how I felt. + +At last the sun rose and with it came a beautiful morning, warm and sunny. +I walked out amongst the ruins to see the extent of the damage caused by +the shelling of the previous day. I was waiting for the stew which was +cooking on a little fire near the side of the cellar. The "dixie" was +resting on two old bayonets, and they in turn rested on bricks at either +side. Towards noon a big shell came over and landed in the moat, covering +everything around with a coat of evil-smelling, black mud. This shell was +followed by another, arriving in the part of the ruins where once a +cow-shed stood. I was talking to Hawkins, my batman, when I saw him dive +across my front and fall flat on his face. At the same time I was in the +center of an explosion, a great flame of light and then bricks, wood and +cement flew in all directions. For a few seconds I thought I was dead, +then I picked myself up and saw that blood was pouring down the front of +my jacket. I followed up the stream and found that my right hand was +smashed and hanging limp. My men rushed out and I told them it was +nothing, but promptly fell in a heap. When I came to, my hand was wrapped +up in an emergency bandage, and a stretcher was coming down from Bedford +House, an advanced dressing-station, the next house back. To the delight +of the men who were carrying it, I waved them away and told them I could +walk. Assisted up to the dressing-station by one of my men, I made it. I +then made a discovery. A soldier is a man until he's hit, then he's a +case. I first had an injection of "anti-tetanus" in the side, and the fact +was recorded on a label tied to my left-hand top pocket button. The doctor +tied me up, then said: "You'll soon be all right. Will you have a bottle +of English beer or a drop of whiskey?" I had the whiskey. I needed it. All +the time I was there the wounded poured in. Seeing them I felt ashamed to +be there with only a smashed hand. A corporal came in with both hands +blown off and fifty-six other wounds. He had tried to save the men in his +bay by throwing back a German bomb and it had gone off in his hands. +Hawkins came up later on with my helmet and the fuse head of the shell +which blew me up. We were all collected together and waited in the dugouts +of the dressing station until dusk. Several shells came close to us. I +tried to write to my mother with my left hand, so that when she received +the War Office cable she would know I was able to write. + +Dusk came, then night, and finally the Ford ambulance cars which were to +take us out of Hell. It was a beautiful night. Belgium looked lovely. The +merciful night had thrown a veil over the war scars on the land and a moon +was shining. I was told to sit up in the seat with the driver. We traveled +along one road, then the shelling became so bad that the drivers decided +to go back and take another road which was running nearly parallel. Back +over the line the planes of the Royal Flying Corps were bombing the Forest +of Houltholst, and the bursting of the shrapnel from the German +anti-aircraft guns pierced the velvet of the sky like stars as we went out +of Belgium into France. + + ------------------------------------- + +Several times shells burst on the road, and from the inside of the car +came the stifled groans of the men as the Ford hit limbs of trees and +shell-holes. + +Our first stop was a ruined windmill, the walls of which were nearly six +feet thick. Here the dangerous cases were taken off and attended to. The +last I saw of the corporal was after they had cut off his coat at the +seams and the doctors were taking a piece of wire out of his chest. While +I was waiting a chaplain asked me if I would like a cup of coffee or some +whiskey, realising that it would take some time to get the coffee made I +had some more whiskey. + +I was given two more tags, which this time were tied on buttons at the top +of my jacket. I stayed here about two hours, then I was sent to a clearing +hospital. It was here that I met the first nurses. They were two fine, +splendid women who were wearing the scarlet hoods of the British Regular +Army nurse. They were both strong and quite capable of handling a man, +even if he became delirious. One of them quickly got me into bed. I +apologized for my terribly dirty state, but I was told that it made no +difference; they were used to it. To be between clean sheets again was +wonderful. I felt I wanted to go to sleep forever. Suddenly a roar, and a +terrible explosion. The hospital was being bombed; a bomb had dropped +within a hundred yards of my tent. This was the German reprisal for our +bombing Houltholst. They deliberately bombed a hospital. The doctor at +this hospital next day looked at my hand and said in a nonchalant way, +"Looks as though you will lose it." At that time it didn't strike me as a +great loss to lose a hand, even if it was my "painting hand." + +The hospital train of the next day was crowded and the nurse in charge of +my coach was named Keene. We tried in the little spare time she had to see +if we couldn't work out our genealogy and find out if we were even +remotely connected, but before we did we came to the station of taples +and then went to the Duchess of Westminster Hospital at Latouquet. Here I +was operated on. A piece of Krupp's steel was taken out of my hand and a +rubber drainage tube inserted instead. The Duchess used to come round a +great deal and won everybody's affection. She used to sit on my bed and +talk to me about pleasant things. So unlike many people who visit +hospitals and ask the patients silly war questions, such as: "How does it +feel to be wounded?" or "Which hurts more, a bayonet or a shell wound?" +One exasperated Tommy, when asked if the shell hit him, said: "Naw, it +crept up behind and bit me." + +FINIS + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRUMPS, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + +CREDITS + + +May 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. (This file was + produced from images generously made available by The Internet + Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 28964-8.txt or 28964-8.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/9/6/28964/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of +this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away +-- you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks. +Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), +you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. + + +General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works + + +1.A. + + +By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work, +you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the +terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) +agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this +agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee +for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work +and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may +obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set +forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + + +1.B. + + +"Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or +associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be +bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can +do with most Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works even without complying +with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are +a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works if you +follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + + +1.C. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or +PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual +work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in +the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, +distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on +the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of +course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of +promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for +keeping the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} name associated with the work. You can +easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License when you +share it without charge with others. + + +1.D. + + +The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you +can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant +state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of +your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before +downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating +derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work. +The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of +any work in any country outside the United States. + + +1.E. + + +Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + + +1.E.1. + + +The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access +to, the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License must appear prominently whenever +any copy of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work (any work on which the phrase +"Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" +is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or +distributed: + + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + + +1.E.2. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is derived from the +public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with +permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and +distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or +charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you +must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 +or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.3. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is posted with the +permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply +with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed +by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License for all works posted with the permission of the +copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + + +1.E.4. + + +Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License +terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any +other work associated with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}. + + +1.E.5. + + +Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic +work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying +the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate +access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + + +1.E.6. + + +You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, +marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word +processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted +on the official Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. +Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License as +specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + + +1.E.7. + + +Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, +copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works unless you comply +with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.8. + + +You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to + the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark, but he has agreed to + donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 + days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally + required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments + should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, + "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary + Archive Foundation." + + You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the + works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and + all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + +1.E.9. + + +If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic +work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this +agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in +Section 3 below. + + +1.F. + + +1.F.1. + + +Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to +identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain +works in creating the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection. Despite these +efforts, Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, and the medium on which they +may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, +incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright +or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk +or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot +be read by your equipment. + + +1.F.2. + + +LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -- Except for the "Right of +Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for +damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE +NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH +OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE +FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT +WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, +PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY +OF SUCH DAMAGE. + + +1.F.3. + + +LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -- If you discover a defect in this +electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund +of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to +the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a +physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. +The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect +to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the +work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose +to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in +lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a +refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. + + +1.F.4. + + +Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in +paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + + +1.F.5. + + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the +exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or +limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state +applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make +the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state +law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement +shall not void the remaining provisions. + + +1.F.6. + + +INDEMNITY -- You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark +owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and +any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution +of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs +and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from +any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of +this or any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, and (c) any Defect +you cause. + + +Section 2. + + + Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic +works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including +obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the +efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks +of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance +they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}'s goals and ensuring +that the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection will remain freely available for +generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} and future generations. To learn more about the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations +can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at +http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. + + + Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of +Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. +The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. +Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full +extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North +1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information +can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at +http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. + + + Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive + Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the +number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment +including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are +particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. +Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable +effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these +requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not +received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or +determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have +not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against +accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us +with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the +United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods +and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including +checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please +visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. + + + General Information About Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with +anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} eBooks are often created from several printed editions, +all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright +notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance +with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed +(zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the +old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org + + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}, including how +to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, +how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email +newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + + + + +***FINIS*** +
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/28964-8.zip b/28964-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40f54f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-8.zip diff --git a/28964-h.zip b/28964-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..efb114a --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h.zip diff --git a/28964-h/28964-h.html b/28964-h/28964-h.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bab4c5d --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/28964-h.html @@ -0,0 +1,5794 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /><link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" /><meta name="DC.Creator" content="Louis Keene" /><meta name="DC.Title" content="“Crumps”, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went" /><meta name="DC.Date" content="May 25, 2009" /><meta name="DC.Language" content="English" /><meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Project Gutenberg" /><meta name="DC.Identifier" content="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/28964" /><meta name="DC.Rights" content="This text is in the public domain." /><title>The Project Gutenberg EBook of “Crumps”, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went by Louis Keene</title><style type="text/css">/* +The Gnutenberg Press - default CSS2 stylesheet + +Any generated element will have a class "tei" and a class "tei-elem" +where elem is the element name in TEI. +The order of statements is important !!! +*/ + +.tei { margin: 0; padding: 0; + font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } + +.block { display: block; } +.inline { display: inline; } +.floatleft { float: left; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0; } +.floatright { float: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 2em; } +.shaded { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; background-color: #eee; } +.boxed { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; border: 1px solid black; } + +body.tei { margin: 4ex 10%; text-align: justify } +div.tei { margin: 2em 0em } +p.tei { margin: 0em 0em 1em 0em; text-indent: 0em; } +blockquote.tei { margin: 2em 4em } + +div.tei-lg { margin: 1em 0em; } +div.tei-l { margin: 0em; text-align: left; } +div.tei-tb { text-align: center; } +div.tei-epigraph { margin: 0em 0em 1em 10em; } +div.tei-dateline { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-salute { margin: 1ex 0em; } +div.tei-signed { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-byline { margin: 1ex 0em; } + + /* calculate from size of body = 80% */ +div.tei-marginnote { margin: 0em 0em 0em -12%; width: 11%; float: left; } + +div.tei-sp { margin: 1em 0em 1em 2em } +div.tei-speaker { margin: 0em 0em 1em -2em; + font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0em } +div.tei-stage { margin: 1em 0em; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } +span.tei-stage { font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } + +div.tei-eg { padding: 1em; + color: black; background-color: #eee } + +hr.doublepage { margin: 4em 0em; height: 5px; } +hr.page { margin: 4em 0em; height: 2px; } + +ul.tei-index { list-style-type: none } + +dl.tei { margin: 1em 0em } + +dt.tei-notelabel { font-weight: normal; text-align: right; + float: left; width: 3em } +dd.tei-notetext { margin: 0em 0em 1ex 4em } + +span.tei-pb { position: absolute; left: 1%; width: 8%; + font-style: normal; } + +span.code { font-family: monospace; font-size: 110%; } + +ul.tei-castlist { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none } +li.tei-castitem { margin: 0em; } +table.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; } +ul.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none; + padding-right: 2em; border-right: solid black 2px; } +caption.tei-castgroup-head { caption-side: right; width: 50%; text-align: left; + vertical-align: middle; padding-left: 2em; } +*.tei-roledesc { font-style: italic } +*.tei-set { font-style: italic } + +table.rules { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.rules caption, +table.rules th, +table.rules td { border: 1px solid black; } + +table.tei { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.tei-list { width: 100% } + +th.tei-head-table { padding: 0.5ex 1em } + +th.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } +td.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } + +td.tei-item { padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } +th.tei-label, +td.tei-label { width: 3em; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: right; } + +th.tei-label-gloss, +td.tei-label-gloss { text-align: left } + +td.tei-item-gloss, +th.tei-headItem-gloss { padding-left: 4em; } + +img.tei-formula { vertical-align: middle; } + +</style></head><body class="tei"> + + + + + + + + +<div lang="en" class="tei tei-text" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em" xml:lang="en"> + <div class="tei tei-front" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgheader" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em">The Project Gutenberg EBook of Crumps, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went by Louis Keene</p></div><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost + and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: “Crumps”, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went + +Author: Louis Keene + +Release Date: May 25, 2009 [Ebook #28964] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK “CRUMPS”, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** +</pre></div> + </div> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 173%">“</span><span style="font-size: 173%">Crumps</span><span style="font-size: 173%">”</span></span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Plain Story of a Canadian</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.73em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Who Went</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.44em"><span style="font-size: 144%">By Louis Keene</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Canadian Expeditionary Force</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">With a Prefatory Note By</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">General Leonard Wood</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.20em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Illustrated by the Author</span></p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Boston and New York</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">Houghton Mifflin Company</p> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">1917</p> + </div> + + </div> +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + +<a name="illus-front" id="illus-front" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 40%; text-align: center"><img src="images/front.png" width="541" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"></div></div> + +<a name="illus-sub" id="illus-sub" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 50%; text-align: center"><img src="images/sub.png" width="345" height="690" alt="Illustration" title="The “Sub”." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">The <span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center">“Sub”</span>.</div></div> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="pagev">[pg v]</span><a name="Pgv" id="Pgv" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc1" id="toc1"></a> +<a name="pdf2" id="pdf2"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Prefatory Note</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Headquarters Southeastern Department</span></span><br /> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Charleston, S.C.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +11th August, 1917 +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Captain Keene has made an interesting +contribution to the literature of the present war +in his account of service, which covers the experience +of a young officer in the making and on +the battle front,—the transformation of an +artist into a first-class machine-gun officer. He +covers the training period at home and abroad +and the work at the front. This direct and interesting +account should serve to bring home to +all of us an appreciation of how much has to be +done before troops can be made effective for +modern war, the cost of unpreparedness, and +the disadvantage under which troops, partially +equipped, labor when they meet highly organized +ones, prepared, even to the last detail, for +all the exigencies of modern war. It also brings +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="pagevi">[pg vi]</span><a name="Pgvi" id="Pgvi" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +out the splendid spirit of Canada, the Mother +Country, and the distant Colonies,—the spirit +of the Empire, united and determined in a just +cause. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This and similar accounts should serve to +make clear to us the wisdom of the admonition +of Washington and many others: <span class="tei tei-q">“In time of +peace prepare for war.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Many young Americans are about to undergo +experiences similar to those of Captain Keene, +and a perusal of this modest and straight-forward +narrative will help in the great work of +getting ready. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Leonard Wood</span></span>,<br /> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Maj.-Gen. U.S.A.</span></span> +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="pagevii">[pg vii]</span><a name="Pgvii" id="Pgvii" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="toc3" id="toc3"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">List of Illustrations</span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-front" class="tei tei-ref">Frontispiece.</a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-sub" class="tei tei-ref">The <span class="tei tei-q">“Sub.”</span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-beat-it" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-q">“Beat It!”</span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-the-four" class="tei tei-ref">The Canadian, Johnnie Canuck, The +American, And The ANZAC.</a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-motor" class="tei tei-ref">Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun.</a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-wipers" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wipers.”</span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-whats-the-use" class="tei tei-ref">What's The Use?</a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-french-soldier" class="tei tei-ref">A French Soldier.</a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-whiz-bangs" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-q">“Whiz-Bangs.”</span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-the-crump" class="tei tei-ref">The <span class="tei tei-q">“Crump.”</span></a> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<a href="#illus-tommy-atkins" class="tei tei-ref">Mr. Tommy Atkins.</a> +</p> + +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="pageix">[pg ix]</span><a name="Pgix" id="Pgix" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="illus-beat-it" id="illus-beat-it" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/beat-it.png" width="587" height="700" alt="Illustration: “Don't Linger Around Here” “The Enemy Can See You.” “Who Me? Yes You. Beat It!”" title="" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"></div></div> +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page001">[pg 001]</span><a name="Pg001" id="Pg001" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<a name="pdf4" id="pdf4"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 173%">“</span><span style="font-size: 173%">Crumps</span><span style="font-size: 173%">”</span></span></h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Plain Story of a Canadian +who went</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Laurentian Mountains in the +Province of Quebec are noted for +their beauty, fine hunting and fishing, +and are the stamping-grounds for many +artists from the States and Eastern Canada. +It was in this capacity that I was working +during the hot summer of 1914. All through +June and July I sketched with my father. +Other than black flies my only worry was +the price of my tubes of color. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We usually received our newspapers two +or three days after publication; consequently +we were poorly posted on worldly happenings. +Suddenly the war clouds gathered and +almost before we knew it they became so +threatening that we grew restless, and even +went in to the depot to get our papers so +that we could have the news sooner. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page002">[pg 002]</span><a name="Pg002" id="Pg002" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The assassination of the Austrian Crown +Prince and the subsequent events were exciting, +but it was only when Russia sent +that one word <span class="tei tei-q">“Mobilize”</span> to Serbia that +we suspected serious results. Even the +summer visitors from the States exhibited +signs of excitement, yet they were skeptical +of the chances of war; that is, war that would +really affect us! My newspaper in Montreal +wired for me to come down to do war cartoons +and I left my father and hiked to the +depot. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Montreal train was crowded and conversation +centered on the one topic, War; +the English Navy's ability to maintain her +rule of the seas, and what would Canada do. +A young Austrian reservist two seats away +was telling some people in a loud voice how +much he wanted to get into it. He was going +back to answer the call. And I had already +begun to hear my country's call. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A newsboy boarding the train at a junction +was overwhelmed and succeeded in getting +twenty-five cents a copy for his papers. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page003">[pg 003]</span><a name="Pg003" id="Pg003" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Montreal teemed with suppressed anxiety +and every hour fresh news was posted. +Special bulletin boards were put up on store +fronts. Already men in uniform were seen +in the street. And men were trying to enlist. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The war fever was rising steadily; the +chief occupation of Canadians in those days +was watching the bulletin boards. Rumors +of sea fights, ultimatums, disasters, and +victories were common. The Kaiser seemed +to declare war on the world at the rate of +three countries a day. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On the night of August 4th, as I was +putting the finishing touches on a cartoon, +a friend burst into the room:—<span class="tei tei-q">“Come out +of here! Something must happen any +minute now.”</span> We marched downtown,—everybody +marched in those days; walking +was abolished in its favor. One met demonstrations +everywhere, large crowds of cheering +men with flags, victrolas at shop windows +played patriotic airs, and soldiers with civilians +crowded before the bulletin boards +singing the national anthems with great +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page004">[pg 004]</span><a name="Pg004" id="Pg004" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +enthusiasm. The King had declared war +and his message to the fleet had just been +put up! Newspaper extras were given away +by thousands and movies of the British +Navy were shown on the street. Any one +who thought the British could not enthuse, +changed his mind then. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The audiences at the theatres and moving +picture houses on receipt of the news rose +simultaneously and sang the national anthems, +then cheered themselves hoarse. +These were the first days of the war. Several +battalions of militia were called out and +posted to protect the bridges and grain +elevators. Battalions were raised overnight, +and so many recruits came forward +that men were refused by the score. England +was immediately offered ten battalions. +Then an army division was possible. +The Militia Department suddenly became +a hive of industry. Men with all kinds of +business capacity tendered their services +gratis, and the Canadian war machine, +without the experience of previous campaigns, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page005">[pg 005]</span><a name="Pg005" id="Pg005" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +took shape. They worked night and +day bringing everlasting credit on themselves. +Banks offered full pay to their employees in +uniform, and this example was widely followed. +The principle prompting this action +being, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's our country; if we can't fight +ourselves, we will help others to fight for +her.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Existent camp sites were inadequate, hence +new ones were necessary. We had a few, +but none were big enough. We bought +Valcartier, one of the best sites in the world, +which was equipped almost over-night with +water service, electric light and drainage. +The longest rifle range in the world with +three and one-half miles of butts was constructed. +Railroad sidings were put in and +35,000 troops from all over the Dominion +poured into it. Think of it,—Canada with +her population of seven and one-half millions +offering 35,000 volunteers the first few weeks, +without calling out her militia. And even +to-day the militia are yet to be called. +Thus every Canadian who has served at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page006">[pg 006]</span><a name="Pg006" id="Pg006" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the front has been a volunteer. England +accepted an army division. Fifteen hundred +qualified officers were told that they +would have to stay and train men for the +next contingent. But this was not fighting. +They were dissatisfied. They resigned their +commissions and went as privates. Uniforms, +boots, rifles and equipment were +found for everybody. Every man was +trained as much as possible in the time +allowed, and within six weeks of the declaration +of war, guns, horses and 35,000 men +were going forward to avenge Belgium. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +With me the question of signing up was +a big one. In the first place, I wanted to +go; I wanted to go quickly. Several other +fellows and myself had decided upon a +certain battalion. But much to our disgust +and regret we were informed that +enlistments had stopped only a short time +before. +</p> + +<a name="illus-the-four" id="illus-the-four" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/the-canadian.png" width="253" height="250" alt="Illustration" title="The Canadian" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">The Canadian</div></div> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/johnnie-canuck.png" width="258" height="280" alt="Illustration" title="Johnnie Canuck" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">Johnnie Canuck</div></div> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/the-american.png" width="258" height="268" alt="Illustration" title="The American" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">The American</div></div> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/the-anzac.png" width="255" height="242" alt="Illustration" title="The ANZAC" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">The ANZAC</div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Then came the announcement of the +organization of the First Auto Machine Gun +Brigade, the generous gift of several of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page007">[pg 007]</span><a name="Pg007" id="Pg007" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Canada's most prominent citizens, and it +was in this unit that I enlisted with my +friend Pat, a six-foot, husky Scotchman, +with the fighting blood of the kilties very +near the surface. We were immediately +transported to Ottawa in company with +fifty other picked men from Montreal. At +Ottawa the complement of our battery was +completed upon the arrival of one hundred +more men from Ottawa and Toronto. Here +we trained until it came time for us to move +to Montreal, and there the battery was embarked +on board the Corinthian with a unit +of heavy artillery. We sailed down to Quebec +where we joined the other ships assembled +to take over the First Canadian Contingent. +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">Corinthian, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">My dear Mother and Father</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:— +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +We are now steaming down the St. Lawrence. +No one knows where we are going. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Our fleet is a wonderful sight. All the +ships are painted war gray—sides, boats +and funnels. We are expecting to pick up +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page008">[pg 008]</span><a name="Pg008" id="Pg008" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +the warships which are to convoy us across +at Father Point, somewhere near where the +Empress of Ireland was sunk. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Quebec looked very fine. The big guns +were being hoisted into boats, horses embarking, +and battalion after battalion arriving +and going aboard. Those who came from +Valcartier have had a rough time. They +actually look as if they had come through a +campaign. It gave me thrills all day to see +these fine men come through the dock-gates +with a steady swing. It is a magnificent +contribution to any army. It's good to +think of all these men coming at their country's +call. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Some day, if I get back, I want to paint a +picture of the fleet assembled at Quebec. +The grays and greens looked really beautiful. +Quebec, the city of history and the +scene of many big battles, views with disdain +the Canadian patriotism in the present +crisis, and we had no send-off, no flags and no +bands. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +This letter will not be mailed for ten days, +</span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page009">[pg 009]</span><a name="Pg009" id="Pg009" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> +until we are well on the way over. We are +crowded, and if we are going through the +tropics we shall have a bad time; it is cold +now, so we don't notice the congestion. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +We had one hundred and forty horses +aboard and two batteries of heavy artillery, +besides our own armored cars. All the transports +are crowded. We were passed by about +ten of the other boats, and as they did so we +cheered each other. The thin lines of khaki +on all the ships will make a name for themselves. +I'm proud I am one of them. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +We've had a big dose of vaccine pumped +into our arms to-day. This will be the last +letter I send before I arrive, wherever we are +going. +</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Corinthian sailed from Quebec to +Father Point, where a patrol boat arrived +with orders. We then sailed into the Gulf, +but toward evening we turned into the coast. +When we passed Fame Point Light a small +boat, which afterwards turned out to be +another patrol boat, sailing without lights, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page010">[pg 010]</span><a name="Pg010" id="Pg010" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +flashed further orders to us. The Corinthian +immediately turned round and headed back. +The minute the patrol boat's signal light went +out we were unable to distinguish it from the +sea. The coloring is a good protection; even +a boat, close to, sailing without lights, it is +impossible to pick out. Apparently our +orders were to cruise around until daylight +and then sail for the Bay of Gaspé, and this +morning at daybreak we sailed into that +beautiful, natural harbor, which is big enough +to accommodate the entire British fleet. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I expect that to the villagers living around +this harbor all events will date from to-day—to-day, +when the wonderful sight of +twenty-five ocean liners drawn up in battleship +formation in this quiet place, deserted +except for an occasional visit from a river +steamer or fishing craft, greeted their gaze. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Five gray fighting ships are mounting +guard, and by their signals and pinnaces +chasing backward and forward between the +troopers are bossing the show. A corporal, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page011">[pg 011]</span><a name="Pg011" id="Pg011" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a South African War veteran, as we looked +at them, quoted Kipling's +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">The liner she's a lady</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">With the paint upon 'er face,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The man o' war's 'er 'usband</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">And keeps 'er in 'er place.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Towards noon a smart launch came alongside. +Even at a distance the boys were quick +to recognize our popular minister of militia, +Sam Hughes, and a thundering cheer rang +out. With him were several soldiers who +threw bundles of papers aboard. These were +printed copies of his farewell to the troops. +His launch sailed by the ship, and then on to +the next and so on, through the fleet. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our orders forbade the display of lights +or even striking of matches after 6 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">p.m.</span></span>; +consequently all lights were masked to-night +on the vessels, except those on the Royal +Edward. The minute her lights were put out +the Bay resumed its normal condition, not +even the outlines of the vessels being visible. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A press photographer on a launch has been +taking pictures all the afternoon. Sailed at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page012">[pg 012]</span><a name="Pg012" id="Pg012" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +five o'clock this afternoon just as the twilight +commenced. We sailed out in three +lines. The convoy is now under way and we +extend as far as can be seen in both directions. +We have two military police patrols +whose chief duty is to see that no matches +are struck on deck. Bill, who smokes more +matches than tobacco, has had to go below so +often to light his pipe, that he has decided to +do without smoking on deck. It is surprising +how far a match struck in the dark will show. +We noticed how matches struck on the other +ships showed up last night. All our portholes +are screwed down with the heavy +weather irons and those of the second-class +cabins are covered with blankets. The authorities +are taking no chances. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are having physical drills and lectures +all day, and we are working just as hard on +board as we would ashore. Our speed will not +be more than nine knots; the speed of the +slowest vessel regulating the speed of the +whole fleet. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page013">[pg 013]</span><a name="Pg013" id="Pg013" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Matches are getting very scarce. We +complained about the tea to the orderly +officer to-day; milk is running out, so the +tea is made with milk and sugar in. We +asked to have the three separate, but we were +told that if we complained we would have all +three taken away. As a floor stain it's great, +but as tea it's a failure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are quartered in the steerage part of +the ship and our food is in keeping. It is +really remarkable how they can consistently +get that same coal-oil flavor in all the food. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +War news is signaled from ship to ship by +semaphore flags by day. It is posted up in +the guard room daily. The news that the +Indian troops landed in France on the +29th of September was the chief item on the +bulletin yesterday. We're short on things +to read. Scraps of newspapers are devoured, +even to the advertisements. In our cabin we +have a <span class="tei tei-q">“Saturday Evening Post”</span> of September +26th which is thumb-marked and +torn, but it is still treasured. We were not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page014">[pg 014]</span><a name="Pg014" id="Pg014" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +allowed to bring anything besides our kit on +board on account of the limited space. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Reveille blows at six o'clock and we have +to answer the roll-call at 6.15. The idea is, +that if the men get up and walk about, they +are not so likely to get seasick, but in spite +of that quite a number are sick. We have +on board one hundred of our brigade; two +hundred and sixteen heavy artillery and one +hundred and forty horses, together with artillery +officers and equipment. The horses take +up the same space which in ordinary times +is occupied by humans. Otherwise, we +should have a great many more troops. Our +destination is still a mystery. We're a fleet +without a port. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Have just been ordered on fatigue to take +a prisoner on deck for exercise. He is to be +tried by court-martial to-morrow for striking +a sergeant. All day he is kept locked up and +only allowed out at night for exercise, under +escort. The escort consists of two men and a +non-com. While on this job we watched the +signalers flashing the war news from the stern +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page015">[pg 015]</span><a name="Pg015" id="Pg015" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of our boat to the bridge of the next astern, +the Virginian. The news is flashed at night +by the lamps—short and long flashes. The +news is picked up by wireless on the flagship, +the Charybdis, at the head of our line and +signaled back from ship to ship. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is the list of the fleet. It is written +here in the order in which they are sailing. +Three warships are heading the fleet; the +flagship is the H.M.S. Charybdis, commanded +by Admiral Wemyss, who distinguished +himself a few weeks ago in the Battle +of Heligoland. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +H.M.S. Diana<br /> +H.M.S. Eclipse<br /> +H.M.S. Charybdis<br /> +Caribbean<br /> +Megantic<br /> +Scotian<br /> +Athenia<br /> +Ruthenia<br /> +Arcadian<br /> +Royal Edward<br /> +Bermudian<br /> +Zealand<br /> +Franconia<br /> +Alaunia<br /> +Corinthian (The transport on which I was shipped.)<br /> +H.M.S. Glory<br /> +Canada<br /> +Ivernia<br /> +Virginian<br /> +Monmouth<br /> +Scandinavian<br /> +Sasconia<br /> +Manitou<br /> +Sicilian<br /> +Grampian<br /> +Tyrolia<br /> +Montezuma<br /> +Andania<br /> +Tunisian<br /> +Lapland<br /> +Montreal<br /> +Laurentic<br /> +Cassandra<br /> +Laconia<br /> +Royal George<br /> +H.M.S. Talbot +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The H.M.S. Glory, the vessel on our starboard +beam, altered her course to-day and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page016">[pg 016]</span><a name="Pg016" id="Pg016" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +held up a tramp steamer. We could just +see the two vessels through our glasses. +Apparently everything was all right as the +tramp was allowed to go on her way afterwards. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are all given our boat stations. This +afternoon a submarine alarm was sounded. +Everybody on board, including the stewards, +had to drop everything and chase to the +boats. In the excitement a cook shot a +<span class="tei tei-q">“billy”</span> of soup over an officer's legs, much +to our silent delight. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thinking it over, it will be remarkable if +the Germans allow us to cross without +making some attempt to sink a few transports. +Besides the actual loss of the men, +the demoralizing effect it will have on the +recruiting would count a great deal. No +man likes to be shot or drowned without a +show. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I am writing this in my cabin, which is only +nine feet by six feet and in which six of us +sleep at night. Besides living in it we have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page017">[pg 017]</span><a name="Pg017" id="Pg017" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to keep all our equipment clean, which is +some job! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +About eleven this morning a commotion +occurred in the middle line. The cruiser +heading it and the second ship, the Royal +Edward, turned back. Also several other +boats turned in their course. As we have +very little excitement we hoped it might be +a German attack, for we all want to see a +naval battle. I looked at the cruiser through +powerful glasses and saw sailors fixing up +the starboard lifeboat, so we presumed that +it was simply a case of <span class="tei tei-q">“man overboard.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A big cruiser has joined our fleet and is +acting as a flank guard about three miles +away from our starboard side. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have a great deal of physical exercise +in spite of the rolling of the deck. This +morning, while in the middle of it I was called +away to dress and form part of an escort to +the prisoner who was to be tried by field +court-martial to-day. The court was very +dignified, and it took a long time owing to +the inexperience of the officers in such +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page018">[pg 018]</span><a name="Pg018" id="Pg018" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +matters. It was the first court-martial I +have seen,—the proceedings are strictly +legal, being conducted according to the book, +and with the officers wearing their swords. +The poor devil expects two years. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have been pitching and tossing a great +deal to-day. Physical exercising on the sloping +decks is becoming a mighty risky thing. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Quite a number of the transports have guns +mounted on board so they are not entirely +dependent on the cruisers. It looks as if we +are sailing north of the usual trade routes. +I have just heard that five more battleships +are on the starboard beam. They came into +sight early this morning, but have since +been out of sight. We are sailing north of +the trade routes. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The fleet is being increased. All ships are +stopped. Those sailing west are allowed to +go after being boarded; those going in the +same direction as ourselves are made to fall +into line, so there will be no danger of the +news of our sailing reaching Europe ahead +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page019">[pg 019]</span><a name="Pg019" id="Pg019" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of us. If we continue to pick up ships sailing +in our direction, the fleet will be enormous +by the time we arrive at our unknown +destination. We sailed two hundred and +twelve miles the last twenty-four hours. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Two more transports have joined us. +They came from Newfoundland. I hear +that we now have forty-three ships in the +fleet. We sail at ten cables' length apart, +about one thousand yards. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are getting into more dangerous water +evidently. Early this morning the Royal +George steamed up from the end of the line +and took up a position at the head of the +fleet, but in line with the battleship Glory +about three miles away on the port. The +Laurentic took up a similar position on the +starboard. Both these ships are armored +and have guns mounted on them. They +are being used as scouts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We all rushed up on deck to see a cruiser +pass close to us this midday. It was a magnificent +sight. She was either the H.M.S. Bristol +or the H.M.S. Essex; her name was painted +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page020">[pg 020]</span><a name="Pg020" id="Pg020" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +The bluejackets were massed on the +decks forward and as she went by the marines' +band played <span class="tei tei-q">“The Maple Leaf Forever.”</span> +We returned cheers with the sailors. It +gives you a great thrill to see a British ship +and to have the knowledge of what it represents. +To be British is a great thing, and +I'm proud to think that I'm going to fight +for my country. When this war is over and +men are talking round a table, it will be, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where were you fighting during the war?”</span> +not <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you fight during the war?”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I'm in a gun-cleaning squad every afternoon. +To-day I cleaned the machine gun on +which I'm second gunner. We treat our +machine guns as if they were pets. No one +will ever be able to say that my gun is dirty. +It will probably be my best friend some day. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The finding of the court-martial was read +out to us on full parade this afternoon. +First the <span class="tei tei-q">“Heavies”</span> were lined up on all +sides of the deck, then the <span class="tei tei-q">“Mosquitos,”</span> +as the Machine Gunners are called, lined up +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page021">[pg 021]</span><a name="Pg021" id="Pg021" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +inside; the prisoner between an escort was +led up in the center. It was wonderfully +impressive. I felt that I was to witness the +condemning of a fellow soldier to a number +of years of hard labor. Over the whole +assembly there came a deathlike silence and +the finding of the court was read to us by an +officer, the sentence being thirty-six days! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The second steward told me that it took +two hundred carpenters twelve hours to tear +down the cabins and fix up horse fittings. +First the authorities made arrangements to +ship a thousand troops on this ship. We're +crowded as we are now with only three +hundred odd. I hate to think what it would +have been like with a thousand. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Early this morning a large man-o'-war +came up on the port at a speed that made +everything else seem to stop. We have now +battleships on all sides. This ship, although +a long way off, looks tremendous. She is one +of the latest super-dreadnaughts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I was on guard last night when one of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page022">[pg 022]</span><a name="Pg022" id="Pg022" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +cruisers came alongside to <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">talk</span></span> to the +captain about having lights showing in some +of the ports. I enjoyed it immensely, for I +discovered that the British Navy, true to +tradition, was still able to maintain its high +level of profanity. The ship is in pitch +darkness and there is no moon. On deck it's +almost impossible to walk it's so dark. +Tonight is supposed to be the night on +which the Germans are going to make a +raid. I am going to sleep on deck so that +I shall not miss anything. I'd hate to miss +the chance of seeing a naval engagement. +I can't see how the Germans can possibly +let a chance go by. A nervy cruiser could +sink any amount of ships. If the British +Navy were up against us they would have +had a cut in before now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Slept on deck last night. Nothing happened +except that early this morning a +French cruiser joined us, and I got covered +with smuts from the smokestack. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Admiral has received one hundred +and twenty-six words of war news, but will +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page023">[pg 023]</span><a name="Pg023" id="Pg023" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +not let us have them. Probably they're +disastrous. We break up to-night or to-morrow. +It's scarcely likely that the whole +fleet will be taken to one port at the same +time. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +That super-dreadnaught passed down the +columns to-day. She is of tremendous size +and travels at high speed. She is probably +the Queen Mary. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Expect to see land Wednesday. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Blowing a gale. All day the spendrift has +been blowing over. The decks have been +too wet for parades, thank God! All the way +over we have had physical exercise, sometimes +as much as four hours a day. We're +all in fine physical condition. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day we were allowed to wash our +clothes. I can see the advantage of khaki +now. Even after working hard on my +clothes, my underwear is still dark white. +The rails were covered with underwear +and socks when the storm started. Now +every square inch below is used for drying +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page024">[pg 024]</span><a name="Pg024" id="Pg024" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +clothes. Even the electric lights are festooned. +We have a final kit inspection +to-morrow and then we pack for disembarkation. +We are only about one hundred +miles from the <span class="tei tei-q">“Bishop's Light.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has been a very long voyage and we +have been very cramped. All our equipment +has to be carried in our cabins. Try sleeping +six men with all their outfit in a cabin nine +feet by six feet. The ship carpenter has a +standing job to repair our cabin. We have +rough-housed so much that his attention +was continually necessary. The trip has +been so long that we are now beginning to +hate each other. I went down in the stoke-hole +and the engine-room. Even amongst +the whirling machines it was more peaceful +than in our quarters. It seems months since +I was in Montreal last. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Dear Old England in sight! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We're passing the Lizard now. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The kit has all been inspected and we hope +to land to-morrow some time. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page025">[pg 025]</span><a name="Pg025" id="Pg025" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We're lying in the historic harbor of +Plymouth; arrived here about two hours +ago. We're surrounded by fast little torpedo-boat +destroyers, which are chasing round us +all the time like dogs loosened from a chain. +The breakwater has searchlights mounted +on each end and fixed lights are playing +from the shore. As the lights occasionally +flash up the ships in the bay, it is as bright +as day. Nobody is allowed ashore, not even +the officers. We may go on to Southampton, +only we must get there before five at night. +After that time nothing is allowed in. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sailed at daybreak on to Devonport. +Most of the transports are now lying in pairs +at anchor in the harbor. We're close to the +shore. We can see naval <span class="tei tei-q">“jolly boats”</span> and +pinnaces sailing back and forth. On one +side are lying the H.M.S Powerful and +another boat, both of which in their day +were the pride of the Navy. The Powerful +was the boat which made such a name for +herself in the Boer War. Now both of these +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page026">[pg 026]</span><a name="Pg026" id="Pg026" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +vessels are training ships and obsolete so far +as this war goes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All our haversacks have been boiled in +coffee to stain them khaki. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the Navy steam launches came by +and we asked them to get us newspapers. +They came back with a bundle and we nearly +had a riot trying to get at them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was only to-day that we heard of the +fall of Antwerp, the atrocities of Belgium, +and the treachery of Maritz in Cape Colony. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We shall be getting off in a few hours and +this may be the last I shall write for some +time. I have put in a great deal of time +during the voyage writing and have done so +under difficulties. Sometimes the cabin has +been torn in pieces, and often arguments, +carried on by leather-lunged opponents of +<span class="tei tei-q">“Kultur,”</span> have made this work hard. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We hear that some paper published an +account of the sinking of twenty of the ships. +This rumor is false, and it's a beastly thing +for the newspaper to do, but you must remember +to discount all news a great deal. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page027">[pg 027]</span><a name="Pg027" id="Pg027" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Still on board and we shall probably be +here for a few days more. My, it's galling +to be so near to the land and yet to be cooped +up in our crowded quarters. Crowded +launches and steamers are sailing round the +liners. All day long cheering crowds come +out to see us. Last night another liner +called Florizel, with the First Regiment +Newfoundland troops, tied up to us. They +were a fine-looking lot of men. We told them +we had no tobacco; they threw dozens of tins +of their tobacco and cigarettes over to us. +We fought for them. I got the remains of +one tin with most of the contents spilt. +Still, as many of us haven't had a smoke for +three days, we appreciated it. Several cruisers +have come in to-day, and there seem +to be dozens of submarines and torpedo +boats cruising around all day. The reason +we did not go to Southampton is that five +German submarines were waiting for us. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The transports are unloading at the rate of +five or six ships a day. It will probably be our +turn on Sunday. The fleet looks splendid at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page028">[pg 028]</span><a name="Pg028" id="Pg028" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +night now that we have most of the lights +on. All night the steel riveters are at work on +three battleships that are being built close by. +Near us are several <span class="tei tei-q">“wooden walls.”</span> One +is a ship of Nelson's, the Queen Adelaide. +Every boat, tug, lighter and motor boat +here is the property of the Admiralty. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are probably going to Salisbury Plain +for two months. We are the first Expeditionary +Force to land in England from the dominions +or colonies, but others are on their +way. The sailors from the training ships +serenade us in boats with bands and play +<span class="tei tei-q">“O Canada,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“The Maple Leaf Forever,”</span> +and all day long on one ship or the other +we hear <span class="tei tei-q">“It's a Long Way to Tipperary.”</span> +Every one is singing it; without doubt it is +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">the</span></em> song of the war. To-day we got a bundle +of papers. We read them right through to +the advertisements. Cigarettes and matches +are at a premium and food is running out on +board. The strain of staying here is becoming +too great. We're all disagreeable and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page029">[pg 029]</span><a name="Pg029" id="Pg029" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +insubordinate. The guard room is already +full and will soon need enlarging. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On guard to prevent the men of the two +ships (our own and the Florizel with the +Newfoundlanders) coming over to visit each +other. At ten o'clock at night I got the tip +that a bunch of men were going to make a +break for shore and I was asked to go. I +had just come off sentry and was dressed +for shore. We all met up forward, hailed a +police boat, climbed down a rope ladder +across two barges unloading shells and into +the police launch. When I got in I found +that I and one other fellow were the only +privates; all the rest were sergeants and +corporals, thirteen altogether, unlucky number. +The police sergeants asked me if we +had passes. I said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You bet,”</span> and we sailed +away from the ship right under everybody's +nose. We landed and then took a car to +Plymouth and went on the Hoe, which has +been in absolute darkness since the beginning +of the war. Girls were very interested in us +and took most of our collar badges and buttons +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page030">[pg 030]</span><a name="Pg030" id="Pg030" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +as souvenirs. One man asked me to +give him a cigarette as a souvenir. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We met an English captain in a tobacconist's +and he invited us up to the barracks. +Two of us went. I was one. To get there +we had to go on a street car. We had just +sat down when up the stairs came my +Lieutenant McCarthy. When he saw me he +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“How the hell did you get here?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, +just swam across.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, if you get caught +it'll be the guard room for you.”</span> I said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Never mind, we'll have company.”</span> He +is a pretty good sport. We went to the +barracks, had a session with the captain, then +went to the quay, picked up the rest of the +men, and sneaked on board. I got to bed +at three and had to get up this morning at +six o'clock to go on guard. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sunday, very tired. On guard all day, +two hours on, four off. It's very unfortunate +having a Sunday guard, because in the ordinary +way we have to attend church parade +in the morning and after having listened +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page031">[pg 031]</span><a name="Pg031" id="Pg031" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to a sermon and sung <span class="tei tei-q">“Onward, Christian +Soldiers,”</span> or, <span class="tei tei-q">“Fight the good fight,”</span> we are +free for the day, whereas guards stay on +twenty-four hours. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The major noticed one of the sergeants +coming on board this morning at six o'clock. +The idiot missed us this morning and of +course that dished us. The sergeants got in +wrong. As I am only a private, and therefore +ignorant and simple according to the +military code, and, being with non-commissioned +officers who are supposed to possess +superior intelligence, I got away with it. +The sergeants have had to do sentry on the +same ladder we went down. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody is as disagreeable as possible. +We are lying in midstream and can see the +town. Can you imagine anything more +galling than that? +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +While I was on guard the Vicar of Plymouth +came aboard and held service. He said +that the last time a Vicar of Plymouth +preached to warriors was just before Drake +sailed to meet the Armada. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page032">[pg 032]</span><a name="Pg032" id="Pg032" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thank God! moving at last. We've +moored up to the docks just opposite two +magnificent dreadnaughts. Naval men are +handling our cargo, our kit bags are packed +and we are ready to disembark. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Near our ship's stern is a barge full of +ventilators and spare parts of ships which are +taken away when ships are cleared for action. +Some of the rifle racks were marked Cornwall +and I noticed a davit post with the name +Highflyer, the boat that sank the Kaiser +Wilhelm after she had been preying on the +shipping off South Africa. When a ship is +cleared for action, all inflammable fittings, +such as wooden doors, ladders, racks, extra +boats, and davits, etc., are discarded. If the +order to <span class="tei tei-q">“clear the decks for action”</span> comes +at sea, overboard go all these luxuries. It is +calculated that the cost of <span class="tei tei-q">“clearing decks”</span> +on a cruiser is five thousand dollars. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Some of our stuff was unloaded yesterday, +and when the ship moved a guard was placed +over it. When the corporal went down the +gangplank with the relief, Pat and I walked +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page033">[pg 033]</span><a name="Pg033" id="Pg033" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +down behind as if we were part of the same, +right by the officers. We had a devil of +a job to get through the dock gates, a +suspicious policeman and sentry on guard. +We told the sergeant of the police a pitiful +story, saying that we hadn't had anything to +eat for three days, and finally he relented. +<span class="tei tei-q">“All right, my lads, only don't <span class="tei tei-q">‘swing the +lead’</span> in town.”</span> We got into Devonport and +went to the biggest hotel. Before they had +time to throw us out we ordered breakfast +of real food. It was fine after the ship's +grub. After sitting there ten minutes, the +general commanding the district came in and +sat behind us. He stared. Two privates +in the same room as the general!! But all +he said was, <span class="tei tei-q">“If you boys can fight as you +eat, you'll make an impression.”</span> Then we +visited some other places! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We went back to the docks and went over +the super-dreadnaughts, Tiger and Benbow, +the biggest war vessels in the world. The +Tiger's speed on her trials was 37.5 knots an +hour. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page034">[pg 034]</span><a name="Pg034" id="Pg034" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After we had seen enough, we went back +to the ship and tried to look as if we had been +working with one of the fatigue parties on +shore. It worked! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We marched off the ship midday and then +I had to go on guard again all night. That +was the first time we were allowed ashore to +see the town, and I was on guard, so if I +hadn't slipped ashore on the two occasions +mentioned, I should not have seen it at all. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It rained all night, and when I was off +guard I slept on the top of one of our armored +trucks, under a tarpaulin. It's wonderful +how we can sleep now anywhere, and we +often have our clothes on for three days at a +time. Many a time I sleep with all my +equipment on. Get wet and dry it by keeping +it on. We all have to do it. The idea +of pajamas or baths as necessities seems +funny. At one time I would sooner go without +breakfast than miss a bath. Now I make +sure of the breakfast. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are going to drive our cars through +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page035">[pg 035]</span><a name="Pg035" id="Pg035" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +England to Salisbury Plain. We started this +morning and drove through Devonport. +Cheering crowds everywhere. All our cars +wear the streaming pennants: <span class="tei tei-q">“Canada With +the Empire,”</span> which pleased the people a +great deal. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As we rode through the streets people +showered gifts upon us, such as cakes, chocolates, +newspapers and apples, and everywhere +made lusty demonstrations. The +people of Taunton, as soon as they heard that +the Canadians were coming, turned out the +barracks and we were met by all the officers, +who came in to talk to us. One second lieutenant, +after studying me for some time, +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Isn't your name Keene?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> I +replied, <span class="tei tei-q">“but how do you know?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“I went +to school with you fifteen years ago.”</span> His +name was Carter; he was in the Second Dorsets. +That night he got me out of barracks +for a couple of hours, and we hashed over +the schoolboy reminiscences. The people of +Taunton were arranging a dance for us, but +nobody was allowed to attend. The major +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page036">[pg 036]</span><a name="Pg036" id="Pg036" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +believes in putting us to bed early; his theory +being that a man can't drive cars well after a +party, and he couldn't keep the drivers in +alone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Ladies from Taunton, of the pleasing English +type with beautiful complexions, handed +round all sorts of rubbish, jam puffs, and +other things which belong to the time before +we joined the army. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Traveled all the morning. Everybody +turned out to see us. The Brigadier-General +wired ahead, and hastily prepared placards, +still wet, were hanging from the windows,— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">God Bless the Canadians</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Loyal Sons</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">of</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The Empire</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">The gathering of</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">the Lions' whelps</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +and in one case the haste was so great that +<span class="tei tei-q">“God Save the King”</span> was hung upside down. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody wants my badges and buttons, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page037">[pg 037]</span><a name="Pg037" id="Pg037" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and some men in the unit have not one +left. Hence I have requisitioned an order +for a hundred to meet the demand. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All over the country you see <span class="tei tei-q">“Kitchener's +Army”</span> drilling. In one case we passed about +a hundred of them. When they saw us they +broke ranks and shook us by the hands. The +people of England are much impressed with +our speed in coming over. Old men and +women shouted, <span class="tei tei-q">“God bless you, Canadians!”</span> +while tears trickled down their cheeks. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I read this notice in one little shop,— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +At noon every day the church bell will ring a +few chimes and everybody is asked to stop whatever +he is doing and offer this prayer, </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Oh, Lord, +help our soldiers and sailors to defeat our enemies, +and let us have Peace.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +(Signed) The Vicar. +</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Recruiting notices ten feet by six feet with +the sentence <span class="tei tei-q">“Your King and Country Need +You”</span> are to be seen everywhere in shops, on +barns, trees, and even church doors. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Motorists and cyclists are warned to pull +up whenever requested or the results may be +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page038">[pg 038]</span><a name="Pg038" id="Pg038" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +serious. Most of the motors have O.H.M.S. +plates above the number plate. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We billeted in a village school; all slept in +our blankets on the floor. Left the school +and cleaned up before the kids came for their +lessons next day. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Salisbury Plain. Arrived to-day. This +part is called Bustard and takes its name from +the small Bustard Inn, Headquarters of General +Alderson, General Officer Commanding. +Troops are here in thousands and we are +no novelty. The roads are torn up. Mud +is two feet deep in places. All through the +day and night motor lorries, artillery and +cavalry are traveling over the ground. Aeroplanes +are circling overhead and heavy artillery +are firing. We see the shells bursting +on the ranges every day. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Always raining. Everything is wet, and +I am sleeping in a rotten tent which leaks. +Still, we are all so fit that what would kill an +ordinary man doesn't worry us much. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We all get three days' leave and are trying +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page039">[pg 039]</span><a name="Pg039" id="Pg039" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +by every means possible to wangle another +day or two. Many men have to see dentists, +and lots of men have grandparents in Scotland +who display signs of dying suddenly. +If the excuse is good enough, we get four +days and sometimes five. I have a sweetheart +in Scotland, but if that is played out +I have to work something else. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Wonderful sight from where I am now. +Miles of tents, motors and horse lines on this +desolate moorland. No houses; only camps +and a few trees which have been planted as +wind screens. The soil is very poor, too poor +for farming. It is government property and +it is only used for troops. We are ten miles +from a railroad. We are so isolated that we +might be in Africa, except that it's so cold. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The papers are starting an agitation to +get the Canadians to march through London, +and are asking why they should be +smuggled in and then shut up on Salisbury +Plain. They want to see us, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">and we want +to see London</span></span>!! +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page040">[pg 040]</span><a name="Pg040" id="Pg040" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our ambulance car has been used every +day since we came here, taking wounded +from one hospital to another. The rest of +our cars have been used to carry German +prisoners. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the spies caught on the ships is +said to have been shot. Several were arrested; +two were caught in Devonport while +we were there, one in a Canadian officer's +uniform. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Am spending seventy-two hours' leave in +London. Got leave through this telegram +which is from <span class="tei tei-q">“the girl I'm engaged to”</span>: +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +Disappointed. Met train. Please do come. +Leaving for Belgium soon. Love. +</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Edythe.</span></span> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +She is a Red Cross nurse. This is a new +one and it worked. McCarthy sent it to me. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +London is very dismal. No electric signs, +and the tops of all the street lamps are painted +black so that the lights don't show from +above. However, we managed to have a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page041">[pg 041]</span><a name="Pg041" id="Pg041" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +good time, in spite of it all. The Germans +say that the Canadians are being held in +England to repel the invasion. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The facilities for bathing are not very +extensive. I rode into Salisbury, a distance +of seventeen miles, yesterday, on top of some +packing-cases in a covered transport wagon, +for a bath, the first since I was last on leave. +We get a Turkish bath in town for thirty +cents. After that we had a large juicy steak +and then started our seventeen-mile trip back +through the pouring rain. Every other mile +we got down and helped the driver swear +and push the car out of the mud, vast quantities +of which abound on the Salisbury +roads, believe me!! +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is Sunday afternoon. Most of the men +in camp are asleep or reading. Outside it +is raining. It seems to be always raining, +and occasionally we have such a thick fog +that even a trip to get water is exciting +before you can get back to your own lines. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page042">[pg 042]</span><a name="Pg042" id="Pg042" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Owing to our camp having become a swamp +we have had to move our quarters to drier +ground. Moving the tents is not a big job, +but rebuilding the cook-house is! I figure +that when I leave the army I shall have a +few more professions to choose from. For +example, I'm a pretty hefty trench digger; +then as a scavenger I am pretty good at +picking up tin cans and pieces of paper; also +I'm an expert in building things such as +shelters from any old pieces of timber that +we can steal; then as a cook I can now make +that wonderful tea that I wrote you about, +besides many other things which we didn't +realize that we had to do when we enlisted. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day the paper says <span class="tei tei-q">“Fair and Warmer.”</span> +We could do with some of that. Years ago, +before I joined the army and lost my identity, +I rather liked occasionally getting wet +in the refreshing rain; but now the trouble +is that we are always wet and have nowhere +to dry our things, except by sleeping on +them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our major has an original scheme of training +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page043">[pg 043]</span><a name="Pg043" id="Pg043" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +men in the ranks to qualify for commissions, +sort of having half a dozen embryo +officers ready. I have been picked as one and +have to study in all my spare time. It means +a great deal more work, but it's very interesting +and the sort of thing I would like to +do. We start to-day. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We began our instruction on the machine +gun to the officers and the men who are +up here for a special course; I have a boozy +lieutenant, who doesn't care a hang, and a +bright non-com. Some of the officers we +brought over make good mascots. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It was fine to-day. We were even able to +open up the tent flap to dry the place a bit. +To-day the major congratulated me on the +Christmas card I designed for the unit. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our classes of instruction to the <span class="tei tei-q">“alien”</span> +officers finish to-morrow. Both the men I +was instructing passed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The adjutant is very anxious to put us +through our officers' training course quickly. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page044">[pg 044]</span><a name="Pg044" id="Pg044" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are now recognized as the specialist corps +in the machine-gun work with the Canadian +Division, and he is anxious that we shall be +ready to take commissions when casualties +occur. Every battalion of infantry has a +machine-gun section attached, and we have +the job of training the officers and sergeants +of these sections. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Owing to the bombardment of the east +coast, several of our battalions are under +orders to move at a moment's notice. It is +thought that the bombardment was simply +a ruse to draw the British fleet away from +around Heligoland. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The newspaper boys in Salisbury, when +you refuse to buy an <span class="tei tei-q">“Hextra,”</span> shout +<span class="tei tei-q">“Montreal Star”</span> and <span class="tei tei-q">“Calgary Eyeopener,”</span> +and all the shopgirls and barmaids in Salisbury +say, <span class="tei tei-q">“Some kid,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Believe muh,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, +Boy!”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I had been granted Christmas leave at the +last minute, and as it was awkward to telegraph +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page045">[pg 045]</span><a name="Pg045" id="Pg045" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to Northwich, I arrived after a long +journey, lasting sixteen hours, ten minutes +ahead of the letter I'd sent saying I was +coming. My arrival soon spread over the +town. A Canadian—this was a rather +unique thing for Northwich, a little Cheshire +town. Out of a population of about eighteen +thousand, two thousand men have joined the +colors. The men in uniform from the works +are all receiving half pay. The other men +who are staying are working twelve hours a +day and give up part of their pay so that the +jobs of the soldiers will be open when they +come back. Thirty-five Belgian refugees +are being kept here. Money to keep them +for twelve months has been subscribed. One +huge house has been taken over as a hospital +with twenty-three nurses, all volunteers from +Northwich. Everybody has done or is doing +something in the great struggle. The young +ladies in this neighborhood have no use for a +man who is not in khaki, and with customary +north of England frankness tell them so. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I expect that you know that the Government +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page046">[pg 046]</span><a name="Pg046" id="Pg046" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +has sent around forms to every house +asking the men who are going to volunteer +to sign, and men long past the military age +have signed the papers, <span class="tei tei-q">“too old for the war +service, but willing to serve either at home or +abroad voluntary for the period of the war.”</span> +Others have offered to do work to allow +young men to go, to keep their jobs for them. +This shows the spirit that permeates England. +There is only one end and that <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">must</span></span> +be the crushing of the Germans. I don't +believe people have any idea of the number +of men who are at present under arms, +and still the posters everywhere say that we +must have more men. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I wonder if you know that the Germans +are shooting British prisoners who are found +with what they consider insulting post-cards +of the Kaiser, and even references to His All +Highest in letters are dangerous. As we are +nearing the time when we shall go across I +thought I would mention it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We expect to leave England somewhere +around January 15th. We have been living in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page047">[pg 047]</span><a name="Pg047" id="Pg047" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the mud so long that we are getting quite +web-footed. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This is a war Christmas. People are too +excited and anxious to celebrate it. I wonder +what sort of a Christmas the next one will be! +What a terrible Christmas the Germans must +have had in Germany. They admit over one +million casualties. Fancy a million in less +than five months. During the Napoleonic +wars, which extended over twenty years, six +million died, and yet one side in this war +already admits one million. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Canadian ordnance stores have been +given instructions that all equipments down +to the last button must be ready by the 15th +of January. That date seems to be the +favorite one. I believe it is the commencement +of big things; a move will then be made +to embark large numbers of troops across to +France. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All our telegraphic addresses were taken +when we came away on leave in case it were +decided to send units over before our term +of leave expired. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page048">[pg 048]</span><a name="Pg048" id="Pg048" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A German aviator flew over Dover yesterday +and made a fierce and terrible bomb +attack on a cabbage patch. Terrible casualty +in cabbages. Berlin must have designs on a +bumper crop of sauerkraut. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Back in camp. It was hard to come down +to it. Our blankets and clothes left in the +tent were mildewed, clammy, and partly +submerged. Our feet are wet and we are +again soldiers, dirty and cold. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Traveled down in the train with thirty-six +men of the Canadian contingent who had +formed an escort for fifty-six undesirables +who have been shipped back to Canada. +It seems strange when men are needed so +badly to ship them back because they are a +bit unruly or get drunk too often. They will +all come back with future contingents. Six +of them made a dash for it at Liverpool. +Three of them got away altogether. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It snowed yesterday. Last night the camp +looked beautiful; the tents lit up through the +snow in the moonlight made a pretty picture, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page049">[pg 049]</span><a name="Pg049" id="Pg049" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a suitable subject for a magazine cover, but +mighty uncomfortable to camp in. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In a gale last night many tents were blown +down. We spent all day putting them up +again. The cook house, a substantial frame +building, has also blown down again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When I got back I found a Christmas +hamper, a bunch of holly and a small box of +maple sugar and packet of cigarettes from +the Duchess of Connaught with her Christmas +card. All parcels for the troops came +in duty free. Our postal system is very +efficient. We get our letters as regularly as +we would in a town. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +People send us so many cigarettes that +we sometimes have too many. I wish we +could get more tobacco and fewer cigarettes. +If you remember during the Boer War the +authorities tried to break the <span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy”</span> of +his <span class="tei tei-q">“fags”</span> by giving him more tobacco. +Now they really seem to encourage cigarette +smoking, although it really doesn't matter; +the same things which are harmful in towns +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page050">[pg 050]</span><a name="Pg050" id="Pg050" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +don't have the same bad effects when we +are living in the open. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All leave is up by the 10th of January for +everybody, officers and men. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Princess Patricia Canadian Light +Infantry have gone to the front to the envy +of everybody. It is a splendid battalion +with fine officers. They have been lying +next to our lines and we have made many +friends with the <span class="tei tei-q">“Pats.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Cerebro-spinal meningitis has broken out, +and in spite of all efforts to check it, seems +to be gaining ground. Several officers have +died with it, and I believe that four battalions +are quarantined. We have to use chloride of +lime on the tent floors and around the lines. +My friend Pat calls it <span class="tei tei-q">“Spike McGuiness.”</span> +The worst of a disease like this is that a +patient never recovers. Even a cure means +partial paralysis for life. I believe that +Salisbury Plain is known for it, and I hear +that all the ground that troops are now +occupying is to be ploughed up when we +leave. As far as that goes we have ploughed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page051">[pg 051]</span><a name="Pg051" id="Pg051" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it up a bit already, but a systematic ploughing +will make it more regular. The subsoil +is only four inches, then you come to chalky +clay. The tent-pegs when they are taken +from the ground are covered with chalk. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I think that the Canadian Contingent has +had a pretty raw deal. We're not even included +in the six army divisions which are +going to France by the end of March. Wish +I had joined the <span class="tei tei-q">“Princess Pats,”</span> who are +already there. We want to fight. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We're having a beastly time as compared +with the Belgian refugees and the German +prisoners in England. We're beginning to +wonder if we are ever going to the front. +There is now some talk of billeting us in +Bristol. We've been under arms nearly +five months and should be good fighting +material by now. With a similar number of +men the Germans would have done something +by this time. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All the last week the selected few of us have +been working separately on a course of work +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page052">[pg 052]</span><a name="Pg052" id="Pg052" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to qualify us for commissions. We have had +to study hard every spare minute when not +drilling each other. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Several dogs have attached themselves to +us; sometimes they find themselves on a +piece of string, the other end being in a man's +hand. One of these, a big bull terrier, sleeps +in the canteen. The beer is quite safe with +him there, but two nights ago the canteen +tent, after a great struggle, tore itself off the +tent-poles and went fifteen feet up in the air +like a balloon, then collapsed. The dog, I +regret to say, did not stay at his post, so a +quantity of beer will have to be marked down +as lost. This same bull has a pal, a white bull +terrier, who came out with the officers' class +the other morning. We had not been drilling +more than fifteen minutes when he came back +with a large rabbit. We stewed it at night. +It certainly was good. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the mechanics has forged an Iron +Cross which has been presented to the dog in +recognition of his services. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I doubt if I shall ever be able to sit up to a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page053">[pg 053]</span><a name="Pg053" id="Pg053" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +table again regularly. I would much sooner +sleep on the floor, and I have found, when on +leave, that I preferred sitting on a hearthrug +to a chair. Even while writing this I am +lying on my blankets. My pipe is burnt +down on one side from lighting it from my +candle. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day being Sunday and as there were +only two of us left in the tent, the others +being on leave, we gave it a thorough spring +cleaning. It needed it! By some oversight +the sun came out to-day, so that helped. +We also washed up all our canteens and +pannikins with disinfectant. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The infantry are bayonet-fighting and +practicing charges every day. If you want +a thrill, see them coming over the top at you +with a yell; the bayonets catch the light and +flash in a decidedly menacing fashion. They +practice on dummies, and are so enthusiastic +that they need new dummies almost every +lesson. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Every man, on becoming a soldier, becomes +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page054">[pg 054]</span><a name="Pg054" id="Pg054" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a man with a number and an identification +disk. My number is 45555 and my <span class="tei tei-q">“cold +meat ticket,”</span> a tag made of red fiber, is +hanging round my neck on a piece of string. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We're packing up and expect to go away +next week. Of course, it may be another +bluff, but somehow I think we really are going +now, as we have been fitted out with a <span class="tei tei-q">“field +service-dressing,”</span> a packet containing two +bandages and safety pins, which we have to +sew into the right-hand bottom corner of our +tunics. We have also been given our active +service pay book, a little account book in +which we have our pay entered. We don't +get paid much in the field. We carry this +book instead. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It seems always cold and wet. We are +very hardened. We look tough and feel that +way. I haven't had a bath for a month. +Since I have been soldiering I have done +every dirty job that there is in the army, and +there are many. Often when a job seemed +to be too dirty and too heavy for anybody +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page055">[pg 055]</span><a name="Pg055" id="Pg055" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +else, they looked around for Keene and +Pat. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“On guard.”</span> Writing this in the guard +tent, when we are not actually on sentry. +We keep all our equipment on, as we are +liable to be called out at any minute. We +sleep with our belts and revolvers in place. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A quarter guard is three men and a noncom. +The men do two hours on and four off. +When it comes to a man's turn he has to be +on his beat no matter what the weather is +like during the day or night. The cold is +pretty bad and occasionally it snows. Some +units have sentry boxes, but we haven't. +We use a bell tent. I was called this morning +at five o'clock to do my sentry from five to +seven. The small oil stove which serves to +heat the guard tents had evidently been +smoking for an hour, and over everything +was a thick film of lamp-black. Everybody +thought it a great joke until they looked at +themselves in the mirror and caught sight of +their own equipment. We must come off +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page056">[pg 056]</span><a name="Pg056" id="Pg056" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +guard as clean as we go on. I got out +quickly and left them swearing and cleaning +up. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +From five to seven is the most interesting +relief. I had first to wake the cooks at five +o'clock and then I watched the gradual +waking up of the camp. At six o'clock I +had to wake the orderly sergeants and then +far away in the distance the first bugle +sounded reveille, then it was taken up all +around and gradually the camps all over the +Plains woke up. Men came out of the tents, +the calls for the <span class="tei tei-q">“fall in”</span> sounded, and the +rolls were called and the usual business of +the day commenced. The change from the +deadness of the night with its absolute stillness +all takes place in a very short time. To +a person with any imagination it seems rather +wonderful. You must remember that we +can see for miles, and in every direction there +are hundreds of tents. Each battalion is +separate, and they have great spaces between +them; still wherever you look you can see +tents. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page057">[pg 057]</span><a name="Pg057" id="Pg057" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I wonder if I told you that aeroplanes are +all the time flying over our camp. With +characteristic British frankness they always +have two huge Union Jacks painted on the +undersides of the wings. We have become +so used to them that we scarcely trouble to +look up unless they are doing stunts. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The frost makes a fine grip for the cars; +when the ground freezes over we can take +the cars anywhere, but unfortunately it +thaws again too quickly. As we are a motor +battery we are of course a mile from the road, +and sometimes it takes an hour and a half to +get on to it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is a howling night, wind and rain galore. +I'm wondering how long the tent will last. +I have been out three times already to look +at the tent pegs. How often it has been so +since we first came on to these plains. If +you are living in tents you notice the changes +in weather more than under ordinary circumstances, +and every rain-storm has meant +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page058">[pg 058]</span><a name="Pg058" id="Pg058" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wet feet for us. But now we have been given +new black boots, magnificent things, huge, +heavy <span class="tei tei-q">“ammunition boots,”</span> and the wonderful +thing is they don't let water in. They are +very big and look like punts, but it's dry +feet now. I can tell you I am as pleased with +them as if some one had given me a present +of cold cash. At first they felt something like +the Dutch sabots. They seemed absolutely +unbendable and so we soaked them with +castor-oil. Once they become moulded to +the feet they are fine. Of course they are +not pretty, but they keep the wet out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have had new tunics issued to us of +the regular English pattern, much more comfortable +than our other original ones, and +then instead of the hard cap we now have +a soft one, something like a big golf cap with +the flap on to pull down over the ears. These +are much more comfortable. They have one +great advantage over the old kind—we can +sleep in them. We can now lie down in our +complete outfits even to our hats. Once I +considered it a hardship to sleep in my +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page059">[pg 059]</span><a name="Pg059" id="Pg059" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +clothes. Now to go to bed we don't undress; +we put on clothes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I managed to get a pass to Salisbury on +Saturday and went to the local vaudeville +show. In the row in front of me were several +young officers of the British Army, and it was +striking what a clean-cut lot they were. +England is certainly giving of her best. +They were not very much different from any +others, but at the same time they are the type +of Englishmen who have done things in the +past and will do things again. They are all +Kitchener's Army. Thousands of men who +have never been in the army before threw +up everything to go in the ranks. You see +side by side professors, laborers, lawyers, +doctors, stevedores, carters, all classes, rich +and poor, a great democratic army, drilling +to fight so that this may be a decent world +to live in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At present it is almost impossible to use +each man in his own profession as they do in +Germany, but sometimes the non-commissioned +officers work it out in this way. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page060">[pg 060]</span><a name="Pg060" id="Pg060" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sergeant to squad of recruits:— +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Henybody 'ere know anythink abart +cars?”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Yes; I do. I own a Rolls Royce.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Olright; fall out and clean the major's +motor bike.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One patriotic mother who had a son who +was a butcher did her best to get him to join +the Royal Army Medical Corps, because he +was proficient at cutting up meat and would +feel quite at home assisting at amputations. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Now that we are approaching the time for +our departure to France we are hearing that +favorite farewell to all men going to the front, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Good-bye, I'll look every day for your name +in the casualty list.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The <span class="tei tei-q">“Princess Pats”</span> have already been in +action. They had a hard fight and many of +them have been put out of business. We +envied them when they went away and still +do, although it only seems yesterday that we +were lying together here and now a number of +them are lying <span class="tei tei-q">“somewhere in France.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page061">[pg 061]</span><a name="Pg061" id="Pg061" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The jam-making firm of Tickler was +awarded a huge contract for the supply of +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy's”</span> daily four ounces of jam; either +plum and apple were the cheapest combination +or else the crop of these two fruits must +have been enormous, because every single +tin of jam that went to the training camps, +France, Dardanelles, or Mesopotamia, was +of this mixture. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We became so tired of it that we used the +unopened tins to make borders of flower-beds, +or we used them to make stepping-stones +across puddles. Eventually the world's +supply of plums and apples having been used +up, the manufacturers were forced to use +strawberries. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the army all food is handled by the +Army Service Corps, and as soon as they +found real jam coming through they took +it for their own and still forwarded on to us +their reserve <span class="tei tei-q">“plum and apple.”</span> The news +got around amongst the fighting units: +result—the Army Service Corps is now +known as the <span class="tei tei-q">“Strawberry Jam Pinchers.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page062">[pg 062]</span><a name="Pg062" id="Pg062" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Reviewed by King George V, and it was +indeed a very impressive sight. Although +there were only twenty thousand troops, +they seemed endless. During the time that +the King was on the parade ground in company +with Lord Kitchener, two aeroplanes +kept guard in the sky. Our K. of K. is a big, +fine man who looks the part. An inspection +by the King is always a sure sign of a unit's +impending departure. He traveled down on +the new railway which had just been built +by the defaulters of the Canadian Contingent. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At the last minute I managed to get weekend +leave and went to London. No Canadians +there! I caught sight of a military +picket, sergeant and twelve men, looking for +stray ones, though. Another picket held me +up and made me button my greatcoat. I +did! It isn't clever to argue with pickets at +any time! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The train was three hours late. Troops' +trains were occupying the lines. From Bulford +we walked home in a hail-storm. Got in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page063">[pg 063]</span><a name="Pg063" id="Pg063" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about five o'clock just as the reveille was +blowing in the other lines. They were just +leaving for the front, and had made great +fires where they were burning up rubbish +and stuff they couldn't take with them. +Tons of it! Chairs, mattresses, and tables. +When we move, everything except equipment +has to be discarded. We can't do anything +with extras. We have to cut our own stuff +down to the very smallest dimensions. I +walked through the lines afterward of other +battalions who had left, and I saw fold-up +bedsteads, uniforms, equipment, books, buckets, +washing-bowls, cartridges and stoves +of every conceivable kind and shape; hundreds, +from the single <span class="tei tei-q">“Beatrice”</span> to the +big tiled heaters. Some tents were half +full of blankets thrown in, others with +harness. All the government stuff is collected, +but private stuff is burnt. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the army you soon realize that you have +to make yourself comfortable your own way. +I don't hesitate to take anything. If I have +on a pair of puttees which are a bit worn and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page064">[pg 064]</span><a name="Pg064" id="Pg064" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +I find a new pair,—well, I just calmly yet +cautiously annex them and discard the old +ones. We found a barrel of beer had been +left by one of the other units, so we carefully +carried the prize to our lines and then tapped +it. Zowie! It was a beer barrel all right, +only it was filled with linseed oil. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Thank the Lord!! Under a roof, sitting on +a real chair; tablecloth, plates; and I'm dry. +We have come to Wilton (of carpet fame) +and I'm in a billet. I have a real bed to +sleep in. Last night I lay on the floor of a +mildewed tent; couldn't sleep on account of +the cold. To-night I sleep between sheets, +and the wonderful thing is that I'm not on +leave. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We drove our cars down here, each of us +hoping that we would never again see Bustard +Camp, Salisbury Plain, as long as we +lived; it had been our home for five months. +Yesterday we felt like mutiny; to-day every +one is smiling. As soon as we were <span class="tei tei-q">“told off”</span> +Pat and I went to our billet, a nice clean little +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page065">[pg 065]</span><a name="Pg065" id="Pg065" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +house close to the center of the town. The +owner is a baker. I felt kind of uncomfortable +with my boots and clothes plastered up with +mud, but the good lady said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Don't 'e mind, +come in, bless you; I've 'ad soldiers afore. +The last one 'e said as 'ow he couldn't sleep +it were so quiet 'ere.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I had a wash (this is Friday night), the +first since Wednesday morning. The idea +of having as much water as you want, without +having to go a half mile over a swamp, +pleased me so much that I used about six +basinsful in the scullery. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When the lady of the house asked us <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">what</span></em> +we would <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">like</span></em> to eat, we both fainted. I'm +afraid we're going to get spoiled here. +Couldn't sleep at first. Cold sheets and +having all my clothes off—too great a +strain! Had breakfast and then drove our +cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and +washed them down inside and out. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This afternoon I've been into every shop +I could find, chiefly to talk to people who are +not soldiers. Even went into the church to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page066">[pg 066]</span><a name="Pg066" id="Pg066" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +look around and listened to the parrotlike +description of the place by the sexton. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody is happy, and although it has +rained ever since we have been here, we +haven't noticed it yet. I may say there +are four or five kids, and the whole house +could be packed into our front room. Still, +<span class="tei tei-q">“gimme a billet any time.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have just received the news that I have +been given a Second Lieutenancy in the +Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field +Artillery, and I go into camp at Bisley at +once. I am very glad that before being an +officer I have been a private, because I now +have the latter's point of view. I am going +to try hard to be a good officer; promotion +always means more work and responsibility,—so +here goes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have been very busy lately training my +new section, and we are now part of the 12th +Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division +British Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day +for the <span class="tei tei-q">“Great Adventure.”</span> +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page067">[pg 067]</span><a name="Pg067" id="Pg067" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Somewhere in France. At last we are here. +We landed at a place the name of which +I am not allowed to mention, and were +then taken by a guide to a <span class="tei tei-q">“Rest Camp”</span> +about two miles from the docks. If they +had called it a garbage dump I shouldn't +have been surprised. You would be very +much surprised with the France of to-day. +Everybody speaks English; smart khaki +soldiers in thousands everywhere. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Already I have seen men who have been +gassed and the hospitals here are full of +wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and +night and marching away. English money is +taken here, but French is more satisfactory as +you are likely to get done on the change. The +officers have a mess here just as in England. +Actually we are farther away from the firing +line than we were in camp at Bisley; but we +leave to-day on our machines going direct to +it. There was a transport torpedoed just +outside; they managed to beach her just +in time. The upper decks and masts are +sticking up above water. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page068">[pg 068]</span><a name="Pg068" id="Pg068" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Since I last wrote anything in this diary +we have ridden over one hundred and ten +miles by road towards the firing line. All +day yesterday it poured. The country was +beautiful, ripening corn everywhere, the +villages are full of old half-timbered houses, +the roads are all national roads built for +war purposes by Napoleon, and run straight; +on either side are tall, poplar shade trees, so +that the roads run through endless avenues. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At night we stayed in a quaint village inn. +The men all slept in a loft over their machines. +Our soaked clothes were put in the kitchen +to dry, but owing to the number of them, +they just warmed up by the morning. One +officer has to follow in the rear of every unit +to pick up the stragglers. I had to bring +up the rear of the column to-day—result: I +didn't get in until early in the morning, +only to find the other subalterns <span class="tei tei-q">“sawing +wood.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Yesterday was the French National Day. +We were cheered as we rode along, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page069">[pg 069]</span><a name="Pg069" id="Pg069" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +women and children smothered us with +flowers. In the morning a funeral of two +small children passed us. Our battery commander +called the battery to attention and +officers saluted. The priest was two days +overdue with his shave—soldiers notice +things like that, you know. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day we continued our ride; the weather +was much better—dried our clothes by +wearing them. Strange to run through +Normandy villages and suddenly come across +British Tommies—many of them speaking +French. A Royal Navy car has just passed +us; our navy seems omnipresent. I saw an +old woman reading a letter by the side of an +old farmhouse to some old people, evidently +from a soldier, probably their son. It reminded +me a great deal of one of Millet's +pictures. Every one thinks of the war here +and nothing but the war; it's not <span class="tei tei-q">“Business +as Usual.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We stay here one night and move away +to-morrow. We can hear the guns faintly. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page070">[pg 070]</span><a name="Pg070" id="Pg070" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The three section officers, myself and two +others, are sleeping in a hut together. It is +one of these new collapsible kind, very convenient. +We are now all in bed. Outside +the only sound we can hear is the sentries +challenging and the mosquitoes singing. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All males are soldiers in France, even the +old men. They look very fine in their blue +uniforms, but I have a prejudice for our +khaki Tommies. We get good food as we +travel, but pay war prices for it. Cherries +are now in season; we don't pay for them, +however. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Rode another sixty miles to-day. A car +smashed into the curb, cannoned off and +ran over me, busting my machine up. The +front wheel went over my leg. My revolver +and leather holster saved me from a fracture, +but I got badly bruised up. I was very +scared that I should not be able to go +<span class="tei tei-q">“up”</span> with the Battery. It would be almost +a disgrace to go back broken up by a car +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page071">[pg 071]</span><a name="Pg071" id="Pg071" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +without even getting a whack at the Boche. +Had to ride later on another machine twenty-five +miles through the night without lights, +in a blinding rain. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everything interesting. Should like to +have a camera with me. I had to post mine +back. So many things are done in the British +Army by putting a man on his honor. They +just ask you to do things. They don't order +you to do it. It was that way with me; +they merely <span class="tei tei-q">“asked”</span> me to post my camera +back. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Great powerful cars rush by here all day +and all night, regardless of speed limits. +Every hour or so you see a convoy of twenty +or thirty motor lorries in line bringing up +ammunition or supplies, or coming back +empty. Every point bristles with sentries +who demand passes. If you are not able to +answer satisfactorily, they just shoot. The +French soldiers have magnificent uniforms; +the predominating color is a sort of cobalt +blue. To see sentries, French and British +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page072">[pg 072]</span><a name="Pg072" id="Pg072" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +together, they make quite a nice color +scheme. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Officers censor all letters. I censor sometimes +fifty letters a day. One man put +in a letter to-day, <span class="tei tei-q">“I can't write anything +endearing in this, as my section officer will +read it.”</span> Another, <span class="tei tei-q">“I enclose ten shillings. +Very likely you will not receive this, as my +officer has to censor this letter.”</span> Of course +we don't have time to read all the letters +through. We look for names of places and +numbers of divisions, brigades, etc., but I +couldn't help noticing that one of my men, +whom I have long suspected of being a Don +Juan, had by one mail written exactly the +same letter to five different girls in England, +altering only the addresses and the affectionate +beginnings. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The village in which I am now was visited +last September by twelve German officers +who came through in motor cars; the villagers +cried, <span class="tei tei-q">“Vivent les Anglais,”</span> for not having +seen an English soldier they took it for +granted that the <span class="tei tei-q">“Tommy”</span> had come. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page073">[pg 073]</span><a name="Pg073" id="Pg073" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody goes armed to the teeth. I +have my belt, a regular Christmas tree for +hanging things on, with revolver and cartridges +on even while I'm writing this. We +carry a lot, but we soon get used to it. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The corn is being cut now. Through the +window opposite I can see it standing in +newly-stacked sheaves. These places are +the favorite sketching grounds of artists in +normal times, and I often wonder if they +ever will be again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We return salutes with all the French and +Belgian officers. It is difficult sometimes to +distinguish them. I got fooled by a Belgian +postman, and then went to work and cut a +French general. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The nearer we get to the firing line the finer +the type of soldier. They are the magnificent +Britishers of Kitchener's First Army. It +makes you proud to see them marching by, +dirty and wet with sweat. I watched two +battalions come through; they had marched +twenty miles through the sun with new issue +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page074">[pg 074]</span><a name="Pg074" id="Pg074" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +boots; a few of them had fallen out, and other +men and officers were carrying their equipment +and rifles; many of the officers carried +two rifles. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I am now well within sound of the guns. +A German Taube was shelled as it came over +our firing line yesterday. One man was lying +on his back asleep with his hat over his eyes, +when a piece of shrapnel from one of the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Archies”</span> hit him in the stomach—result: +one blasphemous, indignant casualty. From +the road I can see one of the observation +balloons, a queer sausage-shaped airship. +We may be moved up into the thick of it +at any time now. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have been over into Belgium to-day: +crossed the frontier on my motor bike; the +roads are terrible, all this beastly <span class="tei tei-q">“pavé”</span> +cobblestones; awful stuff to ride over on a +motor cycle. Shell holes on both sides of +the road, and I saw three graves in the +corner of a hop garden. All along the +road there were dozens and dozens of old +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page075">[pg 075]</span><a name="Pg075" id="Pg075" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +London motor buses, taking men to the +trenches. They still have the advertisements +on them and are driven by the bus-drivers +themselves. Three hundred came over with +their own machines. They are now soldiers. +The observation balloon I mentioned yesterday +was shelled down to-day. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I am writing this in an old Flemish farmhouse, +and the room I'm sitting in has a +carved rafter ceiling, red brick floor and +nasty purple cabbage wallpaper. All the men +of the house with the exception of the old +man are at the war; one son has already +died. The Germans have been through here. +They tied the mayor of the town to a tree +and shot him. The trenches have been filled +in, all the wreckage cleared, and they have a +new mayor. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is not yet 7 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">a.m.</span></span> I am an orderly officer +and have to take the men out for a run at six. +I came back and bought a London <span class="tei tei-q">“Daily +Mail”</span> of yesterday from a country-woman. +We are at least three miles from the town, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page076">[pg 076]</span><a name="Pg076" id="Pg076" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but they are enterprising enough to bring +papers to us at this time in the morning. +A <span class="tei tei-q">“Daily Mail”</span> costs four cents. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Since I last wrote I have been up to the +front line. Everything is different from what +you imagine. The German trenches are +easily distinguished through glasses; their +sand-bags are multi-colored. Shrapnel was +bursting over ruins of an old town in their +lines. When you look through a periscope +at the wilderness, it is difficult to imagine +that thousands of soldiers on both sides have +burrowed themselves into the earth. The +evidence of their alertness is shown by their +snipers, who are always busy whenever the +target is up. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A battery of eight-inch howitzers was +opening fire. Our battery commander, hearing +this, sent us up. The guns, big fellows, +were well concealed. They were painted in +protective colors and covered with screens of +branches to prevent aerial observation. In +the grounds all over the place were dug-outs, +deep rabbit burrows, ten or twelve feet down, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page077">[pg 077]</span><a name="Pg077" id="Pg077" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +into which everybody went immediately. +The Germans started their <span class="tei tei-q">“hate.”</span> The +firing is done by hand cord; other big guns +are fired electrically. An enormous flash, +an ear-splitting crash, a great sheet of flame +from the muzzle, and two hundred pounds of +steel is sent tearing through the air to the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Kultur”</span> exponents. The whole gun lifts off +the ground and runs back on its oil-compression +springs. These guns are moved by +their own caterpillar tractors which are kept +somewhere close by. In three quarters of an +hour they can get them started on the road. +The ground for these emplacements was the +orchard of a chateau. While we were there +a whistle blew three times, an order shouted; +immediately the guns were covered up and +the men took cover. The enemy had sent +an aeroplane to locate them. If they could +once find them, hundreds of shells would +rain on this spot in a few minutes. At a few +yards' distance I couldn't see the guns +myself. The <span class="tei tei-q">“Hows”</span> were firing at a house +in the German lines which had been giving +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page078">[pg 078]</span><a name="Pg078" id="Pg078" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +trouble. In three rounds they got it and +then started in to <span class="tei tei-q">“dust”</span> the neighborhood. +Of course, the firing is indirect. The officers +and men who are with the guns don't see the +effects. Apparently they fire straight away +in the air. The observation is done by the +forward observing officer in the fire trenches +who corrects them by 'phone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +After the appointed number of rounds had +been fired, we adjourned to the chateau, a +fine house, marble mantelpiece, plaster ceilings, +gilt mirror panels, etc. It has still a +few pieces of furniture left, no carpets, most +of the windows are smashed; shells have +visited it, but chiefly in splinters. I saw one +picture on the wall with a hole drilled in by +a shrapnel bullet which had gone clean +through as though it had been drilled. It +hadn't smashed the glass otherwise. From a +window of the room, which the officers use +as a mess, a neat row of graves is to be seen. +Outside there are great shell holes, most +of them big enough to bury a horse. Suddenly +a shriek and a deafening explosion +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page079">[pg 079]</span><a name="Pg079" id="Pg079" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +occurred in the garden. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sixty-pound shrapnel! +Evening hate,”</span> said an artillery sub. +We left! We had been sent up to see the +guns fire and not to be fired at. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To go home we had to pass a village completely +deserted, a village that was once +prosperous, where people lived and traded +and only wanted to be left alone. Now grass +is growing in the streets. Shops have their +merchandise strewn and rotting in all directions. +On one fragment of a wall a family +portrait was still hanging, and a woman's +undergarments. A grand piano, and a perambulator +tied in a knot were trying to +get down through a coal chute. To wander +through a village like this one that has been +smashed up, and with the knowledge that +the smashing up may be continued any time, +is thrilling. Churches are always hateful to +the Germans. They shell them all; bits of +the organs are wrapped around the tombstones, +and coffins, bones and skulls are +churned up into a great stew. In some of the +villages a few of the inhabitants had stayed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page080">[pg 080]</span><a name="Pg080" id="Pg080" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and traded with the soldiers. They lived in +cellars usually and suffered terribly. British +military police direct the traffic when there +is any, and are stationed at crossroads with +regular beats like a city policeman. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +While traveling to another part of the +line we had an opportunity of seeing the +<span class="tei tei-q">“Archies”</span> (anti-aircraft guns) working. +They were mounted on lorries and fire quite +good-sized shells. They fired about fifty +shots at one Taube, but didn't register a +bull. Later in the evening from a trench we +had the satisfaction of seeing another aeroplane +set on fire, burn, and drop into the +German lines like a shot partridge. Aeroplanes +are as common as birds. Yesterday +a <span class="tei tei-q">“Pfeil”</span> (arrow) biplane came right over +our lines and was chased off by our own +machines. The enemy's aeroplanes have +their iron cross painted on the underside of +their wings and are more hawkish-looking +than ours. They are more often used for +reconnoitering and taking photographs than +for dropping bombs. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page081">[pg 081]</span><a name="Pg081" id="Pg081" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are being moved up closer to the firing +line. I have been made billeting officer. +I went to headquarters; a staff colonel +showed me a subdivision on a map. <span class="tei tei-q">“Go +there and select a place for your unit.”</span> The +place was a wretched village of about six +houses, all of which are more or less +smashed about, windows repaired with +sacking and pieces of wood. All of the +inhabitants have moved except those who +are too poor. Every square inch is utilized. +I managed to get a cow-shed for the officers. +It looks comfortable. On the door I could +just decipher, written in chalk, by some previous +billeting officer,— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">2 Staff Officers</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">6 Officers</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">2 Horses</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Billeting chalk marks are on almost all the +shops and houses up from the coast to the +front. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The field which we are expecting to put +the men into belonged to a miller who lived +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page082">[pg 082]</span><a name="Pg082" id="Pg082" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in a different area. We went to see him. He +couldn't speak English or French, so I tried +him with German. While we were talking, +I noticed some non-coms watching us very +intently and was not surprised to find one +following us back down the road. When he +saw our car he came up and apologized for +having taken us for spies. They are looking +for two Germans in our lines wearing British +uniforms, who have given several gun +positions away. Two days ago the enemy +shelled the road systematically on both sides +for half a mile when an ammunition column +was due. It was quite dark before we left; +the sky was continually lit up by the star +shells, very pretty white rockets, which light +up No Man's Land. The enemy has a very +good kind which remains alight for several +minutes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our days of comfortable billets are over, +I am afraid. Unless you are working hard, +it is miserable here,—wrecked towns, bad +roads, shell holes, smells, dirt, soldiers, +horses, trenches. The inhabitants are a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page083">[pg 083]</span><a name="Pg083" id="Pg083" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +poor, wretched lot. Many of them are +thieves and spies. We are right in Belgium, +where flies and smells are as varied +as in the Orient. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Wherever we travel by day or night we are +constantly challenged by sentries and have +to produce our passes. We stopped in one +darkened shell-riddled town and knocked up +an <span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">estaminet</span></span>; we got a much finer meal than +you can get at many places farther back. +We talked to the woman who kept it and +asked her if she slept in the cellar. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, no! +I sleep upstairs, they never bombard except +at three in the morning or nine at night. +Then I go into the cellar.”</span> This woman was +a very pleasant, intelligent person, most +probably a spy. Intelligent people generally +leave the danger zone. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Marching through the sloughed-up mud, +through shell holes filled with putrid water, +amongst most depressing conditions, I saw +a working party returning to their billets. +They were wet through and wrapped up with +scarves, wool helmets, and gloves. Over +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page084">[pg 084]</span><a name="Pg084" id="Pg084" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +their clothes was a veneer of plastered mud. +They marched along at a slow swing and in +a mournful way sang— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Left—Left—Left</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">We—are—the tough Guys!</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Apparently there are no more words to this +song because after a pause of a few beats +they commenced again— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Left—Left—Left—</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +They looked exactly what they said they +were. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Windmills, of which there are a good +many, are only allowed to work under observation. +It was found that they were +often giving the enemy information, using +the position of the sails to spell out codes in +the same way as in semaphore; clock-hands +on church towers are also used in the same +way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I saw a pathetic sight to-day. A stretcher +came by with a man painfully wounded; he +was inclined to whimper; one of the stretcher-bearers +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page085">[pg 085]</span><a name="Pg085" id="Pg085" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +said quietly to him, <span class="tei tei-q">“Be British.”</span> +He immediately straightened himself out +and asked for a <span class="tei tei-q">“fag.”</span> He died that night. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We had a terrific bombardment last night; +the ground shook all night and the sky +was lit up for miles. The Boches used +liquid fire on some new troops and we lost +ground. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I found this piece of poetry on the wall of +a smashed-up chateau, and I have copied it +exactly as I found it. The writing was on a +darkened wall, and while I copied it my guide +held a torchlight up to it. The place passes +as <span class="tei tei-q">“Dead Cow Farm”</span> on all official maps. +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">I've traveled many journeys in my one score years and ten,</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">And oft enjoyed the company of jovial fellow men,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">But of all the happy journeys none can compare to me</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">With the Red-Cross special night express from the trenches to the sea.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">It's Bailleul, Boulogne, Blighty, that's the burden of the song,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Oh, speed the train along.</span></div> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page086">[pg 086]</span><a name="Pg086" id="Pg086" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">If you've only half a stomach and you haven't got a knee,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">You'll choke your groans and try to shout the chorus after me.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Bailleul, Boulogne, and Blighty, dear old Blighty </span><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">cross the sea.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Now some of us are mighty bad and some are wounded slight,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">And some will see their threescore years and some won't last the night,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">But the Red Cross train takes up the strain all in a minor key</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">And sings Boulogne and Blighty as she rumbles to the sea.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Oh, it's better than the trenches and it's better than the rain,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">It's better than the mud and stink; we're going home again,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Though most of us have left some of us on the wrong side of the sea.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">We are a lot of blooming cripples, but—downhearted? No, siree.</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">There's a holy speed about this train for each of us can see</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">That we will cross the shining channel that lies 'twixt her and me</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">To the one and only Blighty, our Blighty, 'cross the sea,'</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Where the blooming Huns can never come, 'twixt her and home and +me.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page087">[pg 087]</span><a name="Pg087" id="Pg087" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Blighty”</span> is the wound which sends a +man home to England; it's a war word which +came originally from the Indians, but now +universally adopted in the new trench language. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I was walking along a trench when a man, +who was sitting on a firestep looking up into +a little trench mirror (which is used by putting +the end of the bayonet between the +glass and the frame), just crumpled up, shot +through the heart. He didn't say a word. +The trench had thinned out and the bullet +had come through, nearly four feet down +from the top of the parapet. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Bad shell fire this afternoon. Saw shells +churning things up seventy-five yards away; +many passed overhead; had a ride on my +motor cycle with the other officers to reconnoiter +the roads leading down to the part of +the trenches we have taken over; road was +shelled as we came along. Two <span class="tei tei-q">“coal boxes”</span> +hit the road and smashed up a cottage in +front of us; we picked up pieces of the shell +too hot to hold. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page088">[pg 088]</span><a name="Pg088" id="Pg088" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our billet now is another large farm, with +the pump in the center of the manure heap +as usual; our machines are parked all round +a field close to the hedges to make a smaller +target and also to prevent aerial observation. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I went through a town this morning which +has been on everybody's lips for months—I +have never seen such devastation in my +life; it baffles description. The San Francisco +earthquake was a joke to this. Thousands +and thousands of shells have pummeled +and smashed until very little remains besides +wreckage. Most of the shelling has been +done to deliberately destroy the objects of +architectural value. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My quarters are in a loft amongst rags, old +agricultural implements, sacks, and the accumulation +of years of dirt; flies wake me +up at daylight. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This morning I went for a drink in the +<span class="tei tei-foreign"><span style="font-style: italic">estaminet</span></span> I have mentioned already. Two +shells have been through the sides of the +house since we were last there, but they both +came through at the usual scheduled time. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page089">[pg 089]</span><a name="Pg089" id="Pg089" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This poor country is pockmarked with +shell craters like a great country with a skin +disease. Trees have been splintered worse +than any storm could do. Nothing has been +spared. The mineral rights of this territory +should be very valuable some day. When +we have all finished salting the earth with +nickel, lead, steel, copper, and aluminum, +old-metal dealers will probably set up offices +in No Man's Land. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Belgium will have to be rebuilt entirely, +or left as it is, a monument to <span class="tei tei-q">“Kultur.”</span> +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My section has been ordered up to a divisional +area on the south of the salient. In +accordance with instructions I went up to +Ypres this morning to find a place to park +the machines. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Contrary to the popular belief, we do not +fight our guns from the motor cycles themselves. +We use our machines to get about +on, and the guns are taken up as near as +possible to the position we are to occupy, +which is usually behind Brigade Headquarters. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page090">[pg 090]</span><a name="Pg090" id="Pg090" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Brigadiers have a great aversion to any +kind of motor vehicle being driven past their +headquarters, owing to the movement and +noise, which they believe attracts attention to +themselves, and as a rule the sentries posted +outside will see that no machines go by. We +get up as far as we can, because after we part +from our machines, everything must be carried +up through the trenches by hand. +</p> + +<a name="illus-motor" id="illus-motor" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/motor.png" width="700" height="455" alt="Illustration" title="Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun</div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I arrived at the town early and reported +to the major who is in charge of the town and +of the troops quartered there. He was living +in the prison, a substantial brick and +stone building, which has been smashed about +a bit, but which is still a fairly good structure. +The major is a fine, gruff old gentleman +who was a master of fox hounds in the +North of England. He came over with a +detachment of cavalry. He is past the age +limit, and it was decided that although he was +a fine soldier, perhaps his age would be a +deterrent and his job ought to be something +lighter, so they gave him one of the fiercest +jobs in the world—O. C. Ypres! +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page091">[pg 091]</span><a name="Pg091" id="Pg091" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I was sent in, and when he heard my errand +he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You want to park your machines +in Ypres? Why don't you take them +up in the German front lines? You'll be safer +there than here. Listen to the shelling now.”</span> +I knew this, but I was doing just exactly +what I was told. He continued: <span class="tei tei-q">“I have now +thousands of troops here and my daily casualties +are enormous, so naturally I don't want +any more men. The best plan for you will be +to go down the Lille road and pick a house +below <span class="tei tei-q">‘Shrapnel Corner.’</span> ”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I went on through the town, under the +Lille gate, across the tram lines, past the +famous cross-roads known as <span class="tei tei-q">“Shrapnel +Corner”</span> and chummed up with some artillery +officers. They told me that I could +have any of the houses I wanted. I picked +a couple which looked to me to be more complete +than the rest and chalked them up. +This whole place was alive with batteries. +While I was there I heard a shout and suddenly +a hidden battery of guns, sunk behind +the road with the muzzles almost resting on +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page092">[pg 092]</span><a name="Pg092" id="Pg092" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it, started firing across in the direction of the +part of Belgium occupied by Fritz. I had +passed within two feet of these guns and yet +had not seen them, they were so well <span class="tei tei-q">“camouflaged.”</span> +On my way back I saw the <span class="tei tei-q">“Big +Berthas”</span> bursting in the town, and I was +surprised that so little damage had been +actually done to the Lille gate itself. Shells +had visited everywhere in the neighborhood, +but had not smashed this old structure. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I went home, collected my men together, +and told them the importance of the work +we were to undertake. I have found it always +a good thing to make the men think the +job that they are doing is of great importance. +Better results are obtained that way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We went to an <span class="tei tei-q">“engineer dump”</span> on the +way up just after the enemy had landed a +shell on a wagon loading building material, +and wounded were being carried off and the +mangled horses had been dragged on one +side. As the wounded came by I called my +section to attention, the compliment due to +wounded men paid by units drawn up. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page093">[pg 093]</span><a name="Pg093" id="Pg093" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We drew our sandbags in the usual way +by requisitioning for five thousand and getting +one thousand. Always ask for more +than you expect to get. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +As we came into Ypres, a military policeman +on duty told me it was unhealthy to go +the usual way through the Market Square, +because the shelling was bad in that part of +the town, so I spread the machines out and +started on down a side street. We were getting +on finely and I was congratulating myself +on getting through, when two houses, +hit from the back, collapsed across the +street in front of my machine. Without +any ceremony I turned my machine back +along the street which we had come and +went through the Market Square down the +Lille road, under the gate, being followed by +my section. About four hundred yards down +I stopped; holding my solo motor cycle between +my legs, standing up, I looked back. +I counted my machines as they came up. If +it hadn't been so scary, it really would +have been funny, to see these machines +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page094">[pg 094]</span><a name="Pg094" id="Pg094" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +coming down the road through shell holes +and over piles of bricks, as fast as the +drivers could make them go. The men were +hanging on for dear life and the machines +rocked from side to side, but they were all +there. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Down the road we went to the houses; +there we parked the machines and unpacked. +A guard was placed over them and the rest +of us marched down to the trenches. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +An officer has to buy all his own equipment +and is allowed two hundred and fifty +dollars by the Government towards the cost. +An officer carries a revolver, but all junior +officers as soon as possible acquire a rifle. +The men of a <span class="tei tei-q">“salvage company”</span> were +collecting all the rifles, bayonets, and parts +of equipment near where I was to-day +and I managed to get a Lee-Enfield (British +rifle) in good shape. I felt that I would +like to have a rifle and bayonet handy. +I found a good-looking bayonet sticking in +the side of a sandbag wall. It looked lonely. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page095">[pg 095]</span><a name="Pg095" id="Pg095" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +The scabbard I am using was resting in a +loft of a deserted brewery. I am now complete +with rifle, bayonet, and scabbard. +</p> + +<a name="illus-wipers" id="illus-wipers" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/wipers.png" width="550" height="700" alt="Illustration" title=""Wipers"" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">"Wipers"</div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sometimes you see a man smashed about +in a terrible way, such a mess that you think +he is a goner; he may recover. Another man +may have just a small wound and will die. +A bullet hitting a man in the head will smash +it as effectually as a sledge-hammer. Once +a man leaves your unit, wounded, you don't +see him again. You get a fresh draft. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +No one thinks of peace here. Germany +must be put in a similar state to Belgium +first. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We never travel anywhere without our +smoke helmets; they come right over our +heads and are tucked into our shirts; they +have two glass eye-pieces. When we have +them on we look like the old Spanish gentleman +who ran the <span class="tei tei-q">“Star Chamber.”</span> +Helmets must always be ready to put on +instantly. Gas is a matter of seconds in +coming over. The helmets are better than +respirators, but have to be constantly inspected. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page096">[pg 096]</span><a name="Pg096" id="Pg096" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +A small hole, or if one is allowed to +dry, means a casualty. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Storm brewing. Flies bad, driven in by +the wind. Nature goes on just the same. I +suppose that this farm would be just as fly-ridden +in an ordinary summer. During the +bombarding yesterday I noticed swallows +flying about quite unconcerned. Corn, +mostly self-planted, grows right up to the +trenches. Cabbages grow wild. Communicating +trenches run right through fields of +crops; flowers grow in profusion between the +lines, big red poppies and field daisies, and +there are often hundreds of little frogs in the +bottom of the trenches. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A trip to No Man's Land is an excursion +which you never forget. It varies in width +and horrors. My impression was similar to +what I should feel being on Broadway without +any clothes—a naked feeling. Forty-seven +and one half inches of earth are necessary +to stop a bullet, and it's nice to have that +amount of dirt between you and the enemy's +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page097">[pg 097]</span><a name="Pg097" id="Pg097" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bullets. The dead lie out in between the lines +or hang up on the wire; they don't look +pretty after they have been out some time. +It's a pleasant job to have to get their identification +disks, and we have to search the +bodies of the enemy dead for papers and +even buttons so that we can know what unit +is in front of us. Flowers grow in between, +butterflies play together, and birds nest +in the wire. When the grass becomes too +high it has to be cut, because otherwise it +would prevent good observation. In some +places grass doesn't have a chance to even +take root, let alone grow. The shells take +care of that. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I managed to get a translation of a diary +kept by a German soldier who fell on the +field. Below is an exact translation and gives +the point of view of a man in the trenches on +the other side of the line. He was writing +his diary at the same time I was writing mine, +and we were both fighting around the salient +at Ypres, Hooge being on the point of the +salient farthest east. This part, which was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page098">[pg 098]</span><a name="Pg098" id="Pg098" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +once a place of beauty which people came +long distances to see, is now like a great +muddy Saragossa Sea which at the height of +its fury has suddenly become frozen with +the tortured limbs of trees and men, and +wreckage and reeking smells, until it can +again lash itself in wild fury into whirlpools. +It is in all respects Purgatory, but of greater +horror than Dante ever dreamt of. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Diary of F---- P---- of the 6th Company, +3d Battalion, 132d Regiment. Killed at +Hooge on August 9th, 1915.</span></span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On May 10, we were told to prepare for the +journey to the front. Each man received his +service ammunition and two days' rations, and +we then started with heavy packs on our backs +and our water-bottles full of coffee. After a long +march we reached our reserve position, where we +were put into rest billets for two days in wooden +huts hidden in a wood. We could hear from here +the noise of the shells coming through the air. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On May 13, we moved into the trenches, in the +night. We were a whole hour moving along a +communication trench one and one-half metres +deep, right up to the front line some fifty metres +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page099">[pg 099]</span><a name="Pg099" id="Pg099" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from the enemy. This was to be our post. We +had hardly got in before the bullets came flying +over our heads. Look out for the English! They +know how to shoot! I need hardly say we did +not wait to return the compliment. We answered +each one of their greetings and always with success, +inasmuch as we stood to our loopholes for +twenty-four hours with two-hour reliefs. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At length early on the 15th, at four o'clock, +came our first attack. After a preliminary smoking-out +with gas, our artillery got to work, and +about ten o'clock we climbed out of the trenches +and advanced fifty metres in the hail of bullets. +Here I got my first shot through the coat. Three +comrades were killed at the outset of the assault, +and some twenty slightly or severely wounded, +but we had obtained our object. The trench was +ours, although the English twice attempted to +turn us out of it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The fight went on till eleven o'clock that evening. +We were then relieved by the 10th Company, +and made our way back along the communication +trenches to our old positions. Here +we remained until the third day, standing by at +night and passing two days without sleep. We +were hardly able to get our meals. From every +side firing was going on, and shots came plugging +two metres deep into the ground. This was my +baptism of fire. It cannot be described as it +really is—something like an earthquake, when +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page100">[pg 100]</span><a name="Pg100" id="Pg100" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the big shells come at one and make holes in the +ground large enough to hold forty or fifty men +comfortably. How easy and comfortable seemed +our road back to the huts. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We remained in the huts for three days, resting +before we went up again to <span class="tei tei-q">“Hell Fire,”</span> as +they call the first line trenches in front of Ypres. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Then suddenly in the middle of the night an +alarm. Our neighbors had allowed themselves +to be driven out of our hard-won position, and +the 6th Company, with the 8th and 5th, had to +make good the lost ground. A hasty march +through the communication trenches up to the +front, the night lit up far and wide with searchlights +and flares and ourselves in a long chain +lying on our bellies. Towards two in the morning +the Englishmen came on, 1500 men strong. +The battle may be imagined. About 200 returned +to the line they started from. Over 1300 dead +and wounded lay on the ground. Six machine +guns and a quantity of rifles and equipment were +taken back by us, the 132d Regiment, and the +old position was once more in our possession. +What our neighbors lost the 132d regained. +There was free beer that evening and a concert! +At 11 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">p.m.</span></span> once more we withdrew to the rear, +our 2d, 4th and 10th Companies relieving us. +We slept a whole day and night like the dead. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On June 15th, we again went back to rest billets, +but towards midday we were once more sent +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page101">[pg 101]</span><a name="Pg101" id="Pg101" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up to the front line to reinforce our right wing, +which was attacked by French and English. +Just as we got to our trenches we were greeted +by a heavy shell fire, the shells falling in front of +our parapets, making the sandbags totter. Seeing +this, I sprang to the spot and held the whole +thing together till the others hurried up to my +assistance. Just as I was about to let go, I must +have got my head too high above the parapet, as +I got shot in the scalp. In the excitement I did +not at once realize that I was wounded, until +Gubbert said—<span class="tei tei-q">“Hullo, Musch! Why, you're +bleeding!”</span> The stretcher-bearer tied me up, +and I had to go back to the dressing-station to +be examined. Happily it was nothing more than +a mere scalp wound, and I was only obliged to +remain on the sick-list four days, having the place +attended to. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +June 24th. All quiet in the West, except for +sniping. The weather is such that no offensive +can take place. The English will never have a +better excuse for inactivity than this—<span class="tei tei-q">“It is +raining.”</span> Thank God for that! Less dust to +swallow to-day! Odd that here in Belgium we +are delighted with the rain, while in Germany +they are watching it with anxiety. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day we shall probably be relieved. Then +we go to Menin to rest. Ten days without coming +under fire. It is Paradise! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sunday, June 27th. At nine o'clock clean up. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page102">[pg 102]</span><a name="Pg102" id="Pg102" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +At eleven roll-call. At three o'clock went to the +Cinema—very fine pictures. In the afternoon +all the men danced till seven, but we had to take +each other for partners—no girls. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 2d. 11 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">p.m.</span></span> Alarm. Three persons have +been arrested who refused to make sandbags. +They were pulled out of bed and carried off. +Eight o'clock marched to drill. This lasts till 11. +Then 1 to 4 rest. Six, physical drill and games. +I went to the Cinema in the evening. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 6th. Inspection till eleven. Three hours +standing in the sun—enough to drive me silly. +Twenty-three men fell out. Three horses also +affected by the heat. Eleven to one Parade +march—in the sun. Thirty-six more men reported +sick. I was very nearly one of them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 9th. Preparation for departure. From +seven to ten pack up kits. Eleven, roll-call. +One-thirty, march to light railway. At seven +reached firing trench. The English are firing +intermittently over our heads; otherwise, all is +quiet. We are now on the celebrated, much-bewritten-about +<span class="tei tei-q">“Hill 60.”</span> Night passes without +incident. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 12th. At three in the morning the enemy +makes a gas attack. We put on respirators. +Rifle in hand we leap from the trenches and assault. +In front of Hill 60 the enemy breaks, and +we come into possession of a trench. Rapid digging. +Counter-attack repulsed. At nine o'clock +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page103">[pg 103]</span><a name="Pg103" id="Pg103" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +all is quiet, only the artillery still popping. This +evening we are to be relieved. The 132d Regiment +is much beloved by the English! In a dugout +we found two labels. One of them had the +following writing on it: <span class="tei tei-q">“God strafe the 132d +Regiment (not <span class="tei tei-q">‘God strafe England’</span> this time). +Sergeant Scott (?) Remington, Sewster Wall (?).”</span> +On the other was, <span class="tei tei-q">“I wish the Devil would take +you, you pigs.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At 7.20 Hill 60 is bombarded by artillery, and +shakes thirty to fifty metres, as if from an earthquake. +Two English companies blown into the +air—a terrible picture. Dug-outs, arms, equipment—all +blown to bits. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 17th. Marched to new quarters. We +have got a new captain. He wants to see the +company, so at 8 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">a.m.</span></span> drill in pouring rain. Four +times we have to lie on our belly, and get wet +through and through. All the men grumbling +and cursing. At eleven we are dismissed. I, with +a bad cold and a headache. I wish this soldiering +were all over. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 19th. At seven sharp we marched off to +our position. Heavy bombardment. At nine +we were buried by a shell. I know no more. At +eleven I found myself lying in the Field Hospital. +I have pains inside me over my lungs; and headache, +and burning in the joints. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 20th. The M.O. has had a look at me. +He says my stomach and left lung are suffering +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page104">[pg 104]</span><a name="Pg104" id="Pg104" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from the pressure which was put on them. The +principal remedy is rest. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 21st. Thirty-nine degrees of fever (temp. +100° Fahr.). Stay in bed and sleep, and oh! how +tired I am! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 22d. I slept all day. Had milk and white +bread to eat. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 26th. Returned to duty with three days' +exemption, i.e., we do not have any outdoor +work. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 28th and 29th. Still on exemption. +Nothing to do but sleep and think of home and +of my dear wife and daughter. But dreaming +does not bring peace any sooner. How I would +love an hour or two back home. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +July 31st. In rest. Baths going. Duke of +Württemberg passed through our camp. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +August 1st. Up to the trenches. Shrapnel +flying like flies. A heavy bombardment; bombardment +of Hooge. Second Battalion, 132d +Regiment, sent up to reinforce 126th Regiment, +which has already lost half its men. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +August 4th. Heavy artillery fire the whole +night. The English are concentrating 50,000 +Indians on our front to attack Hooge and Hill +60. Just let them come, we shall stand firm. +At three marched off to the front. Watch beginning +again. Five o'clock marched off to the +Witches' Cauldron, Hooge. A terrible night +again. H.E. and shrapnel without number. Oh, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page105">[pg 105]</span><a name="Pg105" id="Pg105" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thrice-cursed Hooge! In one hour eleven killed +and twenty-three wounded and the fire unceasing. +It is enough to drive one mad, and we have +to spend three days and three nights more. It +is worse than an earthquake, and any one who has +not experienced it can have no idea what it is +like. The English fired a mine, a hole fifteen +metres deep and fifty to sixty broad, and this +<span class="tei tei-q">“cauldron”</span> has to be occupied at night. At +present it isn't too badly shelled. At every shot +the dug-outs sway to and fro like a weather-cock. +This life we have to stick to for months. One +needs nerves of steel and iron. Now I must crawl +into our hole, as trunks and branches of trees fly +in our trench like spray. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +August 6th. To-night moved to the crater +again, half running and half crawling. At seven +a sudden burst of fire from the whole of the artillery. +From about eleven yesterday fires as if +possessed. This morning at four we fall back. +We find the 126th have no communication with +the rear, as the communication trenches have +been completely blown in. The smoke and thirst +are enough to drive one mad. Our cooker doesn't +come up. The 126th gives us bread and coffee +from the little they have. If only it would stop! +We get direct hits one after another and lie in a +sort of dead end, cut off from all communication. +If only it were night. What a feeling to be thinking +every second when I shall get it! ---- has +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page106">[pg 106]</span><a name="Pg106" id="Pg106" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +just fallen, the third man in our platoon. Since +eight the fire has been unceasing; the earth +shakes and we with it. Will God ever bring us +out of this fire? I have said the Lord's Prayer +and am resigned. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day I saw the <span class="tei tei-q">“Mound of Death”</span> at +Saint-Eloi; it has been mined a number of +times, and thousands of shells have beaten it +into a disorderly heap of earth; the trenches +are twenty-five yards apart; all the grass and +vegetation has been blown away and never +has had time to grow up again. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It's all arranged for you, if there's a bit +of shell or a bullet with your name on it +you'll get it, so you've nothing to worry +about. You are a soldier—then be one. +This is the philosophy of the trenches. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<a name="illus-whats-the-use" id="illus-whats-the-use" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/whats-the-use.png" width="553" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="What's The Use?" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">What's The Use?</div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +War is a great ager. Young men grow old +quickly here. It can be seen in their faces; +they have lost all the irresponsibility of +youth. I have met many men who have been +here since Mons; they all look weary and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page107">[pg 107]</span><a name="Pg107" id="Pg107" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +worn out by the strain. Now new troops +are coming forward and it is hoped that they +will be able to send some back for a rest. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Several days ago the adjutant of the +Tenth Battalion Sherwood Foresters came +to me with this message which was sent +through our lines:— +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Arrest Officer Royal Engineers with orderly. +Former, six feet, black moustache, web equipment, +revolver. Latter, short, carries rifle, canvas +bandolier. Please warn transports and all +concerned. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody kept a good lookout for these +spies. One sentry surprised a real R.E. +officer named Perkins who was working out +a drainage scheme. Seeming to answer the +above description, he stalked him,—<span class="tei tei-q">“Come +'ere, you ---- ----, you're the ---- I've been +looking for.”</span> The officer, nonplussed, commenced +to stutter. <span class="tei tei-q">“Sergeant, I've got 'im +and he can't speak a word of English.”</span> +The sergeant collected him in and guarded +him until another engineer officer, known to +the guard, came along. As soon as Perkins +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page108">[pg 108]</span><a name="Pg108" id="Pg108" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +saw him, he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“F-r-r-ed, t-t-tell this +d-d-damn fool wh-ho I am.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Who the +hell are you calling Fred? I don't know +him; hold him, sergeant, he's a desperate +one.”</span> Scarcely able to contain his joy, Fred +went back to the Engineers' Camp to tell +the great news and Perkins spent three hours +in the sandbag dugout listening to a description +of what the sergeant and his guard +would do to him if they only had their +way. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The real spies, who did a great deal of +damage, were finally rounded up and shot in +a listening post trying to regain their own +lines. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Enemy snipers give us a great deal of +trouble. It is very difficult to locate them. +One of our men tried out an original scheme. +He put an empty biscuit tin on the parapet. +Immediately the sniper put a bullet +through it. Now thought the Genius, <span class="tei tei-q">“If +I look through the two holes it will give me +my direction,”</span>—so getting up on the firestep +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page109">[pg 109]</span><a name="Pg109" id="Pg109" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +he looked through, only to roll over +with the top of his head smashed off by a +bullet. The sniper was shooting his initials +on the tin. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are all used to dead bodies or pieces +of men, so much so that we are not troubled +by the sight of them. There was a right +hand sticking out of the trench in the position +of a man trying to shake hands with +you, and as the men filed out they would +often grip it and say, <span class="tei tei-q">“So long, old top, we'll +be back again soon.”</span> One man had the +misfortune to be buried in such a way that +the bald part of the head showed. It had +been there a long time and was sun-dried. +Tommy used him to strike his matches on. +A corpse in a trench is quite a feature, and is +looked for when the men come back again +to the same trench. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We live mostly on bully beef and hard +tack. The first is corned beef and the second +is a kind of dog biscuit. We always wondered +why they were so particular about a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page110">[pg 110]</span><a name="Pg110" id="Pg110" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +man's teeth in the army. Now I know. It's +on account of these biscuits. The chief ingredient +is, I think, cement, and they taste +that way too. To break them it is necessary +to use the handle of your entrenching tool +or a stone. We have fried, baked, mashed, +boiled, toasted, roasted, poached, hashed, +devilled them alone and together with bully +beef, and we have still to find a way of making +them into interesting food. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +However, the Boche likes our beef. He +prefers the brand canned in Chicago to his +own, and will almost sit up and beg if we +throw some over to him. The method is as follows: +Throw one over ... sounds of shuffling +and getting out of the way are heard in the +enemy trench. Fritz thinks it's going to go +off. Pause, and throw another. Fritz not +so suspicious this time. Keep on throwing +until happy voices from enemy trenches +shout, <span class="tei tei-q">“More! Give us more!”</span> Then lob +over as many hand grenades as you can pile +into that part of the trench and tell them to +share those too. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page111">[pg 111]</span><a name="Pg111" id="Pg111" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It takes some time to distinguish whether +shells are arrivals or departures, but after a +while you get into the way of telling their +direction and size by sound. Roads are +constantly shelled, searching for troops or +supply columns. I was coming home to-day, +up a road which ran approximately at right +angles to main fire trenches. At one place +the road was exposed for a matter of thirty or +forty feet, and again farther up it was necessary +to go over the brow of a small hill. This +was about three hundred yards farther on +and was exposed to the enemy's view. Thinking +they wouldn't bother about a single +rider on a motor cycle, I went up past the +first exposed position. My carburetor was +giving me some trouble and I thought I +would see if any rain had got into it, so I +turned off the road down a cross-road and +dismounted when <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crash</span></em>! a shell landed right +in the middle of the road as far up the exposed +place as I was round the corner. Then five +more followed the first shell. Had I gone +on I could not possibly have missed collecting +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page112">[pg 112]</span><a name="Pg112" id="Pg112" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +most of the fragments. The German gunners +had spotted me in the first position and decided +that a lone man on a motor cycle must +be either an officer or despatch rider. So +they tried to get him. The shells were shrapnel +and the time was calculated splendidly. +They had taken into consideration the speed +of my motor cycle. Cross-roads are particularly +attended to, for there is a double chance +of hitting something, and in consequence it +is always unhealthy to linger on a crossroad. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Dugouts are often made very comfortable +with windows, tiled floors and furniture taken +from neighboring shattered chateaux. I have +even seen them with flowers growing in window-boxes +over the entrance. They all have +names. Some I saw yesterday were called +<span class="tei tei-q">“Anti-Krupp Cottage,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Pleasant View,”</span> +and <span class="tei tei-q">“Little Grey Home in the West.”</span> There +was one very homey site, well equipped and +fitted, which had been dubbed the <span class="tei tei-q">“Nut,”</span>—the +colonel lived there. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page113">[pg 113]</span><a name="Pg113" id="Pg113" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My old corps brought an aeroplane down +with a machine gun last night. They were +in a shell hole between the main and support +trenches. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +For the last few days I have been <span class="tei tei-q">“up”</span> +looking for gun positions. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The lice are getting to be a torment. You +have no idea how bad they are. Everybody +up here is infested with them. I have tried +smearing myself with kerosene, but that +does not seem to trouble them at all. Silk +underwear is supposed to keep them down. +I suppose their feet slip on the shiny surface. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The food lately has taken on a wonderful +flavor and I now know how dissolved German +tastes. The cook, instead of sending +back two miles for water to cook with, has +been using water from the moat in which a +Boche had been slowly disintegrating. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day I was able to see what a German +seventeen-inch shell could do; one had made +a crater fifty feet across and twenty feet +deep in the middle of the road. The top of +the road was paved—think it over—and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page114">[pg 114]</span><a name="Pg114" id="Pg114" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +pieces kill at a thousand yards. Thirty +horses were buried in another hole. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have been given a special job by the +general to enfilade a wood over the Mound. +I have my section now in the second-line +trenches waiting till it is dark before making +a move. We have to make a machine-gun +emplacement in a piece of ground which is +decidedly unhealthy to visit during daylight. +I have been there in daylight, but I had to +creep out of it. On the map it is called a +farm, but the highest wall is only three feet +six inches high. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Arrived home about two o'clock this +morning. We crawled to the place we have +to take up, and I put some men filling sandbags +in the ruins and others even digging a +dugout. The enemy had <span class="tei tei-q">“the wind up”</span> and +were using a great number of star shells. +When one goes up we all <span class="tei tei-q">“freeze,”</span> remain motionless, +or lie still. They send them up to see +across their front, and if they locate a working +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page115">[pg 115]</span><a name="Pg115" id="Pg115" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +party, then they start playing a tune +with their machine guns. Bullets and shells +whistled through the trees all the time. They +seemed to come from all directions. The men +didn't like it at all. I wasn't altogether +comfortable myself, but an officer must +keep going. I walked about and joked and +laughed with them. The range-taker said, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Some of us are getting the didley-i-dums, +Sir.”</span> I don't know what that is, but I had +a feeling that I had them too. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Of course, to start with, everybody thinks +every single shell and bullet is coming +straight for him. Then you find out how +much space there is around you. One man +came to tell me that two men were firing at +him with his own rifle from the ruins of the +alleged farmhouse, ten yards away from the +dugout we are making. Just then a field +mouse squeaked, and he jumped up in the +air and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“There's another.”</span> I told +the men to fill sandbags from the ruins; +they all crowded behind this three-foot-six +wall for protection; they dug up a French +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page116">[pg 116]</span><a name="Pg116" id="Pg116" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +needle bayonet—that was all right, but they +afterwards dug up a rifle and I noticed a +suspicious smell, so I moved them. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We came home very tired. We are attacking +Hooge, a counter-attack, to take back +trenches lost in the liquid fire attack—you +will hear what we did from the papers, +probably in three months' time. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I'm writing this in a new home, this time +a splinter-proof dugout. The Huns are again +strafing us—last shell burst fifty yards away +a few minutes ago. Several times since I +started writing I have had to shake off the +dust and debris thrown by shell bursts on to +these pages. I was again sniped at with shrapnel +this morning on my machine while reconnoitering +the roads—they all missed, but +they're not nice. I'm filthy, alive, and covered +with huge mosquito bites; you get sort of used +to the incessant din in time. Even the forty-two +centimeter shells, which make a row like +freight trains with loose couplings going +through the air, are not so terrible now. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page117">[pg 117]</span><a name="Pg117" id="Pg117" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Through a hole in my dugout I can see the +Huns' shells Kulturing a chateau. It was +once a very beautiful place with a moat, +bridges, and splendid gardens. Now it's +useless except that the timber and the furniture +come in useful for our dugouts and +the making of <span class="tei tei-q">“duck walks,”</span> the grated +walks which line the bottom of the trenches. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Last night I was sitting in the Medical +Officer's dugout when a man I knew came +in. He was an officer in the Second Gordons. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I feel pretty bad, doc.”</span> He explained +his symptoms. <span class="tei tei-q">“Trench fever; you +go down the line.”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“No, fix me up for tonight +and maybe I won't need anything +else.”</span> He didn't! All that is left of him is +being buried now, less than a hundred yards +from where I write this. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Before I came here I had to go to another +part of the line, in which the <span class="tei tei-q">“Princess Pats”</span> +distinguished themselves. We have been +hanging on ever since, and a mighty stiff +proposition it is. The O.C. to-day told me +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page118">[pg 118]</span><a name="Pg118" id="Pg118" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that he had not slept for fifty-six hours. The +Germans in one place are only twenty-five +yards away—so close that conversation is +carried on in a whisper. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In one place they had stuck up a board +with <span class="tei tei-q">“Warsaw Captured”</span> on it. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My section worked until two o'clock and +then the sandbags gave out, so we had to +come home. This was a disappointment to +me. I wanted to get the job finished. My +men went on filling sandbags from the same +place last night and discovered the remains +of the late owner of the sword bayonet. He +has now been decently buried, with a little +wooden cross marked— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">TO AN UNKNOWN FRENCH SOLDIER</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">R.I.P.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When you read in the newspapers, that a +trench was lost or taken, just think what it +means. Think what happens to the men +in the trenches; that's the part of it we see. +Stretchers pass by all day. Since I have +been here the cemetery has grown—a new +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page119">[pg 119]</span><a name="Pg119" id="Pg119" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +mound—a simple wooden cross. Nobody +talks about it, but everybody wonders who's +next. The men here are splendid, the best +in the world, and the officers are gentlemen. +</p> + +<a name="illus-french-soldier" id="illus-french-soldier" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/french-soldier.png" width="687" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="A French Soldier." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">A French Soldier.</div></div> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have moved to the famous Langhof +Chateau on the Lille road. This is supposed to +have belonged to Hennessey of <span class="tei tei-q">“Three Star”</span> +fame, but the Germans had been through the +wine cellars. We looked very, very carefully, +but only found empties. My batman has +made me comfortable. I'm writing this on a +washstand; in front of me I have a bunch +of roses in a broken vase. My trench coat +is hanging on a nail from a coat-hanger. A +large piece of broken wardrobe mirror has +been nailed up to a beam for my use. One +of the men just came in to ask if a trousers +press would be of any use. We have a fine +little bureau cupboard of carved oak; we +use this for the rations. A pump, repaired +with the leather from a German helmet, has +been persuaded to work and has been busy +ever since. The roof of my cellar is arched +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page120">[pg 120]</span><a name="Pg120" id="Pg120" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +brick and has a few tons of fallen debris on +the floor upstairs. That strengthens it. It +is shored up from inside with rafters. This +makes the roof shell-proof, except for big +shells, and the enemy always use big shells. +The cellar floors are concrete. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It is very strange the lightness with which +serious things are taken by men here, and it +took me some time to understand it. I met +a young captain of the Royal Marine Artillery +who was in charge of a battery of trench +mortars. He was telling me of how one of his +mortars and the crew were wiped out by a +direct hit. He referred to it as though he +had just missed his train. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Two days later I went up with the +Machine-Gun Officer of the Second Gordons +to look at a piece of ground. To get +there we had to crawl on our hands and +knees. In one part of our journey we came +to a sunken road. The day was fine, so +we lay there. He asked me about Canada. +He wanted to know something about the +settler's grant. He said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Of course you +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page121">[pg 121]</span><a name="Pg121" id="Pg121" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +know after a chap has been out here in the +open, it will be impossible to go back again +to office life.”</span> I boosted Canada and suddenly +the irony of the situation occurred to +me. Here we were lying down in a road +quite close to the German lines, so close that +it would be suicide to even stand up, and +yet here we were calmly discussing the merits +of Canadian emigration. I commented on +this and he replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear fellow, when +you have been out as long as I have, you +will come to realize that being at the front +is a period of intense boredom punctuated +by periods of intense fear, and that if you +allow yourself to be carried away by depression +it will be your finish.”</span> He had been out +since just after Mons. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I remembered this and I found that the +nonchalant and care-free attitude of the average +British officer was really a mask and +simulated to keep his mind off the whole +beastly business: this great big dirty job +which white people must do. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page122">[pg 122]</span><a name="Pg122" id="Pg122" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I was sitting one afternoon by the side of +the canal bank about two hundred yards +in front of my chateau having tea with the +officers of the East Yorks when suddenly +the chateau-smashing started again. To go +back was dangerous and useless. My men +were under cover, resting, so that they +would be ready for the night work. The +shelling was intermittent. One shell went +over and presently I heard +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>,—<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>,—<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">boom</span></em>, +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>,—<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>; my heart was in +my boots and I was unable to move. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The colonel listened for a few seconds, +then said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Keene, do you know what that +is?”</span> I lied: <span class="tei tei-q">“No, sir.”</span> I thought it was +the explosion of my machine-gun bullets in +their web belts and I dreaded to go up to see +my section. I had worked with them and +tried hard to be a good officer and the feeling +that I should probably only find their +mangled remains sickened me. The colonel +said: <span class="tei tei-q">“That's the <span class="tei tei-q">‘Archie’</span> in Bedford House. +I think the last <span class="tei tei-q">‘crump’</span> got it. You two”</span>—indicating +myself and another officer—<span class="tei tei-q">“go +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page123">[pg 123]</span><a name="Pg123" id="Pg123" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up and see if we can do anything. See if +they want a working party and let me +know.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We started to run. On the way up I +looked into the cellars to see the men whom +I, the minute previously, had mourned for, +and found two asleep, three hunting through +their shirts, and the rest breaking the army +orders by <span class="tei tei-q">“shooting craps.”</span> From Bedford +House a long trail of smoke was rising and +the explosions became louder. We suddenly +discovered the <span class="tei tei-q">“Archie”</span> in flames. It was +in the courtyard and for camouflage had +been covered with branches. It was mounted +on an armored Pierce-Arrow truck. The +<span class="tei tei-q">“crump”</span> had hit it, and gasoline, paint, +branches, and hubs were supplying the fuel +which was cooking out the ammunition, the +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>, <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">crack</span></em>, being the report of single shells, +whereas one loud <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">boom</span></em> signified the explosion +of an entire box. These shells were going off +in all directions and it became dangerous to +stay too near. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The flames on the car were of pretty colors. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page124">[pg 124]</span><a name="Pg124" id="Pg124" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +It is surprising the amount of inflammable +material there is on a car. The late owner +of the car, a lieutenant in the Royal Marine +Artillery, was cursing in a low, but emphatic, +marine manner, and several other officers +from nearby batteries were attracted by the +noise and the pyrotechnic display. I spoke +to the lieutenant and sympathized with him, +and he retorted: <span class="tei tei-q">“Gott strafe Germany. +Why they should hit the <span class="tei tei-q">‘bus’</span> when I have +a brand-new pair of trench boots that I had +never worn, I dunno.”</span> Just then and there +the case cooked out and a piece of shell cut +between us and buried itself deep in the support +of a dugout, so we got under cover. +</p> + +<a name="illus-whiz-bangs" id="illus-whiz-bangs" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/whiz-bangs.png" width="584" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="“Whiz-Bangs.”" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center">“Whiz-Bangs.”</span></div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the group was a splendid type of army +chaplain. He came over almost at the start +of the war and had seen a great deal of the +open warfare at the commencement of +hostilities. He said: <span class="tei tei-q">“My friend Fritz is +not through; he'll try to do some more yet.”</span> +As the smoke died down and the cracking +stopped, the enemy decided that an attempt +would be made either to carry out salvage +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page125">[pg 125]</span><a name="Pg125" id="Pg125" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of whatever they had hit or else we would +try to get the wounded away. So without +any preliminary warning the whole area was +covered by a battery fire of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">whiz bangs</span></span>, +and the shrapnel bullets came down like +rain, several men being hit. The fire eventually +died down and the wreck was allowed +to cool off. The <span class="tei tei-q">“Archies”</span> are used so +much to keep the aeroplanes up, and next +to the loss of his boots the officer in charge +was worried by the fact that the enemy +would send an aeroplane over to see what +they had hit. It was very necessary to +keep the planes away, because at this time +there were one hundred and fourteen batteries +of artillery in the neighborhood. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Later on the battery commander came +down, and as he looked at the red-hot armor +plates he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Five thousand pounds gone +up in smoke. Sorry I missed the fireworks.”</span> +The Divisional general called him up at the +dugout and gave him areas for the distribution +of the four anti-aircraft guns and cars +comprising his battery. After he was through +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page126">[pg 126]</span><a name="Pg126" id="Pg126" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the commander replied: <span class="tei tei-q">“Very good, sir, that +will be done with all the guns except the +third gun.”</span> The voice over the wire became +very dignified, a preliminary to becoming +sulphuric. <span class="tei tei-q">“What do you mean, all but +the third gun?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Because, sir, the enemy +has just <span class="tei tei-q">‘crumped’</span> the third gun and all +that remains of it is scrap iron.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the battalions has a fine victrola +in the officers' mess dugout with a good +selection of records. I have heard Caruso +accompanied on the outside by an orchestra +of guns. It was a wonderful mixture. +Speaking of canned music reminds me we +have a small portable trench machine, +which closes up like a valise, easily handled +and carried about. One man near had a +box full of needles distributed in his back +by a bomb; he considers himself disgraced; +he says it will be kind of foolish in years to +come to show his grandchildren twenty-five +or thirty needles and tell them that they +were the cause of his wounds. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Tommies play mouth organs a great +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page127">[pg 127]</span><a name="Pg127" id="Pg127" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +deal and it is much easier to march to the +sound of one, even +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">'Ere we are; 'ere we are,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">'Ere we are agin.</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">We beat 'em on the Marne,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">We beat 'em on the Aisne,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">We gave 'em 'ELL at Neuve Chapelle,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">And 'ere we are agin—</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +sounds well with the addition of a little +music. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Anything is used for trench work; often +if we waited for the proper materials we +should be uncomfortable, so it is one of +the qualifications of a good soldier to find +things. Sometimes we steal material belonging +to other units, then stick around +until the owners come back and help them +look for them; however, it is always advisable +to steal materials from juniors in +rank; if they find it out, and are senior, +then you are in for a one-sided strafe. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +One of the other battery subalterns found +a deserted carpenter's shop and he let his +men loose to dismantle it. They took the +parts of steel machines and used them for +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page128">[pg 128]</span><a name="Pg128" id="Pg128" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the construction of a dugout. One man +said, <span class="tei tei-q">“It's like coming home drunk and +smashing up the grand piano with an axe.”</span> +They must have attracted the attention of +the ever-alert Boche, for no sooner had they +moved out than the place was shelled to +the ground. Everything I now look at +with an eye to its value for trench construction; +thus, telegraph poles, doors, iron +girders, and rails are more valuable to us +out here than a Rolls Royce. +</p> + +<a name="illus-the-crump" id="illus-the-crump" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/the-crump.png" width="568" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="The “Crump.”" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">The <span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center">“Crump.”</span></div></div> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Slang or trench language is used universally. +My own general talks about <span class="tei tei-q">“Wipers,”</span> +the Tommy's pronunciation of Ypres, and +I have seen a reference to <span class="tei tei-q">“Granny”</span> (the +fifteen-inch howitzer) in orders <span class="tei tei-q">“mother”</span> is +the name given to the twelve-inch howitzer. +The trench language is changing so quickly +that I think the staff in the rear are unable +to keep up to date, because they have recently +issued an order to the effect that +slang must not be used in official correspondence. +Now instead of reporting that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page129">[pg 129]</span><a name="Pg129" id="Pg129" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a <span class="tei tei-q">“dud Minnie”</span> arrived over back of <span class="tei tei-q">“mud +lane,”</span> it is necessary to put, <span class="tei tei-q">“I have the +honor to report that a projectile from a +German Minnenwerfer landed in rear of +Trench F 26 and failed to explode.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Sometimes names of shells go through +several changes. For example, high explosives +in the early part of the war were called <span class="tei tei-q">“black +Marias,”</span> that being the slang name for the +English police patrol wagon. Then they +were called <span class="tei tei-q">“Jack Johnsons,”</span> then <span class="tei tei-q">“coal +boxes,”</span> and finally they were christened +<span class="tei tei-q">“crumps”</span> on account of the sound they +make, a sort of <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">cru-ump!</span></span> noise as they +explode. <span class="tei tei-q">“Rum jar”</span> is the trench mortar. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Sausage”</span> is the slow-going aerial torpedo, +a beastly thing about six feet long with fins +like a torpedo. It has two hundred and ten +pounds of high explosive and makes a terrible +hole. <span class="tei tei-q">“Whiz bang”</span> is shrapnel. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Shelling is continuous. We have thousands +of pieces of shells and fuse caps about the +premises. I have in front of me a fragment +of a shell about fourteen inches long and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page130">[pg 130]</span><a name="Pg130" id="Pg130" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about four and one-half inches across, which +came from a German gun. The edges are +so sharp that it cuts your hand to hold it. +I use it as a paper-weight. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This morning I experienced a wonderful +surprise. I had gone up to one of the North +Stafford Batteries to borrow a clinometer. +The major, while he was getting the instrument +for me, casually remarked: <span class="tei tei-q">“There's +yesterday's <span class="tei tei-q">‘Times’</span> on the bench if you care +to look at it.”</span> I turned first to the casualty +list and later to the <span class="tei tei-q">“London Gazette”</span> for +the promotions, and wholly by accident +perused carefully the Motor Machine Gun +Service list and there noted the announcement, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Keene, Louis, 2d Lieut., to be 1st +Lieut.,”</span> and for a fact this was the <span class="tei tei-q">“official”</span> +intimation that I had been promoted. I had +a couple of spare <span class="tei tei-q">“pips”</span>, rank stars, in my +pocket-book, so I got my corporal to sew +them on right away. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We are all very happy at times, very dirty, +and covered with stings and bites; have no +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page131">[pg 131]</span><a name="Pg131" id="Pg131" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +idea how long we are to remain up. Getting +used to the shell fire, and can sleep through +it if it's not too close. When it comes near +it makes you very thoughtful. Still working +at night and resting during the day. Made +another emplacement for one of my machine +guns last night; had twenty men digging; +surprising how fast men dig when the bullets +are flying. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It's about 2 <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">a.m.</span></span> We have just come in. +My new emplacement is splendid; we've +made it shell-proof and have it ready for +firing. I was coming home this afternoon +after having been to the fire trenches when +I heard a shout: <span class="tei tei-q">“Keene!”</span> I looked up on +the canal bank and I saw the general with +one of his A.D.C.'s sitting watching an +aeroplane duel. <span class="tei tei-q">“I've come up to see your +gun position, Keene.”</span> I saluted, waited +for him, and took him to it. It is below the +level of the ground under tons of bricks in +the ruins of a farmhouse. He was standing +on the roof of it and said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, where's the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page132">[pg 132]</span><a name="Pg132" id="Pg132" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +emplacement?”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“You're standing on it, sir.”</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Tut, tut, 'pon my word, that's good.”</span> He +was delighted and congratulated me on it. +My preliminary work under the eyes of the +general has gone off quite well. I start +firing to-night. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Intimacy between generals and lieutenants +is unusual, but it looks as if mine had taken +an interest in me, because when he noticed +my insect-bitten face, he sent me down some +dope he had used with good effect in India. +I expect the mosquitoes in India were the +ordinary kind, but, believe me, trench +<span class="tei tei-q">“skeeters”</span> are constructed differently and +are proof against the general's pet concoction. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have several miners in my section who +take a personal pride in the digging and +shoring up of dugouts. So far the other +two sections of the Battery are always +behind in this work but they may look +better on parade. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The canal has one big lock suitable for +swimming; a lot of <span class="tei tei-q">“jocks”</span> were bathing +there to-day. I ordered a bathing parade +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page133">[pg 133]</span><a name="Pg133" id="Pg133" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for my section. Later I found that the +swimming had livened three Germans, long +submerged—the bathing parade is off. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A Belgian battery commander has just +wakened up and his shells are rattling overhead. +From the fire trenches an incessant +rattle of rifles is heard; all the bullets seem +to come over here; constantly the whine of +a musical ricochet bullet is heard. Otherwise +things are dead quiet. It's getting on +for three, so I'm going to bed in my blankets +on one of the late chateau owner's splendid +spring mattresses and carved oak bedstead. +Oh! how nice it would be to sleep without +lice. From an adjoining cellar my section +are snoring, and I'm going to add to the +chorus. Good-night, everybody. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have been having Sunday <span class="tei tei-q">“hate.”</span> +Eight-inch crumps are once more busting +<span class="tei tei-q">“up”</span> the chateau. How they must detest +this place. My tea and bully beef are +covered with dust of the last shell. You +have no idea how terrible the shell-fire is. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page134">[pg 134]</span><a name="Pg134" id="Pg134" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +First you hear the whistle and then a terrific +burst which shakes the ground for a +hundred yards around; when it clears away +you find a hole ten feet across and six feet +deep. At least fifteen have dropped around +us in the last half hour. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This place isn't somewhere in France, it's +somewhere in Hell! It has been the scene +of a great many encounters; decayed French +uniforms, old rifles, ammunition and leather +equipment and bundles of mildewed tobacco +leaves are strewn all over the place. I +found the chin-strap of a German <span class="tei tei-q">“Pickelhaube”</span> +in the grounds, the helmet of a +French cuirassier, and the red pants of a +Zouave, close together. When digging in the +trenches or anywhere near the firing line +you have to be careful: corpses, dead horses, +and cattle are buried everywhere. I'm +building a trench to my emplacement and +we have a stinking cow in the direct line; +this will have to be buried before we can cut +through. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Everybody is cheerful and going strong. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page135">[pg 135]</span><a name="Pg135" id="Pg135" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Yesterday some of my men went swimming +in the moat of the chateau; a shell +dropped in the water near them, and threw +up a lot of fish on to the bank. That kind +of discouraged the Tommies swimming, so +they cooked the fish and decided that safety +comes before cleanliness out here. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It's hot and sticky, and when you have +to wear thick clothes and equipment it makes +you very uncomfortable, but it's all in the +game. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All through the night we fired single shots +from a machine gun; my orders were to fire +between half-past eight at night and four +o'clock in the morning. We have a number +of guns doing this. It harasses the enemy +and keeps them from sleeping; anything +that will wear a man down is practiced +here. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I've constructed a fire emplacement +amongst the ruins underground; to get to +it you have to travel through a tunnel +eighteen feet long; inside it's very damp. I +was working with my corporal, crouched up; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page136">[pg 136]</span><a name="Pg136" id="Pg136" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +we were both wet and cold, and so to cheer +things up every now and again we let off a +few rounds and warmed our hands on the +barrel. Outside it poured with rain, and +mosquitoes sought refuge inside and mealed +off me. The corporal was immune. I had +a water bottle full of whiskey and water. +We used it to keep out the cold, but it wasn't +strong enough. In a case like that you need +wood alcohol. I would like to have had some +Prohibitionists with me here. We had no +light except the flash of the gun and the +enemy star shells. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At daybreak I came home dead beat. I +got into my cellar, was so tired that I threw +myself down on the bed and wrapped myself +up in my blankets, boots, mud, lice and all. +I hadn't been asleep long before the Huns +started <span class="tei tei-q">“hating”</span> the chateau. They have +put over twenty-five large calibre shells into +my place, the grounds and the house. They +are still at it. Every time a shell bursts it +makes a hole big enough to bury five horses, +and it shakes the foundations all round. The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page137">[pg 137]</span><a name="Pg137" id="Pg137" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +shells are bigger than usual. The smoke +and earth are blown up fifty or sixty feet +in the air. The effect is a moral disruption. +<em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Why can't they keep that cotton out of Germany?</span></em> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I have divided my section up into two +teams, one in the cellars and one in the gun-pits. +I relieve them every twenty-four +hours, and I practically have to be in both +places at once, but I have got a telephone in +between the two places. I have it by my bed +so that I can constantly know how things are +going. However, the wire is cut two or three +times a day by bullets and shell splinters, my +linesman has a constant job. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Fired all night; came back at six o'clock +this morning, very tired. Had a telegram +from the general to fire two thousand +rounds in twenty-four hours; this is quite +hard work. Actually we could fire the lot +in five minutes, but it would attract too +much attention. The enemy use whole batteries +of artillery to blot out machine guns +which attract attention, so we have to fire +single shots. +</p> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page138">[pg 138]</span><a name="Pg138" id="Pg138" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have for neighbors four dead cows and +an unexploded six-inch shell, liable to go off +any time, all in a radius of one hundred yards. +We have smashed holes through five walls +so that we can go through the ruins unobserved. +In one place we pass over a dead +cow, and in another we wade through several +tons of rotten potatoes, and I believe we +have a corpse handy; and part of our +trench goes through another heap of rotten +mangles. I'm an authority on smells. I +can almost tell the nationality of a corpse now +by the smell. It will soon be necessary to +wear our smoke-helmets to go into the emplacement. +I don't think that I have told +you that I cross the Yser canal about six +times a day. I'd been up a week before I +knew what it was. Now it only has a few feet +of water in it, the rest being held in the German +locks. The part I cross over is full of +bulrushes, and is the home of moor-hens, +water rats, mosquitoes and frogs. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +On one side of the canal is a bank which is +in great demand by the machine gunners, who +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page139">[pg 139]</span><a name="Pg139" id="Pg139" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +are able to get a certain amount of height +and observation of their fire. The general +has ordered a field gun to take up a position +on this bank. He refers to it as his <span class="tei tei-q">“Sniping +eighteen-pounder.”</span> It is firing at seven +hundred yards right at the German line and +smashes up their parapet in a style that is +pretty to watch. The machine gunners are +in a great state, because the enemy will soon +be <span class="tei tei-q">“searching”</span> with his artillery for the +eighteen-pounder and the lairs of the smaller +hidden guns will suffer. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The men are hunting for lice in their underwear. +This is the kind of conversation that +is coming through from the next cellars: +<span class="tei tei-q">“I've got you beat—that's forty-seven.”</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wait a minute”</span>—a sound of tearing cloth—<span class="tei tei-q">“but +look at this lot, mother and young.”</span> +<span class="tei tei-q">“With my forty and these you'll have to find +some more.”</span> They were betting on the +number they could find. I peel off my shirt +myself and burn them off with a candle. I +glory in the little pop they make when the +heat gets to them. All the insect powder +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page140">[pg 140]</span><a name="Pg140" id="Pg140" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in the world has been tried out on them +and they've won. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +All sentries here are doubled; one thing it's +safer, and another it's company; even when +things are quiet, rats and mice scamper about +and it sets your nerves on end. Things which +are inanimate during the day become alive +at night. Trees seem to walk about. I +wonder what it tastes like to have a real +meal in which tinned food does not figure; +fancy a tablecloth; my tablecloth is a double +sheet of newspaper, and even then I can't +have a new one every day. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Had a good night's rest; came in about +twelve o'clock and slept until eight-thirty +this morning. One eye is completely closed +up by a sting. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +A German aeroplane has been hovering +over our positions looking for my gun, so +we have stopped firing and all movement. +I know just how the chicken feels when the +hawk hovers over it. Few people realize +how much aeroplanes figure in this war, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page141">[pg 141]</span><a name="Pg141" id="Pg141" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for war would be much different without +them. They do the work of Cavalry only +in the sky. Whenever they come over, +the sentries blow three blasts on their +whistles and everybody runs for cover or +freezes; guns stop firing and are covered +up with branches made on frames. If men +are caught in the open they stand perfectly +still and do not look up, for on the aeroplane +photographs faces at certain heights show +light; dugouts are covered over with trees, +straw or grass. We use aeroplane photographs +a great deal; they show trenches +distinctly and look very like the canals on +Mars. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Huns have been <span class="tei tei-q">“hating”</span> the road +one quarter of a mile away all the morning. +That doesn't worry us a bit as long as they +don't come any closer. I'm willing always +to share up on the shelling. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +This order has just been issued. It speaks +for itself:— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%"> +All ranks are warned that bombs and grenades +must not be used for fishing and killing game. +</span></div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page142">[pg 142]</span><a name="Pg142" id="Pg142" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I went over another farm to-day. It is +one of the well-ventilated kind, punched +full of holes. In the kitchen, stables and +outhouses there was a most wonderful collection +of junk: ammunition, British and +French bandoliers, old sheepskin coats abandoned +by the British troops from last winter, +smashed rifles, bayonets, meat tins, parts of +broken equipment, sandbags, stacks of rotten +potatoes and three dead cows. The fruit +trees are laden with fruit, and vines are growing +up the houses with their bunches of green +grapes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +In the garden several lonely graves are +piled high with old boots, straw, American +agricultural implements, rotting sacks and +rubbish of every description, pieces of shells, +barrels, and in one room the rusty remains +of a perambulator and sewing machine; rats +are the only inhabitants now. In the garret +(the staircase leading up to it gone long ago) +I found a British rifle, bayonet fixed, ten +rounds in the magazine, and the bolt partly +drawn out. Evidently the owner was in the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page143">[pg 143]</span><a name="Pg143" id="Pg143" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +act of reloading his chamber when something +happened. The graves were dated second +and third months of this year. The poor +wooden crosses were made of pieces of ration +cases and the names written with an indelible +pencil. The wretchedness of this +farm, which was flourishing only a short +time ago, is very pathetic. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We have adopted an old Belgian mother +cat with her family of three kittens in the +dugout. Now we find that three more little +wild kittens are living in the bricks which +we have piled around the windows to protect +us against shells. They are all encouraged to +live with us in the cellars. I like cats, and +they will help to keep the rats down. Although +some of the rats are nearly the size +of cats. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It has been raining again and the trenches +are filling up with slush. We carry a big +trench stick, a thick sapling about four feet +long with a ferrule made from a cartridge of +a <span class="tei tei-q">“very-light”</span> (star shell), to help ourselves +in walking; our feet are beginning to get +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page144">[pg 144]</span><a name="Pg144" id="Pg144" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wet and cold as a regular thing now, and we +are revetting our trenches firm and solid for +the winter. Eleven <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">p.m.</span></span> A mine under the +Boche line has just been exploded. The +fighting has just started for the crater. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I took a German Uhlan helmet from a +gentleman who had no further use for it. It +was pretty badly knocked about; still, if I +can get it home it's a trophy. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<a name="illus-tommy-atkins" id="illus-tommy-atkins" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 70%; text-align: center"><img src="images/tommy-atkins.png" width="390" height="700" alt="Illustration" title="Mr. Tommy Atkins." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em">Mr. Tommy Atkins.</div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +It's about eight o'clock Sunday evening. +All day long shells have been coming over like +locomotives. Every five seconds one goes +over into the old town; every five seconds +for the last two hours. The chateau has +been shelled again with <span class="tei tei-q">“crumps”</span>; they are +such rotten shots; if only they would put in +two good ones in the center it would blow it +to bits and then they might leave us alone. +The whole of the ground is pitted because +they can't hit it squarely. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +My work lies behind the front line and in +front of the support, firing over the heads of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page145">[pg 145]</span><a name="Pg145" id="Pg145" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the men in the main trenches. The emplacement +was shelled to-day; one shell hit the +roof, burst and knocked over one of my men, +cutting his head open. He is not very badly +hurt, but has gone to the hospital. The +shelling has been terrible to-day. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The Germans have been very quiet lately, +and working parties are out all along their +front lines at night—something's up. Dirty +work can be expected at any time now. We +have steel helmets to protect us from spent +bullets and splinters. They look like the +old Tudor steel helmets and they are fine +to wash in. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +You have no idea what a big part food +plays in our life. Yesterday morning I went +with the machine-gun officer of another outfit +to crawl about looking for positions. We +were in an orchard. I happened to look up +and saw ripe plums! Terrified lest he should +see them and forestall me, I said, <span class="tei tei-q">“Let's +beat it, this is too unhealthy,”</span> so we crawled +back. Last night in the light of a big moon +such as coons always steal watermelons by, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page146">[pg 146]</span><a name="Pg146" id="Pg146" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +a section officer and his cook crawled to the +plum tree. The section officer, being large, +stood underneath while the cook climbed the +tree and dropped them into a sandbag held +open by the S.O. They got about ten +pounds. They go well stewed, believe me. +The fact that bullets whistled through the +trees most of the time made them taste +better to-day. Sat the rest of the night in a +hedge firing at the Boches with a Lewis gun. +I struck for bed just as dawn broke. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +To-day the guns are again <span class="tei tei-q">“hating”</span> the +chateau, and they have put sixty shells in +the neighborhood. Still, <span class="tei tei-q">“there's no cloud +without a silver lining.”</span> I've got a new +way home. Instead of going right around +the kennels, stables, and through the yards, +I go <span class="tei tei-q">“through”</span> the greenhouse direct, +thereby saving a lot of time. The Huns' +calendar is wrong. They have always shelled +me Sunday and Wednesday. To-day's +Tuesday! +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We use up the window frames and doorways +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page147">[pg 147]</span><a name="Pg147" id="Pg147" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for kindling, and consequently the +doors have gone long ago. I have been +smashing up mouldings this morning with an +axe. We prefer the dry wood which is built +into the walls; it burns better and doesn't +cause smoke. As soon as smoke is seen rising, +the enemy's range-finders get busy and then +we suffer. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Another mine went up yesterday; nobody +seems to know where. I think it came south +from the French lines; it rocked the whole +neighborhood for miles. The ground here is +a kind of quicksand for a few feet down, and +shock is easily transmitted, the whole ground +being honeycombed with mines, old trenches, +shafts, saps made by French, Belgians, Germans +and our own people. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The use for timber of any description is +manifold; every little bit is used up. Our +chief source of supply of dry wood is from +the smashed-up chateaux. Langhof, my home, +has been punished almost every day, and +after the bombardment lets up men from the +neighborhood come to collect the wood torn +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page148">[pg 148]</span><a name="Pg148" id="Pg148" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +up by the shelling. The men of the Tenth +East Yorks came up this morning and +climbed to the remains of the second story, +ripping up the floor boards. The enemy +evidently saw them, for the shelling soon +started. We have been shelled often here +before, but it was nothing compared to this. +The shells were carefully placed and came +over with disgusting regularity. The buildings +rocked and the whole neighborhood +shook. Fountains of bricks, mortar, and +dirt were spewed up into the air. Trees +were torn to shreds, a wall in front of me +was hit—and disappeared, a lead statue of +Apollo in the garden was hurled through the +air and landed fifty yards away crumpled +up against the balustrade of the moat. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +We were in our cellars, and gradually the +shelling crept up towards us. Slowly a +solemn dread which soon moulded into a +sordid fear took possession of my being. In +a flash I began to devise a philosophy of +death for my chances were fading with every +crash. I took out my pocketbook, containing +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page149">[pg 149]</span><a name="Pg149" id="Pg149" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +some letters from my mother and some personal +things, and put them on one of the +beams, so that, being in another part of the +building, they might perhaps be found some +day. The shelling continued and shells +dropped completely round the cellars, demolishing +nearly everything in sight. The +enemy evidently wanted to obliterate the +whole place. The smell of the smoke and +the dirt from the debris was choking, and +every minute we expected to be our last. +Suddenly it stopped. Philosophy and fear +disappeared simultaneously as I sputtered +out a choking laugh of relief. Then +Hawkins, my servant, in a scared voice +started, and the others joined in, singing +the old marching refrain of the Training +Camps:— +</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-top: 0.90em"> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Hail, hail, the gang's all here,</span></span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">What the hell do we care!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">What the hell do we care!</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Hail, hail, the gang's all here,</span></div> +<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">What the hell do we care </span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">now</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">!</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +When a man has lived night after night in +a trench, he gradually finds it quite possible +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page150">[pg 150]</span><a name="Pg150" id="Pg150" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to snatch a good night's sleep. In other +words, it is merely a case of becoming acclimated +to rackets, smells and food. I had +always been able to sleep, but on the night +following the bombardment of the chateau I +just could not doze off. I thrashed about +continuously, and while in this restless state +harbored the notion that trouble was brewing +for me. Every one has had that feeling, +the feeling that hangs in your bones and +warns you to watch out. Well, that is how +I felt. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +At last the sun rose and with it came a +beautiful morning, warm and sunny. I +walked out amongst the ruins to see the extent +of the damage caused by the shelling of +the previous day. I was waiting for the stew +which was cooking on a little fire near the +side of the cellar. The <span class="tei tei-q">“dixie”</span> was resting +on two old bayonets, and they in turn rested +on bricks at either side. Towards noon a +big shell came over and landed in the moat, +covering everything around with a coat of +evil-smelling, black mud. This shell was followed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page151">[pg 151]</span><a name="Pg151" id="Pg151" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +by another, arriving in the part of the +ruins where once a cow-shed stood. I was +talking to Hawkins, my batman, when I saw +him dive across my front and fall flat on his +face. At the same time I was in the center +of an explosion, a great flame of light and +then bricks, wood and cement flew in all +directions. For a few seconds I thought I +was dead, then I picked myself up and saw +that blood was pouring down the front of my +jacket. I followed up the stream and found +that my right hand was smashed and hanging +limp. My men rushed out and I told them +it was nothing, but promptly fell in a heap. +When I came to, my hand was wrapped up +in an emergency bandage, and a stretcher +was coming down from Bedford House, an +advanced dressing-station, the next house +back. To the delight of the men who were +carrying it, I waved them away and told +them I could walk. Assisted up to the dressing-station +by one of my men, I made it. I +then made a discovery. A soldier is a man +until he's hit, then he's a case. I first had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page152">[pg 152]</span><a name="Pg152" id="Pg152" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +an injection of <span class="tei tei-q">“anti-tetanus”</span> in the side, +and the fact was recorded on a label tied to +my left-hand top pocket button. The doctor +tied me up, then said: <span class="tei tei-q">“You'll soon be all +right. Will you have a bottle of English +beer or a drop of whiskey?”</span> I had the whiskey. +I needed it. All the time I was there +the wounded poured in. Seeing them I felt +ashamed to be there with only a smashed +hand. A corporal came in with both hands +blown off and fifty-six other wounds. He +had tried to save the men in his bay by throwing +back a German bomb and it had gone off +in his hands. Hawkins came up later on +with my helmet and the fuse head of the shell +which blew me up. We were all collected +together and waited in the dugouts of the +dressing station until dusk. Several shells +came close to us. I tried to write to my +mother with my left hand, so that when she +received the War Office cable she would +know I was able to write. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Dusk came, then night, and finally the +Ford ambulance cars which were to take us +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page153">[pg 153]</span><a name="Pg153" id="Pg153" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +out of Hell. It was a beautiful night. Belgium +looked lovely. The merciful night had +thrown a veil over the war scars on the land +and a moon was shining. I was told to sit up +in the seat with the driver. We traveled +along one road, then the shelling became so +bad that the drivers decided to go back and +take another road which was running nearly +parallel. Back over the line the planes of +the Royal Flying Corps were bombing the +Forest of Houltholst, and the bursting of the +shrapnel from the German anti-aircraft guns +pierced the velvet of the sky like stars as we +went out of Belgium into France. +</p> + +<div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 50%" /></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Several times shells burst on the road, and +from the inside of the car came the stifled +groans of the men as the Ford hit limbs of +trees and shell-holes. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +Our first stop was a ruined windmill, the +walls of which were nearly six feet thick. +Here the dangerous cases were taken off and +attended to. The last I saw of the corporal +was after they had cut off his coat at the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page154">[pg 154]</span><a name="Pg154" id="Pg154" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +seams and the doctors were taking a piece +of wire out of his chest. While I was waiting +a chaplain asked me if I would like a cup +of coffee or some whiskey, realising that it +would take some time to get the coffee made +I had some more whiskey. +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +I was given two more tags, which this +time were tied on buttons at the top of my +jacket. I stayed here about two hours, then +I was sent to a clearing hospital. It was +here that I met the first nurses. They were +two fine, splendid women who were wearing +the scarlet hoods of the British Regular Army +nurse. They were both strong and quite +capable of handling a man, even if he became +delirious. One of them quickly got me into +bed. I apologized for my terribly dirty state, +but I was told that it made no difference; +they were used to it. To be between clean +sheets again was wonderful. I felt I wanted +to go to sleep forever. Suddenly a roar, and +a terrible explosion. The hospital was being +bombed; a bomb had dropped within a +hundred yards of my tent. This was the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page155">[pg 155]</span><a name="Pg155" id="Pg155" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +German reprisal for our bombing Houltholst. +They deliberately bombed a hospital. The +doctor at this hospital next day looked +at my hand and said in a nonchalant way, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Looks as though you will lose it.”</span> At that +time it didn't strike me as a great loss to lose +a hand, even if it was my <span class="tei tei-q">“painting hand.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +The hospital train of the next day was +crowded and the nurse in charge of my coach +was named Keene. We tried in the little +spare time she had to see if we couldn't work +out our genealogy and find out if we were +even remotely connected, but before we did +we came to the station of Étaples and then +went to the Duchess of Westminster Hospital +at Latouquet. Here I was operated on. +A piece of Krupp's steel was taken out of +my hand and a rubber drainage tube inserted +instead. The Duchess used to come round +a great deal and won everybody's affection. +She used to sit on my bed and talk to me +about pleasant things. So unlike many +people who visit hospitals and ask the +patients silly war questions, such as: <span class="tei tei-q">“How +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page156">[pg 156]</span><a name="Pg156" id="Pg156" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +does it feel to be wounded?”</span> or <span class="tei tei-q">“Which +hurts more, a bayonet or a shell wound?”</span> +One exasperated Tommy, when asked if the +shell hit him, said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Naw, it crept up behind +and bit me.”</span> +</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> +FINIS +</p> + +</div> +</div> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRUMPS, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader5" id="rightpageheader5"></a><a name="pgtoc6" id="pgtoc6"></a><a name="pdf7" id="pdf7"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">May 25, 2009 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name"> + Produced by David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + (This file was produced from images generously made available by + The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + </span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader8" id="rightpageheader8"></a><a name="pgtoc9" id="pgtoc9"></a><a name="pdf10" id="pdf10"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 28964-h.html or + 28964-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/9/6/28964/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/2/8/9/6/28964/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered + trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, + unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge + anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is + very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as + creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. + They may be modified and printed and given away — you may do + practically <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">anything</span></em> with public domain eBooks. + Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially + commercial redistribution.</p></div><hr class="page" /><div id="pglicense" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader11" id="rightpageheader11"></a><a name="pgtoc12" id="pgtoc12"></a><a name="pdf13" id="pdf13"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Full Project Gutenberg License</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Please read this before you distribute or use this + work.</span></em></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free + distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing + this work (or any other work associated in any way with the + phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span>), you agree to comply with all the terms + of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License (<a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">available with this file</a> or online + at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a>).</p><div id="pglicense1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 1.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ + electronic works</span></h2><div id="pglicense1A" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.A.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic + work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to + and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual + property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree + to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease + using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a + copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not + agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may + obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the + fee as set forth in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8.</a></p></div><div id="pglicense1B" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.B.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or + associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be + bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you + can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the + full terms of this agreement. See paragraph <a href="#pglicense1C" class="tei tei-ref">1.C</a> below. There are a lot of things you can + do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this + agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works. See paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E" class="tei tei-ref">1.E</a> below.</p></div><div id="pglicense1C" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.C.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (<span class="tei tei-q">“the Foundation”</span> or PGLAF), owns a compilation + copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the + individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the + United States. If an individual work is in the public domain in the + United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim + a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, + displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all + references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support + the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by + freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this + agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can + easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in + the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it + without charge with others.</p></div><div id="pglicense1D" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.D.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern + what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in + a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check + the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement + before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or + creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. + The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status + of any work in any country outside the United States.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.E.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:</p><div id="pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.1.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate + access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any + copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> + appears, or with which the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> is associated) is + accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + </p><div class="block tei tei-q" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">This eBook is for the use of + anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License included with this eBook or + online at </span><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org" class="tei tei-xref"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span></a></p></div></div><div id="pglicense1E2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.2.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from the public + domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with + permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and + distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or + charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with + the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> associated with or appearing on the work, you + must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for + the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs + <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8</a> or 1.E.9.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.3.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission + of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both + paragraphs <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> through 1.E.7 and any + additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will + be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission + of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.4.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from + this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work + associated with Project Gutenberg™.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.5.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this + electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without + prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> with active links or immediate access + to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E6" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.6.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, + compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including + any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access + to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than + <span class="tei tei-q">“Plain Vanilla ASCII”</span> or other format used in the official + version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at + no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a + means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon + request, of the work in its original <span class="tei tei-q">“Plain Vanilla ASCII”</span> or + other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License + as specified in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1.</a></p></div><div id="pglicense1E7" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.7.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, + copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with + paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8</a> or 1.E.9.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.8.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to + or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that</p><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label">• </th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to + calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the + Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this + paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days + following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to + prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly + marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in <a href="#pglicense4" class="tei tei-ref">Section 4, <span class="tei tei-q">“Information about donations to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”</span></a></p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does + not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such + a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a + physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other + copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.</p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You provide, in accordance with paragraph <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">1.F.3</a>, a full refund of any money paid for a + work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is + discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the + work.</p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="pglicense1E9" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.9.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or + group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, + you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael + Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set + forth in <a href="#pglicense3" class="tei tei-ref">Section 3</a> below.</p></div></div><div id="pglicense1F" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.F.</span></h3><div id="pglicense1F1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.1.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, + do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain works + in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ + electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may + contain <span class="tei tei-q">“Defects,”</span> such as, but not limited to, incomplete, + inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other + intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other + medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be + read by your equipment.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.2.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the <span class="tei tei-q">“Right of + Replacement or Refund”</span> described in <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">paragraph + 1.F.3</a>, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any + other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, + disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including + legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT + LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE + PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK + OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO + YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL + DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.3.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in + this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a + refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written + explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received + the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your + written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the + defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a + refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity + providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to + receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy + is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further + opportunities to fix the problem.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.4.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in + <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">paragraph 1.F.3</a>, this work is provided + to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR + IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR + FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.5.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or + the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any + disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of + the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be + interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by + the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any + provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F6" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.6.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the + trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone + providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this + agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion + and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all + liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly + or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: + (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, + modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any + Defect you cause.</p></div></div></div><div id="pglicense2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 2.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works + in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including + obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the + efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks + of life.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the + assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™'s goals and + ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for + generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a + secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn + more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see + Sections <a href="#pglicense3" class="tei tei-ref">3</a> and <a href="#pglicense4" class="tei tei-ref">4</a> and the Foundation web page at <a href="http://www.pglaf.org" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.pglaf.org</a>.</p></div><div id="pglicense3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 3.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation + organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax + exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or + federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter + is posted at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf</a>. Contributions + to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. + federal laws and your state's laws.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. + S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are + scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is + located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) + 596-1887, email business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date + contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and + official page at <a href="http://www.pglaf.org" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.pglaf.org</a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For additional contact information: + + </p><div class="block tei tei-address" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">Dr. Gregory B. Newby</span></span><br /><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">Chief Executive and Director</span></span><br /><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">gbnewby@pglaf.org</span></span><br /></div></div><div id="pglicense4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 4.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread public + support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number + of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in + machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment + including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are + particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the + IRS.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating + charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United + States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a + considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up + with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where + we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND + DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state + visit <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate</a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we + have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition + against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who + approach us with offers to donate.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make + any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from + outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods and + addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including + checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please + visit: <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate</a></p></div><div id="pglicense5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 5.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works.</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-name">Professor Michael S. Hart</span> is the + originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that + could be freely shared with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and + distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer + support.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of + which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright + notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in + compliance with any particular paper edition.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's + eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, + compressed (zipped), HTML and others.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Corrected <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">editions</span></em> of our eBooks replace the old file + and take over the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file + is renamed. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Versions</span></em> based on separate sources are treated + as new eBooks receiving new filenames and etext numbers.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search + facility: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to + make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and + how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.</p></div></div></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> +</body></html> diff --git a/28964-h/images/beat-it.png b/28964-h/images/beat-it.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3ddb31 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/beat-it.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/french-soldier.png b/28964-h/images/french-soldier.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dea0b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/french-soldier.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/front.png b/28964-h/images/front.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f118a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/front.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/johnnie-canuck.png b/28964-h/images/johnnie-canuck.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d0debe --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/johnnie-canuck.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/motor.png b/28964-h/images/motor.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a193218 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/motor.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/sub.png b/28964-h/images/sub.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f98a31 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/sub.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/the-american.png b/28964-h/images/the-american.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b38e560 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/the-american.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/the-anzac.png b/28964-h/images/the-anzac.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e12c904 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/the-anzac.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/the-canadian.png b/28964-h/images/the-canadian.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f69583b --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/the-canadian.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/the-crump.png b/28964-h/images/the-crump.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..86eb921 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/the-crump.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/tommy-atkins.png b/28964-h/images/tommy-atkins.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf4ac68 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/tommy-atkins.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/whats-the-use.png b/28964-h/images/whats-the-use.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..618f52f --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/whats-the-use.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/whiz-bangs.png b/28964-h/images/whiz-bangs.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f020be4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/whiz-bangs.png diff --git a/28964-h/images/wipers.png b/28964-h/images/wipers.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16e2194 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-h/images/wipers.png diff --git a/28964-pdf.pdf b/28964-pdf.pdf Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..19e855e --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-pdf.pdf diff --git a/28964-pdf.zip b/28964-pdf.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..72f8132 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-pdf.zip diff --git a/28964-tei.zip b/28964-tei.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c0640b --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei.zip diff --git a/28964-tei/28964-tei.tei b/28964-tei/28964-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..004bf36 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/28964-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,5567 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd" [ + +<!ENTITY u5 "http://www.tei-c.org/Lite/"> + +]> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title><q>Crumps</q>, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went</title> + <author><name reg="Keene, Louis">Louis Keene</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date>May 25, 2009</date> + <idno type="etext-no">28964</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2009-05-25">May 25, 2009</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + (This file was produced from images generously made available by + The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center"><q>Crumps</q></p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">The Plain Story of a Canadian</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Who Went</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">By Louis Keene</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Canadian Expeditionary Force</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">With a Prefatory Note By</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">General Leonard Wood</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">Illustrated by the Author</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Boston and New York</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Houghton Mifflin Company</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">1917</p> + </div> + + </front> +<body> + + +<div> + +<anchor id='illus-front'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/front.png' rend='width: 40%'> + <head></head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-sub'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/sub.png' rend='width: 50%'> + <head>The <q>Sub</q>.</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='v'/><anchor id='Pgv'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Prefatory Note</head> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Headquarters Southeastern Department</hi><lb/> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Charleston, S.C.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +11th August, 1917 +</p> + +<p> +Captain Keene has made an interesting +contribution to the literature of the present war +in his account of service, which covers the experience +of a young officer in the making and on +the battle front,—the transformation of an +artist into a first-class machine-gun officer. He +covers the training period at home and abroad +and the work at the front. This direct and interesting +account should serve to bring home to +all of us an appreciation of how much has to be +done before troops can be made effective for +modern war, the cost of unpreparedness, and +the disadvantage under which troops, partially +equipped, labor when they meet highly organized +ones, prepared, even to the last detail, for +all the exigencies of modern war. It also brings +<pb n='vi'/><anchor id='Pgvi'/> +out the splendid spirit of Canada, the Mother +Country, and the distant Colonies,—the spirit +of the Empire, united and determined in a just +cause. +</p> + +<p> +This and similar accounts should serve to +make clear to us the wisdom of the admonition +of Washington and many others: <q>In time of +peace prepare for war.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Many young Americans are about to undergo +experiences similar to those of Captain Keene, +and a perusal of this modest and straight-forward +narrative will help in the great work of +getting ready. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Leonard Wood</hi>,<lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>Maj.-Gen. U.S.A.</hi> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='vii'/><anchor id='Pgvii'/> + +<div> +<index index='toc'/> +<head>List of Illustrations</head> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-front'>Frontispiece.</ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-sub'>The <q>Sub.</q></ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-beat-it'><q>Beat It!</q></ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-the-four'>The Canadian, Johnnie Canuck, The +American, And The ANZAC.</ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-motor'>Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun.</ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-wipers'><q>Wipers.</q></ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-whats-the-use'>What's The Use?</ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-french-soldier'>A French Soldier.</ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-whiz-bangs'><q>Whiz-Bangs.</q></ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-the-crump'>The <q>Crump.</q></ref> +</p> + +<p> +<ref target='illus-tommy-atkins'>Mr. Tommy Atkins.</ref> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='ix'/><anchor id='Pgix'/> + +<div> +<anchor id='illus-beat-it'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/beat-it.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head></head> + <figDesc>Illustration: <q>Don't Linger Around Here</q><lb/> + <q>The Enemy Can See You.</q><lb/> + <q>Who Me? Yes You. Beat It!</q></figDesc> + </figure> +</p> +</div> + +<pb n='001'/><anchor id='Pg001'/> + +<div> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head><q>Crumps</q></head> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>The Plain Story of a Canadian +who went</hi> +</p> + +<p> +The Laurentian Mountains in the +Province of Quebec are noted for +their beauty, fine hunting and fishing, +and are the stamping-grounds for many +artists from the States and Eastern Canada. +It was in this capacity that I was working +during the hot summer of 1914. All through +June and July I sketched with my father. +Other than black flies my only worry was +the price of my tubes of color. +</p> + +<p> +We usually received our newspapers two +or three days after publication; consequently +we were poorly posted on worldly happenings. +Suddenly the war clouds gathered and +almost before we knew it they became so +threatening that we grew restless, and even +went in to the depot to get our papers so +that we could have the news sooner. +</p> + +<pb n='002'/><anchor id='Pg002'/> + +<p> +The assassination of the Austrian Crown +Prince and the subsequent events were exciting, +but it was only when Russia sent +that one word <q>Mobilize</q> to Serbia that +we suspected serious results. Even the +summer visitors from the States exhibited +signs of excitement, yet they were skeptical +of the chances of war; that is, war that would +really affect us! My newspaper in Montreal +wired for me to come down to do war cartoons +and I left my father and hiked to the +depot. +</p> + +<p> +The Montreal train was crowded and conversation +centered on the one topic, War; +the English Navy's ability to maintain her +rule of the seas, and what would Canada do. +A young Austrian reservist two seats away +was telling some people in a loud voice how +much he wanted to get into it. He was going +back to answer the call. And I had already +begun to hear my country's call. +</p> + +<p> +A newsboy boarding the train at a junction +was overwhelmed and succeeded in getting +twenty-five cents a copy for his papers. +</p> + +<pb n='003'/><anchor id='Pg003'/> + +<p> +Montreal teemed with suppressed anxiety +and every hour fresh news was posted. +Special bulletin boards were put up on store +fronts. Already men in uniform were seen +in the street. And men were trying to enlist. +</p> + +<p> +The war fever was rising steadily; the +chief occupation of Canadians in those days +was watching the bulletin boards. Rumors +of sea fights, ultimatums, disasters, and +victories were common. The Kaiser seemed +to declare war on the world at the rate of +three countries a day. +</p> + +<p> +On the night of August 4th, as I was +putting the finishing touches on a cartoon, +a friend burst into the room:—<q>Come out +of here! Something must happen any +minute now.</q> We marched downtown,—everybody +marched in those days; walking +was abolished in its favor. One met demonstrations +everywhere, large crowds of cheering +men with flags, victrolas at shop windows +played patriotic airs, and soldiers with civilians +crowded before the bulletin boards +singing the national anthems with great +<pb n='004'/><anchor id='Pg004'/> +enthusiasm. The King had declared war +and his message to the fleet had just been +put up! Newspaper extras were given away +by thousands and movies of the British +Navy were shown on the street. Any one +who thought the British could not enthuse, +changed his mind then. +</p> + +<p> +The audiences at the theatres and moving +picture houses on receipt of the news rose +simultaneously and sang the national anthems, +then cheered themselves hoarse. +These were the first days of the war. Several +battalions of militia were called out and +posted to protect the bridges and grain +elevators. Battalions were raised overnight, +and so many recruits came forward +that men were refused by the score. England +was immediately offered ten battalions. +Then an army division was possible. +The Militia Department suddenly became +a hive of industry. Men with all kinds of +business capacity tendered their services +gratis, and the Canadian war machine, +without the experience of previous campaigns, +<pb n='005'/><anchor id='Pg005'/> +took shape. They worked night and +day bringing everlasting credit on themselves. +Banks offered full pay to their employees in +uniform, and this example was widely followed. +The principle prompting this action +being, <q>It's our country; if we can't fight +ourselves, we will help others to fight for +her.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Existent camp sites were inadequate, hence +new ones were necessary. We had a few, +but none were big enough. We bought +Valcartier, one of the best sites in the world, +which was equipped almost over-night with +water service, electric light and drainage. +The longest rifle range in the world with +three and one-half miles of butts was constructed. +Railroad sidings were put in and +35,000 troops from all over the Dominion +poured into it. Think of it,—Canada with +her population of seven and one-half millions +offering 35,000 volunteers the first few weeks, +without calling out her militia. And even +to-day the militia are yet to be called. +Thus every Canadian who has served at +<pb n='006'/><anchor id='Pg006'/> +the front has been a volunteer. England +accepted an army division. Fifteen hundred +qualified officers were told that they +would have to stay and train men for the +next contingent. But this was not fighting. +They were dissatisfied. They resigned their +commissions and went as privates. Uniforms, +boots, rifles and equipment were +found for everybody. Every man was +trained as much as possible in the time +allowed, and within six weeks of the declaration +of war, guns, horses and 35,000 men +were going forward to avenge Belgium. +</p> + +<p> +With me the question of signing up was +a big one. In the first place, I wanted to +go; I wanted to go quickly. Several other +fellows and myself had decided upon a +certain battalion. But much to our disgust +and regret we were informed that +enlistments had stopped only a short time +before. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-the-four'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/the-canadian.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>The Canadian</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/johnnie-canuck.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>Johnnie Canuck</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/the-american.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>The American</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/the-anzac.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>The ANZAC</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +Then came the announcement of the +organization of the First Auto Machine Gun +Brigade, the generous gift of several of +<pb n='007'/><anchor id='Pg007'/> +Canada's most prominent citizens, and it +was in this unit that I enlisted with my +friend Pat, a six-foot, husky Scotchman, +with the fighting blood of the kilties very +near the surface. We were immediately +transported to Ottawa in company with +fifty other picked men from Montreal. At +Ottawa the complement of our battery was +completed upon the arrival of one hundred +more men from Ottawa and Toronto. Here +we trained until it came time for us to move +to Montreal, and there the battery was embarked +on board the Corinthian with a unit +of heavy artillery. We sailed down to Quebec +where we joined the other ships assembled +to take over the First Canadian Contingent. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Corinthian, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>My dear Mother and Father</hi>:— +</p> + +<p> +We are now steaming down the St. Lawrence. +No one knows where we are going. +</p> + +<p> +Our fleet is a wonderful sight. All the +ships are painted war gray—sides, boats +and funnels. We are expecting to pick up +<pb n='008'/><anchor id='Pg008'/> +the warships which are to convoy us across +at Father Point, somewhere near where the +Empress of Ireland was sunk. +</p> + +<p> +Quebec looked very fine. The big guns +were being hoisted into boats, horses embarking, +and battalion after battalion arriving +and going aboard. Those who came from +Valcartier have had a rough time. They +actually look as if they had come through a +campaign. It gave me thrills all day to see +these fine men come through the dock-gates +with a steady swing. It is a magnificent +contribution to any army. It's good to +think of all these men coming at their country's +call. +</p> + +<p> +Some day, if I get back, I want to paint a +picture of the fleet assembled at Quebec. +The grays and greens looked really beautiful. +Quebec, the city of history and the +scene of many big battles, views with disdain +the Canadian patriotism in the present +crisis, and we had no send-off, no flags and no +bands. +</p> + +<p> +This letter will not be mailed for ten days, +<pb n='009'/><anchor id='Pg009'/> +until we are well on the way over. We are +crowded, and if we are going through the +tropics we shall have a bad time; it is cold +now, so we don't notice the congestion. +</p> + +<p> +We had one hundred and forty horses +aboard and two batteries of heavy artillery, +besides our own armored cars. All the transports +are crowded. We were passed by about +ten of the other boats, and as they did so we +cheered each other. The thin lines of khaki +on all the ships will make a name for themselves. +I'm proud I am one of them. +</p> + +<p> +We've had a big dose of vaccine pumped +into our arms to-day. This will be the last +letter I send before I arrive, wherever we are +going. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The Corinthian sailed from Quebec to +Father Point, where a patrol boat arrived +with orders. We then sailed into the Gulf, +but toward evening we turned into the coast. +When we passed Fame Point Light a small +boat, which afterwards turned out to be +another patrol boat, sailing without lights, +<pb n='010'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> +flashed further orders to us. The Corinthian +immediately turned round and headed back. +The minute the patrol boat's signal light went +out we were unable to distinguish it from the +sea. The coloring is a good protection; even +a boat, close to, sailing without lights, it is +impossible to pick out. Apparently our +orders were to cruise around until daylight +and then sail for the Bay of Gaspé, and this +morning at daybreak we sailed into that +beautiful, natural harbor, which is big enough +to accommodate the entire British fleet. +</p> + +<p> +I expect that to the villagers living around +this harbor all events will date from to-day—to-day, +when the wonderful sight of +twenty-five ocean liners drawn up in battleship +formation in this quiet place, deserted +except for an occasional visit from a river +steamer or fishing craft, greeted their gaze. +</p> + +<p> +Five gray fighting ships are mounting +guard, and by their signals and pinnaces +chasing backward and forward between the +troopers are bossing the show. A corporal, +<pb n='011'/><anchor id='Pg011'/> +a South African War veteran, as we looked +at them, quoted Kipling's +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>The liner she's a lady</q></l> +<l>With the paint upon 'er face,</l> +<l>The man o' war's 'er 'usband</l> +<l><q rend='post'>And keeps 'er in 'er place.</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +Towards noon a smart launch came alongside. +Even at a distance the boys were quick +to recognize our popular minister of militia, +Sam Hughes, and a thundering cheer rang +out. With him were several soldiers who +threw bundles of papers aboard. These were +printed copies of his farewell to the troops. +His launch sailed by the ship, and then on to +the next and so on, through the fleet. +</p> + +<p> +Our orders forbade the display of lights +or even striking of matches after 6 <hi rend='smallcaps'>p.m.</hi>; +consequently all lights were masked to-night +on the vessels, except those on the Royal +Edward. The minute her lights were put out +the Bay resumed its normal condition, not +even the outlines of the vessels being visible. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +A press photographer on a launch has been +taking pictures all the afternoon. Sailed at +<pb n='012'/><anchor id='Pg012'/> +five o'clock this afternoon just as the twilight +commenced. We sailed out in three +lines. The convoy is now under way and we +extend as far as can be seen in both directions. +We have two military police patrols +whose chief duty is to see that no matches +are struck on deck. Bill, who smokes more +matches than tobacco, has had to go below so +often to light his pipe, that he has decided to +do without smoking on deck. It is surprising +how far a match struck in the dark will show. +We noticed how matches struck on the other +ships showed up last night. All our portholes +are screwed down with the heavy +weather irons and those of the second-class +cabins are covered with blankets. The authorities +are taking no chances. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We are having physical drills and lectures +all day, and we are working just as hard on +board as we would ashore. Our speed will not +be more than nine knots; the speed of the +slowest vessel regulating the speed of the +whole fleet. +</p> + +<pb n='013'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> + +<p> +Matches are getting very scarce. We +complained about the tea to the orderly +officer to-day; milk is running out, so the +tea is made with milk and sugar in. We +asked to have the three separate, but we were +told that if we complained we would have all +three taken away. As a floor stain it's great, +but as tea it's a failure. +</p> + +<p> +We are quartered in the steerage part of +the ship and our food is in keeping. It is +really remarkable how they can consistently +get that same coal-oil flavor in all the food. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +War news is signaled from ship to ship by +semaphore flags by day. It is posted up in +the guard room daily. The news that the +Indian troops landed in France on the +29th of September was the chief item on the +bulletin yesterday. We're short on things +to read. Scraps of newspapers are devoured, +even to the advertisements. In our cabin we +have a <q>Saturday Evening Post</q> of September +26th which is thumb-marked and +torn, but it is still treasured. We were not +<pb n='014'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> +allowed to bring anything besides our kit on +board on account of the limited space. +</p> + +<p> +Reveille blows at six o'clock and we have +to answer the roll-call at 6.15. The idea is, +that if the men get up and walk about, they +are not so likely to get seasick, but in spite +of that quite a number are sick. We have +on board one hundred of our brigade; two +hundred and sixteen heavy artillery and one +hundred and forty horses, together with artillery +officers and equipment. The horses take +up the same space which in ordinary times +is occupied by humans. Otherwise, we +should have a great many more troops. Our +destination is still a mystery. We're a fleet +without a port. +</p> + +<p> +Have just been ordered on fatigue to take +a prisoner on deck for exercise. He is to be +tried by court-martial to-morrow for striking +a sergeant. All day he is kept locked up and +only allowed out at night for exercise, under +escort. The escort consists of two men and a +non-com. While on this job we watched the +signalers flashing the war news from the stern +<pb n='015'/><anchor id='Pg015'/> +of our boat to the bridge of the next astern, +the Virginian. The news is flashed at night +by the lamps—short and long flashes. The +news is picked up by wireless on the flagship, +the Charybdis, at the head of our line and +signaled back from ship to ship. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +This is the list of the fleet. It is written +here in the order in which they are sailing. +Three warships are heading the fleet; the +flagship is the H.M.S. Charybdis, commanded +by Admiral Wemyss, who distinguished +himself a few weeks ago in the Battle +of Heligoland. +</p> + +<p> +H.M.S. Diana<lb/> +H.M.S. Eclipse<lb/> +H.M.S. Charybdis<lb/> +Caribbean<lb/> +Megantic<lb/> +Scotian<lb/> +Athenia<lb/> +Ruthenia<lb/> +Arcadian<lb/> +Royal Edward<lb/> +Bermudian<lb/> +Zealand<lb/> +Franconia<lb/> +Alaunia<lb/> +Corinthian (The transport on which I was shipped.)<lb/> +H.M.S. Glory<lb/> +Canada<lb/> +Ivernia<lb/> +Virginian<lb/> +Monmouth<lb/> +Scandinavian<lb/> +Sasconia<lb/> +Manitou<lb/> +Sicilian<lb/> +Grampian<lb/> +Tyrolia<lb/> +Montezuma<lb/> +Andania<lb/> +Tunisian<lb/> +Lapland<lb/> +Montreal<lb/> +Laurentic<lb/> +Cassandra<lb/> +Laconia<lb/> +Royal George<lb/> +H.M.S. Talbot +</p> + +<p> +The H.M.S. Glory, the vessel on our starboard +beam, altered her course to-day and +<pb n='016'/><anchor id='Pg016'/> +held up a tramp steamer. We could just +see the two vessels through our glasses. +Apparently everything was all right as the +tramp was allowed to go on her way afterwards. +</p> + +<p> +We are all given our boat stations. This +afternoon a submarine alarm was sounded. +Everybody on board, including the stewards, +had to drop everything and chase to the +boats. In the excitement a cook shot a +<q>billy</q> of soup over an officer's legs, much +to our silent delight. +</p> + +<p> +Thinking it over, it will be remarkable if +the Germans allow us to cross without +making some attempt to sink a few transports. +Besides the actual loss of the men, +the demoralizing effect it will have on the +recruiting would count a great deal. No +man likes to be shot or drowned without a +show. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I am writing this in my cabin, which is only +nine feet by six feet and in which six of us +sleep at night. Besides living in it we have +<pb n='017'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> +to keep all our equipment clean, which is +some job! +</p> + +<p> +About eleven this morning a commotion +occurred in the middle line. The cruiser +heading it and the second ship, the Royal +Edward, turned back. Also several other +boats turned in their course. As we have +very little excitement we hoped it might be +a German attack, for we all want to see a +naval battle. I looked at the cruiser through +powerful glasses and saw sailors fixing up +the starboard lifeboat, so we presumed that +it was simply a case of <q>man overboard.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A big cruiser has joined our fleet and is +acting as a flank guard about three miles +away from our starboard side. +</p> + +<p> +We have a great deal of physical exercise +in spite of the rolling of the deck. This +morning, while in the middle of it I was called +away to dress and form part of an escort to +the prisoner who was to be tried by field +court-martial to-day. The court was very +dignified, and it took a long time owing to +the inexperience of the officers in such +<pb n='018'/><anchor id='Pg018'/> +matters. It was the first court-martial I +have seen,—the proceedings are strictly +legal, being conducted according to the book, +and with the officers wearing their swords. +The poor devil expects two years. +</p> + +<p> +We have been pitching and tossing a great +deal to-day. Physical exercising on the sloping +decks is becoming a mighty risky thing. +</p> + +<p> +Quite a number of the transports have guns +mounted on board so they are not entirely +dependent on the cruisers. It looks as if we +are sailing north of the usual trade routes. +I have just heard that five more battleships +are on the starboard beam. They came into +sight early this morning, but have since +been out of sight. We are sailing north of +the trade routes. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The fleet is being increased. All ships are +stopped. Those sailing west are allowed to +go after being boarded; those going in the +same direction as ourselves are made to fall +into line, so there will be no danger of the +news of our sailing reaching Europe ahead +<pb n='019'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +of us. If we continue to pick up ships sailing +in our direction, the fleet will be enormous +by the time we arrive at our unknown +destination. We sailed two hundred and +twelve miles the last twenty-four hours. +</p> + +<p> +Two more transports have joined us. +They came from Newfoundland. I hear +that we now have forty-three ships in the +fleet. We sail at ten cables' length apart, +about one thousand yards. +</p> + +<p> +We are getting into more dangerous water +evidently. Early this morning the Royal +George steamed up from the end of the line +and took up a position at the head of the +fleet, but in line with the battleship Glory +about three miles away on the port. The +Laurentic took up a similar position on the +starboard. Both these ships are armored +and have guns mounted on them. They +are being used as scouts. +</p> + +<p> +We all rushed up on deck to see a cruiser +pass close to us this midday. It was a magnificent +sight. She was either the H.M.S. Bristol +or the H.M.S. Essex; her name was painted +<pb n='020'/><anchor id='Pg020'/> +The bluejackets were massed on the +decks forward and as she went by the marines' +band played <q>The Maple Leaf Forever.</q> +We returned cheers with the sailors. It +gives you a great thrill to see a British ship +and to have the knowledge of what it represents. +To be British is a great thing, and +I'm proud to think that I'm going to fight +for my country. When this war is over and +men are talking round a table, it will be, +<q>Where were you fighting during the war?</q> +not <q>Did you fight during the war?</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I'm in a gun-cleaning squad every afternoon. +To-day I cleaned the machine gun on +which I'm second gunner. We treat our +machine guns as if they were pets. No one +will ever be able to say that my gun is dirty. +It will probably be my best friend some day. +</p> + +<p> +The finding of the court-martial was read +out to us on full parade this afternoon. +First the <q>Heavies</q> were lined up on all +sides of the deck, then the <q>Mosquitos,</q> +as the Machine Gunners are called, lined up +<pb n='021'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> +inside; the prisoner between an escort was +led up in the center. It was wonderfully +impressive. I felt that I was to witness the +condemning of a fellow soldier to a number +of years of hard labor. Over the whole +assembly there came a deathlike silence and +the finding of the court was read to us by an +officer, the sentence being thirty-six days! +</p> + +<p> +The second steward told me that it took +two hundred carpenters twelve hours to tear +down the cabins and fix up horse fittings. +First the authorities made arrangements to +ship a thousand troops on this ship. We're +crowded as we are now with only three +hundred odd. I hate to think what it would +have been like with a thousand. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Early this morning a large man-o'-war +came up on the port at a speed that made +everything else seem to stop. We have now +battleships on all sides. This ship, although +a long way off, looks tremendous. She is one +of the latest super-dreadnaughts. +</p> + +<p> +I was on guard last night when one of the +<pb n='022'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> +cruisers came alongside to <hi rend='smallcaps'>talk</hi> to the +captain about having lights showing in some +of the ports. I enjoyed it immensely, for I +discovered that the British Navy, true to +tradition, was still able to maintain its high +level of profanity. The ship is in pitch +darkness and there is no moon. On deck it's +almost impossible to walk it's so dark. +Tonight is supposed to be the night on +which the Germans are going to make a +raid. I am going to sleep on deck so that +I shall not miss anything. I'd hate to miss +the chance of seeing a naval engagement. +I can't see how the Germans can possibly +let a chance go by. A nervy cruiser could +sink any amount of ships. If the British +Navy were up against us they would have +had a cut in before now. +</p> + +<p> +Slept on deck last night. Nothing happened +except that early this morning a +French cruiser joined us, and I got covered +with smuts from the smokestack. +</p> + +<p> +The Admiral has received one hundred +and twenty-six words of war news, but will +<pb n='023'/><anchor id='Pg023'/> +not let us have them. Probably they're +disastrous. We break up to-night or to-morrow. +It's scarcely likely that the whole +fleet will be taken to one port at the same +time. +</p> + +<p> +That super-dreadnaught passed down the +columns to-day. She is of tremendous size +and travels at high speed. She is probably +the Queen Mary. +</p> + +<p> +Expect to see land Wednesday. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Blowing a gale. All day the spendrift has +been blowing over. The decks have been +too wet for parades, thank God! All the way +over we have had physical exercise, sometimes +as much as four hours a day. We're +all in fine physical condition. +</p> + +<p> +To-day we were allowed to wash our +clothes. I can see the advantage of khaki +now. Even after working hard on my +clothes, my underwear is still dark white. +The rails were covered with underwear +and socks when the storm started. Now +every square inch below is used for drying +<pb n='024'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> +clothes. Even the electric lights are festooned. +We have a final kit inspection +to-morrow and then we pack for disembarkation. +We are only about one hundred +miles from the <q>Bishop's Light.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It has been a very long voyage and we +have been very cramped. All our equipment +has to be carried in our cabins. Try sleeping +six men with all their outfit in a cabin nine +feet by six feet. The ship carpenter has a +standing job to repair our cabin. We have +rough-housed so much that his attention +was continually necessary. The trip has +been so long that we are now beginning to +hate each other. I went down in the stoke-hole +and the engine-room. Even amongst +the whirling machines it was more peaceful +than in our quarters. It seems months since +I was in Montreal last. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Dear Old England in sight! +</p> + +<p> +We're passing the Lizard now. +</p> + +<p> +The kit has all been inspected and we hope +to land to-morrow some time. +</p> + +<pb n='025'/><anchor id='Pg025'/> + +<p> +We're lying in the historic harbor of +Plymouth; arrived here about two hours +ago. We're surrounded by fast little torpedo-boat +destroyers, which are chasing round us +all the time like dogs loosened from a chain. +The breakwater has searchlights mounted +on each end and fixed lights are playing +from the shore. As the lights occasionally +flash up the ships in the bay, it is as bright +as day. Nobody is allowed ashore, not even +the officers. We may go on to Southampton, +only we must get there before five at night. +After that time nothing is allowed in. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Sailed at daybreak on to Devonport. +Most of the transports are now lying in pairs +at anchor in the harbor. We're close to the +shore. We can see naval <q>jolly boats</q> and +pinnaces sailing back and forth. On one +side are lying the H.M.S Powerful and +another boat, both of which in their day +were the pride of the Navy. The Powerful +was the boat which made such a name for +herself in the Boer War. Now both of these +<pb n='026'/><anchor id='Pg026'/> +vessels are training ships and obsolete so far +as this war goes. +</p> + +<p> +All our haversacks have been boiled in +coffee to stain them khaki. +</p> + +<p> +One of the Navy steam launches came by +and we asked them to get us newspapers. +They came back with a bundle and we nearly +had a riot trying to get at them. +</p> + +<p> +It was only to-day that we heard of the +fall of Antwerp, the atrocities of Belgium, +and the treachery of Maritz in Cape Colony. +</p> + +<p> +We shall be getting off in a few hours and +this may be the last I shall write for some +time. I have put in a great deal of time +during the voyage writing and have done so +under difficulties. Sometimes the cabin has +been torn in pieces, and often arguments, +carried on by leather-lunged opponents of +<q>Kultur,</q> have made this work hard. +</p> + +<p> +We hear that some paper published an +account of the sinking of twenty of the ships. +This rumor is false, and it's a beastly thing +for the newspaper to do, but you must remember +to discount all news a great deal. +</p> + +<pb n='027'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> + +<p> +Still on board and we shall probably be +here for a few days more. My, it's galling +to be so near to the land and yet to be cooped +up in our crowded quarters. Crowded +launches and steamers are sailing round the +liners. All day long cheering crowds come +out to see us. Last night another liner +called Florizel, with the First Regiment +Newfoundland troops, tied up to us. They +were a fine-looking lot of men. We told them +we had no tobacco; they threw dozens of tins +of their tobacco and cigarettes over to us. +We fought for them. I got the remains of +one tin with most of the contents spilt. +Still, as many of us haven't had a smoke for +three days, we appreciated it. Several cruisers +have come in to-day, and there seem +to be dozens of submarines and torpedo +boats cruising around all day. The reason +we did not go to Southampton is that five +German submarines were waiting for us. +</p> + +<p> +The transports are unloading at the rate of +five or six ships a day. It will probably be our +turn on Sunday. The fleet looks splendid at +<pb n='028'/><anchor id='Pg028'/> +night now that we have most of the lights +on. All night the steel riveters are at work on +three battleships that are being built close by. +Near us are several <q>wooden walls.</q> One +is a ship of Nelson's, the Queen Adelaide. +Every boat, tug, lighter and motor boat +here is the property of the Admiralty. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We are probably going to Salisbury Plain +for two months. We are the first Expeditionary +Force to land in England from the dominions +or colonies, but others are on their +way. The sailors from the training ships +serenade us in boats with bands and play +<q>O Canada,</q> <q>The Maple Leaf Forever,</q> +and all day long on one ship or the other +we hear <q>It's a Long Way to Tipperary.</q> +Every one is singing it; without doubt it is +<emph>the</emph> song of the war. To-day we got a bundle +of papers. We read them right through to +the advertisements. Cigarettes and matches +are at a premium and food is running out on +board. The strain of staying here is becoming +too great. We're all disagreeable and +<pb n='029'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> +insubordinate. The guard room is already +full and will soon need enlarging. +</p> + +<p> +On guard to prevent the men of the two +ships (our own and the Florizel with the +Newfoundlanders) coming over to visit each +other. At ten o'clock at night I got the tip +that a bunch of men were going to make a +break for shore and I was asked to go. I +had just come off sentry and was dressed +for shore. We all met up forward, hailed a +police boat, climbed down a rope ladder +across two barges unloading shells and into +the police launch. When I got in I found +that I and one other fellow were the only +privates; all the rest were sergeants and +corporals, thirteen altogether, unlucky number. +The police sergeants asked me if we +had passes. I said, <q>You bet,</q> and we sailed +away from the ship right under everybody's +nose. We landed and then took a car to +Plymouth and went on the Hoe, which has +been in absolute darkness since the beginning +of the war. Girls were very interested in us +and took most of our collar badges and buttons +<pb n='030'/><anchor id='Pg030'/> +as souvenirs. One man asked me to +give him a cigarette as a souvenir. +</p> + +<p> +We met an English captain in a tobacconist's +and he invited us up to the barracks. +Two of us went. I was one. To get there +we had to go on a street car. We had just +sat down when up the stairs came my +Lieutenant McCarthy. When he saw me he +said, <q>How the hell did you get here?</q> <q>Oh, +just swam across.</q> <q>Well, if you get caught +it'll be the guard room for you.</q> I said, +<q>Never mind, we'll have company.</q> He +is a pretty good sport. We went to the +barracks, had a session with the captain, then +went to the quay, picked up the rest of the +men, and sneaked on board. I got to bed +at three and had to get up this morning at +six o'clock to go on guard. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Sunday, very tired. On guard all day, +two hours on, four off. It's very unfortunate +having a Sunday guard, because in the ordinary +way we have to attend church parade +in the morning and after having listened +<pb n='031'/><anchor id='Pg031'/> +to a sermon and sung <q>Onward, Christian +Soldiers,</q> or, <q>Fight the good fight,</q> we are +free for the day, whereas guards stay on +twenty-four hours. +</p> + +<p> +The major noticed one of the sergeants +coming on board this morning at six o'clock. +The idiot missed us this morning and of +course that dished us. The sergeants got in +wrong. As I am only a private, and therefore +ignorant and simple according to the +military code, and, being with non-commissioned +officers who are supposed to possess +superior intelligence, I got away with it. +The sergeants have had to do sentry on the +same ladder we went down. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody is as disagreeable as possible. +We are lying in midstream and can see the +town. Can you imagine anything more +galling than that? +</p> + +<p> +While I was on guard the Vicar of Plymouth +came aboard and held service. He said +that the last time a Vicar of Plymouth +preached to warriors was just before Drake +sailed to meet the Armada. +</p> + +<pb n='032'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> + +<p> +Thank God! moving at last. We've +moored up to the docks just opposite two +magnificent dreadnaughts. Naval men are +handling our cargo, our kit bags are packed +and we are ready to disembark. +</p> + +<p> +Near our ship's stern is a barge full of +ventilators and spare parts of ships which are +taken away when ships are cleared for action. +Some of the rifle racks were marked Cornwall +and I noticed a davit post with the name +Highflyer, the boat that sank the Kaiser +Wilhelm after she had been preying on the +shipping off South Africa. When a ship is +cleared for action, all inflammable fittings, +such as wooden doors, ladders, racks, extra +boats, and davits, etc., are discarded. If the +order to <q>clear the decks for action</q> comes +at sea, overboard go all these luxuries. It is +calculated that the cost of <q>clearing decks</q> +on a cruiser is five thousand dollars. +</p> + +<p> +Some of our stuff was unloaded yesterday, +and when the ship moved a guard was placed +over it. When the corporal went down the +gangplank with the relief, Pat and I walked +<pb n='033'/><anchor id='Pg033'/> +down behind as if we were part of the same, +right by the officers. We had a devil of +a job to get through the dock gates, a +suspicious policeman and sentry on guard. +We told the sergeant of the police a pitiful +story, saying that we hadn't had anything to +eat for three days, and finally he relented. +<q>All right, my lads, only don't <q>swing the +lead</q> in town.</q> We got into Devonport and +went to the biggest hotel. Before they had +time to throw us out we ordered breakfast +of real food. It was fine after the ship's +grub. After sitting there ten minutes, the +general commanding the district came in and +sat behind us. He stared. Two privates +in the same room as the general!! But all +he said was, <q>If you boys can fight as you +eat, you'll make an impression.</q> Then we +visited some other places! +</p> + +<p> +We went back to the docks and went over +the super-dreadnaughts, Tiger and Benbow, +the biggest war vessels in the world. The +Tiger's speed on her trials was 37.5 knots an +hour. +</p> + +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/> + +<p> +After we had seen enough, we went back +to the ship and tried to look as if we had been +working with one of the fatigue parties on +shore. It worked! +</p> + +<p> +We marched off the ship midday and then +I had to go on guard again all night. That +was the first time we were allowed ashore to +see the town, and I was on guard, so if I +hadn't slipped ashore on the two occasions +mentioned, I should not have seen it at all. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It rained all night, and when I was off +guard I slept on the top of one of our armored +trucks, under a tarpaulin. It's wonderful +how we can sleep now anywhere, and we +often have our clothes on for three days at a +time. Many a time I sleep with all my +equipment on. Get wet and dry it by keeping +it on. We all have to do it. The idea +of pajamas or baths as necessities seems +funny. At one time I would sooner go without +breakfast than miss a bath. Now I make +sure of the breakfast. +</p> + +<p> +We are going to drive our cars through +<pb n='035'/><anchor id='Pg035'/> +England to Salisbury Plain. We started this +morning and drove through Devonport. +Cheering crowds everywhere. All our cars +wear the streaming pennants: <q>Canada With +the Empire,</q> which pleased the people a +great deal. +</p> + +<p> +As we rode through the streets people +showered gifts upon us, such as cakes, chocolates, +newspapers and apples, and everywhere +made lusty demonstrations. The +people of Taunton, as soon as they heard that +the Canadians were coming, turned out the +barracks and we were met by all the officers, +who came in to talk to us. One second lieutenant, +after studying me for some time, +said, <q>Isn't your name Keene?</q> <q>Yes,</q> I +replied, <q>but how do you know?</q> <q>I went +to school with you fifteen years ago.</q> His +name was Carter; he was in the Second Dorsets. +That night he got me out of barracks +for a couple of hours, and we hashed over +the schoolboy reminiscences. The people of +Taunton were arranging a dance for us, but +nobody was allowed to attend. The major +<pb n='036'/><anchor id='Pg036'/> +believes in putting us to bed early; his theory +being that a man can't drive cars well after a +party, and he couldn't keep the drivers in +alone. +</p> + +<p> +Ladies from Taunton, of the pleasing English +type with beautiful complexions, handed +round all sorts of rubbish, jam puffs, and +other things which belong to the time before +we joined the army. +</p> + +<p> +Traveled all the morning. Everybody +turned out to see us. The Brigadier-General +wired ahead, and hastily prepared placards, +still wet, were hanging from the windows,— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>God Bless the Canadians</l> +<l>Loyal Sons</l> +<l>of</l> +<l>The Empire</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>The gathering of</l> +<l>the Lions' whelps</l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +and in one case the haste was so great that +<q>God Save the King</q> was hung upside down. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody wants my badges and buttons, +<pb n='037'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> +and some men in the unit have not one +left. Hence I have requisitioned an order +for a hundred to meet the demand. +</p> + +<p> +All over the country you see <q>Kitchener's +Army</q> drilling. In one case we passed about +a hundred of them. When they saw us they +broke ranks and shook us by the hands. The +people of England are much impressed with +our speed in coming over. Old men and +women shouted, <q>God bless you, Canadians!</q> +while tears trickled down their cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +I read this notice in one little shop,— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +At noon every day the church bell will ring a +few chimes and everybody is asked to stop whatever +he is doing and offer this prayer, <q>Oh, Lord, +help our soldiers and sailors to defeat our enemies, +and let us have Peace.</q> +</p> + +<p> +(Signed) The Vicar. +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Recruiting notices ten feet by six feet with +the sentence <q>Your King and Country Need +You</q> are to be seen everywhere in shops, on +barns, trees, and even church doors. +</p> + +<p> +Motorists and cyclists are warned to pull +up whenever requested or the results may be +<pb n='038'/><anchor id='Pg038'/> +serious. Most of the motors have O.H.M.S. +plates above the number plate. +</p> + +<p> +We billeted in a village school; all slept in +our blankets on the floor. Left the school +and cleaned up before the kids came for their +lessons next day. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Salisbury Plain. Arrived to-day. This +part is called Bustard and takes its name from +the small Bustard Inn, Headquarters of General +Alderson, General Officer Commanding. +Troops are here in thousands and we are +no novelty. The roads are torn up. Mud +is two feet deep in places. All through the +day and night motor lorries, artillery and +cavalry are traveling over the ground. Aeroplanes +are circling overhead and heavy artillery +are firing. We see the shells bursting +on the ranges every day. +</p> + +<p> +Always raining. Everything is wet, and +I am sleeping in a rotten tent which leaks. +Still, we are all so fit that what would kill an +ordinary man doesn't worry us much. +</p> + +<p> +We all get three days' leave and are trying +<pb n='039'/><anchor id='Pg039'/> +by every means possible to wangle another +day or two. Many men have to see dentists, +and lots of men have grandparents in Scotland +who display signs of dying suddenly. +If the excuse is good enough, we get four +days and sometimes five. I have a sweetheart +in Scotland, but if that is played out +I have to work something else. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Wonderful sight from where I am now. +Miles of tents, motors and horse lines on this +desolate moorland. No houses; only camps +and a few trees which have been planted as +wind screens. The soil is very poor, too poor +for farming. It is government property and +it is only used for troops. We are ten miles +from a railroad. We are so isolated that we +might be in Africa, except that it's so cold. +</p> + +<p> +The papers are starting an agitation to +get the Canadians to march through London, +and are asking why they should be +smuggled in and then shut up on Salisbury +Plain. They want to see us, <hi rend='smallcaps'>and we want +to see London</hi>!! +</p> + +<pb n='040'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> + +<p> +Our ambulance car has been used every +day since we came here, taking wounded +from one hospital to another. The rest of +our cars have been used to carry German +prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +One of the spies caught on the ships is +said to have been shot. Several were arrested; +two were caught in Devonport while +we were there, one in a Canadian officer's +uniform. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Am spending seventy-two hours' leave in +London. Got leave through this telegram +which is from <q>the girl I'm engaged to</q>: +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +Disappointed. Met train. Please do come. +Leaving for Belgium soon. Love. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Edythe.</hi> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +She is a Red Cross nurse. This is a new +one and it worked. McCarthy sent it to me. +</p> + +<p> +London is very dismal. No electric signs, +and the tops of all the street lamps are painted +black so that the lights don't show from +above. However, we managed to have a +<pb n='041'/><anchor id='Pg041'/> +good time, in spite of it all. The Germans +say that the Canadians are being held in +England to repel the invasion. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The facilities for bathing are not very +extensive. I rode into Salisbury, a distance +of seventeen miles, yesterday, on top of some +packing-cases in a covered transport wagon, +for a bath, the first since I was last on leave. +We get a Turkish bath in town for thirty +cents. After that we had a large juicy steak +and then started our seventeen-mile trip back +through the pouring rain. Every other mile +we got down and helped the driver swear +and push the car out of the mud, vast quantities +of which abound on the Salisbury +roads, believe me!! +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It is Sunday afternoon. Most of the men +in camp are asleep or reading. Outside it +is raining. It seems to be always raining, +and occasionally we have such a thick fog +that even a trip to get water is exciting +before you can get back to your own lines. +</p> + +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/> + +<p> +Owing to our camp having become a swamp +we have had to move our quarters to drier +ground. Moving the tents is not a big job, +but rebuilding the cook-house is! I figure +that when I leave the army I shall have a +few more professions to choose from. For +example, I'm a pretty hefty trench digger; +then as a scavenger I am pretty good at +picking up tin cans and pieces of paper; also +I'm an expert in building things such as +shelters from any old pieces of timber that +we can steal; then as a cook I can now make +that wonderful tea that I wrote you about, +besides many other things which we didn't +realize that we had to do when we enlisted. +</p> + +<p> +To-day the paper says <q>Fair and Warmer.</q> +We could do with some of that. Years ago, +before I joined the army and lost my identity, +I rather liked occasionally getting wet +in the refreshing rain; but now the trouble +is that we are always wet and have nowhere +to dry our things, except by sleeping on +them. +</p> + +<p> +Our major has an original scheme of training +<pb n='043'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> +men in the ranks to qualify for commissions, +sort of having half a dozen embryo +officers ready. I have been picked as one and +have to study in all my spare time. It means +a great deal more work, but it's very interesting +and the sort of thing I would like to +do. We start to-day. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We began our instruction on the machine +gun to the officers and the men who are +up here for a special course; I have a boozy +lieutenant, who doesn't care a hang, and a +bright non-com. Some of the officers we +brought over make good mascots. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It was fine to-day. We were even able to +open up the tent flap to dry the place a bit. +To-day the major congratulated me on the +Christmas card I designed for the unit. +</p> + +<p> +Our classes of instruction to the <q>alien</q> +officers finish to-morrow. Both the men I +was instructing passed. +</p> + +<p> +The adjutant is very anxious to put us +through our officers' training course quickly. +</p> + +<pb n='044'/><anchor id='Pg044'/> + +<p> +We are now recognized as the specialist corps +in the machine-gun work with the Canadian +Division, and he is anxious that we shall be +ready to take commissions when casualties +occur. Every battalion of infantry has a +machine-gun section attached, and we have +the job of training the officers and sergeants +of these sections. +</p> + +<p> +Owing to the bombardment of the east +coast, several of our battalions are under +orders to move at a moment's notice. It is +thought that the bombardment was simply +a ruse to draw the British fleet away from +around Heligoland. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The newspaper boys in Salisbury, when +you refuse to buy an <q>Hextra,</q> shout +<q>Montreal Star</q> and <q>Calgary Eyeopener,</q> +and all the shopgirls and barmaids in Salisbury +say, <q>Some kid,</q> <q>Believe muh,</q> <q>Oh, +Boy!</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I had been granted Christmas leave at the +last minute, and as it was awkward to telegraph +<pb n='045'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> +to Northwich, I arrived after a long +journey, lasting sixteen hours, ten minutes +ahead of the letter I'd sent saying I was +coming. My arrival soon spread over the +town. A Canadian—this was a rather +unique thing for Northwich, a little Cheshire +town. Out of a population of about eighteen +thousand, two thousand men have joined the +colors. The men in uniform from the works +are all receiving half pay. The other men +who are staying are working twelve hours a +day and give up part of their pay so that the +jobs of the soldiers will be open when they +come back. Thirty-five Belgian refugees +are being kept here. Money to keep them +for twelve months has been subscribed. One +huge house has been taken over as a hospital +with twenty-three nurses, all volunteers from +Northwich. Everybody has done or is doing +something in the great struggle. The young +ladies in this neighborhood have no use for a +man who is not in khaki, and with customary +north of England frankness tell them so. +</p> + +<p> +I expect that you know that the Government +<pb n='046'/><anchor id='Pg046'/> +has sent around forms to every house +asking the men who are going to volunteer +to sign, and men long past the military age +have signed the papers, <q>too old for the war +service, but willing to serve either at home or +abroad voluntary for the period of the war.</q> +Others have offered to do work to allow +young men to go, to keep their jobs for them. +This shows the spirit that permeates England. +There is only one end and that <hi rend='smallcaps'>must</hi> +be the crushing of the Germans. I don't +believe people have any idea of the number +of men who are at present under arms, +and still the posters everywhere say that we +must have more men. +</p> + +<p> +I wonder if you know that the Germans +are shooting British prisoners who are found +with what they consider insulting post-cards +of the Kaiser, and even references to His All +Highest in letters are dangerous. As we are +nearing the time when we shall go across I +thought I would mention it. +</p> + +<p> +We expect to leave England somewhere +around January 15th. We have been living in +<pb n='047'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +the mud so long that we are getting quite +web-footed. +</p> + +<p> +This is a war Christmas. People are too +excited and anxious to celebrate it. I wonder +what sort of a Christmas the next one will be! +What a terrible Christmas the Germans must +have had in Germany. They admit over one +million casualties. Fancy a million in less +than five months. During the Napoleonic +wars, which extended over twenty years, six +million died, and yet one side in this war +already admits one million. +</p> + +<p> +The Canadian ordnance stores have been +given instructions that all equipments down +to the last button must be ready by the 15th +of January. That date seems to be the +favorite one. I believe it is the commencement +of big things; a move will then be made +to embark large numbers of troops across to +France. +</p> + +<p> +All our telegraphic addresses were taken +when we came away on leave in case it were +decided to send units over before our term +of leave expired. +</p> + +<pb n='048'/><anchor id='Pg048'/> + +<p> +A German aviator flew over Dover yesterday +and made a fierce and terrible bomb +attack on a cabbage patch. Terrible casualty +in cabbages. Berlin must have designs on a +bumper crop of sauerkraut. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Back in camp. It was hard to come down +to it. Our blankets and clothes left in the +tent were mildewed, clammy, and partly +submerged. Our feet are wet and we are +again soldiers, dirty and cold. +</p> + +<p> +Traveled down in the train with thirty-six +men of the Canadian contingent who had +formed an escort for fifty-six undesirables +who have been shipped back to Canada. +It seems strange when men are needed so +badly to ship them back because they are a +bit unruly or get drunk too often. They will +all come back with future contingents. Six +of them made a dash for it at Liverpool. +Three of them got away altogether. +</p> + +<p> +It snowed yesterday. Last night the camp +looked beautiful; the tents lit up through the +snow in the moonlight made a pretty picture, +<pb n='049'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> +a suitable subject for a magazine cover, but +mighty uncomfortable to camp in. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +In a gale last night many tents were blown +down. We spent all day putting them up +again. The cook house, a substantial frame +building, has also blown down again. +</p> + +<p> +When I got back I found a Christmas +hamper, a bunch of holly and a small box of +maple sugar and packet of cigarettes from +the Duchess of Connaught with her Christmas +card. All parcels for the troops came +in duty free. Our postal system is very +efficient. We get our letters as regularly as +we would in a town. +</p> + +<p> +People send us so many cigarettes that +we sometimes have too many. I wish we +could get more tobacco and fewer cigarettes. +If you remember during the Boer War the +authorities tried to break the <q>Tommy</q> of +his <q>fags</q> by giving him more tobacco. +Now they really seem to encourage cigarette +smoking, although it really doesn't matter; +the same things which are harmful in towns +<pb n='050'/><anchor id='Pg050'/> +don't have the same bad effects when we +are living in the open. +</p> + +<p> +All leave is up by the 10th of January for +everybody, officers and men. +</p> + +<p> +The Princess Patricia Canadian Light +Infantry have gone to the front to the envy +of everybody. It is a splendid battalion +with fine officers. They have been lying +next to our lines and we have made many +friends with the <q>Pats.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cerebro-spinal meningitis has broken out, +and in spite of all efforts to check it, seems +to be gaining ground. Several officers have +died with it, and I believe that four battalions +are quarantined. We have to use chloride of +lime on the tent floors and around the lines. +My friend Pat calls it <q>Spike McGuiness.</q> +The worst of a disease like this is that a +patient never recovers. Even a cure means +partial paralysis for life. I believe that +Salisbury Plain is known for it, and I hear +that all the ground that troops are now +occupying is to be ploughed up when we +leave. As far as that goes we have ploughed +<pb n='051'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> +it up a bit already, but a systematic ploughing +will make it more regular. The subsoil +is only four inches, then you come to chalky +clay. The tent-pegs when they are taken +from the ground are covered with chalk. +</p> + +<p> +I think that the Canadian Contingent has +had a pretty raw deal. We're not even included +in the six army divisions which are +going to France by the end of March. Wish +I had joined the <q>Princess Pats,</q> who are +already there. We want to fight. +</p> + +<p> +We're having a beastly time as compared +with the Belgian refugees and the German +prisoners in England. We're beginning to +wonder if we are ever going to the front. +There is now some talk of billeting us in +Bristol. We've been under arms nearly +five months and should be good fighting +material by now. With a similar number of +men the Germans would have done something +by this time. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +All the last week the selected few of us have +been working separately on a course of work +<pb n='052'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> +to qualify us for commissions. We have had +to study hard every spare minute when not +drilling each other. +</p> + +<p> +Several dogs have attached themselves to +us; sometimes they find themselves on a +piece of string, the other end being in a man's +hand. One of these, a big bull terrier, sleeps +in the canteen. The beer is quite safe with +him there, but two nights ago the canteen +tent, after a great struggle, tore itself off the +tent-poles and went fifteen feet up in the air +like a balloon, then collapsed. The dog, I +regret to say, did not stay at his post, so a +quantity of beer will have to be marked down +as lost. This same bull has a pal, a white bull +terrier, who came out with the officers' class +the other morning. We had not been drilling +more than fifteen minutes when he came back +with a large rabbit. We stewed it at night. +It certainly was good. +</p> + +<p> +One of the mechanics has forged an Iron +Cross which has been presented to the dog in +recognition of his services. +</p> + +<p> +I doubt if I shall ever be able to sit up to a +<pb n='053'/><anchor id='Pg053'/> +table again regularly. I would much sooner +sleep on the floor, and I have found, when on +leave, that I preferred sitting on a hearthrug +to a chair. Even while writing this I am +lying on my blankets. My pipe is burnt +down on one side from lighting it from my +candle. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +To-day being Sunday and as there were +only two of us left in the tent, the others +being on leave, we gave it a thorough spring +cleaning. It needed it! By some oversight +the sun came out to-day, so that helped. +We also washed up all our canteens and +pannikins with disinfectant. +</p> + +<p> +The infantry are bayonet-fighting and +practicing charges every day. If you want +a thrill, see them coming over the top at you +with a yell; the bayonets catch the light and +flash in a decidedly menacing fashion. They +practice on dummies, and are so enthusiastic +that they need new dummies almost every +lesson. +</p> + +<p> +Every man, on becoming a soldier, becomes +<pb n='054'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> +a man with a number and an identification +disk. My number is 45555 and my <q>cold +meat ticket,</q> a tag made of red fiber, is +hanging round my neck on a piece of string. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We're packing up and expect to go away +next week. Of course, it may be another +bluff, but somehow I think we really are going +now, as we have been fitted out with a <q>field +service-dressing,</q> a packet containing two +bandages and safety pins, which we have to +sew into the right-hand bottom corner of our +tunics. We have also been given our active +service pay book, a little account book in +which we have our pay entered. We don't +get paid much in the field. We carry this +book instead. +</p> + +<p> +It seems always cold and wet. We are +very hardened. We look tough and feel that +way. I haven't had a bath for a month. +Since I have been soldiering I have done +every dirty job that there is in the army, and +there are many. Often when a job seemed +to be too dirty and too heavy for anybody +<pb n='055'/><anchor id='Pg055'/> +else, they looked around for Keene and +Pat. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +<q>On guard.</q> Writing this in the guard +tent, when we are not actually on sentry. +We keep all our equipment on, as we are +liable to be called out at any minute. We +sleep with our belts and revolvers in place. +</p> + +<p> +A quarter guard is three men and a noncom. +The men do two hours on and four off. +When it comes to a man's turn he has to be +on his beat no matter what the weather is +like during the day or night. The cold is +pretty bad and occasionally it snows. Some +units have sentry boxes, but we haven't. +We use a bell tent. I was called this morning +at five o'clock to do my sentry from five to +seven. The small oil stove which serves to +heat the guard tents had evidently been +smoking for an hour, and over everything +was a thick film of lamp-black. Everybody +thought it a great joke until they looked at +themselves in the mirror and caught sight of +their own equipment. We must come off +<pb n='056'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> +guard as clean as we go on. I got out +quickly and left them swearing and cleaning +up. +</p> + +<p> +From five to seven is the most interesting +relief. I had first to wake the cooks at five +o'clock and then I watched the gradual +waking up of the camp. At six o'clock I +had to wake the orderly sergeants and then +far away in the distance the first bugle +sounded reveille, then it was taken up all +around and gradually the camps all over the +Plains woke up. Men came out of the tents, +the calls for the <q>fall in</q> sounded, and the +rolls were called and the usual business of +the day commenced. The change from the +deadness of the night with its absolute stillness +all takes place in a very short time. To +a person with any imagination it seems rather +wonderful. You must remember that we +can see for miles, and in every direction there +are hundreds of tents. Each battalion is +separate, and they have great spaces between +them; still wherever you look you can see +tents. +</p> + +<pb n='057'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> + +<p> +I wonder if I told you that aeroplanes are +all the time flying over our camp. With +characteristic British frankness they always +have two huge Union Jacks painted on the +undersides of the wings. We have become +so used to them that we scarcely trouble to +look up unless they are doing stunts. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The frost makes a fine grip for the cars; +when the ground freezes over we can take +the cars anywhere, but unfortunately it +thaws again too quickly. As we are a motor +battery we are of course a mile from the road, +and sometimes it takes an hour and a half to +get on to it. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It is a howling night, wind and rain galore. +I'm wondering how long the tent will last. +I have been out three times already to look +at the tent pegs. How often it has been so +since we first came on to these plains. If +you are living in tents you notice the changes +in weather more than under ordinary circumstances, +and every rain-storm has meant +<pb n='058'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> +wet feet for us. But now we have been given +new black boots, magnificent things, huge, +heavy <q>ammunition boots,</q> and the wonderful +thing is they don't let water in. They are +very big and look like punts, but it's dry +feet now. I can tell you I am as pleased with +them as if some one had given me a present +of cold cash. At first they felt something like +the Dutch sabots. They seemed absolutely +unbendable and so we soaked them with +castor-oil. Once they become moulded to +the feet they are fine. Of course they are +not pretty, but they keep the wet out. +</p> + +<p> +We have had new tunics issued to us of +the regular English pattern, much more comfortable +than our other original ones, and +then instead of the hard cap we now have +a soft one, something like a big golf cap with +the flap on to pull down over the ears. These +are much more comfortable. They have one +great advantage over the old kind—we can +sleep in them. We can now lie down in our +complete outfits even to our hats. Once I +considered it a hardship to sleep in my +<pb n='059'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> +clothes. Now to go to bed we don't undress; +we put on clothes. +</p> + +<p> +I managed to get a pass to Salisbury on +Saturday and went to the local vaudeville +show. In the row in front of me were several +young officers of the British Army, and it was +striking what a clean-cut lot they were. +England is certainly giving of her best. +They were not very much different from any +others, but at the same time they are the type +of Englishmen who have done things in the +past and will do things again. They are all +Kitchener's Army. Thousands of men who +have never been in the army before threw +up everything to go in the ranks. You see +side by side professors, laborers, lawyers, +doctors, stevedores, carters, all classes, rich +and poor, a great democratic army, drilling +to fight so that this may be a decent world +to live in. +</p> + +<p> +At present it is almost impossible to use +each man in his own profession as they do in +Germany, but sometimes the non-commissioned +officers work it out in this way. +</p> + +<pb n='060'/><anchor id='Pg060'/> + +<p> +Sergeant to squad of recruits:— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Henybody 'ere know anythink abart +cars?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes; I do. I own a Rolls Royce.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Olright; fall out and clean the major's +motor bike.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One patriotic mother who had a son who +was a butcher did her best to get him to join +the Royal Army Medical Corps, because he +was proficient at cutting up meat and would +feel quite at home assisting at amputations. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Now that we are approaching the time for +our departure to France we are hearing that +favorite farewell to all men going to the front, +<q>Good-bye, I'll look every day for your name +in the casualty list.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The <q>Princess Pats</q> have already been in +action. They had a hard fight and many of +them have been put out of business. We +envied them when they went away and still +do, although it only seems yesterday that we +were lying together here and now a number of +them are lying <q>somewhere in France.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='061'/><anchor id='Pg061'/> + +<p> +The jam-making firm of Tickler was +awarded a huge contract for the supply of +<q>Tommy's</q> daily four ounces of jam; either +plum and apple were the cheapest combination +or else the crop of these two fruits must +have been enormous, because every single +tin of jam that went to the training camps, +France, Dardanelles, or Mesopotamia, was +of this mixture. +</p> + +<p> +We became so tired of it that we used the +unopened tins to make borders of flower-beds, +or we used them to make stepping-stones +across puddles. Eventually the world's +supply of plums and apples having been used +up, the manufacturers were forced to use +strawberries. +</p> + +<p> +In the army all food is handled by the +Army Service Corps, and as soon as they +found real jam coming through they took +it for their own and still forwarded on to us +their reserve <q>plum and apple.</q> The news +got around amongst the fighting units: +result—the Army Service Corps is now +known as the <q>Strawberry Jam Pinchers.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='062'/><anchor id='Pg062'/> + +<p> +Reviewed by King George V, and it was +indeed a very impressive sight. Although +there were only twenty thousand troops, +they seemed endless. During the time that +the King was on the parade ground in company +with Lord Kitchener, two aeroplanes +kept guard in the sky. Our K. of K. is a big, +fine man who looks the part. An inspection +by the King is always a sure sign of a unit's +impending departure. He traveled down on +the new railway which had just been built +by the defaulters of the Canadian Contingent. +</p> + +<p> +At the last minute I managed to get weekend +leave and went to London. No Canadians +there! I caught sight of a military +picket, sergeant and twelve men, looking for +stray ones, though. Another picket held me +up and made me button my greatcoat. I +did! It isn't clever to argue with pickets at +any time! +</p> + +<p> +The train was three hours late. Troops' +trains were occupying the lines. From Bulford +we walked home in a hail-storm. Got in +<pb n='063'/><anchor id='Pg063'/> +about five o'clock just as the reveille was +blowing in the other lines. They were just +leaving for the front, and had made great +fires where they were burning up rubbish +and stuff they couldn't take with them. +Tons of it! Chairs, mattresses, and tables. +When we move, everything except equipment +has to be discarded. We can't do anything +with extras. We have to cut our own stuff +down to the very smallest dimensions. I +walked through the lines afterward of other +battalions who had left, and I saw fold-up +bedsteads, uniforms, equipment, books, buckets, +washing-bowls, cartridges and stoves +of every conceivable kind and shape; hundreds, +from the single <q>Beatrice</q> to the +big tiled heaters. Some tents were half +full of blankets thrown in, others with +harness. All the government stuff is collected, +but private stuff is burnt. +</p> + +<p> +In the army you soon realize that you have +to make yourself comfortable your own way. +I don't hesitate to take anything. If I have +on a pair of puttees which are a bit worn and +<pb n='064'/><anchor id='Pg064'/> +I find a new pair,—well, I just calmly yet +cautiously annex them and discard the old +ones. We found a barrel of beer had been +left by one of the other units, so we carefully +carried the prize to our lines and then tapped +it. Zowie! It was a beer barrel all right, +only it was filled with linseed oil. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Thank the Lord!! Under a roof, sitting on +a real chair; tablecloth, plates; and I'm dry. +We have come to Wilton (of carpet fame) +and I'm in a billet. I have a real bed to +sleep in. Last night I lay on the floor of a +mildewed tent; couldn't sleep on account of +the cold. To-night I sleep between sheets, +and the wonderful thing is that I'm not on +leave. +</p> + +<p> +We drove our cars down here, each of us +hoping that we would never again see Bustard +Camp, Salisbury Plain, as long as we +lived; it had been our home for five months. +Yesterday we felt like mutiny; to-day every +one is smiling. As soon as we were <q>told off</q> +Pat and I went to our billet, a nice clean little +<pb n='065'/><anchor id='Pg065'/> +house close to the center of the town. The +owner is a baker. I felt kind of uncomfortable +with my boots and clothes plastered up with +mud, but the good lady said, <q>Don't 'e mind, +come in, bless you; I've 'ad soldiers afore. +The last one 'e said as 'ow he couldn't sleep +it were so quiet 'ere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +I had a wash (this is Friday night), the +first since Wednesday morning. The idea +of having as much water as you want, without +having to go a half mile over a swamp, +pleased me so much that I used about six +basinsful in the scullery. +</p> + +<p> +When the lady of the house asked us <emph>what</emph> +we would <emph>like</emph> to eat, we both fainted. I'm +afraid we're going to get spoiled here. +Couldn't sleep at first. Cold sheets and +having all my clothes off—too great a +strain! Had breakfast and then drove our +cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and +washed them down inside and out. +</p> + +<p> +This afternoon I've been into every shop +I could find, chiefly to talk to people who are +not soldiers. Even went into the church to +<pb n='066'/><anchor id='Pg066'/> +look around and listened to the parrotlike +description of the place by the sexton. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody is happy, and although it has +rained ever since we have been here, we +haven't noticed it yet. I may say there +are four or five kids, and the whole house +could be packed into our front room. Still, +<q>gimme a billet any time.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I have just received the news that I have +been given a Second Lieutenancy in the +Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field +Artillery, and I go into camp at Bisley at +once. I am very glad that before being an +officer I have been a private, because I now +have the latter's point of view. I am going +to try hard to be a good officer; promotion +always means more work and responsibility,—so +here goes. +</p> + +<p> +I have been very busy lately training my +new section, and we are now part of the 12th +Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division +British Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day +for the <q>Great Adventure.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='067'/><anchor id='Pg067'/> + +<p> +Somewhere in France. At last we are here. +We landed at a place the name of which +I am not allowed to mention, and were +then taken by a guide to a <q>Rest Camp</q> +about two miles from the docks. If they +had called it a garbage dump I shouldn't +have been surprised. You would be very +much surprised with the France of to-day. +Everybody speaks English; smart khaki +soldiers in thousands everywhere. +</p> + +<p> +Already I have seen men who have been +gassed and the hospitals here are full of +wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and +night and marching away. English money is +taken here, but French is more satisfactory as +you are likely to get done on the change. The +officers have a mess here just as in England. +Actually we are farther away from the firing +line than we were in camp at Bisley; but we +leave to-day on our machines going direct to +it. There was a transport torpedoed just +outside; they managed to beach her just +in time. The upper decks and masts are +sticking up above water. +</p> + +<pb n='068'/><anchor id='Pg068'/> + +<p> +Since I last wrote anything in this diary +we have ridden over one hundred and ten +miles by road towards the firing line. All +day yesterday it poured. The country was +beautiful, ripening corn everywhere, the +villages are full of old half-timbered houses, +the roads are all national roads built for +war purposes by Napoleon, and run straight; +on either side are tall, poplar shade trees, so +that the roads run through endless avenues. +</p> + +<p> +At night we stayed in a quaint village inn. +The men all slept in a loft over their machines. +Our soaked clothes were put in the kitchen +to dry, but owing to the number of them, +they just warmed up by the morning. One +officer has to follow in the rear of every unit +to pick up the stragglers. I had to bring +up the rear of the column to-day—result: I +didn't get in until early in the morning, +only to find the other subalterns <q>sawing +wood.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Yesterday was the French National Day. +We were cheered as we rode along, and +<pb n='069'/><anchor id='Pg069'/> +women and children smothered us with +flowers. In the morning a funeral of two +small children passed us. Our battery commander +called the battery to attention and +officers saluted. The priest was two days +overdue with his shave—soldiers notice +things like that, you know. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +To-day we continued our ride; the weather +was much better—dried our clothes by +wearing them. Strange to run through +Normandy villages and suddenly come across +British Tommies—many of them speaking +French. A Royal Navy car has just passed +us; our navy seems omnipresent. I saw an +old woman reading a letter by the side of an +old farmhouse to some old people, evidently +from a soldier, probably their son. It reminded +me a great deal of one of Millet's +pictures. Every one thinks of the war here +and nothing but the war; it's not <q>Business +as Usual.</q> +</p> + +<p> +We stay here one night and move away +to-morrow. We can hear the guns faintly. +</p> + +<pb n='070'/><anchor id='Pg070'/> + +<p> +The three section officers, myself and two +others, are sleeping in a hut together. It is +one of these new collapsible kind, very convenient. +We are now all in bed. Outside +the only sound we can hear is the sentries +challenging and the mosquitoes singing. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +All males are soldiers in France, even the +old men. They look very fine in their blue +uniforms, but I have a prejudice for our +khaki Tommies. We get good food as we +travel, but pay war prices for it. Cherries +are now in season; we don't pay for them, +however. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Rode another sixty miles to-day. A car +smashed into the curb, cannoned off and +ran over me, busting my machine up. The +front wheel went over my leg. My revolver +and leather holster saved me from a fracture, +but I got badly bruised up. I was very +scared that I should not be able to go +<q>up</q> with the Battery. It would be almost +a disgrace to go back broken up by a car +<pb n='071'/><anchor id='Pg071'/> +without even getting a whack at the Boche. +Had to ride later on another machine twenty-five +miles through the night without lights, +in a blinding rain. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Everything interesting. Should like to +have a camera with me. I had to post mine +back. So many things are done in the British +Army by putting a man on his honor. They +just ask you to do things. They don't order +you to do it. It was that way with me; +they merely <q>asked</q> me to post my camera +back. +</p> + +<p> +Great powerful cars rush by here all day +and all night, regardless of speed limits. +Every hour or so you see a convoy of twenty +or thirty motor lorries in line bringing up +ammunition or supplies, or coming back +empty. Every point bristles with sentries +who demand passes. If you are not able to +answer satisfactorily, they just shoot. The +French soldiers have magnificent uniforms; +the predominating color is a sort of cobalt +blue. To see sentries, French and British +<pb n='072'/><anchor id='Pg072'/> +together, they make quite a nice color +scheme. +</p> + +<p> +Officers censor all letters. I censor sometimes +fifty letters a day. One man put +in a letter to-day, <q>I can't write anything +endearing in this, as my section officer will +read it.</q> Another, <q>I enclose ten shillings. +Very likely you will not receive this, as my +officer has to censor this letter.</q> Of course +we don't have time to read all the letters +through. We look for names of places and +numbers of divisions, brigades, etc., but I +couldn't help noticing that one of my men, +whom I have long suspected of being a Don +Juan, had by one mail written exactly the +same letter to five different girls in England, +altering only the addresses and the affectionate +beginnings. +</p> + +<p> +The village in which I am now was visited +last September by twelve German officers +who came through in motor cars; the villagers +cried, <q>Vivent les Anglais,</q> for not having +seen an English soldier they took it for +granted that the <q>Tommy</q> had come. +</p> + +<pb n='073'/><anchor id='Pg073'/> + +<p> +Everybody goes armed to the teeth. I +have my belt, a regular Christmas tree for +hanging things on, with revolver and cartridges +on even while I'm writing this. We +carry a lot, but we soon get used to it. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The corn is being cut now. Through the +window opposite I can see it standing in +newly-stacked sheaves. These places are +the favorite sketching grounds of artists in +normal times, and I often wonder if they +ever will be again. +</p> + +<p> +We return salutes with all the French and +Belgian officers. It is difficult sometimes to +distinguish them. I got fooled by a Belgian +postman, and then went to work and cut a +French general. +</p> + +<p> +The nearer we get to the firing line the finer +the type of soldier. They are the magnificent +Britishers of Kitchener's First Army. It +makes you proud to see them marching by, +dirty and wet with sweat. I watched two +battalions come through; they had marched +twenty miles through the sun with new issue +<pb n='074'/><anchor id='Pg074'/> +boots; a few of them had fallen out, and other +men and officers were carrying their equipment +and rifles; many of the officers carried +two rifles. +</p> + +<p> +I am now well within sound of the guns. +A German Taube was shelled as it came over +our firing line yesterday. One man was lying +on his back asleep with his hat over his eyes, +when a piece of shrapnel from one of the +<q>Archies</q> hit him in the stomach—result: +one blasphemous, indignant casualty. From +the road I can see one of the observation +balloons, a queer sausage-shaped airship. +We may be moved up into the thick of it +at any time now. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I have been over into Belgium to-day: +crossed the frontier on my motor bike; the +roads are terrible, all this beastly <q>pavé</q> +cobblestones; awful stuff to ride over on a +motor cycle. Shell holes on both sides of +the road, and I saw three graves in the +corner of a hop garden. All along the +road there were dozens and dozens of old +<pb n='075'/><anchor id='Pg075'/> +London motor buses, taking men to the +trenches. They still have the advertisements +on them and are driven by the bus-drivers +themselves. Three hundred came over with +their own machines. They are now soldiers. +The observation balloon I mentioned yesterday +was shelled down to-day. +</p> + +<p> +I am writing this in an old Flemish farmhouse, +and the room I'm sitting in has a +carved rafter ceiling, red brick floor and +nasty purple cabbage wallpaper. All the men +of the house with the exception of the old +man are at the war; one son has already +died. The Germans have been through here. +They tied the mayor of the town to a tree +and shot him. The trenches have been filled +in, all the wreckage cleared, and they have a +new mayor. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It is not yet 7 <hi rend='smallcaps'>a.m.</hi> I am an orderly officer +and have to take the men out for a run at six. +I came back and bought a London <q>Daily +Mail</q> of yesterday from a country-woman. +We are at least three miles from the town, +<pb n='076'/><anchor id='Pg076'/> +but they are enterprising enough to bring +papers to us at this time in the morning. +A <q>Daily Mail</q> costs four cents. +</p> + +<p> +Since I last wrote I have been up to the +front line. Everything is different from what +you imagine. The German trenches are +easily distinguished through glasses; their +sand-bags are multi-colored. Shrapnel was +bursting over ruins of an old town in their +lines. When you look through a periscope +at the wilderness, it is difficult to imagine +that thousands of soldiers on both sides have +burrowed themselves into the earth. The +evidence of their alertness is shown by their +snipers, who are always busy whenever the +target is up. +</p> + +<p> +A battery of eight-inch howitzers was +opening fire. Our battery commander, hearing +this, sent us up. The guns, big fellows, +were well concealed. They were painted in +protective colors and covered with screens of +branches to prevent aerial observation. In +the grounds all over the place were dug-outs, +deep rabbit burrows, ten or twelve feet down, +<pb n='077'/><anchor id='Pg077'/> +into which everybody went immediately. +The Germans started their <q>hate.</q> The +firing is done by hand cord; other big guns +are fired electrically. An enormous flash, +an ear-splitting crash, a great sheet of flame +from the muzzle, and two hundred pounds of +steel is sent tearing through the air to the +<q>Kultur</q> exponents. The whole gun lifts off +the ground and runs back on its oil-compression +springs. These guns are moved by +their own caterpillar tractors which are kept +somewhere close by. In three quarters of an +hour they can get them started on the road. +The ground for these emplacements was the +orchard of a chateau. While we were there +a whistle blew three times, an order shouted; +immediately the guns were covered up and +the men took cover. The enemy had sent +an aeroplane to locate them. If they could +once find them, hundreds of shells would +rain on this spot in a few minutes. At a few +yards' distance I couldn't see the guns +myself. The <q>Hows</q> were firing at a house +in the German lines which had been giving +<pb n='078'/><anchor id='Pg078'/> +trouble. In three rounds they got it and +then started in to <q>dust</q> the neighborhood. +Of course, the firing is indirect. The officers +and men who are with the guns don't see the +effects. Apparently they fire straight away +in the air. The observation is done by the +forward observing officer in the fire trenches +who corrects them by 'phone. +</p> + +<p> +After the appointed number of rounds had +been fired, we adjourned to the chateau, a +fine house, marble mantelpiece, plaster ceilings, +gilt mirror panels, etc. It has still a +few pieces of furniture left, no carpets, most +of the windows are smashed; shells have +visited it, but chiefly in splinters. I saw one +picture on the wall with a hole drilled in by +a shrapnel bullet which had gone clean +through as though it had been drilled. It +hadn't smashed the glass otherwise. From a +window of the room, which the officers use +as a mess, a neat row of graves is to be seen. +Outside there are great shell holes, most +of them big enough to bury a horse. Suddenly +a shriek and a deafening explosion +<pb n='079'/><anchor id='Pg079'/> +occurred in the garden. <q>Sixty-pound shrapnel! +Evening hate,</q> said an artillery sub. +We left! We had been sent up to see the +guns fire and not to be fired at. +</p> + +<p> +To go home we had to pass a village completely +deserted, a village that was once +prosperous, where people lived and traded +and only wanted to be left alone. Now grass +is growing in the streets. Shops have their +merchandise strewn and rotting in all directions. +On one fragment of a wall a family +portrait was still hanging, and a woman's +undergarments. A grand piano, and a perambulator +tied in a knot were trying to +get down through a coal chute. To wander +through a village like this one that has been +smashed up, and with the knowledge that +the smashing up may be continued any time, +is thrilling. Churches are always hateful to +the Germans. They shell them all; bits of +the organs are wrapped around the tombstones, +and coffins, bones and skulls are +churned up into a great stew. In some of the +villages a few of the inhabitants had stayed +<pb n='080'/><anchor id='Pg080'/> +and traded with the soldiers. They lived in +cellars usually and suffered terribly. British +military police direct the traffic when there +is any, and are stationed at crossroads with +regular beats like a city policeman. +</p> + +<p> +While traveling to another part of the +line we had an opportunity of seeing the +<q>Archies</q> (anti-aircraft guns) working. +They were mounted on lorries and fire quite +good-sized shells. They fired about fifty +shots at one Taube, but didn't register a +bull. Later in the evening from a trench we +had the satisfaction of seeing another aeroplane +set on fire, burn, and drop into the +German lines like a shot partridge. Aeroplanes +are as common as birds. Yesterday +a <q>Pfeil</q> (arrow) biplane came right over +our lines and was chased off by our own +machines. The enemy's aeroplanes have +their iron cross painted on the underside of +their wings and are more hawkish-looking +than ours. They are more often used for +reconnoitering and taking photographs than +for dropping bombs. +</p> + +<pb n='081'/><anchor id='Pg081'/> + +<p> +We are being moved up closer to the firing +line. I have been made billeting officer. +I went to headquarters; a staff colonel +showed me a subdivision on a map. <q>Go +there and select a place for your unit.</q> The +place was a wretched village of about six +houses, all of which are more or less +smashed about, windows repaired with +sacking and pieces of wood. All of the +inhabitants have moved except those who +are too poor. Every square inch is utilized. +I managed to get a cow-shed for the officers. +It looks comfortable. On the door I could +just decipher, written in chalk, by some previous +billeting officer,— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>2 Staff Officers</l> +<l>6 Officers</l> +<l>2 Horses</l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +Billeting chalk marks are on almost all the +shops and houses up from the coast to the +front. +</p> + +<p> +The field which we are expecting to put +the men into belonged to a miller who lived +<pb n='082'/><anchor id='Pg082'/> +in a different area. We went to see him. He +couldn't speak English or French, so I tried +him with German. While we were talking, +I noticed some non-coms watching us very +intently and was not surprised to find one +following us back down the road. When he +saw our car he came up and apologized for +having taken us for spies. They are looking +for two Germans in our lines wearing British +uniforms, who have given several gun +positions away. Two days ago the enemy +shelled the road systematically on both sides +for half a mile when an ammunition column +was due. It was quite dark before we left; +the sky was continually lit up by the star +shells, very pretty white rockets, which light +up No Man's Land. The enemy has a very +good kind which remains alight for several +minutes. +</p> + +<p> +Our days of comfortable billets are over, +I am afraid. Unless you are working hard, +it is miserable here,—wrecked towns, bad +roads, shell holes, smells, dirt, soldiers, +horses, trenches. The inhabitants are a +<pb n='083'/><anchor id='Pg083'/> +poor, wretched lot. Many of them are +thieves and spies. We are right in Belgium, +where flies and smells are as varied +as in the Orient. +</p> + +<p> +Wherever we travel by day or night we are +constantly challenged by sentries and have +to produce our passes. We stopped in one +darkened shell-riddled town and knocked up +an <foreign rend='italic'>estaminet</foreign>; we got a much finer meal than +you can get at many places farther back. +We talked to the woman who kept it and +asked her if she slept in the cellar. <q>Oh, no! +I sleep upstairs, they never bombard except +at three in the morning or nine at night. +Then I go into the cellar.</q> This woman was +a very pleasant, intelligent person, most +probably a spy. Intelligent people generally +leave the danger zone. +</p> + +<p> +Marching through the sloughed-up mud, +through shell holes filled with putrid water, +amongst most depressing conditions, I saw +a working party returning to their billets. +They were wet through and wrapped up with +scarves, wool helmets, and gloves. Over +<pb n='084'/><anchor id='Pg084'/> +their clothes was a veneer of plastered mud. +They marched along at a slow swing and in +a mournful way sang— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Left—Left—Left</q></l> +<l><q rend='post'>We—are—the tough Guys!</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +Apparently there are no more words to this +song because after a pause of a few beats +they commenced again— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l><q>Left—Left—Left—</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +They looked exactly what they said they +were. +</p> + +<p> +Windmills, of which there are a good +many, are only allowed to work under observation. +It was found that they were +often giving the enemy information, using +the position of the sails to spell out codes in +the same way as in semaphore; clock-hands +on church towers are also used in the same +way. +</p> + +<p> +I saw a pathetic sight to-day. A stretcher +came by with a man painfully wounded; he +was inclined to whimper; one of the stretcher-bearers +<pb n='085'/><anchor id='Pg085'/> +said quietly to him, <q>Be British.</q> +He immediately straightened himself out +and asked for a <q>fag.</q> He died that night. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We had a terrific bombardment last night; +the ground shook all night and the sky +was lit up for miles. The Boches used +liquid fire on some new troops and we lost +ground. +</p> + +<p> +I found this piece of poetry on the wall of +a smashed-up chateau, and I have copied it +exactly as I found it. The writing was on a +darkened wall, and while I copied it my guide +held a torchlight up to it. The place passes +as <q>Dead Cow Farm</q> on all official maps. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l><q rend='post'>I've traveled many journeys in my one score years and ten,</q></l> +<l>And oft enjoyed the company of jovial fellow men,</l> +<l>But of all the happy journeys none can compare to me</l> +<l>With the Red-Cross special night express from the trenches to the sea.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>It's Bailleul, Boulogne, Blighty, that's the burden of the song,</q></l> +<l>Oh, speed the train along.</l> +<pb n='086'/><anchor id='Pg086'/> +<l>If you've only half a stomach and you haven't got a knee,</l> +<l>You'll choke your groans and try to shout the chorus after me.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bailleul, Boulogne, and Blighty, dear old Blighty <q>cross the sea.</q></l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Now some of us are mighty bad and some are wounded slight,</q></l> +<l>And some will see their threescore years and some won't last the night,</l> +<l>But the Red Cross train takes up the strain all in a minor key</l> +<l>And sings Boulogne and Blighty as she rumbles to the sea.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Oh, it's better than the trenches and it's better than the rain,</q></l> +<l>It's better than the mud and stink; we're going home again,</l> +<l>Though most of us have left some of us on the wrong side of the sea.</l> +<l>We are a lot of blooming cripples, but—downhearted? No, siree.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>There's a holy speed about this train for each of us can see</q></l> +<l>That we will cross the shining channel that lies 'twixt her and me</l> +<l>To the one and only Blighty, our Blighty, 'cross the sea,'</l> +<l><q rend='post'>Where the blooming Huns can never come, 'twixt her and home and +me.</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<pb n='087'/><anchor id='Pg087'/> + +<p> +<q>Blighty</q> is the wound which sends a +man home to England; it's a war word which +came originally from the Indians, but now +universally adopted in the new trench language. +</p> + +<p> +I was walking along a trench when a man, +who was sitting on a firestep looking up into +a little trench mirror (which is used by putting +the end of the bayonet between the +glass and the frame), just crumpled up, shot +through the heart. He didn't say a word. +The trench had thinned out and the bullet +had come through, nearly four feet down +from the top of the parapet. +</p> + +<p> +Bad shell fire this afternoon. Saw shells +churning things up seventy-five yards away; +many passed overhead; had a ride on my +motor cycle with the other officers to reconnoiter +the roads leading down to the part of +the trenches we have taken over; road was +shelled as we came along. Two <q>coal boxes</q> +hit the road and smashed up a cottage in +front of us; we picked up pieces of the shell +too hot to hold. +</p> + +<pb n='088'/><anchor id='Pg088'/> + +<p> +Our billet now is another large farm, with +the pump in the center of the manure heap +as usual; our machines are parked all round +a field close to the hedges to make a smaller +target and also to prevent aerial observation. +</p> + +<p> +I went through a town this morning which +has been on everybody's lips for months—I +have never seen such devastation in my +life; it baffles description. The San Francisco +earthquake was a joke to this. Thousands +and thousands of shells have pummeled +and smashed until very little remains besides +wreckage. Most of the shelling has been +done to deliberately destroy the objects of +architectural value. +</p> + +<p> +My quarters are in a loft amongst rags, old +agricultural implements, sacks, and the accumulation +of years of dirt; flies wake me +up at daylight. +</p> + +<p> +This morning I went for a drink in the +<foreign rend='italic'>estaminet</foreign> I have mentioned already. Two +shells have been through the sides of the +house since we were last there, but they both +came through at the usual scheduled time. +</p> + +<pb n='089'/><anchor id='Pg089'/> + +<p> +This poor country is pockmarked with +shell craters like a great country with a skin +disease. Trees have been splintered worse +than any storm could do. Nothing has been +spared. The mineral rights of this territory +should be very valuable some day. When +we have all finished salting the earth with +nickel, lead, steel, copper, and aluminum, +old-metal dealers will probably set up offices +in No Man's Land. +</p> + +<p> +Belgium will have to be rebuilt entirely, +or left as it is, a monument to <q>Kultur.</q> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +My section has been ordered up to a divisional +area on the south of the salient. In +accordance with instructions I went up to +Ypres this morning to find a place to park +the machines. +</p> + +<p> +Contrary to the popular belief, we do not +fight our guns from the motor cycles themselves. +We use our machines to get about +on, and the guns are taken up as near as +possible to the position we are to occupy, +which is usually behind Brigade Headquarters. +<pb n='090'/><anchor id='Pg090'/> +Brigadiers have a great aversion to any +kind of motor vehicle being driven past their +headquarters, owing to the movement and +noise, which they believe attracts attention to +themselves, and as a rule the sentries posted +outside will see that no machines go by. We +get up as far as we can, because after we part +from our machines, everything must be carried +up through the trenches by hand. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-motor'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/motor.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +I arrived at the town early and reported +to the major who is in charge of the town and +of the troops quartered there. He was living +in the prison, a substantial brick and +stone building, which has been smashed about +a bit, but which is still a fairly good structure. +The major is a fine, gruff old gentleman +who was a master of fox hounds in the +North of England. He came over with a +detachment of cavalry. He is past the age +limit, and it was decided that although he was +a fine soldier, perhaps his age would be a +deterrent and his job ought to be something +lighter, so they gave him one of the fiercest +jobs in the world—O. C. Ypres! +</p> + +<pb n='091'/><anchor id='Pg091'/> + +<p> +I was sent in, and when he heard my errand +he said, <q>You want to park your machines +in Ypres? Why don't you take them +up in the German front lines? You'll be safer +there than here. Listen to the shelling now.</q> +I knew this, but I was doing just exactly +what I was told. He continued: <q>I have now +thousands of troops here and my daily casualties +are enormous, so naturally I don't want +any more men. The best plan for you will be +to go down the Lille road and pick a house +below <q>Shrapnel Corner.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +I went on through the town, under the +Lille gate, across the tram lines, past the +famous cross-roads known as <q>Shrapnel +Corner</q> and chummed up with some artillery +officers. They told me that I could +have any of the houses I wanted. I picked +a couple which looked to me to be more complete +than the rest and chalked them up. +This whole place was alive with batteries. +While I was there I heard a shout and suddenly +a hidden battery of guns, sunk behind +the road with the muzzles almost resting on +<pb n='092'/><anchor id='Pg092'/> +it, started firing across in the direction of the +part of Belgium occupied by Fritz. I had +passed within two feet of these guns and yet +had not seen them, they were so well <q>camouflaged.</q> +On my way back I saw the <q>Big +Berthas</q> bursting in the town, and I was +surprised that so little damage had been +actually done to the Lille gate itself. Shells +had visited everywhere in the neighborhood, +but had not smashed this old structure. +</p> + +<p> +I went home, collected my men together, +and told them the importance of the work +we were to undertake. I have found it always +a good thing to make the men think the +job that they are doing is of great importance. +Better results are obtained that way. +</p> + +<p> +We went to an <q>engineer dump</q> on the +way up just after the enemy had landed a +shell on a wagon loading building material, +and wounded were being carried off and the +mangled horses had been dragged on one +side. As the wounded came by I called my +section to attention, the compliment due to +wounded men paid by units drawn up. +</p> + +<pb n='093'/><anchor id='Pg093'/> + +<p> +We drew our sandbags in the usual way +by requisitioning for five thousand and getting +one thousand. Always ask for more +than you expect to get. +</p> + +<p> +As we came into Ypres, a military policeman +on duty told me it was unhealthy to go +the usual way through the Market Square, +because the shelling was bad in that part of +the town, so I spread the machines out and +started on down a side street. We were getting +on finely and I was congratulating myself +on getting through, when two houses, +hit from the back, collapsed across the +street in front of my machine. Without +any ceremony I turned my machine back +along the street which we had come and +went through the Market Square down the +Lille road, under the gate, being followed by +my section. About four hundred yards down +I stopped; holding my solo motor cycle between +my legs, standing up, I looked back. +I counted my machines as they came up. If +it hadn't been so scary, it really would +have been funny, to see these machines +<pb n='094'/><anchor id='Pg094'/> +coming down the road through shell holes +and over piles of bricks, as fast as the +drivers could make them go. The men were +hanging on for dear life and the machines +rocked from side to side, but they were all +there. +</p> + +<p> +Down the road we went to the houses; +there we parked the machines and unpacked. +A guard was placed over them and the rest +of us marched down to the trenches. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +An officer has to buy all his own equipment +and is allowed two hundred and fifty +dollars by the Government towards the cost. +An officer carries a revolver, but all junior +officers as soon as possible acquire a rifle. +The men of a <q>salvage company</q> were +collecting all the rifles, bayonets, and parts +of equipment near where I was to-day +and I managed to get a Lee-Enfield (British +rifle) in good shape. I felt that I would +like to have a rifle and bayonet handy. +I found a good-looking bayonet sticking in +the side of a sandbag wall. It looked lonely. +<pb n='095'/><anchor id='Pg095'/> +The scabbard I am using was resting in a +loft of a deserted brewery. I am now complete +with rifle, bayonet, and scabbard. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-wipers'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/wipers.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>"Wipers"</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +Sometimes you see a man smashed about +in a terrible way, such a mess that you think +he is a goner; he may recover. Another man +may have just a small wound and will die. +A bullet hitting a man in the head will smash +it as effectually as a sledge-hammer. Once +a man leaves your unit, wounded, you don't +see him again. You get a fresh draft. +</p> + +<p> +No one thinks of peace here. Germany +must be put in a similar state to Belgium +first. +</p> + +<p> +We never travel anywhere without our +smoke helmets; they come right over our +heads and are tucked into our shirts; they +have two glass eye-pieces. When we have +them on we look like the old Spanish gentleman +who ran the <q>Star Chamber.</q> +Helmets must always be ready to put on +instantly. Gas is a matter of seconds in +coming over. The helmets are better than +respirators, but have to be constantly inspected. +<pb n='096'/><anchor id='Pg096'/> +A small hole, or if one is allowed to +dry, means a casualty. +</p> + +<p> +Storm brewing. Flies bad, driven in by +the wind. Nature goes on just the same. I +suppose that this farm would be just as fly-ridden +in an ordinary summer. During the +bombarding yesterday I noticed swallows +flying about quite unconcerned. Corn, +mostly self-planted, grows right up to the +trenches. Cabbages grow wild. Communicating +trenches run right through fields of +crops; flowers grow in profusion between the +lines, big red poppies and field daisies, and +there are often hundreds of little frogs in the +bottom of the trenches. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +A trip to No Man's Land is an excursion +which you never forget. It varies in width +and horrors. My impression was similar to +what I should feel being on Broadway without +any clothes—a naked feeling. Forty-seven +and one half inches of earth are necessary +to stop a bullet, and it's nice to have that +amount of dirt between you and the enemy's +<pb n='097'/><anchor id='Pg097'/> +bullets. The dead lie out in between the lines +or hang up on the wire; they don't look +pretty after they have been out some time. +It's a pleasant job to have to get their identification +disks, and we have to search the +bodies of the enemy dead for papers and +even buttons so that we can know what unit +is in front of us. Flowers grow in between, +butterflies play together, and birds nest +in the wire. When the grass becomes too +high it has to be cut, because otherwise it +would prevent good observation. In some +places grass doesn't have a chance to even +take root, let alone grow. The shells take +care of that. +</p> + +<p> +I managed to get a translation of a diary +kept by a German soldier who fell on the +field. Below is an exact translation and gives +the point of view of a man in the trenches on +the other side of the line. He was writing +his diary at the same time I was writing mine, +and we were both fighting around the salient +at Ypres, Hooge being on the point of the +salient farthest east. This part, which was +<pb n='098'/><anchor id='Pg098'/> +once a place of beauty which people came +long distances to see, is now like a great +muddy Saragossa Sea which at the height of +its fury has suddenly become frozen with +the tortured limbs of trees and men, and +wreckage and reeking smells, until it can +again lash itself in wild fury into whirlpools. +It is in all respects Purgatory, but of greater +horror than Dante ever dreamt of. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Diary of F---- P---- of the 6th Company, +3d Battalion, 132d Regiment. Killed at +Hooge on August 9th, 1915.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +On May 10, we were told to prepare for the +journey to the front. Each man received his +service ammunition and two days' rations, and +we then started with heavy packs on our backs +and our water-bottles full of coffee. After a long +march we reached our reserve position, where we +were put into rest billets for two days in wooden +huts hidden in a wood. We could hear from here +the noise of the shells coming through the air. +</p> + +<p> +On May 13, we moved into the trenches, in the +night. We were a whole hour moving along a +communication trench one and one-half metres +deep, right up to the front line some fifty metres +<pb n='099'/><anchor id='Pg099'/> +from the enemy. This was to be our post. We +had hardly got in before the bullets came flying +over our heads. Look out for the English! They +know how to shoot! I need hardly say we did +not wait to return the compliment. We answered +each one of their greetings and always with success, +inasmuch as we stood to our loopholes for +twenty-four hours with two-hour reliefs. +</p> + +<p> +At length early on the 15th, at four o'clock, +came our first attack. After a preliminary smoking-out +with gas, our artillery got to work, and +about ten o'clock we climbed out of the trenches +and advanced fifty metres in the hail of bullets. +Here I got my first shot through the coat. Three +comrades were killed at the outset of the assault, +and some twenty slightly or severely wounded, +but we had obtained our object. The trench was +ours, although the English twice attempted to +turn us out of it. +</p> + +<p> +The fight went on till eleven o'clock that evening. +We were then relieved by the 10th Company, +and made our way back along the communication +trenches to our old positions. Here +we remained until the third day, standing by at +night and passing two days without sleep. We +were hardly able to get our meals. From every +side firing was going on, and shots came plugging +two metres deep into the ground. This was my +baptism of fire. It cannot be described as it +really is—something like an earthquake, when +<pb n='100'/><anchor id='Pg100'/> +the big shells come at one and make holes in the +ground large enough to hold forty or fifty men +comfortably. How easy and comfortable seemed +our road back to the huts. +</p> + +<p> +We remained in the huts for three days, resting +before we went up again to <q>Hell Fire,</q> as +they call the first line trenches in front of Ypres. +</p> + +<p> +Then suddenly in the middle of the night an +alarm. Our neighbors had allowed themselves +to be driven out of our hard-won position, and +the 6th Company, with the 8th and 5th, had to +make good the lost ground. A hasty march +through the communication trenches up to the +front, the night lit up far and wide with searchlights +and flares and ourselves in a long chain +lying on our bellies. Towards two in the morning +the Englishmen came on, 1500 men strong. +The battle may be imagined. About 200 returned +to the line they started from. Over 1300 dead +and wounded lay on the ground. Six machine +guns and a quantity of rifles and equipment were +taken back by us, the 132d Regiment, and the +old position was once more in our possession. +What our neighbors lost the 132d regained. +There was free beer that evening and a concert! +At 11 <hi rend='smallcaps'>p.m.</hi> once more we withdrew to the rear, +our 2d, 4th and 10th Companies relieving us. +We slept a whole day and night like the dead. +</p> + +<p> +On June 15th, we again went back to rest billets, +but towards midday we were once more sent +<pb n='101'/><anchor id='Pg101'/> +up to the front line to reinforce our right wing, +which was attacked by French and English. +Just as we got to our trenches we were greeted +by a heavy shell fire, the shells falling in front of +our parapets, making the sandbags totter. Seeing +this, I sprang to the spot and held the whole +thing together till the others hurried up to my +assistance. Just as I was about to let go, I must +have got my head too high above the parapet, as +I got shot in the scalp. In the excitement I did +not at once realize that I was wounded, until +Gubbert said—<q>Hullo, Musch! Why, you're +bleeding!</q> The stretcher-bearer tied me up, +and I had to go back to the dressing-station to +be examined. Happily it was nothing more than +a mere scalp wound, and I was only obliged to +remain on the sick-list four days, having the place +attended to. +</p> + +<p> +June 24th. All quiet in the West, except for +sniping. The weather is such that no offensive +can take place. The English will never have a +better excuse for inactivity than this—<q>It is +raining.</q> Thank God for that! Less dust to +swallow to-day! Odd that here in Belgium we +are delighted with the rain, while in Germany +they are watching it with anxiety. +</p> + +<p> +To-day we shall probably be relieved. Then +we go to Menin to rest. Ten days without coming +under fire. It is Paradise! +</p> + +<p> +Sunday, June 27th. At nine o'clock clean up. +<pb n='102'/><anchor id='Pg102'/> +At eleven roll-call. At three o'clock went to the +Cinema—very fine pictures. In the afternoon +all the men danced till seven, but we had to take +each other for partners—no girls. +</p> + +<p> +July 2d. 11 <hi rend='smallcaps'>p.m.</hi> Alarm. Three persons have +been arrested who refused to make sandbags. +They were pulled out of bed and carried off. +Eight o'clock marched to drill. This lasts till 11. +Then 1 to 4 rest. Six, physical drill and games. +I went to the Cinema in the evening. +</p> + +<p> +July 6th. Inspection till eleven. Three hours +standing in the sun—enough to drive me silly. +Twenty-three men fell out. Three horses also +affected by the heat. Eleven to one Parade +march—in the sun. Thirty-six more men reported +sick. I was very nearly one of them. +</p> + +<p> +July 9th. Preparation for departure. From +seven to ten pack up kits. Eleven, roll-call. +One-thirty, march to light railway. At seven +reached firing trench. The English are firing +intermittently over our heads; otherwise, all is +quiet. We are now on the celebrated, much-bewritten-about +<q>Hill 60.</q> Night passes without +incident. +</p> + +<p> +July 12th. At three in the morning the enemy +makes a gas attack. We put on respirators. +Rifle in hand we leap from the trenches and assault. +In front of Hill 60 the enemy breaks, and +we come into possession of a trench. Rapid digging. +Counter-attack repulsed. At nine o'clock +<pb n='103'/><anchor id='Pg103'/> +all is quiet, only the artillery still popping. This +evening we are to be relieved. The 132d Regiment +is much beloved by the English! In a dugout +we found two labels. One of them had the +following writing on it: <q>God strafe the 132d +Regiment (not <q>God strafe England</q> this time). +Sergeant Scott (?) Remington, Sewster Wall (?).</q> +On the other was, <q>I wish the Devil would take +you, you pigs.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At 7.20 Hill 60 is bombarded by artillery, and +shakes thirty to fifty metres, as if from an earthquake. +Two English companies blown into the +air—a terrible picture. Dug-outs, arms, equipment—all +blown to bits. +</p> + +<p> +July 17th. Marched to new quarters. We +have got a new captain. He wants to see the +company, so at 8 <hi rend='smallcaps'>a.m.</hi> drill in pouring rain. Four +times we have to lie on our belly, and get wet +through and through. All the men grumbling +and cursing. At eleven we are dismissed. I, with +a bad cold and a headache. I wish this soldiering +were all over. +</p> + +<p> +July 19th. At seven sharp we marched off to +our position. Heavy bombardment. At nine +we were buried by a shell. I know no more. At +eleven I found myself lying in the Field Hospital. +I have pains inside me over my lungs; and headache, +and burning in the joints. +</p> + +<p> +July 20th. The M.O. has had a look at me. +He says my stomach and left lung are suffering +<pb n='104'/><anchor id='Pg104'/> +from the pressure which was put on them. The +principal remedy is rest. +</p> + +<p> +July 21st. Thirty-nine degrees of fever (temp. +100° Fahr.). Stay in bed and sleep, and oh! how +tired I am! +</p> + +<p> +July 22d. I slept all day. Had milk and white +bread to eat. +</p> + +<p> +July 26th. Returned to duty with three days' +exemption, i.e., we do not have any outdoor +work. +</p> + +<p> +July 28th and 29th. Still on exemption. +Nothing to do but sleep and think of home and +of my dear wife and daughter. But dreaming +does not bring peace any sooner. How I would +love an hour or two back home. +</p> + +<p> +July 31st. In rest. Baths going. Duke of +Württemberg passed through our camp. +</p> + +<p> +August 1st. Up to the trenches. Shrapnel +flying like flies. A heavy bombardment; bombardment +of Hooge. Second Battalion, 132d +Regiment, sent up to reinforce 126th Regiment, +which has already lost half its men. +</p> + +<p> +August 4th. Heavy artillery fire the whole +night. The English are concentrating 50,000 +Indians on our front to attack Hooge and Hill +60. Just let them come, we shall stand firm. +At three marched off to the front. Watch beginning +again. Five o'clock marched off to the +Witches' Cauldron, Hooge. A terrible night +again. H.E. and shrapnel without number. Oh, +<pb n='105'/><anchor id='Pg105'/> +thrice-cursed Hooge! In one hour eleven killed +and twenty-three wounded and the fire unceasing. +It is enough to drive one mad, and we have +to spend three days and three nights more. It +is worse than an earthquake, and any one who has +not experienced it can have no idea what it is +like. The English fired a mine, a hole fifteen +metres deep and fifty to sixty broad, and this +<q>cauldron</q> has to be occupied at night. At +present it isn't too badly shelled. At every shot +the dug-outs sway to and fro like a weather-cock. +This life we have to stick to for months. One +needs nerves of steel and iron. Now I must crawl +into our hole, as trunks and branches of trees fly +in our trench like spray. +</p> + +<p> +August 6th. To-night moved to the crater +again, half running and half crawling. At seven +a sudden burst of fire from the whole of the artillery. +From about eleven yesterday fires as if +possessed. This morning at four we fall back. +We find the 126th have no communication with +the rear, as the communication trenches have +been completely blown in. The smoke and thirst +are enough to drive one mad. Our cooker doesn't +come up. The 126th gives us bread and coffee +from the little they have. If only it would stop! +We get direct hits one after another and lie in a +sort of dead end, cut off from all communication. +If only it were night. What a feeling to be thinking +every second when I shall get it! ---- has +<pb n='106'/><anchor id='Pg106'/> +just fallen, the third man in our platoon. Since +eight the fire has been unceasing; the earth +shakes and we with it. Will God ever bring us +out of this fire? I have said the Lord's Prayer +and am resigned. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +To-day I saw the <q>Mound of Death</q> at +Saint-Eloi; it has been mined a number of +times, and thousands of shells have beaten it +into a disorderly heap of earth; the trenches +are twenty-five yards apart; all the grass and +vegetation has been blown away and never +has had time to grow up again. +</p> + +<p> +It's all arranged for you, if there's a bit +of shell or a bullet with your name on it +you'll get it, so you've nothing to worry +about. You are a soldier—then be one. +This is the philosophy of the trenches. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<anchor id='illus-whats-the-use'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/whats-the-use.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>What's The Use?</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +War is a great ager. Young men grow old +quickly here. It can be seen in their faces; +they have lost all the irresponsibility of +youth. I have met many men who have been +here since Mons; they all look weary and +<pb n='107'/><anchor id='Pg107'/> +worn out by the strain. Now new troops +are coming forward and it is hoped that they +will be able to send some back for a rest. +</p> + +<p> +Several days ago the adjutant of the +Tenth Battalion Sherwood Foresters came +to me with this message which was sent +through our lines:— +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Arrest Officer Royal Engineers with orderly. +Former, six feet, black moustache, web equipment, +revolver. Latter, short, carries rifle, canvas +bandolier. Please warn transports and all +concerned. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Everybody kept a good lookout for these +spies. One sentry surprised a real R.E. +officer named Perkins who was working out +a drainage scheme. Seeming to answer the +above description, he stalked him,—<q>Come +'ere, you ---- ----, you're the ---- I've been +looking for.</q> The officer, nonplussed, commenced +to stutter. <q>Sergeant, I've got 'im +and he can't speak a word of English.</q> +The sergeant collected him in and guarded +him until another engineer officer, known to +the guard, came along. As soon as Perkins +<pb n='108'/><anchor id='Pg108'/> +saw him, he said, <q>F-r-r-ed, t-t-tell this +d-d-damn fool wh-ho I am.</q> <q>Who the +hell are you calling Fred? I don't know +him; hold him, sergeant, he's a desperate +one.</q> Scarcely able to contain his joy, Fred +went back to the Engineers' Camp to tell +the great news and Perkins spent three hours +in the sandbag dugout listening to a description +of what the sergeant and his guard +would do to him if they only had their +way. +</p> + +<p> +The real spies, who did a great deal of +damage, were finally rounded up and shot in +a listening post trying to regain their own +lines. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Enemy snipers give us a great deal of +trouble. It is very difficult to locate them. +One of our men tried out an original scheme. +He put an empty biscuit tin on the parapet. +Immediately the sniper put a bullet +through it. Now thought the Genius, <q>If +I look through the two holes it will give me +my direction,</q>—so getting up on the firestep +<pb n='109'/><anchor id='Pg109'/> +he looked through, only to roll over +with the top of his head smashed off by a +bullet. The sniper was shooting his initials +on the tin. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We are all used to dead bodies or pieces +of men, so much so that we are not troubled +by the sight of them. There was a right +hand sticking out of the trench in the position +of a man trying to shake hands with +you, and as the men filed out they would +often grip it and say, <q>So long, old top, we'll +be back again soon.</q> One man had the +misfortune to be buried in such a way that +the bald part of the head showed. It had +been there a long time and was sun-dried. +Tommy used him to strike his matches on. +A corpse in a trench is quite a feature, and is +looked for when the men come back again +to the same trench. +</p> + +<p> +We live mostly on bully beef and hard +tack. The first is corned beef and the second +is a kind of dog biscuit. We always wondered +why they were so particular about a +<pb n='110'/><anchor id='Pg110'/> +man's teeth in the army. Now I know. It's +on account of these biscuits. The chief ingredient +is, I think, cement, and they taste +that way too. To break them it is necessary +to use the handle of your entrenching tool +or a stone. We have fried, baked, mashed, +boiled, toasted, roasted, poached, hashed, +devilled them alone and together with bully +beef, and we have still to find a way of making +them into interesting food. +</p> + +<p> +However, the Boche likes our beef. He +prefers the brand canned in Chicago to his +own, and will almost sit up and beg if we +throw some over to him. The method is as follows: +Throw one over ... sounds of shuffling +and getting out of the way are heard in the +enemy trench. Fritz thinks it's going to go +off. Pause, and throw another. Fritz not +so suspicious this time. Keep on throwing +until happy voices from enemy trenches +shout, <q>More! Give us more!</q> Then lob +over as many hand grenades as you can pile +into that part of the trench and tell them to +share those too. +</p> + +<pb n='111'/><anchor id='Pg111'/> + +<p> +It takes some time to distinguish whether +shells are arrivals or departures, but after a +while you get into the way of telling their +direction and size by sound. Roads are +constantly shelled, searching for troops or +supply columns. I was coming home to-day, +up a road which ran approximately at right +angles to main fire trenches. At one place +the road was exposed for a matter of thirty or +forty feet, and again farther up it was necessary +to go over the brow of a small hill. This +was about three hundred yards farther on +and was exposed to the enemy's view. Thinking +they wouldn't bother about a single +rider on a motor cycle, I went up past the +first exposed position. My carburetor was +giving me some trouble and I thought I +would see if any rain had got into it, so I +turned off the road down a cross-road and +dismounted when <emph>crash</emph>! a shell landed right +in the middle of the road as far up the exposed +place as I was round the corner. Then five +more followed the first shell. Had I gone +on I could not possibly have missed collecting +<pb n='112'/><anchor id='Pg112'/> +most of the fragments. The German gunners +had spotted me in the first position and decided +that a lone man on a motor cycle must +be either an officer or despatch rider. So +they tried to get him. The shells were shrapnel +and the time was calculated splendidly. +They had taken into consideration the speed +of my motor cycle. Cross-roads are particularly +attended to, for there is a double chance +of hitting something, and in consequence it +is always unhealthy to linger on a crossroad. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Dugouts are often made very comfortable +with windows, tiled floors and furniture taken +from neighboring shattered chateaux. I have +even seen them with flowers growing in window-boxes +over the entrance. They all have +names. Some I saw yesterday were called +<q>Anti-Krupp Cottage,</q> <q>Pleasant View,</q> +and <q>Little Grey Home in the West.</q> There +was one very homey site, well equipped and +fitted, which had been dubbed the <q>Nut,</q>—the +colonel lived there. +</p> + +<pb n='113'/><anchor id='Pg113'/> + +<p> +My old corps brought an aeroplane down +with a machine gun last night. They were +in a shell hole between the main and support +trenches. +</p> + +<p> +For the last few days I have been <q>up</q> +looking for gun positions. +</p> + +<p> +The lice are getting to be a torment. You +have no idea how bad they are. Everybody +up here is infested with them. I have tried +smearing myself with kerosene, but that +does not seem to trouble them at all. Silk +underwear is supposed to keep them down. +I suppose their feet slip on the shiny surface. +</p> + +<p> +The food lately has taken on a wonderful +flavor and I now know how dissolved German +tastes. The cook, instead of sending +back two miles for water to cook with, has +been using water from the moat in which a +Boche had been slowly disintegrating. +</p> + +<p> +To-day I was able to see what a German +seventeen-inch shell could do; one had made +a crater fifty feet across and twenty feet +deep in the middle of the road. The top of +the road was paved—think it over—and +<pb n='114'/><anchor id='Pg114'/> +pieces kill at a thousand yards. Thirty +horses were buried in another hole. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I have been given a special job by the +general to enfilade a wood over the Mound. +I have my section now in the second-line +trenches waiting till it is dark before making +a move. We have to make a machine-gun +emplacement in a piece of ground which is +decidedly unhealthy to visit during daylight. +I have been there in daylight, but I had to +creep out of it. On the map it is called a +farm, but the highest wall is only three feet +six inches high. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Arrived home about two o'clock this +morning. We crawled to the place we have +to take up, and I put some men filling sandbags +in the ruins and others even digging a +dugout. The enemy had <q>the wind up</q> and +were using a great number of star shells. +When one goes up we all <q>freeze,</q> remain motionless, +or lie still. They send them up to see +across their front, and if they locate a working +<pb n='115'/><anchor id='Pg115'/> +party, then they start playing a tune +with their machine guns. Bullets and shells +whistled through the trees all the time. They +seemed to come from all directions. The men +didn't like it at all. I wasn't altogether +comfortable myself, but an officer must +keep going. I walked about and joked and +laughed with them. The range-taker said, +<q>Some of us are getting the didley-i-dums, +Sir.</q> I don't know what that is, but I had +a feeling that I had them too. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, to start with, everybody thinks +every single shell and bullet is coming +straight for him. Then you find out how +much space there is around you. One man +came to tell me that two men were firing at +him with his own rifle from the ruins of the +alleged farmhouse, ten yards away from the +dugout we are making. Just then a field +mouse squeaked, and he jumped up in the +air and said, <q>There's another.</q> I told +the men to fill sandbags from the ruins; +they all crowded behind this three-foot-six +wall for protection; they dug up a French +<pb n='116'/><anchor id='Pg116'/> +needle bayonet—that was all right, but they +afterwards dug up a rifle and I noticed a +suspicious smell, so I moved them. +</p> + +<p> +We came home very tired. We are attacking +Hooge, a counter-attack, to take back +trenches lost in the liquid fire attack—you +will hear what we did from the papers, +probably in three months' time. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +I'm writing this in a new home, this time +a splinter-proof dugout. The Huns are again +strafing us—last shell burst fifty yards away +a few minutes ago. Several times since I +started writing I have had to shake off the +dust and debris thrown by shell bursts on to +these pages. I was again sniped at with shrapnel +this morning on my machine while reconnoitering +the roads—they all missed, but +they're not nice. I'm filthy, alive, and covered +with huge mosquito bites; you get sort of used +to the incessant din in time. Even the forty-two +centimeter shells, which make a row like +freight trains with loose couplings going +through the air, are not so terrible now. +</p> + +<pb n='117'/><anchor id='Pg117'/> + +<p> +Through a hole in my dugout I can see the +Huns' shells Kulturing a chateau. It was +once a very beautiful place with a moat, +bridges, and splendid gardens. Now it's +useless except that the timber and the furniture +come in useful for our dugouts and +the making of <q>duck walks,</q> the grated +walks which line the bottom of the trenches. +</p> + +<p> +Last night I was sitting in the Medical +Officer's dugout when a man I knew came +in. He was an officer in the Second Gordons. +<q>I feel pretty bad, doc.</q> He explained +his symptoms. <q>Trench fever; you +go down the line.</q> <q>No, fix me up for tonight +and maybe I won't need anything +else.</q> He didn't! All that is left of him is +being buried now, less than a hundred yards +from where I write this. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Before I came here I had to go to another +part of the line, in which the <q>Princess Pats</q> +distinguished themselves. We have been +hanging on ever since, and a mighty stiff +proposition it is. The O.C. to-day told me +<pb n='118'/><anchor id='Pg118'/> +that he had not slept for fifty-six hours. The +Germans in one place are only twenty-five +yards away—so close that conversation is +carried on in a whisper. +</p> + +<p> +In one place they had stuck up a board +with <q>Warsaw Captured</q> on it. +</p> + +<p> +My section worked until two o'clock and +then the sandbags gave out, so we had to +come home. This was a disappointment to +me. I wanted to get the job finished. My +men went on filling sandbags from the same +place last night and discovered the remains +of the late owner of the sword bayonet. He +has now been decently buried, with a little +wooden cross marked— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>TO AN UNKNOWN FRENCH SOLDIER</l> +<l>R.I.P.</l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +When you read in the newspapers, that a +trench was lost or taken, just think what it +means. Think what happens to the men +in the trenches; that's the part of it we see. +Stretchers pass by all day. Since I have +been here the cemetery has grown—a new +<pb n='119'/><anchor id='Pg119'/> +mound—a simple wooden cross. Nobody +talks about it, but everybody wonders who's +next. The men here are splendid, the best +in the world, and the officers are gentlemen. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-french-soldier'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/french-soldier.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>A French Soldier.</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We have moved to the famous Langhof +Chateau on the Lille road. This is supposed to +have belonged to Hennessey of <q>Three Star</q> +fame, but the Germans had been through the +wine cellars. We looked very, very carefully, +but only found empties. My batman has +made me comfortable. I'm writing this on a +washstand; in front of me I have a bunch +of roses in a broken vase. My trench coat +is hanging on a nail from a coat-hanger. A +large piece of broken wardrobe mirror has +been nailed up to a beam for my use. One +of the men just came in to ask if a trousers +press would be of any use. We have a fine +little bureau cupboard of carved oak; we +use this for the rations. A pump, repaired +with the leather from a German helmet, has +been persuaded to work and has been busy +ever since. The roof of my cellar is arched +<pb n='120'/><anchor id='Pg120'/> +brick and has a few tons of fallen debris on +the floor upstairs. That strengthens it. It +is shored up from inside with rafters. This +makes the roof shell-proof, except for big +shells, and the enemy always use big shells. +The cellar floors are concrete. +</p> + +<p> +It is very strange the lightness with which +serious things are taken by men here, and it +took me some time to understand it. I met +a young captain of the Royal Marine Artillery +who was in charge of a battery of trench +mortars. He was telling me of how one of his +mortars and the crew were wiped out by a +direct hit. He referred to it as though he +had just missed his train. +</p> + +<p> +Two days later I went up with the +Machine-Gun Officer of the Second Gordons +to look at a piece of ground. To get +there we had to crawl on our hands and +knees. In one part of our journey we came +to a sunken road. The day was fine, so +we lay there. He asked me about Canada. +He wanted to know something about the +settler's grant. He said: <q>Of course you +<pb n='121'/><anchor id='Pg121'/> +know after a chap has been out here in the +open, it will be impossible to go back again +to office life.</q> I boosted Canada and suddenly +the irony of the situation occurred to +me. Here we were lying down in a road +quite close to the German lines, so close that +it would be suicide to even stand up, and +yet here we were calmly discussing the merits +of Canadian emigration. I commented on +this and he replied: <q>My dear fellow, when +you have been out as long as I have, you +will come to realize that being at the front +is a period of intense boredom punctuated +by periods of intense fear, and that if you +allow yourself to be carried away by depression +it will be your finish.</q> He had been out +since just after Mons. +</p> + +<p> +I remembered this and I found that the +nonchalant and care-free attitude of the average +British officer was really a mask and +simulated to keep his mind off the whole +beastly business: this great big dirty job +which white people must do. +</p> + +<pb n='122'/><anchor id='Pg122'/> + +<p> +I was sitting one afternoon by the side of +the canal bank about two hundred yards +in front of my chateau having tea with the +officers of the East Yorks when suddenly +the chateau-smashing started again. To go +back was dangerous and useless. My men +were under cover, resting, so that they +would be ready for the night work. The +shelling was intermittent. One shell went +over and presently I heard +<emph>crack</emph>,—<emph>crack</emph>,—<emph>boom</emph>, +<emph>crack</emph>, <emph>crack</emph>,—<emph>crack</emph>; my heart was in +my boots and I was unable to move. +</p> + +<p> +The colonel listened for a few seconds, +then said: <q>Keene, do you know what that +is?</q> I lied: <q>No, sir.</q> I thought it was +the explosion of my machine-gun bullets in +their web belts and I dreaded to go up to see +my section. I had worked with them and +tried hard to be a good officer and the feeling +that I should probably only find their +mangled remains sickened me. The colonel +said: <q>That's the <q>Archie</q> in Bedford House. +I think the last <q>crump</q> got it. You two</q>—indicating +myself and another officer—<q>go +<pb n='123'/><anchor id='Pg123'/> +up and see if we can do anything. See if +they want a working party and let me +know.</q> +</p> + +<p> +We started to run. On the way up I +looked into the cellars to see the men whom +I, the minute previously, had mourned for, +and found two asleep, three hunting through +their shirts, and the rest breaking the army +orders by <q>shooting craps.</q> From Bedford +House a long trail of smoke was rising and +the explosions became louder. We suddenly +discovered the <q>Archie</q> in flames. It was +in the courtyard and for camouflage had +been covered with branches. It was mounted +on an armored Pierce-Arrow truck. The +<q>crump</q> had hit it, and gasoline, paint, +branches, and hubs were supplying the fuel +which was cooking out the ammunition, the +<emph>crack</emph>, <emph>crack</emph>, being the report of single shells, +whereas one loud <emph>boom</emph> signified the explosion +of an entire box. These shells were going off +in all directions and it became dangerous to +stay too near. +</p> + +<p> +The flames on the car were of pretty colors. +<pb n='124'/><anchor id='Pg124'/> +It is surprising the amount of inflammable +material there is on a car. The late owner +of the car, a lieutenant in the Royal Marine +Artillery, was cursing in a low, but emphatic, +marine manner, and several other officers +from nearby batteries were attracted by the +noise and the pyrotechnic display. I spoke +to the lieutenant and sympathized with him, +and he retorted: <q>Gott strafe Germany. +Why they should hit the <q>bus</q> when I have +a brand-new pair of trench boots that I had +never worn, I dunno.</q> Just then and there +the case cooked out and a piece of shell cut +between us and buried itself deep in the support +of a dugout, so we got under cover. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-whiz-bangs'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/whiz-bangs.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head><q>Whiz-Bangs.</q></head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +In the group was a splendid type of army +chaplain. He came over almost at the start +of the war and had seen a great deal of the +open warfare at the commencement of +hostilities. He said: <q>My friend Fritz is +not through; he'll try to do some more yet.</q> +As the smoke died down and the cracking +stopped, the enemy decided that an attempt +would be made either to carry out salvage +<pb n='125'/><anchor id='Pg125'/> +of whatever they had hit or else we would +try to get the wounded away. So without +any preliminary warning the whole area was +covered by a battery fire of <hi rend='italic'>whiz bangs</hi>, +and the shrapnel bullets came down like +rain, several men being hit. The fire eventually +died down and the wreck was allowed +to cool off. The <q>Archies</q> are used so +much to keep the aeroplanes up, and next +to the loss of his boots the officer in charge +was worried by the fact that the enemy +would send an aeroplane over to see what +they had hit. It was very necessary to +keep the planes away, because at this time +there were one hundred and fourteen batteries +of artillery in the neighborhood. +</p> + +<p> +Later on the battery commander came +down, and as he looked at the red-hot armor +plates he said: <q>Five thousand pounds gone +up in smoke. Sorry I missed the fireworks.</q> +The Divisional general called him up at the +dugout and gave him areas for the distribution +of the four anti-aircraft guns and cars +comprising his battery. After he was through +<pb n='126'/><anchor id='Pg126'/> +the commander replied: <q>Very good, sir, that +will be done with all the guns except the +third gun.</q> The voice over the wire became +very dignified, a preliminary to becoming +sulphuric. <q>What do you mean, all but +the third gun?</q> <q>Because, sir, the enemy +has just <q>crumped</q> the third gun and all +that remains of it is scrap iron.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One of the battalions has a fine victrola +in the officers' mess dugout with a good +selection of records. I have heard Caruso +accompanied on the outside by an orchestra +of guns. It was a wonderful mixture. +Speaking of canned music reminds me we +have a small portable trench machine, +which closes up like a valise, easily handled +and carried about. One man near had a +box full of needles distributed in his back +by a bomb; he considers himself disgraced; +he says it will be kind of foolish in years to +come to show his grandchildren twenty-five +or thirty needles and tell them that they +were the cause of his wounds. +</p> + +<p> +The Tommies play mouth organs a great +<pb n='127'/><anchor id='Pg127'/> +deal and it is much easier to march to the +sound of one, even +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>'Ere we are; 'ere we are,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>'Ere we are agin.</l> +<l>We beat 'em on the Marne,</l> +<l>We beat 'em on the Aisne,</l> +<l>We gave 'em 'ELL at Neuve Chapelle,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>And 'ere we are agin—</l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +sounds well with the addition of a little +music. +</p> + +<p> +Anything is used for trench work; often +if we waited for the proper materials we +should be uncomfortable, so it is one of +the qualifications of a good soldier to find +things. Sometimes we steal material belonging +to other units, then stick around +until the owners come back and help them +look for them; however, it is always advisable +to steal materials from juniors in +rank; if they find it out, and are senior, +then you are in for a one-sided strafe. +</p> + +<p> +One of the other battery subalterns found +a deserted carpenter's shop and he let his +men loose to dismantle it. They took the +parts of steel machines and used them for +<pb n='128'/><anchor id='Pg128'/> +the construction of a dugout. One man +said, <q>It's like coming home drunk and +smashing up the grand piano with an axe.</q> +They must have attracted the attention of +the ever-alert Boche, for no sooner had they +moved out than the place was shelled to +the ground. Everything I now look at +with an eye to its value for trench construction; +thus, telegraph poles, doors, iron +girders, and rails are more valuable to us +out here than a Rolls Royce. +</p> + +<anchor id='illus-the-crump'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/the-crump.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>The <q>Crump.</q></head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Slang or trench language is used universally. +My own general talks about <q>Wipers,</q> +the Tommy's pronunciation of Ypres, and +I have seen a reference to <q>Granny</q> (the +fifteen-inch howitzer) in orders <q>mother</q> is +the name given to the twelve-inch howitzer. +The trench language is changing so quickly +that I think the staff in the rear are unable +to keep up to date, because they have recently +issued an order to the effect that +slang must not be used in official correspondence. +Now instead of reporting that +<pb n='129'/><anchor id='Pg129'/> +a <q>dud Minnie</q> arrived over back of <q>mud +lane,</q> it is necessary to put, <q>I have the +honor to report that a projectile from a +German Minnenwerfer landed in rear of +Trench F 26 and failed to explode.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sometimes names of shells go through +several changes. For example, high explosives +in the early part of the war were called <q>black +Marias,</q> that being the slang name for the +English police patrol wagon. Then they +were called <q>Jack Johnsons,</q> then <q>coal +boxes,</q> and finally they were christened +<q>crumps</q> on account of the sound they +make, a sort of <hi rend='italic'>cru-ump!</hi> noise as they +explode. <q>Rum jar</q> is the trench mortar. +<q>Sausage</q> is the slow-going aerial torpedo, +a beastly thing about six feet long with fins +like a torpedo. It has two hundred and ten +pounds of high explosive and makes a terrible +hole. <q>Whiz bang</q> is shrapnel. +</p> + +<p> +Shelling is continuous. We have thousands +of pieces of shells and fuse caps about the +premises. I have in front of me a fragment +of a shell about fourteen inches long and +<pb n='130'/><anchor id='Pg130'/> +about four and one-half inches across, which +came from a German gun. The edges are +so sharp that it cuts your hand to hold it. +I use it as a paper-weight. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +This morning I experienced a wonderful +surprise. I had gone up to one of the North +Stafford Batteries to borrow a clinometer. +The major, while he was getting the instrument +for me, casually remarked: <q>There's +yesterday's <q>Times</q> on the bench if you care +to look at it.</q> I turned first to the casualty +list and later to the <q>London Gazette</q> for +the promotions, and wholly by accident +perused carefully the Motor Machine Gun +Service list and there noted the announcement, +<q>Keene, Louis, 2d Lieut., to be 1st +Lieut.,</q> and for a fact this was the <q>official</q> +intimation that I had been promoted. I had +a couple of spare <q>pips</q>, rank stars, in my +pocket-book, so I got my corporal to sew +them on right away. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We are all very happy at times, very dirty, +and covered with stings and bites; have no +<pb n='131'/><anchor id='Pg131'/> +idea how long we are to remain up. Getting +used to the shell fire, and can sleep through +it if it's not too close. When it comes near +it makes you very thoughtful. Still working +at night and resting during the day. Made +another emplacement for one of my machine +guns last night; had twenty men digging; +surprising how fast men dig when the bullets +are flying. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +It's about 2 <hi rend='smallcaps'>a.m.</hi> We have just come in. +My new emplacement is splendid; we've +made it shell-proof and have it ready for +firing. I was coming home this afternoon +after having been to the fire trenches when +I heard a shout: <q>Keene!</q> I looked up on +the canal bank and I saw the general with +one of his A.D.C.'s sitting watching an +aeroplane duel. <q>I've come up to see your +gun position, Keene.</q> I saluted, waited +for him, and took him to it. It is below the +level of the ground under tons of bricks in +the ruins of a farmhouse. He was standing +on the roof of it and said, <q>Well, where's the +<pb n='132'/><anchor id='Pg132'/> +emplacement?</q> <q>You're standing on it, sir.</q> +<q>Tut, tut, 'pon my word, that's good.</q> He +was delighted and congratulated me on it. +My preliminary work under the eyes of the +general has gone off quite well. I start +firing to-night. +</p> + +<p> +Intimacy between generals and lieutenants +is unusual, but it looks as if mine had taken +an interest in me, because when he noticed +my insect-bitten face, he sent me down some +dope he had used with good effect in India. +I expect the mosquitoes in India were the +ordinary kind, but, believe me, trench +<q>skeeters</q> are constructed differently and +are proof against the general's pet concoction. +</p> + +<p> +I have several miners in my section who +take a personal pride in the digging and +shoring up of dugouts. So far the other +two sections of the Battery are always +behind in this work but they may look +better on parade. +</p> + +<p> +The canal has one big lock suitable for +swimming; a lot of <q>jocks</q> were bathing +there to-day. I ordered a bathing parade +<pb n='133'/><anchor id='Pg133'/> +for my section. Later I found that the +swimming had livened three Germans, long +submerged—the bathing parade is off. +</p> + +<p> +A Belgian battery commander has just +wakened up and his shells are rattling overhead. +From the fire trenches an incessant +rattle of rifles is heard; all the bullets seem +to come over here; constantly the whine of +a musical ricochet bullet is heard. Otherwise +things are dead quiet. It's getting on +for three, so I'm going to bed in my blankets +on one of the late chateau owner's splendid +spring mattresses and carved oak bedstead. +Oh! how nice it would be to sleep without +lice. From an adjoining cellar my section +are snoring, and I'm going to add to the +chorus. Good-night, everybody. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We have been having Sunday <q>hate.</q> +Eight-inch crumps are once more busting +<q>up</q> the chateau. How they must detest +this place. My tea and bully beef are +covered with dust of the last shell. You +have no idea how terrible the shell-fire is. +<pb n='134'/><anchor id='Pg134'/> +First you hear the whistle and then a terrific +burst which shakes the ground for a +hundred yards around; when it clears away +you find a hole ten feet across and six feet +deep. At least fifteen have dropped around +us in the last half hour. +</p> + +<p> +This place isn't somewhere in France, it's +somewhere in Hell! It has been the scene +of a great many encounters; decayed French +uniforms, old rifles, ammunition and leather +equipment and bundles of mildewed tobacco +leaves are strewn all over the place. I +found the chin-strap of a German <q>Pickelhaube</q> +in the grounds, the helmet of a +French cuirassier, and the red pants of a +Zouave, close together. When digging in the +trenches or anywhere near the firing line +you have to be careful: corpses, dead horses, +and cattle are buried everywhere. I'm +building a trench to my emplacement and +we have a stinking cow in the direct line; +this will have to be buried before we can cut +through. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody is cheerful and going strong. +<pb n='135'/><anchor id='Pg135'/> +Yesterday some of my men went swimming +in the moat of the chateau; a shell +dropped in the water near them, and threw +up a lot of fish on to the bank. That kind +of discouraged the Tommies swimming, so +they cooked the fish and decided that safety +comes before cleanliness out here. +</p> + +<p> +It's hot and sticky, and when you have +to wear thick clothes and equipment it makes +you very uncomfortable, but it's all in the +game. +</p> + +<p> +All through the night we fired single shots +from a machine gun; my orders were to fire +between half-past eight at night and four +o'clock in the morning. We have a number +of guns doing this. It harasses the enemy +and keeps them from sleeping; anything +that will wear a man down is practiced +here. +</p> + +<p> +I've constructed a fire emplacement +amongst the ruins underground; to get to +it you have to travel through a tunnel +eighteen feet long; inside it's very damp. I +was working with my corporal, crouched up; +<pb n='136'/><anchor id='Pg136'/> +we were both wet and cold, and so to cheer +things up every now and again we let off a +few rounds and warmed our hands on the +barrel. Outside it poured with rain, and +mosquitoes sought refuge inside and mealed +off me. The corporal was immune. I had +a water bottle full of whiskey and water. +We used it to keep out the cold, but it wasn't +strong enough. In a case like that you need +wood alcohol. I would like to have had some +Prohibitionists with me here. We had no +light except the flash of the gun and the +enemy star shells. +</p> + +<p> +At daybreak I came home dead beat. I +got into my cellar, was so tired that I threw +myself down on the bed and wrapped myself +up in my blankets, boots, mud, lice and all. +I hadn't been asleep long before the Huns +started <q>hating</q> the chateau. They have +put over twenty-five large calibre shells into +my place, the grounds and the house. They +are still at it. Every time a shell bursts it +makes a hole big enough to bury five horses, +and it shakes the foundations all round. The +<pb n='137'/><anchor id='Pg137'/> +shells are bigger than usual. The smoke +and earth are blown up fifty or sixty feet +in the air. The effect is a moral disruption. +<emph>Why can't they keep that cotton out of Germany?</emph> +</p> + +<p> +I have divided my section up into two +teams, one in the cellars and one in the gun-pits. +I relieve them every twenty-four +hours, and I practically have to be in both +places at once, but I have got a telephone in +between the two places. I have it by my bed +so that I can constantly know how things are +going. However, the wire is cut two or three +times a day by bullets and shell splinters, my +linesman has a constant job. +</p> + +<p> +Fired all night; came back at six o'clock +this morning, very tired. Had a telegram +from the general to fire two thousand +rounds in twenty-four hours; this is quite +hard work. Actually we could fire the lot +in five minutes, but it would attract too +much attention. The enemy use whole batteries +of artillery to blot out machine guns +which attract attention, so we have to fire +single shots. +</p> + +<pb n='138'/><anchor id='Pg138'/> + +<p> +We have for neighbors four dead cows and +an unexploded six-inch shell, liable to go off +any time, all in a radius of one hundred yards. +We have smashed holes through five walls +so that we can go through the ruins unobserved. +In one place we pass over a dead +cow, and in another we wade through several +tons of rotten potatoes, and I believe we +have a corpse handy; and part of our +trench goes through another heap of rotten +mangles. I'm an authority on smells. I +can almost tell the nationality of a corpse now +by the smell. It will soon be necessary to +wear our smoke-helmets to go into the emplacement. +I don't think that I have told +you that I cross the Yser canal about six +times a day. I'd been up a week before I +knew what it was. Now it only has a few feet +of water in it, the rest being held in the German +locks. The part I cross over is full of +bulrushes, and is the home of moor-hens, +water rats, mosquitoes and frogs. +</p> + +<p> +On one side of the canal is a bank which is +in great demand by the machine gunners, who +<pb n='139'/><anchor id='Pg139'/> +are able to get a certain amount of height +and observation of their fire. The general +has ordered a field gun to take up a position +on this bank. He refers to it as his <q>Sniping +eighteen-pounder.</q> It is firing at seven +hundred yards right at the German line and +smashes up their parapet in a style that is +pretty to watch. The machine gunners are +in a great state, because the enemy will soon +be <q>searching</q> with his artillery for the +eighteen-pounder and the lairs of the smaller +hidden guns will suffer. +</p> + +<p> +The men are hunting for lice in their underwear. +This is the kind of conversation that +is coming through from the next cellars: +<q>I've got you beat—that's forty-seven.</q> +<q>Wait a minute</q>—a sound of tearing cloth—<q>but +look at this lot, mother and young.</q> +<q>With my forty and these you'll have to find +some more.</q> They were betting on the +number they could find. I peel off my shirt +myself and burn them off with a candle. I +glory in the little pop they make when the +heat gets to them. All the insect powder +<pb n='140'/><anchor id='Pg140'/> +in the world has been tried out on them +and they've won. +</p> + +<p> +All sentries here are doubled; one thing it's +safer, and another it's company; even when +things are quiet, rats and mice scamper about +and it sets your nerves on end. Things which +are inanimate during the day become alive +at night. Trees seem to walk about. I +wonder what it tastes like to have a real +meal in which tinned food does not figure; +fancy a tablecloth; my tablecloth is a double +sheet of newspaper, and even then I can't +have a new one every day. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Had a good night's rest; came in about +twelve o'clock and slept until eight-thirty +this morning. One eye is completely closed +up by a sting. +</p> + +<p> +A German aeroplane has been hovering +over our positions looking for my gun, so +we have stopped firing and all movement. +I know just how the chicken feels when the +hawk hovers over it. Few people realize +how much aeroplanes figure in this war, +<pb n='141'/><anchor id='Pg141'/> +for war would be much different without +them. They do the work of Cavalry only +in the sky. Whenever they come over, +the sentries blow three blasts on their +whistles and everybody runs for cover or +freezes; guns stop firing and are covered +up with branches made on frames. If men +are caught in the open they stand perfectly +still and do not look up, for on the aeroplane +photographs faces at certain heights show +light; dugouts are covered over with trees, +straw or grass. We use aeroplane photographs +a great deal; they show trenches +distinctly and look very like the canals on +Mars. +</p> + +<p> +The Huns have been <q>hating</q> the road +one quarter of a mile away all the morning. +That doesn't worry us a bit as long as they +don't come any closer. I'm willing always +to share up on the shelling. +</p> + +<p> +This order has just been issued. It speaks +for itself:— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +All ranks are warned that bombs and grenades +must not be used for fishing and killing game. +</quote> + +<pb n='142'/><anchor id='Pg142'/> + +<p> +I went over another farm to-day. It is +one of the well-ventilated kind, punched +full of holes. In the kitchen, stables and +outhouses there was a most wonderful collection +of junk: ammunition, British and +French bandoliers, old sheepskin coats abandoned +by the British troops from last winter, +smashed rifles, bayonets, meat tins, parts of +broken equipment, sandbags, stacks of rotten +potatoes and three dead cows. The fruit +trees are laden with fruit, and vines are growing +up the houses with their bunches of green +grapes. +</p> + +<p> +In the garden several lonely graves are +piled high with old boots, straw, American +agricultural implements, rotting sacks and +rubbish of every description, pieces of shells, +barrels, and in one room the rusty remains +of a perambulator and sewing machine; rats +are the only inhabitants now. In the garret +(the staircase leading up to it gone long ago) +I found a British rifle, bayonet fixed, ten +rounds in the magazine, and the bolt partly +drawn out. Evidently the owner was in the +<pb n='143'/><anchor id='Pg143'/> +act of reloading his chamber when something +happened. The graves were dated second +and third months of this year. The poor +wooden crosses were made of pieces of ration +cases and the names written with an indelible +pencil. The wretchedness of this +farm, which was flourishing only a short +time ago, is very pathetic. +</p> + +<p> +We have adopted an old Belgian mother +cat with her family of three kittens in the +dugout. Now we find that three more little +wild kittens are living in the bricks which +we have piled around the windows to protect +us against shells. They are all encouraged to +live with us in the cellars. I like cats, and +they will help to keep the rats down. Although +some of the rats are nearly the size +of cats. +</p> + +<p> +It has been raining again and the trenches +are filling up with slush. We carry a big +trench stick, a thick sapling about four feet +long with a ferrule made from a cartridge of +a <q>very-light</q> (star shell), to help ourselves +in walking; our feet are beginning to get +<pb n='144'/><anchor id='Pg144'/> +wet and cold as a regular thing now, and we +are revetting our trenches firm and solid for +the winter. Eleven <hi rend='smallcaps'>p.m.</hi> A mine under the +Boche line has just been exploded. The +fighting has just started for the crater. +</p> + +<p> +I took a German Uhlan helmet from a +gentleman who had no further use for it. It +was pretty badly knocked about; still, if I +can get it home it's a trophy. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<anchor id='illus-tommy-atkins'/> +<p rend='text-align: center'> + <figure url='images/tommy-atkins.png' rend='width: 70%'> + <head>Mr. Tommy Atkins.</head> + <figDesc>Illustration</figDesc> + </figure> +</p> + +<p> +It's about eight o'clock Sunday evening. +All day long shells have been coming over like +locomotives. Every five seconds one goes +over into the old town; every five seconds +for the last two hours. The chateau has +been shelled again with <q>crumps</q>; they are +such rotten shots; if only they would put in +two good ones in the center it would blow it +to bits and then they might leave us alone. +The whole of the ground is pitted because +they can't hit it squarely. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +My work lies behind the front line and in +front of the support, firing over the heads of +<pb n='145'/><anchor id='Pg145'/> +the men in the main trenches. The emplacement +was shelled to-day; one shell hit the +roof, burst and knocked over one of my men, +cutting his head open. He is not very badly +hurt, but has gone to the hospital. The +shelling has been terrible to-day. +</p> + +<p> +The Germans have been very quiet lately, +and working parties are out all along their +front lines at night—something's up. Dirty +work can be expected at any time now. We +have steel helmets to protect us from spent +bullets and splinters. They look like the +old Tudor steel helmets and they are fine +to wash in. +</p> + +<p> +You have no idea what a big part food +plays in our life. Yesterday morning I went +with the machine-gun officer of another outfit +to crawl about looking for positions. We +were in an orchard. I happened to look up +and saw ripe plums! Terrified lest he should +see them and forestall me, I said, <q>Let's +beat it, this is too unhealthy,</q> so we crawled +back. Last night in the light of a big moon +such as coons always steal watermelons by, +<pb n='146'/><anchor id='Pg146'/> +a section officer and his cook crawled to the +plum tree. The section officer, being large, +stood underneath while the cook climbed the +tree and dropped them into a sandbag held +open by the S.O. They got about ten +pounds. They go well stewed, believe me. +The fact that bullets whistled through the +trees most of the time made them taste +better to-day. Sat the rest of the night in a +hedge firing at the Boches with a Lewis gun. +I struck for bed just as dawn broke. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +To-day the guns are again <q>hating</q> the +chateau, and they have put sixty shells in +the neighborhood. Still, <q>there's no cloud +without a silver lining.</q> I've got a new +way home. Instead of going right around +the kennels, stables, and through the yards, +I go <q>through</q> the greenhouse direct, +thereby saving a lot of time. The Huns' +calendar is wrong. They have always shelled +me Sunday and Wednesday. To-day's +Tuesday! +</p> + +<p> +We use up the window frames and doorways +<pb n='147'/><anchor id='Pg147'/> +for kindling, and consequently the +doors have gone long ago. I have been +smashing up mouldings this morning with an +axe. We prefer the dry wood which is built +into the walls; it burns better and doesn't +cause smoke. As soon as smoke is seen rising, +the enemy's range-finders get busy and then +we suffer. +</p> + +<p> +Another mine went up yesterday; nobody +seems to know where. I think it came south +from the French lines; it rocked the whole +neighborhood for miles. The ground here is +a kind of quicksand for a few feet down, and +shock is easily transmitted, the whole ground +being honeycombed with mines, old trenches, +shafts, saps made by French, Belgians, Germans +and our own people. +</p> + +<p> +The use for timber of any description is +manifold; every little bit is used up. Our +chief source of supply of dry wood is from +the smashed-up chateaux. Langhof, my home, +has been punished almost every day, and +after the bombardment lets up men from the +neighborhood come to collect the wood torn +<pb n='148'/><anchor id='Pg148'/> +up by the shelling. The men of the Tenth +East Yorks came up this morning and +climbed to the remains of the second story, +ripping up the floor boards. The enemy +evidently saw them, for the shelling soon +started. We have been shelled often here +before, but it was nothing compared to this. +The shells were carefully placed and came +over with disgusting regularity. The buildings +rocked and the whole neighborhood +shook. Fountains of bricks, mortar, and +dirt were spewed up into the air. Trees +were torn to shreds, a wall in front of me +was hit—and disappeared, a lead statue of +Apollo in the garden was hurled through the +air and landed fifty yards away crumpled +up against the balustrade of the moat. +</p> + +<p> +We were in our cellars, and gradually the +shelling crept up towards us. Slowly a +solemn dread which soon moulded into a +sordid fear took possession of my being. In +a flash I began to devise a philosophy of +death for my chances were fading with every +crash. I took out my pocketbook, containing +<pb n='149'/><anchor id='Pg149'/> +some letters from my mother and some personal +things, and put them on one of the +beams, so that, being in another part of the +building, they might perhaps be found some +day. The shelling continued and shells +dropped completely round the cellars, demolishing +nearly everything in sight. The +enemy evidently wanted to obliterate the +whole place. The smell of the smoke and +the dirt from the debris was choking, and +every minute we expected to be our last. +Suddenly it stopped. Philosophy and fear +disappeared simultaneously as I sputtered +out a choking laugh of relief. Then +Hawkins, my servant, in a scared voice +started, and the others joined in, singing +the old marching refrain of the Training +Camps:— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Hail, hail, the gang's all here,</q></l> +<l>What the hell do we care!</l> +<l>What the hell do we care!</l> +<l>Hail, hail, the gang's all here,</l> +<l><q rend='post'>What the hell do we care <hi rend='smallcaps'>now</hi>!</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +When a man has lived night after night in +a trench, he gradually finds it quite possible +<pb n='150'/><anchor id='Pg150'/> +to snatch a good night's sleep. In other +words, it is merely a case of becoming acclimated +to rackets, smells and food. I had +always been able to sleep, but on the night +following the bombardment of the chateau I +just could not doze off. I thrashed about +continuously, and while in this restless state +harbored the notion that trouble was brewing +for me. Every one has had that feeling, +the feeling that hangs in your bones and +warns you to watch out. Well, that is how +I felt. +</p> + +<p> +At last the sun rose and with it came a +beautiful morning, warm and sunny. I +walked out amongst the ruins to see the extent +of the damage caused by the shelling of +the previous day. I was waiting for the stew +which was cooking on a little fire near the +side of the cellar. The <q>dixie</q> was resting +on two old bayonets, and they in turn rested +on bricks at either side. Towards noon a +big shell came over and landed in the moat, +covering everything around with a coat of +evil-smelling, black mud. This shell was followed +<pb n='151'/><anchor id='Pg151'/> +by another, arriving in the part of the +ruins where once a cow-shed stood. I was +talking to Hawkins, my batman, when I saw +him dive across my front and fall flat on his +face. At the same time I was in the center +of an explosion, a great flame of light and +then bricks, wood and cement flew in all +directions. For a few seconds I thought I +was dead, then I picked myself up and saw +that blood was pouring down the front of my +jacket. I followed up the stream and found +that my right hand was smashed and hanging +limp. My men rushed out and I told them +it was nothing, but promptly fell in a heap. +When I came to, my hand was wrapped up +in an emergency bandage, and a stretcher +was coming down from Bedford House, an +advanced dressing-station, the next house +back. To the delight of the men who were +carrying it, I waved them away and told +them I could walk. Assisted up to the dressing-station +by one of my men, I made it. I +then made a discovery. A soldier is a man +until he's hit, then he's a case. I first had +<pb n='152'/><anchor id='Pg152'/> +an injection of <q>anti-tetanus</q> in the side, +and the fact was recorded on a label tied to +my left-hand top pocket button. The doctor +tied me up, then said: <q>You'll soon be all +right. Will you have a bottle of English +beer or a drop of whiskey?</q> I had the whiskey. +I needed it. All the time I was there +the wounded poured in. Seeing them I felt +ashamed to be there with only a smashed +hand. A corporal came in with both hands +blown off and fifty-six other wounds. He +had tried to save the men in his bay by throwing +back a German bomb and it had gone off +in his hands. Hawkins came up later on +with my helmet and the fuse head of the shell +which blew me up. We were all collected +together and waited in the dugouts of the +dressing station until dusk. Several shells +came close to us. I tried to write to my +mother with my left hand, so that when she +received the War Office cable she would +know I was able to write. +</p> + +<p> +Dusk came, then night, and finally the +Ford ambulance cars which were to take us +<pb n='153'/><anchor id='Pg153'/> +out of Hell. It was a beautiful night. Belgium +looked lovely. The merciful night had +thrown a veil over the war scars on the land +and a moon was shining. I was told to sit up +in the seat with the driver. We traveled +along one road, then the shelling became so +bad that the drivers decided to go back and +take another road which was running nearly +parallel. Back over the line the planes of +the Royal Flying Corps were bombing the +Forest of Houltholst, and the bursting of the +shrapnel from the German anti-aircraft guns +pierced the velvet of the sky like stars as we +went out of Belgium into France. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +Several times shells burst on the road, and +from the inside of the car came the stifled +groans of the men as the Ford hit limbs of +trees and shell-holes. +</p> + +<p> +Our first stop was a ruined windmill, the +walls of which were nearly six feet thick. +Here the dangerous cases were taken off and +attended to. The last I saw of the corporal +was after they had cut off his coat at the +<pb n='154'/><anchor id='Pg154'/> +seams and the doctors were taking a piece +of wire out of his chest. While I was waiting +a chaplain asked me if I would like a cup +of coffee or some whiskey, realising that it +would take some time to get the coffee made +I had some more whiskey. +</p> + +<p> +I was given two more tags, which this +time were tied on buttons at the top of my +jacket. I stayed here about two hours, then +I was sent to a clearing hospital. It was +here that I met the first nurses. They were +two fine, splendid women who were wearing +the scarlet hoods of the British Regular Army +nurse. They were both strong and quite +capable of handling a man, even if he became +delirious. One of them quickly got me into +bed. I apologized for my terribly dirty state, +but I was told that it made no difference; +they were used to it. To be between clean +sheets again was wonderful. I felt I wanted +to go to sleep forever. Suddenly a roar, and +a terrible explosion. The hospital was being +bombed; a bomb had dropped within a +hundred yards of my tent. This was the +<pb n='155'/><anchor id='Pg155'/> +German reprisal for our bombing Houltholst. +They deliberately bombed a hospital. The +doctor at this hospital next day looked +at my hand and said in a nonchalant way, +<q>Looks as though you will lose it.</q> At that +time it didn't strike me as a great loss to lose +a hand, even if it was my <q>painting hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The hospital train of the next day was +crowded and the nurse in charge of my coach +was named Keene. We tried in the little +spare time she had to see if we couldn't work +out our genealogy and find out if we were +even remotely connected, but before we did +we came to the station of Étaples and then +went to the Duchess of Westminster Hospital +at Latouquet. Here I was operated on. +A piece of Krupp's steel was taken out of +my hand and a rubber drainage tube inserted +instead. The Duchess used to come round +a great deal and won everybody's affection. +She used to sit on my bed and talk to me +about pleasant things. So unlike many +people who visit hospitals and ask the +patients silly war questions, such as: <q>How +<pb n='156'/><anchor id='Pg156'/> +does it feel to be wounded?</q> or <q>Which +hurts more, a bayonet or a shell wound?</q> +One exasperated Tommy, when asked if the +shell hit him, said: <q>Naw, it crept up behind +and bit me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +FINIS +</p> + +</div> +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> diff --git a/28964-tei/images/beat-it.png b/28964-tei/images/beat-it.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3ddb31 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/beat-it.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/french-soldier.png b/28964-tei/images/french-soldier.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dea0b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/french-soldier.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/front.png b/28964-tei/images/front.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f118a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/front.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/johnnie-canuck.png b/28964-tei/images/johnnie-canuck.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d0debe --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/johnnie-canuck.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/motor.png b/28964-tei/images/motor.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a193218 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/motor.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/sub.png b/28964-tei/images/sub.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f98a31 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/sub.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/the-american.png b/28964-tei/images/the-american.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b38e560 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/the-american.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/the-anzac.png b/28964-tei/images/the-anzac.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e12c904 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/the-anzac.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/the-canadian.png b/28964-tei/images/the-canadian.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f69583b --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/the-canadian.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/the-crump.png b/28964-tei/images/the-crump.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..86eb921 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/the-crump.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/tommy-atkins.png b/28964-tei/images/tommy-atkins.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf4ac68 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/tommy-atkins.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/whats-the-use.png b/28964-tei/images/whats-the-use.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..618f52f --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/whats-the-use.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/whiz-bangs.png b/28964-tei/images/whiz-bangs.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f020be4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/whiz-bangs.png diff --git a/28964-tei/images/wipers.png b/28964-tei/images/wipers.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16e2194 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964-tei/images/wipers.png diff --git a/28964.txt b/28964.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c2b11a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3556 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Crumps, The Plain Story of a Canadian Who +Went by Louis Keene + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: "Crumps", The Plain Story of a Canadian Who Went + +Author: Louis Keene + +Release Date: May 25, 2009 [Ebook #28964] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "CRUMPS", THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + + + + "Crumps" + + The Plain Story of a Canadian + + Who Went + + By Louis Keene + + Canadian Expeditionary Force + + With a Prefatory Note By + + General Leonard Wood + + Illustrated by the Author + + Boston and New York + + Houghton Mifflin Company + + 1917 + + + + + + + [Illustration] + + + [Illustration] + + The "Sub". + + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE + + +HEADQUARTERS SOUTHEASTERN DEPARTMENT +CHARLESTON, S.C. + +11th August, 1917 + +Captain Keene has made an interesting contribution to the literature of +the present war in his account of service, which covers the experience of +a young officer in the making and on the battle front,--the transformation +of an artist into a first-class machine-gun officer. He covers the +training period at home and abroad and the work at the front. This direct +and interesting account should serve to bring home to all of us an +appreciation of how much has to be done before troops can be made +effective for modern war, the cost of unpreparedness, and the disadvantage +under which troops, partially equipped, labor when they meet highly +organized ones, prepared, even to the last detail, for all the exigencies +of modern war. It also brings out the splendid spirit of Canada, the +Mother Country, and the distant Colonies,--the spirit of the Empire, united +and determined in a just cause. + +This and similar accounts should serve to make clear to us the wisdom of +the admonition of Washington and many others: "In time of peace prepare +for war." + +Many young Americans are about to undergo experiences similar to those of +Captain Keene, and a perusal of this modest and straight-forward narrative +will help in the great work of getting ready. + +LEONARD WOOD, +_Maj.-Gen. U.S.A._ + + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Frontispiece. + +The "Sub." + +"Beat It!" + +The Canadian, Johnnie Canuck, The American, And The ANZAC. + +Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun. + +"Wipers." + +What's The Use? + +A French Soldier. + +"Whiz-Bangs." + +The "Crump." + +Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + + + + + [Illustration: "Don't Linger Around Here" + "The Enemy Can See You." + "Who Me? Yes You. Beat It!"] + + + + + +"CRUMPS" + + +_The Plain Story of a Canadian who went_ + +The Laurentian Mountains in the Province of Quebec are noted for their +beauty, fine hunting and fishing, and are the stamping-grounds for many +artists from the States and Eastern Canada. It was in this capacity that I +was working during the hot summer of 1914. All through June and July I +sketched with my father. Other than black flies my only worry was the +price of my tubes of color. + +We usually received our newspapers two or three days after publication; +consequently we were poorly posted on worldly happenings. Suddenly the war +clouds gathered and almost before we knew it they became so threatening +that we grew restless, and even went in to the depot to get our papers so +that we could have the news sooner. + +The assassination of the Austrian Crown Prince and the subsequent events +were exciting, but it was only when Russia sent that one word "Mobilize" +to Serbia that we suspected serious results. Even the summer visitors from +the States exhibited signs of excitement, yet they were skeptical of the +chances of war; that is, war that would really affect us! My newspaper in +Montreal wired for me to come down to do war cartoons and I left my father +and hiked to the depot. + +The Montreal train was crowded and conversation centered on the one topic, +War; the English Navy's ability to maintain her rule of the seas, and what +would Canada do. A young Austrian reservist two seats away was telling +some people in a loud voice how much he wanted to get into it. He was +going back to answer the call. And I had already begun to hear my +country's call. + +A newsboy boarding the train at a junction was overwhelmed and succeeded +in getting twenty-five cents a copy for his papers. + +Montreal teemed with suppressed anxiety and every hour fresh news was +posted. Special bulletin boards were put up on store fronts. Already men +in uniform were seen in the street. And men were trying to enlist. + +The war fever was rising steadily; the chief occupation of Canadians in +those days was watching the bulletin boards. Rumors of sea fights, +ultimatums, disasters, and victories were common. The Kaiser seemed to +declare war on the world at the rate of three countries a day. + +On the night of August 4th, as I was putting the finishing touches on a +cartoon, a friend burst into the room:--"Come out of here! Something must +happen any minute now." We marched downtown,--everybody marched in those +days; walking was abolished in its favor. One met demonstrations +everywhere, large crowds of cheering men with flags, victrolas at shop +windows played patriotic airs, and soldiers with civilians crowded before +the bulletin boards singing the national anthems with great enthusiasm. +The King had declared war and his message to the fleet had just been put +up! Newspaper extras were given away by thousands and movies of the +British Navy were shown on the street. Any one who thought the British +could not enthuse, changed his mind then. + +The audiences at the theatres and moving picture houses on receipt of the +news rose simultaneously and sang the national anthems, then cheered +themselves hoarse. These were the first days of the war. Several +battalions of militia were called out and posted to protect the bridges +and grain elevators. Battalions were raised overnight, and so many +recruits came forward that men were refused by the score. England was +immediately offered ten battalions. Then an army division was possible. +The Militia Department suddenly became a hive of industry. Men with all +kinds of business capacity tendered their services gratis, and the +Canadian war machine, without the experience of previous campaigns, took +shape. They worked night and day bringing everlasting credit on +themselves. Banks offered full pay to their employees in uniform, and this +example was widely followed. The principle prompting this action being, +"It's our country; if we can't fight ourselves, we will help others to +fight for her." + +Existent camp sites were inadequate, hence new ones were necessary. We had +a few, but none were big enough. We bought Valcartier, one of the best +sites in the world, which was equipped almost over-night with water +service, electric light and drainage. The longest rifle range in the world +with three and one-half miles of butts was constructed. Railroad sidings +were put in and 35,000 troops from all over the Dominion poured into it. +Think of it,--Canada with her population of seven and one-half millions +offering 35,000 volunteers the first few weeks, without calling out her +militia. And even to-day the militia are yet to be called. Thus every +Canadian who has served at the front has been a volunteer. England +accepted an army division. Fifteen hundred qualified officers were told +that they would have to stay and train men for the next contingent. But +this was not fighting. They were dissatisfied. They resigned their +commissions and went as privates. Uniforms, boots, rifles and equipment +were found for everybody. Every man was trained as much as possible in the +time allowed, and within six weeks of the declaration of war, guns, horses +and 35,000 men were going forward to avenge Belgium. + +With me the question of signing up was a big one. In the first place, I +wanted to go; I wanted to go quickly. Several other fellows and myself had +decided upon a certain battalion. But much to our disgust and regret we +were informed that enlistments had stopped only a short time before. + + [Illustration] + + The Canadian + + + [Illustration] + + Johnnie Canuck + + + [Illustration] + + The American + + + [Illustration] + + The ANZAC + + +Then came the announcement of the organization of the First Auto Machine +Gun Brigade, the generous gift of several of Canada's most prominent +citizens, and it was in this unit that I enlisted with my friend Pat, a +six-foot, husky Scotchman, with the fighting blood of the kilties very +near the surface. We were immediately transported to Ottawa in company +with fifty other picked men from Montreal. At Ottawa the complement of our +battery was completed upon the arrival of one hundred more men from Ottawa +and Toronto. Here we trained until it came time for us to move to +Montreal, and there the battery was embarked on board the Corinthian with +a unit of heavy artillery. We sailed down to Quebec where we joined the +other ships assembled to take over the First Canadian Contingent. + + + _Corinthian, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914._ + + MY DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER:-- + + We are now steaming down the St. Lawrence. No one knows where we + are going. + + Our fleet is a wonderful sight. All the ships are painted war + gray--sides, boats and funnels. We are expecting to pick up the + warships which are to convoy us across at Father Point, somewhere + near where the Empress of Ireland was sunk. + + Quebec looked very fine. The big guns were being hoisted into + boats, horses embarking, and battalion after battalion arriving + and going aboard. Those who came from Valcartier have had a rough + time. They actually look as if they had come through a campaign. + It gave me thrills all day to see these fine men come through the + dock-gates with a steady swing. It is a magnificent contribution + to any army. It's good to think of all these men coming at their + country's call. + + Some day, if I get back, I want to paint a picture of the fleet + assembled at Quebec. The grays and greens looked really beautiful. + Quebec, the city of history and the scene of many big battles, + views with disdain the Canadian patriotism in the present crisis, + and we had no send-off, no flags and no bands. + + This letter will not be mailed for ten days, until we are well on + the way over. We are crowded, and if we are going through the + tropics we shall have a bad time; it is cold now, so we don't + notice the congestion. + + We had one hundred and forty horses aboard and two batteries of + heavy artillery, besides our own armored cars. All the transports + are crowded. We were passed by about ten of the other boats, and + as they did so we cheered each other. The thin lines of khaki on + all the ships will make a name for themselves. I'm proud I am one + of them. + + We've had a big dose of vaccine pumped into our arms to-day. This + will be the last letter I send before I arrive, wherever we are + going. + + +The Corinthian sailed from Quebec to Father Point, where a patrol boat +arrived with orders. We then sailed into the Gulf, but toward evening we +turned into the coast. When we passed Fame Point Light a small boat, which +afterwards turned out to be another patrol boat, sailing without lights, +flashed further orders to us. The Corinthian immediately turned round and +headed back. The minute the patrol boat's signal light went out we were +unable to distinguish it from the sea. The coloring is a good protection; +even a boat, close to, sailing without lights, it is impossible to pick +out. Apparently our orders were to cruise around until daylight and then +sail for the Bay of Gaspe, and this morning at daybreak we sailed into +that beautiful, natural harbor, which is big enough to accommodate the +entire British fleet. + +I expect that to the villagers living around this harbor all events will +date from to-day--to-day, when the wonderful sight of twenty-five ocean +liners drawn up in battleship formation in this quiet place, deserted +except for an occasional visit from a river steamer or fishing craft, +greeted their gaze. + +Five gray fighting ships are mounting guard, and by their signals and +pinnaces chasing backward and forward between the troopers are bossing the +show. A corporal, a South African War veteran, as we looked at them, +quoted Kipling's + + + "The liner she's a lady + With the paint upon 'er face, + The man o' war's 'er 'usband + And keeps 'er in 'er place." + + +Towards noon a smart launch came alongside. Even at a distance the boys +were quick to recognize our popular minister of militia, Sam Hughes, and a +thundering cheer rang out. With him were several soldiers who threw +bundles of papers aboard. These were printed copies of his farewell to the +troops. His launch sailed by the ship, and then on to the next and so on, +through the fleet. + +Our orders forbade the display of lights or even striking of matches after +6 P.M.; consequently all lights were masked to-night on the vessels, +except those on the Royal Edward. The minute her lights were put out the +Bay resumed its normal condition, not even the outlines of the vessels +being visible. + + ------------------------------------- + +A press photographer on a launch has been taking pictures all the +afternoon. Sailed at five o'clock this afternoon just as the twilight +commenced. We sailed out in three lines. The convoy is now under way and +we extend as far as can be seen in both directions. We have two military +police patrols whose chief duty is to see that no matches are struck on +deck. Bill, who smokes more matches than tobacco, has had to go below so +often to light his pipe, that he has decided to do without smoking on +deck. It is surprising how far a match struck in the dark will show. We +noticed how matches struck on the other ships showed up last night. All +our portholes are screwed down with the heavy weather irons and those of +the second-class cabins are covered with blankets. The authorities are +taking no chances. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are having physical drills and lectures all day, and we are working +just as hard on board as we would ashore. Our speed will not be more than +nine knots; the speed of the slowest vessel regulating the speed of the +whole fleet. + +Matches are getting very scarce. We complained about the tea to the +orderly officer to-day; milk is running out, so the tea is made with milk +and sugar in. We asked to have the three separate, but we were told that +if we complained we would have all three taken away. As a floor stain it's +great, but as tea it's a failure. + +We are quartered in the steerage part of the ship and our food is in +keeping. It is really remarkable how they can consistently get that same +coal-oil flavor in all the food. + + ------------------------------------- + +War news is signaled from ship to ship by semaphore flags by day. It is +posted up in the guard room daily. The news that the Indian troops landed +in France on the 29th of September was the chief item on the bulletin +yesterday. We're short on things to read. Scraps of newspapers are +devoured, even to the advertisements. In our cabin we have a "Saturday +Evening Post" of September 26th which is thumb-marked and torn, but it is +still treasured. We were not allowed to bring anything besides our kit on +board on account of the limited space. + +Reveille blows at six o'clock and we have to answer the roll-call at 6.15. +The idea is, that if the men get up and walk about, they are not so likely +to get seasick, but in spite of that quite a number are sick. We have on +board one hundred of our brigade; two hundred and sixteen heavy artillery +and one hundred and forty horses, together with artillery officers and +equipment. The horses take up the same space which in ordinary times is +occupied by humans. Otherwise, we should have a great many more troops. +Our destination is still a mystery. We're a fleet without a port. + +Have just been ordered on fatigue to take a prisoner on deck for exercise. +He is to be tried by court-martial to-morrow for striking a sergeant. All +day he is kept locked up and only allowed out at night for exercise, under +escort. The escort consists of two men and a non-com. While on this job we +watched the signalers flashing the war news from the stern of our boat to +the bridge of the next astern, the Virginian. The news is flashed at night +by the lamps--short and long flashes. The news is picked up by wireless on +the flagship, the Charybdis, at the head of our line and signaled back +from ship to ship. + + ------------------------------------- + +This is the list of the fleet. It is written here in the order in which +they are sailing. Three warships are heading the fleet; the flagship is +the H.M.S. Charybdis, commanded by Admiral Wemyss, who distinguished +himself a few weeks ago in the Battle of Heligoland. + +H.M.S. Diana +H.M.S. Eclipse +H.M.S. Charybdis +Caribbean +Megantic +Scotian +Athenia +Ruthenia +Arcadian +Royal Edward +Bermudian +Zealand +Franconia +Alaunia +Corinthian (The transport on which I was shipped.) +H.M.S. Glory +Canada +Ivernia +Virginian +Monmouth +Scandinavian +Sasconia +Manitou +Sicilian +Grampian +Tyrolia +Montezuma +Andania +Tunisian +Lapland +Montreal +Laurentic +Cassandra +Laconia +Royal George +H.M.S. Talbot + +The H.M.S. Glory, the vessel on our starboard beam, altered her course +to-day and held up a tramp steamer. We could just see the two vessels +through our glasses. Apparently everything was all right as the tramp was +allowed to go on her way afterwards. + +We are all given our boat stations. This afternoon a submarine alarm was +sounded. Everybody on board, including the stewards, had to drop +everything and chase to the boats. In the excitement a cook shot a "billy" +of soup over an officer's legs, much to our silent delight. + +Thinking it over, it will be remarkable if the Germans allow us to cross +without making some attempt to sink a few transports. Besides the actual +loss of the men, the demoralizing effect it will have on the recruiting +would count a great deal. No man likes to be shot or drowned without a +show. + + ------------------------------------- + +I am writing this in my cabin, which is only nine feet by six feet and in +which six of us sleep at night. Besides living in it we have to keep all +our equipment clean, which is some job! + +About eleven this morning a commotion occurred in the middle line. The +cruiser heading it and the second ship, the Royal Edward, turned back. +Also several other boats turned in their course. As we have very little +excitement we hoped it might be a German attack, for we all want to see a +naval battle. I looked at the cruiser through powerful glasses and saw +sailors fixing up the starboard lifeboat, so we presumed that it was +simply a case of "man overboard." + +A big cruiser has joined our fleet and is acting as a flank guard about +three miles away from our starboard side. + +We have a great deal of physical exercise in spite of the rolling of the +deck. This morning, while in the middle of it I was called away to dress +and form part of an escort to the prisoner who was to be tried by field +court-martial to-day. The court was very dignified, and it took a long +time owing to the inexperience of the officers in such matters. It was the +first court-martial I have seen,--the proceedings are strictly legal, being +conducted according to the book, and with the officers wearing their +swords. The poor devil expects two years. + +We have been pitching and tossing a great deal to-day. Physical exercising +on the sloping decks is becoming a mighty risky thing. + +Quite a number of the transports have guns mounted on board so they are +not entirely dependent on the cruisers. It looks as if we are sailing +north of the usual trade routes. I have just heard that five more +battleships are on the starboard beam. They came into sight early this +morning, but have since been out of sight. We are sailing north of the +trade routes. + + ------------------------------------- + +The fleet is being increased. All ships are stopped. Those sailing west +are allowed to go after being boarded; those going in the same direction +as ourselves are made to fall into line, so there will be no danger of the +news of our sailing reaching Europe ahead of us. If we continue to pick up +ships sailing in our direction, the fleet will be enormous by the time we +arrive at our unknown destination. We sailed two hundred and twelve miles +the last twenty-four hours. + +Two more transports have joined us. They came from Newfoundland. I hear +that we now have forty-three ships in the fleet. We sail at ten cables' +length apart, about one thousand yards. + +We are getting into more dangerous water evidently. Early this morning the +Royal George steamed up from the end of the line and took up a position at +the head of the fleet, but in line with the battleship Glory about three +miles away on the port. The Laurentic took up a similar position on the +starboard. Both these ships are armored and have guns mounted on them. +They are being used as scouts. + +We all rushed up on deck to see a cruiser pass close to us this midday. It +was a magnificent sight. She was either the H.M.S. Bristol or the H.M.S. +Essex; her name was painted The bluejackets were massed on the decks +forward and as she went by the marines' band played "The Maple Leaf +Forever." We returned cheers with the sailors. It gives you a great thrill +to see a British ship and to have the knowledge of what it represents. To +be British is a great thing, and I'm proud to think that I'm going to +fight for my country. When this war is over and men are talking round a +table, it will be, "Where were you fighting during the war?" not "Did you +fight during the war?" + + ------------------------------------- + +I'm in a gun-cleaning squad every afternoon. To-day I cleaned the machine +gun on which I'm second gunner. We treat our machine guns as if they were +pets. No one will ever be able to say that my gun is dirty. It will +probably be my best friend some day. + +The finding of the court-martial was read out to us on full parade this +afternoon. First the "Heavies" were lined up on all sides of the deck, +then the "Mosquitos," as the Machine Gunners are called, lined up inside; +the prisoner between an escort was led up in the center. It was +wonderfully impressive. I felt that I was to witness the condemning of a +fellow soldier to a number of years of hard labor. Over the whole assembly +there came a deathlike silence and the finding of the court was read to us +by an officer, the sentence being thirty-six days! + +The second steward told me that it took two hundred carpenters twelve +hours to tear down the cabins and fix up horse fittings. First the +authorities made arrangements to ship a thousand troops on this ship. +We're crowded as we are now with only three hundred odd. I hate to think +what it would have been like with a thousand. + + ------------------------------------- + +Early this morning a large man-o'-war came up on the port at a speed that +made everything else seem to stop. We have now battleships on all sides. +This ship, although a long way off, looks tremendous. She is one of the +latest super-dreadnaughts. + +I was on guard last night when one of the cruisers came alongside to TALK +to the captain about having lights showing in some of the ports. I enjoyed +it immensely, for I discovered that the British Navy, true to tradition, +was still able to maintain its high level of profanity. The ship is in +pitch darkness and there is no moon. On deck it's almost impossible to +walk it's so dark. Tonight is supposed to be the night on which the +Germans are going to make a raid. I am going to sleep on deck so that I +shall not miss anything. I'd hate to miss the chance of seeing a naval +engagement. I can't see how the Germans can possibly let a chance go by. A +nervy cruiser could sink any amount of ships. If the British Navy were up +against us they would have had a cut in before now. + +Slept on deck last night. Nothing happened except that early this morning +a French cruiser joined us, and I got covered with smuts from the +smokestack. + +The Admiral has received one hundred and twenty-six words of war news, but +will not let us have them. Probably they're disastrous. We break up +to-night or to-morrow. It's scarcely likely that the whole fleet will be +taken to one port at the same time. + +That super-dreadnaught passed down the columns to-day. She is of +tremendous size and travels at high speed. She is probably the Queen Mary. + +Expect to see land Wednesday. + + ------------------------------------- + +Blowing a gale. All day the spendrift has been blowing over. The decks +have been too wet for parades, thank God! All the way over we have had +physical exercise, sometimes as much as four hours a day. We're all in +fine physical condition. + +To-day we were allowed to wash our clothes. I can see the advantage of +khaki now. Even after working hard on my clothes, my underwear is still +dark white. The rails were covered with underwear and socks when the storm +started. Now every square inch below is used for drying clothes. Even the +electric lights are festooned. We have a final kit inspection to-morrow +and then we pack for disembarkation. We are only about one hundred miles +from the "Bishop's Light." + +It has been a very long voyage and we have been very cramped. All our +equipment has to be carried in our cabins. Try sleeping six men with all +their outfit in a cabin nine feet by six feet. The ship carpenter has a +standing job to repair our cabin. We have rough-housed so much that his +attention was continually necessary. The trip has been so long that we are +now beginning to hate each other. I went down in the stoke-hole and the +engine-room. Even amongst the whirling machines it was more peaceful than +in our quarters. It seems months since I was in Montreal last. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dear Old England in sight! + +We're passing the Lizard now. + +The kit has all been inspected and we hope to land to-morrow some time. + +We're lying in the historic harbor of Plymouth; arrived here about two +hours ago. We're surrounded by fast little torpedo-boat destroyers, which +are chasing round us all the time like dogs loosened from a chain. The +breakwater has searchlights mounted on each end and fixed lights are +playing from the shore. As the lights occasionally flash up the ships in +the bay, it is as bright as day. Nobody is allowed ashore, not even the +officers. We may go on to Southampton, only we must get there before five +at night. After that time nothing is allowed in. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sailed at daybreak on to Devonport. Most of the transports are now lying +in pairs at anchor in the harbor. We're close to the shore. We can see +naval "jolly boats" and pinnaces sailing back and forth. On one side are +lying the H.M.S Powerful and another boat, both of which in their day were +the pride of the Navy. The Powerful was the boat which made such a name +for herself in the Boer War. Now both of these vessels are training ships +and obsolete so far as this war goes. + +All our haversacks have been boiled in coffee to stain them khaki. + +One of the Navy steam launches came by and we asked them to get us +newspapers. They came back with a bundle and we nearly had a riot trying +to get at them. + +It was only to-day that we heard of the fall of Antwerp, the atrocities of +Belgium, and the treachery of Maritz in Cape Colony. + +We shall be getting off in a few hours and this may be the last I shall +write for some time. I have put in a great deal of time during the voyage +writing and have done so under difficulties. Sometimes the cabin has been +torn in pieces, and often arguments, carried on by leather-lunged +opponents of "Kultur," have made this work hard. + +We hear that some paper published an account of the sinking of twenty of +the ships. This rumor is false, and it's a beastly thing for the newspaper +to do, but you must remember to discount all news a great deal. + +Still on board and we shall probably be here for a few days more. My, it's +galling to be so near to the land and yet to be cooped up in our crowded +quarters. Crowded launches and steamers are sailing round the liners. All +day long cheering crowds come out to see us. Last night another liner +called Florizel, with the First Regiment Newfoundland troops, tied up to +us. They were a fine-looking lot of men. We told them we had no tobacco; +they threw dozens of tins of their tobacco and cigarettes over to us. We +fought for them. I got the remains of one tin with most of the contents +spilt. Still, as many of us haven't had a smoke for three days, we +appreciated it. Several cruisers have come in to-day, and there seem to be +dozens of submarines and torpedo boats cruising around all day. The reason +we did not go to Southampton is that five German submarines were waiting +for us. + +The transports are unloading at the rate of five or six ships a day. It +will probably be our turn on Sunday. The fleet looks splendid at night now +that we have most of the lights on. All night the steel riveters are at +work on three battleships that are being built close by. Near us are +several "wooden walls." One is a ship of Nelson's, the Queen Adelaide. +Every boat, tug, lighter and motor boat here is the property of the +Admiralty. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are probably going to Salisbury Plain for two months. We are the first +Expeditionary Force to land in England from the dominions or colonies, but +others are on their way. The sailors from the training ships serenade us +in boats with bands and play "O Canada," "The Maple Leaf Forever," and all +day long on one ship or the other we hear "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." +Every one is singing it; without doubt it is _the_ song of the war. To-day +we got a bundle of papers. We read them right through to the +advertisements. Cigarettes and matches are at a premium and food is +running out on board. The strain of staying here is becoming too great. +We're all disagreeable and insubordinate. The guard room is already full +and will soon need enlarging. + +On guard to prevent the men of the two ships (our own and the Florizel +with the Newfoundlanders) coming over to visit each other. At ten o'clock +at night I got the tip that a bunch of men were going to make a break for +shore and I was asked to go. I had just come off sentry and was dressed +for shore. We all met up forward, hailed a police boat, climbed down a +rope ladder across two barges unloading shells and into the police launch. +When I got in I found that I and one other fellow were the only privates; +all the rest were sergeants and corporals, thirteen altogether, unlucky +number. The police sergeants asked me if we had passes. I said, "You bet," +and we sailed away from the ship right under everybody's nose. We landed +and then took a car to Plymouth and went on the Hoe, which has been in +absolute darkness since the beginning of the war. Girls were very +interested in us and took most of our collar badges and buttons as +souvenirs. One man asked me to give him a cigarette as a souvenir. + +We met an English captain in a tobacconist's and he invited us up to the +barracks. Two of us went. I was one. To get there we had to go on a street +car. We had just sat down when up the stairs came my Lieutenant McCarthy. +When he saw me he said, "How the hell did you get here?" "Oh, just swam +across." "Well, if you get caught it'll be the guard room for you." I +said, "Never mind, we'll have company." He is a pretty good sport. We went +to the barracks, had a session with the captain, then went to the quay, +picked up the rest of the men, and sneaked on board. I got to bed at three +and had to get up this morning at six o'clock to go on guard. + + ------------------------------------- + +Sunday, very tired. On guard all day, two hours on, four off. It's very +unfortunate having a Sunday guard, because in the ordinary way we have to +attend church parade in the morning and after having listened to a sermon +and sung "Onward, Christian Soldiers," or, "Fight the good fight," we are +free for the day, whereas guards stay on twenty-four hours. + +The major noticed one of the sergeants coming on board this morning at six +o'clock. The idiot missed us this morning and of course that dished us. +The sergeants got in wrong. As I am only a private, and therefore ignorant +and simple according to the military code, and, being with +non-commissioned officers who are supposed to possess superior +intelligence, I got away with it. The sergeants have had to do sentry on +the same ladder we went down. + +Everybody is as disagreeable as possible. We are lying in midstream and +can see the town. Can you imagine anything more galling than that? + +While I was on guard the Vicar of Plymouth came aboard and held service. +He said that the last time a Vicar of Plymouth preached to warriors was +just before Drake sailed to meet the Armada. + +Thank God! moving at last. We've moored up to the docks just opposite two +magnificent dreadnaughts. Naval men are handling our cargo, our kit bags +are packed and we are ready to disembark. + +Near our ship's stern is a barge full of ventilators and spare parts of +ships which are taken away when ships are cleared for action. Some of the +rifle racks were marked Cornwall and I noticed a davit post with the name +Highflyer, the boat that sank the Kaiser Wilhelm after she had been +preying on the shipping off South Africa. When a ship is cleared for +action, all inflammable fittings, such as wooden doors, ladders, racks, +extra boats, and davits, etc., are discarded. If the order to "clear the +decks for action" comes at sea, overboard go all these luxuries. It is +calculated that the cost of "clearing decks" on a cruiser is five thousand +dollars. + +Some of our stuff was unloaded yesterday, and when the ship moved a guard +was placed over it. When the corporal went down the gangplank with the +relief, Pat and I walked down behind as if we were part of the same, right +by the officers. We had a devil of a job to get through the dock gates, a +suspicious policeman and sentry on guard. We told the sergeant of the +police a pitiful story, saying that we hadn't had anything to eat for +three days, and finally he relented. "All right, my lads, only don't +'swing the lead' in town." We got into Devonport and went to the biggest +hotel. Before they had time to throw us out we ordered breakfast of real +food. It was fine after the ship's grub. After sitting there ten minutes, +the general commanding the district came in and sat behind us. He stared. +Two privates in the same room as the general!! But all he said was, "If +you boys can fight as you eat, you'll make an impression." Then we visited +some other places! + +We went back to the docks and went over the super-dreadnaughts, Tiger and +Benbow, the biggest war vessels in the world. The Tiger's speed on her +trials was 37.5 knots an hour. + +After we had seen enough, we went back to the ship and tried to look as if +we had been working with one of the fatigue parties on shore. It worked! + +We marched off the ship midday and then I had to go on guard again all +night. That was the first time we were allowed ashore to see the town, and +I was on guard, so if I hadn't slipped ashore on the two occasions +mentioned, I should not have seen it at all. + + ------------------------------------- + +It rained all night, and when I was off guard I slept on the top of one of +our armored trucks, under a tarpaulin. It's wonderful how we can sleep now +anywhere, and we often have our clothes on for three days at a time. Many +a time I sleep with all my equipment on. Get wet and dry it by keeping it +on. We all have to do it. The idea of pajamas or baths as necessities +seems funny. At one time I would sooner go without breakfast than miss a +bath. Now I make sure of the breakfast. + +We are going to drive our cars through England to Salisbury Plain. We +started this morning and drove through Devonport. Cheering crowds +everywhere. All our cars wear the streaming pennants: "Canada With the +Empire," which pleased the people a great deal. + +As we rode through the streets people showered gifts upon us, such as +cakes, chocolates, newspapers and apples, and everywhere made lusty +demonstrations. The people of Taunton, as soon as they heard that the +Canadians were coming, turned out the barracks and we were met by all the +officers, who came in to talk to us. One second lieutenant, after studying +me for some time, said, "Isn't your name Keene?" "Yes," I replied, "but +how do you know?" "I went to school with you fifteen years ago." His name +was Carter; he was in the Second Dorsets. That night he got me out of +barracks for a couple of hours, and we hashed over the schoolboy +reminiscences. The people of Taunton were arranging a dance for us, but +nobody was allowed to attend. The major believes in putting us to bed +early; his theory being that a man can't drive cars well after a party, +and he couldn't keep the drivers in alone. + +Ladies from Taunton, of the pleasing English type with beautiful +complexions, handed round all sorts of rubbish, jam puffs, and other +things which belong to the time before we joined the army. + +Traveled all the morning. Everybody turned out to see us. The +Brigadier-General wired ahead, and hastily prepared placards, still wet, +were hanging from the windows,-- + + + God Bless the Canadians + Loyal Sons + of + The Empire + + The gathering of + the Lions' whelps + + +and in one case the haste was so great that "God Save the King" was hung +upside down. + +Everybody wants my badges and buttons, and some men in the unit have not +one left. Hence I have requisitioned an order for a hundred to meet the +demand. + +All over the country you see "Kitchener's Army" drilling. In one case we +passed about a hundred of them. When they saw us they broke ranks and +shook us by the hands. The people of England are much impressed with our +speed in coming over. Old men and women shouted, "God bless you, +Canadians!" while tears trickled down their cheeks. + +I read this notice in one little shop,-- + + + At noon every day the church bell will ring a few chimes and + everybody is asked to stop whatever he is doing and offer this + prayer, "Oh, Lord, help our soldiers and sailors to defeat our + enemies, and let us have Peace." + + (Signed) The Vicar. + + +Recruiting notices ten feet by six feet with the sentence "Your King and +Country Need You" are to be seen everywhere in shops, on barns, trees, and +even church doors. + +Motorists and cyclists are warned to pull up whenever requested or the +results may be serious. Most of the motors have O.H.M.S. plates above the +number plate. + +We billeted in a village school; all slept in our blankets on the floor. +Left the school and cleaned up before the kids came for their lessons next +day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Salisbury Plain. Arrived to-day. This part is called Bustard and takes its +name from the small Bustard Inn, Headquarters of General Alderson, General +Officer Commanding. Troops are here in thousands and we are no novelty. +The roads are torn up. Mud is two feet deep in places. All through the day +and night motor lorries, artillery and cavalry are traveling over the +ground. Aeroplanes are circling overhead and heavy artillery are firing. +We see the shells bursting on the ranges every day. + +Always raining. Everything is wet, and I am sleeping in a rotten tent +which leaks. Still, we are all so fit that what would kill an ordinary man +doesn't worry us much. + +We all get three days' leave and are trying by every means possible to +wangle another day or two. Many men have to see dentists, and lots of men +have grandparents in Scotland who display signs of dying suddenly. If the +excuse is good enough, we get four days and sometimes five. I have a +sweetheart in Scotland, but if that is played out I have to work something +else. + + ------------------------------------- + +Wonderful sight from where I am now. Miles of tents, motors and horse +lines on this desolate moorland. No houses; only camps and a few trees +which have been planted as wind screens. The soil is very poor, too poor +for farming. It is government property and it is only used for troops. We +are ten miles from a railroad. We are so isolated that we might be in +Africa, except that it's so cold. + +The papers are starting an agitation to get the Canadians to march through +London, and are asking why they should be smuggled in and then shut up on +Salisbury Plain. They want to see us, AND WE WANT TO SEE LONDON!! + +Our ambulance car has been used every day since we came here, taking +wounded from one hospital to another. The rest of our cars have been used +to carry German prisoners. + +One of the spies caught on the ships is said to have been shot. Several +were arrested; two were caught in Devonport while we were there, one in a +Canadian officer's uniform. + + ------------------------------------- + +Am spending seventy-two hours' leave in London. Got leave through this +telegram which is from "the girl I'm engaged to": + + + Disappointed. Met train. Please do come. Leaving for Belgium soon. + Love. + + EDYTHE. + + +She is a Red Cross nurse. This is a new one and it worked. McCarthy sent +it to me. + +London is very dismal. No electric signs, and the tops of all the street +lamps are painted black so that the lights don't show from above. However, +we managed to have a good time, in spite of it all. The Germans say that +the Canadians are being held in England to repel the invasion. + + ------------------------------------- + +The facilities for bathing are not very extensive. I rode into Salisbury, +a distance of seventeen miles, yesterday, on top of some packing-cases in +a covered transport wagon, for a bath, the first since I was last on +leave. We get a Turkish bath in town for thirty cents. After that we had a +large juicy steak and then started our seventeen-mile trip back through +the pouring rain. Every other mile we got down and helped the driver swear +and push the car out of the mud, vast quantities of which abound on the +Salisbury roads, believe me!! + + ------------------------------------- + +It is Sunday afternoon. Most of the men in camp are asleep or reading. +Outside it is raining. It seems to be always raining, and occasionally we +have such a thick fog that even a trip to get water is exciting before you +can get back to your own lines. + +Owing to our camp having become a swamp we have had to move our quarters +to drier ground. Moving the tents is not a big job, but rebuilding the +cook-house is! I figure that when I leave the army I shall have a few more +professions to choose from. For example, I'm a pretty hefty trench digger; +then as a scavenger I am pretty good at picking up tin cans and pieces of +paper; also I'm an expert in building things such as shelters from any old +pieces of timber that we can steal; then as a cook I can now make that +wonderful tea that I wrote you about, besides many other things which we +didn't realize that we had to do when we enlisted. + +To-day the paper says "Fair and Warmer." We could do with some of that. +Years ago, before I joined the army and lost my identity, I rather liked +occasionally getting wet in the refreshing rain; but now the trouble is +that we are always wet and have nowhere to dry our things, except by +sleeping on them. + +Our major has an original scheme of training men in the ranks to qualify +for commissions, sort of having half a dozen embryo officers ready. I have +been picked as one and have to study in all my spare time. It means a +great deal more work, but it's very interesting and the sort of thing I +would like to do. We start to-day. + + ------------------------------------- + +We began our instruction on the machine gun to the officers and the men +who are up here for a special course; I have a boozy lieutenant, who +doesn't care a hang, and a bright non-com. Some of the officers we brought +over make good mascots. + + ------------------------------------- + +It was fine to-day. We were even able to open up the tent flap to dry the +place a bit. To-day the major congratulated me on the Christmas card I +designed for the unit. + +Our classes of instruction to the "alien" officers finish to-morrow. Both +the men I was instructing passed. + +The adjutant is very anxious to put us through our officers' training +course quickly. + +We are now recognized as the specialist corps in the machine-gun work with +the Canadian Division, and he is anxious that we shall be ready to take +commissions when casualties occur. Every battalion of infantry has a +machine-gun section attached, and we have the job of training the officers +and sergeants of these sections. + +Owing to the bombardment of the east coast, several of our battalions are +under orders to move at a moment's notice. It is thought that the +bombardment was simply a ruse to draw the British fleet away from around +Heligoland. + + ------------------------------------- + +The newspaper boys in Salisbury, when you refuse to buy an "Hextra," shout +"Montreal Star" and "Calgary Eyeopener," and all the shopgirls and +barmaids in Salisbury say, "Some kid," "Believe muh," "Oh, Boy!" + + ------------------------------------- + +I had been granted Christmas leave at the last minute, and as it was +awkward to telegraph to Northwich, I arrived after a long journey, lasting +sixteen hours, ten minutes ahead of the letter I'd sent saying I was +coming. My arrival soon spread over the town. A Canadian--this was a rather +unique thing for Northwich, a little Cheshire town. Out of a population of +about eighteen thousand, two thousand men have joined the colors. The men +in uniform from the works are all receiving half pay. The other men who +are staying are working twelve hours a day and give up part of their pay +so that the jobs of the soldiers will be open when they come back. +Thirty-five Belgian refugees are being kept here. Money to keep them for +twelve months has been subscribed. One huge house has been taken over as a +hospital with twenty-three nurses, all volunteers from Northwich. +Everybody has done or is doing something in the great struggle. The young +ladies in this neighborhood have no use for a man who is not in khaki, and +with customary north of England frankness tell them so. + +I expect that you know that the Government has sent around forms to every +house asking the men who are going to volunteer to sign, and men long past +the military age have signed the papers, "too old for the war service, but +willing to serve either at home or abroad voluntary for the period of the +war." Others have offered to do work to allow young men to go, to keep +their jobs for them. This shows the spirit that permeates England. There +is only one end and that MUST be the crushing of the Germans. I don't +believe people have any idea of the number of men who are at present under +arms, and still the posters everywhere say that we must have more men. + +I wonder if you know that the Germans are shooting British prisoners who +are found with what they consider insulting post-cards of the Kaiser, and +even references to His All Highest in letters are dangerous. As we are +nearing the time when we shall go across I thought I would mention it. + +We expect to leave England somewhere around January 15th. We have been +living in the mud so long that we are getting quite web-footed. + +This is a war Christmas. People are too excited and anxious to celebrate +it. I wonder what sort of a Christmas the next one will be! What a +terrible Christmas the Germans must have had in Germany. They admit over +one million casualties. Fancy a million in less than five months. During +the Napoleonic wars, which extended over twenty years, six million died, +and yet one side in this war already admits one million. + +The Canadian ordnance stores have been given instructions that all +equipments down to the last button must be ready by the 15th of January. +That date seems to be the favorite one. I believe it is the commencement +of big things; a move will then be made to embark large numbers of troops +across to France. + +All our telegraphic addresses were taken when we came away on leave in +case it were decided to send units over before our term of leave expired. + +A German aviator flew over Dover yesterday and made a fierce and terrible +bomb attack on a cabbage patch. Terrible casualty in cabbages. Berlin must +have designs on a bumper crop of sauerkraut. + + ------------------------------------- + +Back in camp. It was hard to come down to it. Our blankets and clothes +left in the tent were mildewed, clammy, and partly submerged. Our feet are +wet and we are again soldiers, dirty and cold. + +Traveled down in the train with thirty-six men of the Canadian contingent +who had formed an escort for fifty-six undesirables who have been shipped +back to Canada. It seems strange when men are needed so badly to ship them +back because they are a bit unruly or get drunk too often. They will all +come back with future contingents. Six of them made a dash for it at +Liverpool. Three of them got away altogether. + +It snowed yesterday. Last night the camp looked beautiful; the tents lit +up through the snow in the moonlight made a pretty picture, a suitable +subject for a magazine cover, but mighty uncomfortable to camp in. + + ------------------------------------- + +In a gale last night many tents were blown down. We spent all day putting +them up again. The cook house, a substantial frame building, has also +blown down again. + +When I got back I found a Christmas hamper, a bunch of holly and a small +box of maple sugar and packet of cigarettes from the Duchess of Connaught +with her Christmas card. All parcels for the troops came in duty free. Our +postal system is very efficient. We get our letters as regularly as we +would in a town. + +People send us so many cigarettes that we sometimes have too many. I wish +we could get more tobacco and fewer cigarettes. If you remember during the +Boer War the authorities tried to break the "Tommy" of his "fags" by +giving him more tobacco. Now they really seem to encourage cigarette +smoking, although it really doesn't matter; the same things which are +harmful in towns don't have the same bad effects when we are living in the +open. + +All leave is up by the 10th of January for everybody, officers and men. + +The Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry have gone to the front to +the envy of everybody. It is a splendid battalion with fine officers. They +have been lying next to our lines and we have made many friends with the +"Pats." + +Cerebro-spinal meningitis has broken out, and in spite of all efforts to +check it, seems to be gaining ground. Several officers have died with it, +and I believe that four battalions are quarantined. We have to use +chloride of lime on the tent floors and around the lines. My friend Pat +calls it "Spike McGuiness." The worst of a disease like this is that a +patient never recovers. Even a cure means partial paralysis for life. I +believe that Salisbury Plain is known for it, and I hear that all the +ground that troops are now occupying is to be ploughed up when we leave. +As far as that goes we have ploughed it up a bit already, but a systematic +ploughing will make it more regular. The subsoil is only four inches, then +you come to chalky clay. The tent-pegs when they are taken from the ground +are covered with chalk. + +I think that the Canadian Contingent has had a pretty raw deal. We're not +even included in the six army divisions which are going to France by the +end of March. Wish I had joined the "Princess Pats," who are already +there. We want to fight. + +We're having a beastly time as compared with the Belgian refugees and the +German prisoners in England. We're beginning to wonder if we are ever +going to the front. There is now some talk of billeting us in Bristol. +We've been under arms nearly five months and should be good fighting +material by now. With a similar number of men the Germans would have done +something by this time. + + ------------------------------------- + +All the last week the selected few of us have been working separately on a +course of work to qualify us for commissions. We have had to study hard +every spare minute when not drilling each other. + +Several dogs have attached themselves to us; sometimes they find +themselves on a piece of string, the other end being in a man's hand. One +of these, a big bull terrier, sleeps in the canteen. The beer is quite +safe with him there, but two nights ago the canteen tent, after a great +struggle, tore itself off the tent-poles and went fifteen feet up in the +air like a balloon, then collapsed. The dog, I regret to say, did not stay +at his post, so a quantity of beer will have to be marked down as lost. +This same bull has a pal, a white bull terrier, who came out with the +officers' class the other morning. We had not been drilling more than +fifteen minutes when he came back with a large rabbit. We stewed it at +night. It certainly was good. + +One of the mechanics has forged an Iron Cross which has been presented to +the dog in recognition of his services. + +I doubt if I shall ever be able to sit up to a table again regularly. I +would much sooner sleep on the floor, and I have found, when on leave, +that I preferred sitting on a hearthrug to a chair. Even while writing +this I am lying on my blankets. My pipe is burnt down on one side from +lighting it from my candle. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day being Sunday and as there were only two of us left in the tent, the +others being on leave, we gave it a thorough spring cleaning. It needed +it! By some oversight the sun came out to-day, so that helped. We also +washed up all our canteens and pannikins with disinfectant. + +The infantry are bayonet-fighting and practicing charges every day. If you +want a thrill, see them coming over the top at you with a yell; the +bayonets catch the light and flash in a decidedly menacing fashion. They +practice on dummies, and are so enthusiastic that they need new dummies +almost every lesson. + +Every man, on becoming a soldier, becomes a man with a number and an +identification disk. My number is 45555 and my "cold meat ticket," a tag +made of red fiber, is hanging round my neck on a piece of string. + + ------------------------------------- + +We're packing up and expect to go away next week. Of course, it may be +another bluff, but somehow I think we really are going now, as we have +been fitted out with a "field service-dressing," a packet containing two +bandages and safety pins, which we have to sew into the right-hand bottom +corner of our tunics. We have also been given our active service pay book, +a little account book in which we have our pay entered. We don't get paid +much in the field. We carry this book instead. + +It seems always cold and wet. We are very hardened. We look tough and feel +that way. I haven't had a bath for a month. Since I have been soldiering I +have done every dirty job that there is in the army, and there are many. +Often when a job seemed to be too dirty and too heavy for anybody else, +they looked around for Keene and Pat. + + ------------------------------------- + +"On guard." Writing this in the guard tent, when we are not actually on +sentry. We keep all our equipment on, as we are liable to be called out at +any minute. We sleep with our belts and revolvers in place. + +A quarter guard is three men and a noncom. The men do two hours on and +four off. When it comes to a man's turn he has to be on his beat no matter +what the weather is like during the day or night. The cold is pretty bad +and occasionally it snows. Some units have sentry boxes, but we haven't. +We use a bell tent. I was called this morning at five o'clock to do my +sentry from five to seven. The small oil stove which serves to heat the +guard tents had evidently been smoking for an hour, and over everything +was a thick film of lamp-black. Everybody thought it a great joke until +they looked at themselves in the mirror and caught sight of their own +equipment. We must come off guard as clean as we go on. I got out quickly +and left them swearing and cleaning up. + +From five to seven is the most interesting relief. I had first to wake the +cooks at five o'clock and then I watched the gradual waking up of the +camp. At six o'clock I had to wake the orderly sergeants and then far away +in the distance the first bugle sounded reveille, then it was taken up all +around and gradually the camps all over the Plains woke up. Men came out +of the tents, the calls for the "fall in" sounded, and the rolls were +called and the usual business of the day commenced. The change from the +deadness of the night with its absolute stillness all takes place in a +very short time. To a person with any imagination it seems rather +wonderful. You must remember that we can see for miles, and in every +direction there are hundreds of tents. Each battalion is separate, and +they have great spaces between them; still wherever you look you can see +tents. + +I wonder if I told you that aeroplanes are all the time flying over our +camp. With characteristic British frankness they always have two huge +Union Jacks painted on the undersides of the wings. We have become so used +to them that we scarcely trouble to look up unless they are doing stunts. + + ------------------------------------- + +The frost makes a fine grip for the cars; when the ground freezes over we +can take the cars anywhere, but unfortunately it thaws again too quickly. +As we are a motor battery we are of course a mile from the road, and +sometimes it takes an hour and a half to get on to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is a howling night, wind and rain galore. I'm wondering how long the +tent will last. I have been out three times already to look at the tent +pegs. How often it has been so since we first came on to these plains. If +you are living in tents you notice the changes in weather more than under +ordinary circumstances, and every rain-storm has meant wet feet for us. +But now we have been given new black boots, magnificent things, huge, +heavy "ammunition boots," and the wonderful thing is they don't let water +in. They are very big and look like punts, but it's dry feet now. I can +tell you I am as pleased with them as if some one had given me a present +of cold cash. At first they felt something like the Dutch sabots. They +seemed absolutely unbendable and so we soaked them with castor-oil. Once +they become moulded to the feet they are fine. Of course they are not +pretty, but they keep the wet out. + +We have had new tunics issued to us of the regular English pattern, much +more comfortable than our other original ones, and then instead of the +hard cap we now have a soft one, something like a big golf cap with the +flap on to pull down over the ears. These are much more comfortable. They +have one great advantage over the old kind--we can sleep in them. We can +now lie down in our complete outfits even to our hats. Once I considered +it a hardship to sleep in my clothes. Now to go to bed we don't undress; +we put on clothes. + +I managed to get a pass to Salisbury on Saturday and went to the local +vaudeville show. In the row in front of me were several young officers of +the British Army, and it was striking what a clean-cut lot they were. +England is certainly giving of her best. They were not very much different +from any others, but at the same time they are the type of Englishmen who +have done things in the past and will do things again. They are all +Kitchener's Army. Thousands of men who have never been in the army before +threw up everything to go in the ranks. You see side by side professors, +laborers, lawyers, doctors, stevedores, carters, all classes, rich and +poor, a great democratic army, drilling to fight so that this may be a +decent world to live in. + +At present it is almost impossible to use each man in his own profession +as they do in Germany, but sometimes the non-commissioned officers work it +out in this way. + +Sergeant to squad of recruits:-- + +"Henybody 'ere know anythink abart cars?" + +"Yes; I do. I own a Rolls Royce." + +"Olright; fall out and clean the major's motor bike." + +One patriotic mother who had a son who was a butcher did her best to get +him to join the Royal Army Medical Corps, because he was proficient at +cutting up meat and would feel quite at home assisting at amputations. + + ------------------------------------- + +Now that we are approaching the time for our departure to France we are +hearing that favorite farewell to all men going to the front, "Good-bye, +I'll look every day for your name in the casualty list." + +The "Princess Pats" have already been in action. They had a hard fight and +many of them have been put out of business. We envied them when they went +away and still do, although it only seems yesterday that we were lying +together here and now a number of them are lying "somewhere in France." + +The jam-making firm of Tickler was awarded a huge contract for the supply +of "Tommy's" daily four ounces of jam; either plum and apple were the +cheapest combination or else the crop of these two fruits must have been +enormous, because every single tin of jam that went to the training camps, +France, Dardanelles, or Mesopotamia, was of this mixture. + +We became so tired of it that we used the unopened tins to make borders of +flower-beds, or we used them to make stepping-stones across puddles. +Eventually the world's supply of plums and apples having been used up, the +manufacturers were forced to use strawberries. + +In the army all food is handled by the Army Service Corps, and as soon as +they found real jam coming through they took it for their own and still +forwarded on to us their reserve "plum and apple." The news got around +amongst the fighting units: result--the Army Service Corps is now known as +the "Strawberry Jam Pinchers." + +Reviewed by King George V, and it was indeed a very impressive sight. +Although there were only twenty thousand troops, they seemed endless. +During the time that the King was on the parade ground in company with +Lord Kitchener, two aeroplanes kept guard in the sky. Our K. of K. is a +big, fine man who looks the part. An inspection by the King is always a +sure sign of a unit's impending departure. He traveled down on the new +railway which had just been built by the defaulters of the Canadian +Contingent. + +At the last minute I managed to get weekend leave and went to London. No +Canadians there! I caught sight of a military picket, sergeant and twelve +men, looking for stray ones, though. Another picket held me up and made me +button my greatcoat. I did! It isn't clever to argue with pickets at any +time! + +The train was three hours late. Troops' trains were occupying the lines. +From Bulford we walked home in a hail-storm. Got in about five o'clock +just as the reveille was blowing in the other lines. They were just +leaving for the front, and had made great fires where they were burning up +rubbish and stuff they couldn't take with them. Tons of it! Chairs, +mattresses, and tables. When we move, everything except equipment has to +be discarded. We can't do anything with extras. We have to cut our own +stuff down to the very smallest dimensions. I walked through the lines +afterward of other battalions who had left, and I saw fold-up bedsteads, +uniforms, equipment, books, buckets, washing-bowls, cartridges and stoves +of every conceivable kind and shape; hundreds, from the single "Beatrice" +to the big tiled heaters. Some tents were half full of blankets thrown in, +others with harness. All the government stuff is collected, but private +stuff is burnt. + +In the army you soon realize that you have to make yourself comfortable +your own way. I don't hesitate to take anything. If I have on a pair of +puttees which are a bit worn and I find a new pair,--well, I just calmly +yet cautiously annex them and discard the old ones. We found a barrel of +beer had been left by one of the other units, so we carefully carried the +prize to our lines and then tapped it. Zowie! It was a beer barrel all +right, only it was filled with linseed oil. + + ------------------------------------- + +Thank the Lord!! Under a roof, sitting on a real chair; tablecloth, +plates; and I'm dry. We have come to Wilton (of carpet fame) and I'm in a +billet. I have a real bed to sleep in. Last night I lay on the floor of a +mildewed tent; couldn't sleep on account of the cold. To-night I sleep +between sheets, and the wonderful thing is that I'm not on leave. + +We drove our cars down here, each of us hoping that we would never again +see Bustard Camp, Salisbury Plain, as long as we lived; it had been our +home for five months. Yesterday we felt like mutiny; to-day every one is +smiling. As soon as we were "told off" Pat and I went to our billet, a +nice clean little house close to the center of the town. The owner is a +baker. I felt kind of uncomfortable with my boots and clothes plastered up +with mud, but the good lady said, "Don't 'e mind, come in, bless you; I've +'ad soldiers afore. The last one 'e said as 'ow he couldn't sleep it were +so quiet 'ere." + +I had a wash (this is Friday night), the first since Wednesday morning. +The idea of having as much water as you want, without having to go a half +mile over a swamp, pleased me so much that I used about six basinsful in +the scullery. + +When the lady of the house asked us _what_ we would _like_ to eat, we both +fainted. I'm afraid we're going to get spoiled here. Couldn't sleep at +first. Cold sheets and having all my clothes off--too great a strain! Had +breakfast and then drove our cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and +washed them down inside and out. + +This afternoon I've been into every shop I could find, chiefly to talk to +people who are not soldiers. Even went into the church to look around and +listened to the parrotlike description of the place by the sexton. + +Everybody is happy, and although it has rained ever since we have been +here, we haven't noticed it yet. I may say there are four or five kids, +and the whole house could be packed into our front room. Still, "gimme a +billet any time." + + ------------------------------------- + +I have just received the news that I have been given a Second Lieutenancy +in the Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field Artillery, and I go into +camp at Bisley at once. I am very glad that before being an officer I have +been a private, because I now have the latter's point of view. I am going +to try hard to be a good officer; promotion always means more work and +responsibility,--so here goes. + +I have been very busy lately training my new section, and we are now part +of the 12th Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division British +Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day for the "Great Adventure." + +Somewhere in France. At last we are here. We landed at a place the name of +which I am not allowed to mention, and were then taken by a guide to a +"Rest Camp" about two miles from the docks. If they had called it a +garbage dump I shouldn't have been surprised. You would be very much +surprised with the France of to-day. Everybody speaks English; smart khaki +soldiers in thousands everywhere. + +Already I have seen men who have been gassed and the hospitals here are +full of wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and night and marching +away. English money is taken here, but French is more satisfactory as you +are likely to get done on the change. The officers have a mess here just +as in England. Actually we are farther away from the firing line than we +were in camp at Bisley; but we leave to-day on our machines going direct +to it. There was a transport torpedoed just outside; they managed to beach +her just in time. The upper decks and masts are sticking up above water. + +Since I last wrote anything in this diary we have ridden over one hundred +and ten miles by road towards the firing line. All day yesterday it +poured. The country was beautiful, ripening corn everywhere, the villages +are full of old half-timbered houses, the roads are all national roads +built for war purposes by Napoleon, and run straight; on either side are +tall, poplar shade trees, so that the roads run through endless avenues. + +At night we stayed in a quaint village inn. The men all slept in a loft +over their machines. Our soaked clothes were put in the kitchen to dry, +but owing to the number of them, they just warmed up by the morning. One +officer has to follow in the rear of every unit to pick up the stragglers. +I had to bring up the rear of the column to-day--result: I didn't get in +until early in the morning, only to find the other subalterns "sawing +wood." + + ------------------------------------- + +Yesterday was the French National Day. We were cheered as we rode along, +and women and children smothered us with flowers. In the morning a funeral +of two small children passed us. Our battery commander called the battery +to attention and officers saluted. The priest was two days overdue with +his shave--soldiers notice things like that, you know. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day we continued our ride; the weather was much better--dried our +clothes by wearing them. Strange to run through Normandy villages and +suddenly come across British Tommies--many of them speaking French. A Royal +Navy car has just passed us; our navy seems omnipresent. I saw an old +woman reading a letter by the side of an old farmhouse to some old people, +evidently from a soldier, probably their son. It reminded me a great deal +of one of Millet's pictures. Every one thinks of the war here and nothing +but the war; it's not "Business as Usual." + +We stay here one night and move away to-morrow. We can hear the guns +faintly. + +The three section officers, myself and two others, are sleeping in a hut +together. It is one of these new collapsible kind, very convenient. We are +now all in bed. Outside the only sound we can hear is the sentries +challenging and the mosquitoes singing. + + ------------------------------------- + +All males are soldiers in France, even the old men. They look very fine in +their blue uniforms, but I have a prejudice for our khaki Tommies. We get +good food as we travel, but pay war prices for it. Cherries are now in +season; we don't pay for them, however. + + ------------------------------------- + +Rode another sixty miles to-day. A car smashed into the curb, cannoned off +and ran over me, busting my machine up. The front wheel went over my leg. +My revolver and leather holster saved me from a fracture, but I got badly +bruised up. I was very scared that I should not be able to go "up" with +the Battery. It would be almost a disgrace to go back broken up by a car +without even getting a whack at the Boche. Had to ride later on another +machine twenty-five miles through the night without lights, in a blinding +rain. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everything interesting. Should like to have a camera with me. I had to +post mine back. So many things are done in the British Army by putting a +man on his honor. They just ask you to do things. They don't order you to +do it. It was that way with me; they merely "asked" me to post my camera +back. + +Great powerful cars rush by here all day and all night, regardless of +speed limits. Every hour or so you see a convoy of twenty or thirty motor +lorries in line bringing up ammunition or supplies, or coming back empty. +Every point bristles with sentries who demand passes. If you are not able +to answer satisfactorily, they just shoot. The French soldiers have +magnificent uniforms; the predominating color is a sort of cobalt blue. To +see sentries, French and British together, they make quite a nice color +scheme. + +Officers censor all letters. I censor sometimes fifty letters a day. One +man put in a letter to-day, "I can't write anything endearing in this, as +my section officer will read it." Another, "I enclose ten shillings. Very +likely you will not receive this, as my officer has to censor this +letter." Of course we don't have time to read all the letters through. We +look for names of places and numbers of divisions, brigades, etc., but I +couldn't help noticing that one of my men, whom I have long suspected of +being a Don Juan, had by one mail written exactly the same letter to five +different girls in England, altering only the addresses and the +affectionate beginnings. + +The village in which I am now was visited last September by twelve German +officers who came through in motor cars; the villagers cried, "Vivent les +Anglais," for not having seen an English soldier they took it for granted +that the "Tommy" had come. + +Everybody goes armed to the teeth. I have my belt, a regular Christmas +tree for hanging things on, with revolver and cartridges on even while I'm +writing this. We carry a lot, but we soon get used to it. + + ------------------------------------- + +The corn is being cut now. Through the window opposite I can see it +standing in newly-stacked sheaves. These places are the favorite sketching +grounds of artists in normal times, and I often wonder if they ever will +be again. + +We return salutes with all the French and Belgian officers. It is +difficult sometimes to distinguish them. I got fooled by a Belgian +postman, and then went to work and cut a French general. + +The nearer we get to the firing line the finer the type of soldier. They +are the magnificent Britishers of Kitchener's First Army. It makes you +proud to see them marching by, dirty and wet with sweat. I watched two +battalions come through; they had marched twenty miles through the sun +with new issue boots; a few of them had fallen out, and other men and +officers were carrying their equipment and rifles; many of the officers +carried two rifles. + +I am now well within sound of the guns. A German Taube was shelled as it +came over our firing line yesterday. One man was lying on his back asleep +with his hat over his eyes, when a piece of shrapnel from one of the +"Archies" hit him in the stomach--result: one blasphemous, indignant +casualty. From the road I can see one of the observation balloons, a queer +sausage-shaped airship. We may be moved up into the thick of it at any +time now. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been over into Belgium to-day: crossed the frontier on my motor +bike; the roads are terrible, all this beastly "pave" cobblestones; awful +stuff to ride over on a motor cycle. Shell holes on both sides of the +road, and I saw three graves in the corner of a hop garden. All along the +road there were dozens and dozens of old London motor buses, taking men to +the trenches. They still have the advertisements on them and are driven by +the bus-drivers themselves. Three hundred came over with their own +machines. They are now soldiers. The observation balloon I mentioned +yesterday was shelled down to-day. + +I am writing this in an old Flemish farmhouse, and the room I'm sitting in +has a carved rafter ceiling, red brick floor and nasty purple cabbage +wallpaper. All the men of the house with the exception of the old man are +at the war; one son has already died. The Germans have been through here. +They tied the mayor of the town to a tree and shot him. The trenches have +been filled in, all the wreckage cleared, and they have a new mayor. + + ------------------------------------- + +It is not yet 7 A.M. I am an orderly officer and have to take the men out +for a run at six. I came back and bought a London "Daily Mail" of +yesterday from a country-woman. We are at least three miles from the town, +but they are enterprising enough to bring papers to us at this time in the +morning. A "Daily Mail" costs four cents. + +Since I last wrote I have been up to the front line. Everything is +different from what you imagine. The German trenches are easily +distinguished through glasses; their sand-bags are multi-colored. Shrapnel +was bursting over ruins of an old town in their lines. When you look +through a periscope at the wilderness, it is difficult to imagine that +thousands of soldiers on both sides have burrowed themselves into the +earth. The evidence of their alertness is shown by their snipers, who are +always busy whenever the target is up. + +A battery of eight-inch howitzers was opening fire. Our battery commander, +hearing this, sent us up. The guns, big fellows, were well concealed. They +were painted in protective colors and covered with screens of branches to +prevent aerial observation. In the grounds all over the place were +dug-outs, deep rabbit burrows, ten or twelve feet down, into which +everybody went immediately. The Germans started their "hate." The firing +is done by hand cord; other big guns are fired electrically. An enormous +flash, an ear-splitting crash, a great sheet of flame from the muzzle, and +two hundred pounds of steel is sent tearing through the air to the +"Kultur" exponents. The whole gun lifts off the ground and runs back on +its oil-compression springs. These guns are moved by their own caterpillar +tractors which are kept somewhere close by. In three quarters of an hour +they can get them started on the road. The ground for these emplacements +was the orchard of a chateau. While we were there a whistle blew three +times, an order shouted; immediately the guns were covered up and the men +took cover. The enemy had sent an aeroplane to locate them. If they could +once find them, hundreds of shells would rain on this spot in a few +minutes. At a few yards' distance I couldn't see the guns myself. The +"Hows" were firing at a house in the German lines which had been giving +trouble. In three rounds they got it and then started in to "dust" the +neighborhood. Of course, the firing is indirect. The officers and men who +are with the guns don't see the effects. Apparently they fire straight +away in the air. The observation is done by the forward observing officer +in the fire trenches who corrects them by 'phone. + +After the appointed number of rounds had been fired, we adjourned to the +chateau, a fine house, marble mantelpiece, plaster ceilings, gilt mirror +panels, etc. It has still a few pieces of furniture left, no carpets, most +of the windows are smashed; shells have visited it, but chiefly in +splinters. I saw one picture on the wall with a hole drilled in by a +shrapnel bullet which had gone clean through as though it had been +drilled. It hadn't smashed the glass otherwise. From a window of the room, +which the officers use as a mess, a neat row of graves is to be seen. +Outside there are great shell holes, most of them big enough to bury a +horse. Suddenly a shriek and a deafening explosion occurred in the garden. +"Sixty-pound shrapnel! Evening hate," said an artillery sub. We left! We +had been sent up to see the guns fire and not to be fired at. + +To go home we had to pass a village completely deserted, a village that +was once prosperous, where people lived and traded and only wanted to be +left alone. Now grass is growing in the streets. Shops have their +merchandise strewn and rotting in all directions. On one fragment of a +wall a family portrait was still hanging, and a woman's undergarments. A +grand piano, and a perambulator tied in a knot were trying to get down +through a coal chute. To wander through a village like this one that has +been smashed up, and with the knowledge that the smashing up may be +continued any time, is thrilling. Churches are always hateful to the +Germans. They shell them all; bits of the organs are wrapped around the +tombstones, and coffins, bones and skulls are churned up into a great +stew. In some of the villages a few of the inhabitants had stayed and +traded with the soldiers. They lived in cellars usually and suffered +terribly. British military police direct the traffic when there is any, +and are stationed at crossroads with regular beats like a city policeman. + +While traveling to another part of the line we had an opportunity of +seeing the "Archies" (anti-aircraft guns) working. They were mounted on +lorries and fire quite good-sized shells. They fired about fifty shots at +one Taube, but didn't register a bull. Later in the evening from a trench +we had the satisfaction of seeing another aeroplane set on fire, burn, and +drop into the German lines like a shot partridge. Aeroplanes are as common +as birds. Yesterday a "Pfeil" (arrow) biplane came right over our lines +and was chased off by our own machines. The enemy's aeroplanes have their +iron cross painted on the underside of their wings and are more +hawkish-looking than ours. They are more often used for reconnoitering and +taking photographs than for dropping bombs. + +We are being moved up closer to the firing line. I have been made +billeting officer. I went to headquarters; a staff colonel showed me a +subdivision on a map. "Go there and select a place for your unit." The +place was a wretched village of about six houses, all of which are more or +less smashed about, windows repaired with sacking and pieces of wood. All +of the inhabitants have moved except those who are too poor. Every square +inch is utilized. I managed to get a cow-shed for the officers. It looks +comfortable. On the door I could just decipher, written in chalk, by some +previous billeting officer,-- + + + 2 Staff Officers + 6 Officers + 2 Horses + + +Billeting chalk marks are on almost all the shops and houses up from the +coast to the front. + +The field which we are expecting to put the men into belonged to a miller +who lived in a different area. We went to see him. He couldn't speak +English or French, so I tried him with German. While we were talking, I +noticed some non-coms watching us very intently and was not surprised to +find one following us back down the road. When he saw our car he came up +and apologized for having taken us for spies. They are looking for two +Germans in our lines wearing British uniforms, who have given several gun +positions away. Two days ago the enemy shelled the road systematically on +both sides for half a mile when an ammunition column was due. It was quite +dark before we left; the sky was continually lit up by the star shells, +very pretty white rockets, which light up No Man's Land. The enemy has a +very good kind which remains alight for several minutes. + +Our days of comfortable billets are over, I am afraid. Unless you are +working hard, it is miserable here,--wrecked towns, bad roads, shell holes, +smells, dirt, soldiers, horses, trenches. The inhabitants are a poor, +wretched lot. Many of them are thieves and spies. We are right in Belgium, +where flies and smells are as varied as in the Orient. + +Wherever we travel by day or night we are constantly challenged by +sentries and have to produce our passes. We stopped in one darkened +shell-riddled town and knocked up an _estaminet_; we got a much finer meal +than you can get at many places farther back. We talked to the woman who +kept it and asked her if she slept in the cellar. "Oh, no! I sleep +upstairs, they never bombard except at three in the morning or nine at +night. Then I go into the cellar." This woman was a very pleasant, +intelligent person, most probably a spy. Intelligent people generally +leave the danger zone. + +Marching through the sloughed-up mud, through shell holes filled with +putrid water, amongst most depressing conditions, I saw a working party +returning to their billets. They were wet through and wrapped up with +scarves, wool helmets, and gloves. Over their clothes was a veneer of +plastered mud. They marched along at a slow swing and in a mournful way +sang-- + + + "Left--Left--Left + We--are--the tough Guys!" + + +Apparently there are no more words to this song because after a pause of a +few beats they commenced again-- + + + "Left--Left--Left--" + + +They looked exactly what they said they were. + +Windmills, of which there are a good many, are only allowed to work under +observation. It was found that they were often giving the enemy +information, using the position of the sails to spell out codes in the +same way as in semaphore; clock-hands on church towers are also used in +the same way. + +I saw a pathetic sight to-day. A stretcher came by with a man painfully +wounded; he was inclined to whimper; one of the stretcher-bearers said +quietly to him, "Be British." He immediately straightened himself out and +asked for a "fag." He died that night. + + ------------------------------------- + +We had a terrific bombardment last night; the ground shook all night and +the sky was lit up for miles. The Boches used liquid fire on some new +troops and we lost ground. + +I found this piece of poetry on the wall of a smashed-up chateau, and I +have copied it exactly as I found it. The writing was on a darkened wall, +and while I copied it my guide held a torchlight up to it. The place +passes as "Dead Cow Farm" on all official maps. + + + I've traveled many journeys in my one score years and ten," + And oft enjoyed the company of jovial fellow men, + But of all the happy journeys none can compare to me + With the Red-Cross special night express from the trenches to the + sea. + + "It's Bailleul, Boulogne, Blighty, that's the burden of the song, + Oh, speed the train along. + If you've only half a stomach and you haven't got a knee, + You'll choke your groans and try to shout the chorus after me. + + Bailleul, Boulogne, and Blighty, dear old Blighty "cross the sea." + + "Now some of us are mighty bad and some are wounded slight, + And some will see their threescore years and some won't last the + night, + But the Red Cross train takes up the strain all in a minor key + And sings Boulogne and Blighty as she rumbles to the sea. + + "Oh, it's better than the trenches and it's better than the rain, + It's better than the mud and stink; we're going home again, + Though most of us have left some of us on the wrong side of the + sea. + We are a lot of blooming cripples, but--downhearted? No, siree. + + "There's a holy speed about this train for each of us can see + That we will cross the shining channel that lies 'twixt her and me + To the one and only Blighty, our Blighty, 'cross the sea,' + Where the blooming Huns can never come, 'twixt her and home and + me." + + +"Blighty" is the wound which sends a man home to England; it's a war word +which came originally from the Indians, but now universally adopted in the +new trench language. + +I was walking along a trench when a man, who was sitting on a firestep +looking up into a little trench mirror (which is used by putting the end +of the bayonet between the glass and the frame), just crumpled up, shot +through the heart. He didn't say a word. The trench had thinned out and +the bullet had come through, nearly four feet down from the top of the +parapet. + +Bad shell fire this afternoon. Saw shells churning things up seventy-five +yards away; many passed overhead; had a ride on my motor cycle with the +other officers to reconnoiter the roads leading down to the part of the +trenches we have taken over; road was shelled as we came along. Two "coal +boxes" hit the road and smashed up a cottage in front of us; we picked up +pieces of the shell too hot to hold. + +Our billet now is another large farm, with the pump in the center of the +manure heap as usual; our machines are parked all round a field close to +the hedges to make a smaller target and also to prevent aerial +observation. + +I went through a town this morning which has been on everybody's lips for +months--I have never seen such devastation in my life; it baffles +description. The San Francisco earthquake was a joke to this. Thousands +and thousands of shells have pummeled and smashed until very little +remains besides wreckage. Most of the shelling has been done to +deliberately destroy the objects of architectural value. + +My quarters are in a loft amongst rags, old agricultural implements, +sacks, and the accumulation of years of dirt; flies wake me up at +daylight. + +This morning I went for a drink in the _estaminet_ I have mentioned +already. Two shells have been through the sides of the house since we were +last there, but they both came through at the usual scheduled time. + +This poor country is pockmarked with shell craters like a great country +with a skin disease. Trees have been splintered worse than any storm could +do. Nothing has been spared. The mineral rights of this territory should +be very valuable some day. When we have all finished salting the earth +with nickel, lead, steel, copper, and aluminum, old-metal dealers will +probably set up offices in No Man's Land. + +Belgium will have to be rebuilt entirely, or left as it is, a monument to +"Kultur." + + ------------------------------------- + +My section has been ordered up to a divisional area on the south of the +salient. In accordance with instructions I went up to Ypres this morning +to find a place to park the machines. + +Contrary to the popular belief, we do not fight our guns from the motor +cycles themselves. We use our machines to get about on, and the guns are +taken up as near as possible to the position we are to occupy, which is +usually behind Brigade Headquarters. Brigadiers have a great aversion to +any kind of motor vehicle being driven past their headquarters, owing to +the movement and noise, which they believe attracts attention to +themselves, and as a rule the sentries posted outside will see that no +machines go by. We get up as far as we can, because after we part from our +machines, everything must be carried up through the trenches by hand. + + [Illustration] + + Bringing Up A Motor Machine Gun + + +I arrived at the town early and reported to the major who is in charge of +the town and of the troops quartered there. He was living in the prison, a +substantial brick and stone building, which has been smashed about a bit, +but which is still a fairly good structure. The major is a fine, gruff old +gentleman who was a master of fox hounds in the North of England. He came +over with a detachment of cavalry. He is past the age limit, and it was +decided that although he was a fine soldier, perhaps his age would be a +deterrent and his job ought to be something lighter, so they gave him one +of the fiercest jobs in the world--O. C. Ypres! + +I was sent in, and when he heard my errand he said, "You want to park your +machines in Ypres? Why don't you take them up in the German front lines? +You'll be safer there than here. Listen to the shelling now." I knew this, +but I was doing just exactly what I was told. He continued: "I have now +thousands of troops here and my daily casualties are enormous, so +naturally I don't want any more men. The best plan for you will be to go +down the Lille road and pick a house below 'Shrapnel Corner.' " + +I went on through the town, under the Lille gate, across the tram lines, +past the famous cross-roads known as "Shrapnel Corner" and chummed up with +some artillery officers. They told me that I could have any of the houses +I wanted. I picked a couple which looked to me to be more complete than +the rest and chalked them up. This whole place was alive with batteries. +While I was there I heard a shout and suddenly a hidden battery of guns, +sunk behind the road with the muzzles almost resting on it, started firing +across in the direction of the part of Belgium occupied by Fritz. I had +passed within two feet of these guns and yet had not seen them, they were +so well "camouflaged." On my way back I saw the "Big Berthas" bursting in +the town, and I was surprised that so little damage had been actually done +to the Lille gate itself. Shells had visited everywhere in the +neighborhood, but had not smashed this old structure. + +I went home, collected my men together, and told them the importance of +the work we were to undertake. I have found it always a good thing to make +the men think the job that they are doing is of great importance. Better +results are obtained that way. + +We went to an "engineer dump" on the way up just after the enemy had +landed a shell on a wagon loading building material, and wounded were +being carried off and the mangled horses had been dragged on one side. As +the wounded came by I called my section to attention, the compliment due +to wounded men paid by units drawn up. + +We drew our sandbags in the usual way by requisitioning for five thousand +and getting one thousand. Always ask for more than you expect to get. + +As we came into Ypres, a military policeman on duty told me it was +unhealthy to go the usual way through the Market Square, because the +shelling was bad in that part of the town, so I spread the machines out +and started on down a side street. We were getting on finely and I was +congratulating myself on getting through, when two houses, hit from the +back, collapsed across the street in front of my machine. Without any +ceremony I turned my machine back along the street which we had come and +went through the Market Square down the Lille road, under the gate, being +followed by my section. About four hundred yards down I stopped; holding +my solo motor cycle between my legs, standing up, I looked back. I counted +my machines as they came up. If it hadn't been so scary, it really would +have been funny, to see these machines coming down the road through shell +holes and over piles of bricks, as fast as the drivers could make them go. +The men were hanging on for dear life and the machines rocked from side to +side, but they were all there. + +Down the road we went to the houses; there we parked the machines and +unpacked. A guard was placed over them and the rest of us marched down to +the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +An officer has to buy all his own equipment and is allowed two hundred and +fifty dollars by the Government towards the cost. An officer carries a +revolver, but all junior officers as soon as possible acquire a rifle. The +men of a "salvage company" were collecting all the rifles, bayonets, and +parts of equipment near where I was to-day and I managed to get a +Lee-Enfield (British rifle) in good shape. I felt that I would like to +have a rifle and bayonet handy. I found a good-looking bayonet sticking in +the side of a sandbag wall. It looked lonely. The scabbard I am using was +resting in a loft of a deserted brewery. I am now complete with rifle, +bayonet, and scabbard. + + [Illustration] + + "Wipers" + + +Sometimes you see a man smashed about in a terrible way, such a mess that +you think he is a goner; he may recover. Another man may have just a small +wound and will die. A bullet hitting a man in the head will smash it as +effectually as a sledge-hammer. Once a man leaves your unit, wounded, you +don't see him again. You get a fresh draft. + +No one thinks of peace here. Germany must be put in a similar state to +Belgium first. + +We never travel anywhere without our smoke helmets; they come right over +our heads and are tucked into our shirts; they have two glass eye-pieces. +When we have them on we look like the old Spanish gentleman who ran the +"Star Chamber." Helmets must always be ready to put on instantly. Gas is a +matter of seconds in coming over. The helmets are better than respirators, +but have to be constantly inspected. A small hole, or if one is allowed to +dry, means a casualty. + +Storm brewing. Flies bad, driven in by the wind. Nature goes on just the +same. I suppose that this farm would be just as fly-ridden in an ordinary +summer. During the bombarding yesterday I noticed swallows flying about +quite unconcerned. Corn, mostly self-planted, grows right up to the +trenches. Cabbages grow wild. Communicating trenches run right through +fields of crops; flowers grow in profusion between the lines, big red +poppies and field daisies, and there are often hundreds of little frogs in +the bottom of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + +A trip to No Man's Land is an excursion which you never forget. It varies +in width and horrors. My impression was similar to what I should feel +being on Broadway without any clothes--a naked feeling. Forty-seven and one +half inches of earth are necessary to stop a bullet, and it's nice to have +that amount of dirt between you and the enemy's bullets. The dead lie out +in between the lines or hang up on the wire; they don't look pretty after +they have been out some time. It's a pleasant job to have to get their +identification disks, and we have to search the bodies of the enemy dead +for papers and even buttons so that we can know what unit is in front of +us. Flowers grow in between, butterflies play together, and birds nest in +the wire. When the grass becomes too high it has to be cut, because +otherwise it would prevent good observation. In some places grass doesn't +have a chance to even take root, let alone grow. The shells take care of +that. + +I managed to get a translation of a diary kept by a German soldier who +fell on the field. Below is an exact translation and gives the point of +view of a man in the trenches on the other side of the line. He was +writing his diary at the same time I was writing mine, and we were both +fighting around the salient at Ypres, Hooge being on the point of the +salient farthest east. This part, which was once a place of beauty which +people came long distances to see, is now like a great muddy Saragossa Sea +which at the height of its fury has suddenly become frozen with the +tortured limbs of trees and men, and wreckage and reeking smells, until it +can again lash itself in wild fury into whirlpools. It is in all respects +Purgatory, but of greater horror than Dante ever dreamt of. + + ------------------------------------- + +_Diary of F---- P---- of the 6th Company, 3d Battalion, 132d Regiment. +Killed at Hooge on August 9th, 1915._ + +On May 10, we were told to prepare for the journey to the front. Each man +received his service ammunition and two days' rations, and we then started +with heavy packs on our backs and our water-bottles full of coffee. After +a long march we reached our reserve position, where we were put into rest +billets for two days in wooden huts hidden in a wood. We could hear from +here the noise of the shells coming through the air. + +On May 13, we moved into the trenches, in the night. We were a whole hour +moving along a communication trench one and one-half metres deep, right up +to the front line some fifty metres from the enemy. This was to be our +post. We had hardly got in before the bullets came flying over our heads. +Look out for the English! They know how to shoot! I need hardly say we did +not wait to return the compliment. We answered each one of their greetings +and always with success, inasmuch as we stood to our loopholes for +twenty-four hours with two-hour reliefs. + +At length early on the 15th, at four o'clock, came our first attack. After +a preliminary smoking-out with gas, our artillery got to work, and about +ten o'clock we climbed out of the trenches and advanced fifty metres in +the hail of bullets. Here I got my first shot through the coat. Three +comrades were killed at the outset of the assault, and some twenty +slightly or severely wounded, but we had obtained our object. The trench +was ours, although the English twice attempted to turn us out of it. + +The fight went on till eleven o'clock that evening. We were then relieved +by the 10th Company, and made our way back along the communication +trenches to our old positions. Here we remained until the third day, +standing by at night and passing two days without sleep. We were hardly +able to get our meals. From every side firing was going on, and shots came +plugging two metres deep into the ground. This was my baptism of fire. It +cannot be described as it really is--something like an earthquake, when the +big shells come at one and make holes in the ground large enough to hold +forty or fifty men comfortably. How easy and comfortable seemed our road +back to the huts. + +We remained in the huts for three days, resting before we went up again to +"Hell Fire," as they call the first line trenches in front of Ypres. + +Then suddenly in the middle of the night an alarm. Our neighbors had +allowed themselves to be driven out of our hard-won position, and the 6th +Company, with the 8th and 5th, had to make good the lost ground. A hasty +march through the communication trenches up to the front, the night lit up +far and wide with searchlights and flares and ourselves in a long chain +lying on our bellies. Towards two in the morning the Englishmen came on, +1500 men strong. The battle may be imagined. About 200 returned to the +line they started from. Over 1300 dead and wounded lay on the ground. Six +machine guns and a quantity of rifles and equipment were taken back by us, +the 132d Regiment, and the old position was once more in our possession. +What our neighbors lost the 132d regained. There was free beer that +evening and a concert! At 11 P.M. once more we withdrew to the rear, our +2d, 4th and 10th Companies relieving us. We slept a whole day and night +like the dead. + +On June 15th, we again went back to rest billets, but towards midday we +were once more sent up to the front line to reinforce our right wing, +which was attacked by French and English. Just as we got to our trenches +we were greeted by a heavy shell fire, the shells falling in front of our +parapets, making the sandbags totter. Seeing this, I sprang to the spot +and held the whole thing together till the others hurried up to my +assistance. Just as I was about to let go, I must have got my head too +high above the parapet, as I got shot in the scalp. In the excitement I +did not at once realize that I was wounded, until Gubbert said--"Hullo, +Musch! Why, you're bleeding!" The stretcher-bearer tied me up, and I had +to go back to the dressing-station to be examined. Happily it was nothing +more than a mere scalp wound, and I was only obliged to remain on the +sick-list four days, having the place attended to. + +June 24th. All quiet in the West, except for sniping. The weather is such +that no offensive can take place. The English will never have a better +excuse for inactivity than this--"It is raining." Thank God for that! Less +dust to swallow to-day! Odd that here in Belgium we are delighted with the +rain, while in Germany they are watching it with anxiety. + +To-day we shall probably be relieved. Then we go to Menin to rest. Ten +days without coming under fire. It is Paradise! + +Sunday, June 27th. At nine o'clock clean up. At eleven roll-call. At three +o'clock went to the Cinema--very fine pictures. In the afternoon all the +men danced till seven, but we had to take each other for partners--no +girls. + +July 2d. 11 P.M. Alarm. Three persons have been arrested who refused to +make sandbags. They were pulled out of bed and carried off. Eight o'clock +marched to drill. This lasts till 11. Then 1 to 4 rest. Six, physical +drill and games. I went to the Cinema in the evening. + +July 6th. Inspection till eleven. Three hours standing in the sun--enough +to drive me silly. Twenty-three men fell out. Three horses also affected +by the heat. Eleven to one Parade march--in the sun. Thirty-six more men +reported sick. I was very nearly one of them. + +July 9th. Preparation for departure. From seven to ten pack up kits. +Eleven, roll-call. One-thirty, march to light railway. At seven reached +firing trench. The English are firing intermittently over our heads; +otherwise, all is quiet. We are now on the celebrated, +much-bewritten-about "Hill 60." Night passes without incident. + +July 12th. At three in the morning the enemy makes a gas attack. We put on +respirators. Rifle in hand we leap from the trenches and assault. In front +of Hill 60 the enemy breaks, and we come into possession of a trench. +Rapid digging. Counter-attack repulsed. At nine o'clock all is quiet, only +the artillery still popping. This evening we are to be relieved. The 132d +Regiment is much beloved by the English! In a dugout we found two labels. +One of them had the following writing on it: "God strafe the 132d Regiment +(not 'God strafe England' this time). Sergeant Scott (?) Remington, +Sewster Wall (?)." On the other was, "I wish the Devil would take you, you +pigs." + +At 7.20 Hill 60 is bombarded by artillery, and shakes thirty to fifty +metres, as if from an earthquake. Two English companies blown into the +air--a terrible picture. Dug-outs, arms, equipment--all blown to bits. + +July 17th. Marched to new quarters. We have got a new captain. He wants to +see the company, so at 8 A.M. drill in pouring rain. Four times we have to +lie on our belly, and get wet through and through. All the men grumbling +and cursing. At eleven we are dismissed. I, with a bad cold and a +headache. I wish this soldiering were all over. + +July 19th. At seven sharp we marched off to our position. Heavy +bombardment. At nine we were buried by a shell. I know no more. At eleven +I found myself lying in the Field Hospital. I have pains inside me over my +lungs; and headache, and burning in the joints. + +July 20th. The M.O. has had a look at me. He says my stomach and left lung +are suffering from the pressure which was put on them. The principal +remedy is rest. + +July 21st. Thirty-nine degrees of fever (temp. 100 deg. Fahr.). Stay in bed +and sleep, and oh! how tired I am! + +July 22d. I slept all day. Had milk and white bread to eat. + +July 26th. Returned to duty with three days' exemption, i.e., we do not +have any outdoor work. + +July 28th and 29th. Still on exemption. Nothing to do but sleep and think +of home and of my dear wife and daughter. But dreaming does not bring +peace any sooner. How I would love an hour or two back home. + +July 31st. In rest. Baths going. Duke of Wuerttemberg passed through our +camp. + +August 1st. Up to the trenches. Shrapnel flying like flies. A heavy +bombardment; bombardment of Hooge. Second Battalion, 132d Regiment, sent +up to reinforce 126th Regiment, which has already lost half its men. + +August 4th. Heavy artillery fire the whole night. The English are +concentrating 50,000 Indians on our front to attack Hooge and Hill 60. +Just let them come, we shall stand firm. At three marched off to the +front. Watch beginning again. Five o'clock marched off to the Witches' +Cauldron, Hooge. A terrible night again. H.E. and shrapnel without number. +Oh, thrice-cursed Hooge! In one hour eleven killed and twenty-three +wounded and the fire unceasing. It is enough to drive one mad, and we have +to spend three days and three nights more. It is worse than an earthquake, +and any one who has not experienced it can have no idea what it is like. +The English fired a mine, a hole fifteen metres deep and fifty to sixty +broad, and this "cauldron" has to be occupied at night. At present it +isn't too badly shelled. At every shot the dug-outs sway to and fro like a +weather-cock. This life we have to stick to for months. One needs nerves +of steel and iron. Now I must crawl into our hole, as trunks and branches +of trees fly in our trench like spray. + +August 6th. To-night moved to the crater again, half running and half +crawling. At seven a sudden burst of fire from the whole of the artillery. +From about eleven yesterday fires as if possessed. This morning at four we +fall back. We find the 126th have no communication with the rear, as the +communication trenches have been completely blown in. The smoke and thirst +are enough to drive one mad. Our cooker doesn't come up. The 126th gives +us bread and coffee from the little they have. If only it would stop! We +get direct hits one after another and lie in a sort of dead end, cut off +from all communication. If only it were night. What a feeling to be +thinking every second when I shall get it! ---- has just fallen, the third +man in our platoon. Since eight the fire has been unceasing; the earth +shakes and we with it. Will God ever bring us out of this fire? I have +said the Lord's Prayer and am resigned. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day I saw the "Mound of Death" at Saint-Eloi; it has been mined a +number of times, and thousands of shells have beaten it into a disorderly +heap of earth; the trenches are twenty-five yards apart; all the grass and +vegetation has been blown away and never has had time to grow up again. + +It's all arranged for you, if there's a bit of shell or a bullet with your +name on it you'll get it, so you've nothing to worry about. You are a +soldier--then be one. This is the philosophy of the trenches. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + What's The Use? + + +War is a great ager. Young men grow old quickly here. It can be seen in +their faces; they have lost all the irresponsibility of youth. I have met +many men who have been here since Mons; they all look weary and worn out +by the strain. Now new troops are coming forward and it is hoped that they +will be able to send some back for a rest. + +Several days ago the adjutant of the Tenth Battalion Sherwood Foresters +came to me with this message which was sent through our lines:-- + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrest Officer Royal Engineers with orderly. Former, six feet, black +moustache, web equipment, revolver. Latter, short, carries rifle, canvas +bandolier. Please warn transports and all concerned. + + ------------------------------------- + +Everybody kept a good lookout for these spies. One sentry surprised a real +R.E. officer named Perkins who was working out a drainage scheme. Seeming +to answer the above description, he stalked him,--"Come 'ere, you ---- +----, you're the ---- I've been looking for." The officer, nonplussed, +commenced to stutter. "Sergeant, I've got 'im and he can't speak a word of +English." The sergeant collected him in and guarded him until another +engineer officer, known to the guard, came along. As soon as Perkins saw +him, he said, "F-r-r-ed, t-t-tell this d-d-damn fool wh-ho I am." "Who the +hell are you calling Fred? I don't know him; hold him, sergeant, he's a +desperate one." Scarcely able to contain his joy, Fred went back to the +Engineers' Camp to tell the great news and Perkins spent three hours in +the sandbag dugout listening to a description of what the sergeant and his +guard would do to him if they only had their way. + +The real spies, who did a great deal of damage, were finally rounded up +and shot in a listening post trying to regain their own lines. + + ------------------------------------- + +Enemy snipers give us a great deal of trouble. It is very difficult to +locate them. One of our men tried out an original scheme. He put an empty +biscuit tin on the parapet. Immediately the sniper put a bullet through +it. Now thought the Genius, "If I look through the two holes it will give +me my direction,"--so getting up on the firestep he looked through, only to +roll over with the top of his head smashed off by a bullet. The sniper was +shooting his initials on the tin. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all used to dead bodies or pieces of men, so much so that we are +not troubled by the sight of them. There was a right hand sticking out of +the trench in the position of a man trying to shake hands with you, and as +the men filed out they would often grip it and say, "So long, old top, +we'll be back again soon." One man had the misfortune to be buried in such +a way that the bald part of the head showed. It had been there a long time +and was sun-dried. Tommy used him to strike his matches on. A corpse in a +trench is quite a feature, and is looked for when the men come back again +to the same trench. + +We live mostly on bully beef and hard tack. The first is corned beef and +the second is a kind of dog biscuit. We always wondered why they were so +particular about a man's teeth in the army. Now I know. It's on account of +these biscuits. The chief ingredient is, I think, cement, and they taste +that way too. To break them it is necessary to use the handle of your +entrenching tool or a stone. We have fried, baked, mashed, boiled, +toasted, roasted, poached, hashed, devilled them alone and together with +bully beef, and we have still to find a way of making them into +interesting food. + +However, the Boche likes our beef. He prefers the brand canned in Chicago +to his own, and will almost sit up and beg if we throw some over to him. +The method is as follows: Throw one over ... sounds of shuffling and +getting out of the way are heard in the enemy trench. Fritz thinks it's +going to go off. Pause, and throw another. Fritz not so suspicious this +time. Keep on throwing until happy voices from enemy trenches shout, +"More! Give us more!" Then lob over as many hand grenades as you can pile +into that part of the trench and tell them to share those too. + +It takes some time to distinguish whether shells are arrivals or +departures, but after a while you get into the way of telling their +direction and size by sound. Roads are constantly shelled, searching for +troops or supply columns. I was coming home to-day, up a road which ran +approximately at right angles to main fire trenches. At one place the road +was exposed for a matter of thirty or forty feet, and again farther up it +was necessary to go over the brow of a small hill. This was about three +hundred yards farther on and was exposed to the enemy's view. Thinking +they wouldn't bother about a single rider on a motor cycle, I went up past +the first exposed position. My carburetor was giving me some trouble and I +thought I would see if any rain had got into it, so I turned off the road +down a cross-road and dismounted when _crash_! a shell landed right in the +middle of the road as far up the exposed place as I was round the corner. +Then five more followed the first shell. Had I gone on I could not +possibly have missed collecting most of the fragments. The German gunners +had spotted me in the first position and decided that a lone man on a +motor cycle must be either an officer or despatch rider. So they tried to +get him. The shells were shrapnel and the time was calculated splendidly. +They had taken into consideration the speed of my motor cycle. Cross-roads +are particularly attended to, for there is a double chance of hitting +something, and in consequence it is always unhealthy to linger on a +crossroad. + + ------------------------------------- + +Dugouts are often made very comfortable with windows, tiled floors and +furniture taken from neighboring shattered chateaux. I have even seen them +with flowers growing in window-boxes over the entrance. They all have +names. Some I saw yesterday were called "Anti-Krupp Cottage," "Pleasant +View," and "Little Grey Home in the West." There was one very homey site, +well equipped and fitted, which had been dubbed the "Nut,"--the colonel +lived there. + +My old corps brought an aeroplane down with a machine gun last night. They +were in a shell hole between the main and support trenches. + +For the last few days I have been "up" looking for gun positions. + +The lice are getting to be a torment. You have no idea how bad they are. +Everybody up here is infested with them. I have tried smearing myself with +kerosene, but that does not seem to trouble them at all. Silk underwear is +supposed to keep them down. I suppose their feet slip on the shiny +surface. + +The food lately has taken on a wonderful flavor and I now know how +dissolved German tastes. The cook, instead of sending back two miles for +water to cook with, has been using water from the moat in which a Boche +had been slowly disintegrating. + +To-day I was able to see what a German seventeen-inch shell could do; one +had made a crater fifty feet across and twenty feet deep in the middle of +the road. The top of the road was paved--think it over--and pieces kill at a +thousand yards. Thirty horses were buried in another hole. + + ------------------------------------- + +I have been given a special job by the general to enfilade a wood over the +Mound. I have my section now in the second-line trenches waiting till it +is dark before making a move. We have to make a machine-gun emplacement in +a piece of ground which is decidedly unhealthy to visit during daylight. I +have been there in daylight, but I had to creep out of it. On the map it +is called a farm, but the highest wall is only three feet six inches high. + + ------------------------------------- + +Arrived home about two o'clock this morning. We crawled to the place we +have to take up, and I put some men filling sandbags in the ruins and +others even digging a dugout. The enemy had "the wind up" and were using a +great number of star shells. When one goes up we all "freeze," remain +motionless, or lie still. They send them up to see across their front, and +if they locate a working party, then they start playing a tune with their +machine guns. Bullets and shells whistled through the trees all the time. +They seemed to come from all directions. The men didn't like it at all. I +wasn't altogether comfortable myself, but an officer must keep going. I +walked about and joked and laughed with them. The range-taker said, "Some +of us are getting the didley-i-dums, Sir." I don't know what that is, but +I had a feeling that I had them too. + +Of course, to start with, everybody thinks every single shell and bullet +is coming straight for him. Then you find out how much space there is +around you. One man came to tell me that two men were firing at him with +his own rifle from the ruins of the alleged farmhouse, ten yards away from +the dugout we are making. Just then a field mouse squeaked, and he jumped +up in the air and said, "There's another." I told the men to fill sandbags +from the ruins; they all crowded behind this three-foot-six wall for +protection; they dug up a French needle bayonet--that was all right, but +they afterwards dug up a rifle and I noticed a suspicious smell, so I +moved them. + +We came home very tired. We are attacking Hooge, a counter-attack, to take +back trenches lost in the liquid fire attack--you will hear what we did +from the papers, probably in three months' time. + + ------------------------------------- + +I'm writing this in a new home, this time a splinter-proof dugout. The +Huns are again strafing us--last shell burst fifty yards away a few minutes +ago. Several times since I started writing I have had to shake off the +dust and debris thrown by shell bursts on to these pages. I was again +sniped at with shrapnel this morning on my machine while reconnoitering +the roads--they all missed, but they're not nice. I'm filthy, alive, and +covered with huge mosquito bites; you get sort of used to the incessant +din in time. Even the forty-two centimeter shells, which make a row like +freight trains with loose couplings going through the air, are not so +terrible now. + +Through a hole in my dugout I can see the Huns' shells Kulturing a +chateau. It was once a very beautiful place with a moat, bridges, and +splendid gardens. Now it's useless except that the timber and the +furniture come in useful for our dugouts and the making of "duck walks," +the grated walks which line the bottom of the trenches. + +Last night I was sitting in the Medical Officer's dugout when a man I knew +came in. He was an officer in the Second Gordons. "I feel pretty bad, +doc." He explained his symptoms. "Trench fever; you go down the line." +"No, fix me up for tonight and maybe I won't need anything else." He +didn't! All that is left of him is being buried now, less than a hundred +yards from where I write this. + + ------------------------------------- + +Before I came here I had to go to another part of the line, in which the +"Princess Pats" distinguished themselves. We have been hanging on ever +since, and a mighty stiff proposition it is. The O.C. to-day told me that +he had not slept for fifty-six hours. The Germans in one place are only +twenty-five yards away--so close that conversation is carried on in a +whisper. + +In one place they had stuck up a board with "Warsaw Captured" on it. + +My section worked until two o'clock and then the sandbags gave out, so we +had to come home. This was a disappointment to me. I wanted to get the job +finished. My men went on filling sandbags from the same place last night +and discovered the remains of the late owner of the sword bayonet. He has +now been decently buried, with a little wooden cross marked-- + + + TO AN UNKNOWN FRENCH SOLDIER + R.I.P. + + +When you read in the newspapers, that a trench was lost or taken, just +think what it means. Think what happens to the men in the trenches; that's +the part of it we see. Stretchers pass by all day. Since I have been here +the cemetery has grown--a new mound--a simple wooden cross. Nobody talks +about it, but everybody wonders who's next. The men here are splendid, the +best in the world, and the officers are gentlemen. + + [Illustration] + + A French Soldier. + + + ------------------------------------- + +We have moved to the famous Langhof Chateau on the Lille road. This is +supposed to have belonged to Hennessey of "Three Star" fame, but the +Germans had been through the wine cellars. We looked very, very carefully, +but only found empties. My batman has made me comfortable. I'm writing +this on a washstand; in front of me I have a bunch of roses in a broken +vase. My trench coat is hanging on a nail from a coat-hanger. A large +piece of broken wardrobe mirror has been nailed up to a beam for my use. +One of the men just came in to ask if a trousers press would be of any +use. We have a fine little bureau cupboard of carved oak; we use this for +the rations. A pump, repaired with the leather from a German helmet, has +been persuaded to work and has been busy ever since. The roof of my cellar +is arched brick and has a few tons of fallen debris on the floor upstairs. +That strengthens it. It is shored up from inside with rafters. This makes +the roof shell-proof, except for big shells, and the enemy always use big +shells. The cellar floors are concrete. + +It is very strange the lightness with which serious things are taken by +men here, and it took me some time to understand it. I met a young captain +of the Royal Marine Artillery who was in charge of a battery of trench +mortars. He was telling me of how one of his mortars and the crew were +wiped out by a direct hit. He referred to it as though he had just missed +his train. + +Two days later I went up with the Machine-Gun Officer of the Second +Gordons to look at a piece of ground. To get there we had to crawl on our +hands and knees. In one part of our journey we came to a sunken road. The +day was fine, so we lay there. He asked me about Canada. He wanted to know +something about the settler's grant. He said: "Of course you know after a +chap has been out here in the open, it will be impossible to go back again +to office life." I boosted Canada and suddenly the irony of the situation +occurred to me. Here we were lying down in a road quite close to the +German lines, so close that it would be suicide to even stand up, and yet +here we were calmly discussing the merits of Canadian emigration. I +commented on this and he replied: "My dear fellow, when you have been out +as long as I have, you will come to realize that being at the front is a +period of intense boredom punctuated by periods of intense fear, and that +if you allow yourself to be carried away by depression it will be your +finish." He had been out since just after Mons. + +I remembered this and I found that the nonchalant and care-free attitude +of the average British officer was really a mask and simulated to keep his +mind off the whole beastly business: this great big dirty job which white +people must do. + +I was sitting one afternoon by the side of the canal bank about two +hundred yards in front of my chateau having tea with the officers of the +East Yorks when suddenly the chateau-smashing started again. To go back +was dangerous and useless. My men were under cover, resting, so that they +would be ready for the night work. The shelling was intermittent. One +shell went over and presently I heard _crack_,--_crack_,--_boom_, _crack_, +_crack_,--_crack_; my heart was in my boots and I was unable to move. + +The colonel listened for a few seconds, then said: "Keene, do you know +what that is?" I lied: "No, sir." I thought it was the explosion of my +machine-gun bullets in their web belts and I dreaded to go up to see my +section. I had worked with them and tried hard to be a good officer and +the feeling that I should probably only find their mangled remains +sickened me. The colonel said: "That's the 'Archie' in Bedford House. I +think the last 'crump' got it. You two"--indicating myself and another +officer--"go up and see if we can do anything. See if they want a working +party and let me know." + +We started to run. On the way up I looked into the cellars to see the men +whom I, the minute previously, had mourned for, and found two asleep, +three hunting through their shirts, and the rest breaking the army orders +by "shooting craps." From Bedford House a long trail of smoke was rising +and the explosions became louder. We suddenly discovered the "Archie" in +flames. It was in the courtyard and for camouflage had been covered with +branches. It was mounted on an armored Pierce-Arrow truck. The "crump" had +hit it, and gasoline, paint, branches, and hubs were supplying the fuel +which was cooking out the ammunition, the _crack_, _crack_, being the +report of single shells, whereas one loud _boom_ signified the explosion +of an entire box. These shells were going off in all directions and it +became dangerous to stay too near. + +The flames on the car were of pretty colors. It is surprising the amount +of inflammable material there is on a car. The late owner of the car, a +lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery, was cursing in a low, but +emphatic, marine manner, and several other officers from nearby batteries +were attracted by the noise and the pyrotechnic display. I spoke to the +lieutenant and sympathized with him, and he retorted: "Gott strafe +Germany. Why they should hit the 'bus' when I have a brand-new pair of +trench boots that I had never worn, I dunno." Just then and there the case +cooked out and a piece of shell cut between us and buried itself deep in +the support of a dugout, so we got under cover. + + [Illustration] + + "Whiz-Bangs." + + +In the group was a splendid type of army chaplain. He came over almost at +the start of the war and had seen a great deal of the open warfare at the +commencement of hostilities. He said: "My friend Fritz is not through; +he'll try to do some more yet." As the smoke died down and the cracking +stopped, the enemy decided that an attempt would be made either to carry +out salvage of whatever they had hit or else we would try to get the +wounded away. So without any preliminary warning the whole area was +covered by a battery fire of _whiz bangs_, and the shrapnel bullets came +down like rain, several men being hit. The fire eventually died down and +the wreck was allowed to cool off. The "Archies" are used so much to keep +the aeroplanes up, and next to the loss of his boots the officer in charge +was worried by the fact that the enemy would send an aeroplane over to see +what they had hit. It was very necessary to keep the planes away, because +at this time there were one hundred and fourteen batteries of artillery in +the neighborhood. + +Later on the battery commander came down, and as he looked at the red-hot +armor plates he said: "Five thousand pounds gone up in smoke. Sorry I +missed the fireworks." The Divisional general called him up at the dugout +and gave him areas for the distribution of the four anti-aircraft guns and +cars comprising his battery. After he was through the commander replied: +"Very good, sir, that will be done with all the guns except the third +gun." The voice over the wire became very dignified, a preliminary to +becoming sulphuric. "What do you mean, all but the third gun?" "Because, +sir, the enemy has just 'crumped' the third gun and all that remains of it +is scrap iron." + +One of the battalions has a fine victrola in the officers' mess dugout +with a good selection of records. I have heard Caruso accompanied on the +outside by an orchestra of guns. It was a wonderful mixture. Speaking of +canned music reminds me we have a small portable trench machine, which +closes up like a valise, easily handled and carried about. One man near +had a box full of needles distributed in his back by a bomb; he considers +himself disgraced; he says it will be kind of foolish in years to come to +show his grandchildren twenty-five or thirty needles and tell them that +they were the cause of his wounds. + +The Tommies play mouth organs a great deal and it is much easier to march +to the sound of one, even + + + 'Ere we are; 'ere we are, + 'Ere we are agin. + We beat 'em on the Marne, + We beat 'em on the Aisne, + We gave 'em 'ELL at Neuve Chapelle, + And 'ere we are agin-- + + +sounds well with the addition of a little music. + +Anything is used for trench work; often if we waited for the proper +materials we should be uncomfortable, so it is one of the qualifications +of a good soldier to find things. Sometimes we steal material belonging to +other units, then stick around until the owners come back and help them +look for them; however, it is always advisable to steal materials from +juniors in rank; if they find it out, and are senior, then you are in for +a one-sided strafe. + +One of the other battery subalterns found a deserted carpenter's shop and +he let his men loose to dismantle it. They took the parts of steel +machines and used them for the construction of a dugout. One man said, +"It's like coming home drunk and smashing up the grand piano with an axe." +They must have attracted the attention of the ever-alert Boche, for no +sooner had they moved out than the place was shelled to the ground. +Everything I now look at with an eye to its value for trench construction; +thus, telegraph poles, doors, iron girders, and rails are more valuable to +us out here than a Rolls Royce. + + [Illustration] + + The "Crump." + + + ------------------------------------- + +Slang or trench language is used universally. My own general talks about +"Wipers," the Tommy's pronunciation of Ypres, and I have seen a reference +to "Granny" (the fifteen-inch howitzer) in orders "mother" is the name +given to the twelve-inch howitzer. The trench language is changing so +quickly that I think the staff in the rear are unable to keep up to date, +because they have recently issued an order to the effect that slang must +not be used in official correspondence. Now instead of reporting that a +"dud Minnie" arrived over back of "mud lane," it is necessary to put, "I +have the honor to report that a projectile from a German Minnenwerfer +landed in rear of Trench F 26 and failed to explode." + +Sometimes names of shells go through several changes. For example, high +explosives in the early part of the war were called "black Marias," that +being the slang name for the English police patrol wagon. Then they were +called "Jack Johnsons," then "coal boxes," and finally they were +christened "crumps" on account of the sound they make, a sort of +_cru-ump!_ noise as they explode. "Rum jar" is the trench mortar. +"Sausage" is the slow-going aerial torpedo, a beastly thing about six feet +long with fins like a torpedo. It has two hundred and ten pounds of high +explosive and makes a terrible hole. "Whiz bang" is shrapnel. + +Shelling is continuous. We have thousands of pieces of shells and fuse +caps about the premises. I have in front of me a fragment of a shell about +fourteen inches long and about four and one-half inches across, which came +from a German gun. The edges are so sharp that it cuts your hand to hold +it. I use it as a paper-weight. + + ------------------------------------- + +This morning I experienced a wonderful surprise. I had gone up to one of +the North Stafford Batteries to borrow a clinometer. The major, while he +was getting the instrument for me, casually remarked: "There's yesterday's +'Times' on the bench if you care to look at it." I turned first to the +casualty list and later to the "London Gazette" for the promotions, and +wholly by accident perused carefully the Motor Machine Gun Service list +and there noted the announcement, "Keene, Louis, 2d Lieut., to be 1st +Lieut.," and for a fact this was the "official" intimation that I had been +promoted. I had a couple of spare "pips", rank stars, in my pocket-book, +so I got my corporal to sew them on right away. + + ------------------------------------- + +We are all very happy at times, very dirty, and covered with stings and +bites; have no idea how long we are to remain up. Getting used to the +shell fire, and can sleep through it if it's not too close. When it comes +near it makes you very thoughtful. Still working at night and resting +during the day. Made another emplacement for one of my machine guns last +night; had twenty men digging; surprising how fast men dig when the +bullets are flying. + + ------------------------------------- + +It's about 2 A.M. We have just come in. My new emplacement is splendid; +we've made it shell-proof and have it ready for firing. I was coming home +this afternoon after having been to the fire trenches when I heard a +shout: "Keene!" I looked up on the canal bank and I saw the general with +one of his A.D.C.'s sitting watching an aeroplane duel. "I've come up to +see your gun position, Keene." I saluted, waited for him, and took him to +it. It is below the level of the ground under tons of bricks in the ruins +of a farmhouse. He was standing on the roof of it and said, "Well, where's +the emplacement?" "You're standing on it, sir." "Tut, tut, 'pon my word, +that's good." He was delighted and congratulated me on it. My preliminary +work under the eyes of the general has gone off quite well. I start firing +to-night. + +Intimacy between generals and lieutenants is unusual, but it looks as if +mine had taken an interest in me, because when he noticed my insect-bitten +face, he sent me down some dope he had used with good effect in India. I +expect the mosquitoes in India were the ordinary kind, but, believe me, +trench "skeeters" are constructed differently and are proof against the +general's pet concoction. + +I have several miners in my section who take a personal pride in the +digging and shoring up of dugouts. So far the other two sections of the +Battery are always behind in this work but they may look better on parade. + +The canal has one big lock suitable for swimming; a lot of "jocks" were +bathing there to-day. I ordered a bathing parade for my section. Later I +found that the swimming had livened three Germans, long submerged--the +bathing parade is off. + +A Belgian battery commander has just wakened up and his shells are +rattling overhead. From the fire trenches an incessant rattle of rifles is +heard; all the bullets seem to come over here; constantly the whine of a +musical ricochet bullet is heard. Otherwise things are dead quiet. It's +getting on for three, so I'm going to bed in my blankets on one of the +late chateau owner's splendid spring mattresses and carved oak bedstead. +Oh! how nice it would be to sleep without lice. From an adjoining cellar +my section are snoring, and I'm going to add to the chorus. Good-night, +everybody. + + ------------------------------------- + +We have been having Sunday "hate." Eight-inch crumps are once more busting +"up" the chateau. How they must detest this place. My tea and bully beef +are covered with dust of the last shell. You have no idea how terrible the +shell-fire is. First you hear the whistle and then a terrific burst which +shakes the ground for a hundred yards around; when it clears away you find +a hole ten feet across and six feet deep. At least fifteen have dropped +around us in the last half hour. + +This place isn't somewhere in France, it's somewhere in Hell! It has been +the scene of a great many encounters; decayed French uniforms, old rifles, +ammunition and leather equipment and bundles of mildewed tobacco leaves +are strewn all over the place. I found the chin-strap of a German +"Pickelhaube" in the grounds, the helmet of a French cuirassier, and the +red pants of a Zouave, close together. When digging in the trenches or +anywhere near the firing line you have to be careful: corpses, dead +horses, and cattle are buried everywhere. I'm building a trench to my +emplacement and we have a stinking cow in the direct line; this will have +to be buried before we can cut through. + +Everybody is cheerful and going strong. Yesterday some of my men went +swimming in the moat of the chateau; a shell dropped in the water near +them, and threw up a lot of fish on to the bank. That kind of discouraged +the Tommies swimming, so they cooked the fish and decided that safety +comes before cleanliness out here. + +It's hot and sticky, and when you have to wear thick clothes and equipment +it makes you very uncomfortable, but it's all in the game. + +All through the night we fired single shots from a machine gun; my orders +were to fire between half-past eight at night and four o'clock in the +morning. We have a number of guns doing this. It harasses the enemy and +keeps them from sleeping; anything that will wear a man down is practiced +here. + +I've constructed a fire emplacement amongst the ruins underground; to get +to it you have to travel through a tunnel eighteen feet long; inside it's +very damp. I was working with my corporal, crouched up; we were both wet +and cold, and so to cheer things up every now and again we let off a few +rounds and warmed our hands on the barrel. Outside it poured with rain, +and mosquitoes sought refuge inside and mealed off me. The corporal was +immune. I had a water bottle full of whiskey and water. We used it to keep +out the cold, but it wasn't strong enough. In a case like that you need +wood alcohol. I would like to have had some Prohibitionists with me here. +We had no light except the flash of the gun and the enemy star shells. + +At daybreak I came home dead beat. I got into my cellar, was so tired that +I threw myself down on the bed and wrapped myself up in my blankets, +boots, mud, lice and all. I hadn't been asleep long before the Huns +started "hating" the chateau. They have put over twenty-five large calibre +shells into my place, the grounds and the house. They are still at it. +Every time a shell bursts it makes a hole big enough to bury five horses, +and it shakes the foundations all round. The shells are bigger than usual. +The smoke and earth are blown up fifty or sixty feet in the air. The +effect is a moral disruption. _Why can't they keep that cotton out of +Germany?_ + +I have divided my section up into two teams, one in the cellars and one in +the gun-pits. I relieve them every twenty-four hours, and I practically +have to be in both places at once, but I have got a telephone in between +the two places. I have it by my bed so that I can constantly know how +things are going. However, the wire is cut two or three times a day by +bullets and shell splinters, my linesman has a constant job. + +Fired all night; came back at six o'clock this morning, very tired. Had a +telegram from the general to fire two thousand rounds in twenty-four +hours; this is quite hard work. Actually we could fire the lot in five +minutes, but it would attract too much attention. The enemy use whole +batteries of artillery to blot out machine guns which attract attention, +so we have to fire single shots. + +We have for neighbors four dead cows and an unexploded six-inch shell, +liable to go off any time, all in a radius of one hundred yards. We have +smashed holes through five walls so that we can go through the ruins +unobserved. In one place we pass over a dead cow, and in another we wade +through several tons of rotten potatoes, and I believe we have a corpse +handy; and part of our trench goes through another heap of rotten mangles. +I'm an authority on smells. I can almost tell the nationality of a corpse +now by the smell. It will soon be necessary to wear our smoke-helmets to +go into the emplacement. I don't think that I have told you that I cross +the Yser canal about six times a day. I'd been up a week before I knew +what it was. Now it only has a few feet of water in it, the rest being +held in the German locks. The part I cross over is full of bulrushes, and +is the home of moor-hens, water rats, mosquitoes and frogs. + +On one side of the canal is a bank which is in great demand by the machine +gunners, who are able to get a certain amount of height and observation of +their fire. The general has ordered a field gun to take up a position on +this bank. He refers to it as his "Sniping eighteen-pounder." It is firing +at seven hundred yards right at the German line and smashes up their +parapet in a style that is pretty to watch. The machine gunners are in a +great state, because the enemy will soon be "searching" with his artillery +for the eighteen-pounder and the lairs of the smaller hidden guns will +suffer. + +The men are hunting for lice in their underwear. This is the kind of +conversation that is coming through from the next cellars: "I've got you +beat--that's forty-seven." "Wait a minute"--a sound of tearing cloth--"but +look at this lot, mother and young." "With my forty and these you'll have +to find some more." They were betting on the number they could find. I +peel off my shirt myself and burn them off with a candle. I glory in the +little pop they make when the heat gets to them. All the insect powder in +the world has been tried out on them and they've won. + +All sentries here are doubled; one thing it's safer, and another it's +company; even when things are quiet, rats and mice scamper about and it +sets your nerves on end. Things which are inanimate during the day become +alive at night. Trees seem to walk about. I wonder what it tastes like to +have a real meal in which tinned food does not figure; fancy a tablecloth; +my tablecloth is a double sheet of newspaper, and even then I can't have a +new one every day. + + ------------------------------------- + +Had a good night's rest; came in about twelve o'clock and slept until +eight-thirty this morning. One eye is completely closed up by a sting. + +A German aeroplane has been hovering over our positions looking for my +gun, so we have stopped firing and all movement. I know just how the +chicken feels when the hawk hovers over it. Few people realize how much +aeroplanes figure in this war, for war would be much different without +them. They do the work of Cavalry only in the sky. Whenever they come +over, the sentries blow three blasts on their whistles and everybody runs +for cover or freezes; guns stop firing and are covered up with branches +made on frames. If men are caught in the open they stand perfectly still +and do not look up, for on the aeroplane photographs faces at certain +heights show light; dugouts are covered over with trees, straw or grass. +We use aeroplane photographs a great deal; they show trenches distinctly +and look very like the canals on Mars. + +The Huns have been "hating" the road one quarter of a mile away all the +morning. That doesn't worry us a bit as long as they don't come any +closer. I'm willing always to share up on the shelling. + +This order has just been issued. It speaks for itself:-- + + + All ranks are warned that bombs and grenades must not be used for + fishing and killing game. + + +I went over another farm to-day. It is one of the well-ventilated kind, +punched full of holes. In the kitchen, stables and outhouses there was a +most wonderful collection of junk: ammunition, British and French +bandoliers, old sheepskin coats abandoned by the British troops from last +winter, smashed rifles, bayonets, meat tins, parts of broken equipment, +sandbags, stacks of rotten potatoes and three dead cows. The fruit trees +are laden with fruit, and vines are growing up the houses with their +bunches of green grapes. + +In the garden several lonely graves are piled high with old boots, straw, +American agricultural implements, rotting sacks and rubbish of every +description, pieces of shells, barrels, and in one room the rusty remains +of a perambulator and sewing machine; rats are the only inhabitants now. +In the garret (the staircase leading up to it gone long ago) I found a +British rifle, bayonet fixed, ten rounds in the magazine, and the bolt +partly drawn out. Evidently the owner was in the act of reloading his +chamber when something happened. The graves were dated second and third +months of this year. The poor wooden crosses were made of pieces of ration +cases and the names written with an indelible pencil. The wretchedness of +this farm, which was flourishing only a short time ago, is very pathetic. + +We have adopted an old Belgian mother cat with her family of three kittens +in the dugout. Now we find that three more little wild kittens are living +in the bricks which we have piled around the windows to protect us against +shells. They are all encouraged to live with us in the cellars. I like +cats, and they will help to keep the rats down. Although some of the rats +are nearly the size of cats. + +It has been raining again and the trenches are filling up with slush. We +carry a big trench stick, a thick sapling about four feet long with a +ferrule made from a cartridge of a "very-light" (star shell), to help +ourselves in walking; our feet are beginning to get wet and cold as a +regular thing now, and we are revetting our trenches firm and solid for +the winter. Eleven P.M. A mine under the Boche line has just been +exploded. The fighting has just started for the crater. + +I took a German Uhlan helmet from a gentleman who had no further use for +it. It was pretty badly knocked about; still, if I can get it home it's a +trophy. + + ------------------------------------- + + [Illustration] + + Mr. Tommy Atkins. + + +It's about eight o'clock Sunday evening. All day long shells have been +coming over like locomotives. Every five seconds one goes over into the +old town; every five seconds for the last two hours. The chateau has been +shelled again with "crumps"; they are such rotten shots; if only they +would put in two good ones in the center it would blow it to bits and then +they might leave us alone. The whole of the ground is pitted because they +can't hit it squarely. + + ------------------------------------- + +My work lies behind the front line and in front of the support, firing +over the heads of the men in the main trenches. The emplacement was +shelled to-day; one shell hit the roof, burst and knocked over one of my +men, cutting his head open. He is not very badly hurt, but has gone to the +hospital. The shelling has been terrible to-day. + +The Germans have been very quiet lately, and working parties are out all +along their front lines at night--something's up. Dirty work can be +expected at any time now. We have steel helmets to protect us from spent +bullets and splinters. They look like the old Tudor steel helmets and they +are fine to wash in. + +You have no idea what a big part food plays in our life. Yesterday morning +I went with the machine-gun officer of another outfit to crawl about +looking for positions. We were in an orchard. I happened to look up and +saw ripe plums! Terrified lest he should see them and forestall me, I +said, "Let's beat it, this is too unhealthy," so we crawled back. Last +night in the light of a big moon such as coons always steal watermelons +by, a section officer and his cook crawled to the plum tree. The section +officer, being large, stood underneath while the cook climbed the tree and +dropped them into a sandbag held open by the S.O. They got about ten +pounds. They go well stewed, believe me. The fact that bullets whistled +through the trees most of the time made them taste better to-day. Sat the +rest of the night in a hedge firing at the Boches with a Lewis gun. I +struck for bed just as dawn broke. + + ------------------------------------- + +To-day the guns are again "hating" the chateau, and they have put sixty +shells in the neighborhood. Still, "there's no cloud without a silver +lining." I've got a new way home. Instead of going right around the +kennels, stables, and through the yards, I go "through" the greenhouse +direct, thereby saving a lot of time. The Huns' calendar is wrong. They +have always shelled me Sunday and Wednesday. To-day's Tuesday! + +We use up the window frames and doorways for kindling, and consequently +the doors have gone long ago. I have been smashing up mouldings this +morning with an axe. We prefer the dry wood which is built into the walls; +it burns better and doesn't cause smoke. As soon as smoke is seen rising, +the enemy's range-finders get busy and then we suffer. + +Another mine went up yesterday; nobody seems to know where. I think it +came south from the French lines; it rocked the whole neighborhood for +miles. The ground here is a kind of quicksand for a few feet down, and +shock is easily transmitted, the whole ground being honeycombed with +mines, old trenches, shafts, saps made by French, Belgians, Germans and +our own people. + +The use for timber of any description is manifold; every little bit is +used up. Our chief source of supply of dry wood is from the smashed-up +chateaux. Langhof, my home, has been punished almost every day, and after +the bombardment lets up men from the neighborhood come to collect the wood +torn up by the shelling. The men of the Tenth East Yorks came up this +morning and climbed to the remains of the second story, ripping up the +floor boards. The enemy evidently saw them, for the shelling soon started. +We have been shelled often here before, but it was nothing compared to +this. The shells were carefully placed and came over with disgusting +regularity. The buildings rocked and the whole neighborhood shook. +Fountains of bricks, mortar, and dirt were spewed up into the air. Trees +were torn to shreds, a wall in front of me was hit--and disappeared, a lead +statue of Apollo in the garden was hurled through the air and landed fifty +yards away crumpled up against the balustrade of the moat. + +We were in our cellars, and gradually the shelling crept up towards us. +Slowly a solemn dread which soon moulded into a sordid fear took +possession of my being. In a flash I began to devise a philosophy of death +for my chances were fading with every crash. I took out my pocketbook, +containing some letters from my mother and some personal things, and put +them on one of the beams, so that, being in another part of the building, +they might perhaps be found some day. The shelling continued and shells +dropped completely round the cellars, demolishing nearly everything in +sight. The enemy evidently wanted to obliterate the whole place. The smell +of the smoke and the dirt from the debris was choking, and every minute we +expected to be our last. Suddenly it stopped. Philosophy and fear +disappeared simultaneously as I sputtered out a choking laugh of relief. +Then Hawkins, my servant, in a scared voice started, and the others joined +in, singing the old marching refrain of the Training Camps:-- + + + "Hail, hail, the gang's all here, + What the hell do we care! + What the hell do we care! + Hail, hail, the gang's all here, + What the hell do we care NOW!" + + +When a man has lived night after night in a trench, he gradually finds it +quite possible to snatch a good night's sleep. In other words, it is +merely a case of becoming acclimated to rackets, smells and food. I had +always been able to sleep, but on the night following the bombardment of +the chateau I just could not doze off. I thrashed about continuously, and +while in this restless state harbored the notion that trouble was brewing +for me. Every one has had that feeling, the feeling that hangs in your +bones and warns you to watch out. Well, that is how I felt. + +At last the sun rose and with it came a beautiful morning, warm and sunny. +I walked out amongst the ruins to see the extent of the damage caused by +the shelling of the previous day. I was waiting for the stew which was +cooking on a little fire near the side of the cellar. The "dixie" was +resting on two old bayonets, and they in turn rested on bricks at either +side. Towards noon a big shell came over and landed in the moat, covering +everything around with a coat of evil-smelling, black mud. This shell was +followed by another, arriving in the part of the ruins where once a +cow-shed stood. I was talking to Hawkins, my batman, when I saw him dive +across my front and fall flat on his face. At the same time I was in the +center of an explosion, a great flame of light and then bricks, wood and +cement flew in all directions. For a few seconds I thought I was dead, +then I picked myself up and saw that blood was pouring down the front of +my jacket. I followed up the stream and found that my right hand was +smashed and hanging limp. My men rushed out and I told them it was +nothing, but promptly fell in a heap. When I came to, my hand was wrapped +up in an emergency bandage, and a stretcher was coming down from Bedford +House, an advanced dressing-station, the next house back. To the delight +of the men who were carrying it, I waved them away and told them I could +walk. Assisted up to the dressing-station by one of my men, I made it. I +then made a discovery. A soldier is a man until he's hit, then he's a +case. I first had an injection of "anti-tetanus" in the side, and the fact +was recorded on a label tied to my left-hand top pocket button. The doctor +tied me up, then said: "You'll soon be all right. Will you have a bottle +of English beer or a drop of whiskey?" I had the whiskey. I needed it. All +the time I was there the wounded poured in. Seeing them I felt ashamed to +be there with only a smashed hand. A corporal came in with both hands +blown off and fifty-six other wounds. He had tried to save the men in his +bay by throwing back a German bomb and it had gone off in his hands. +Hawkins came up later on with my helmet and the fuse head of the shell +which blew me up. We were all collected together and waited in the dugouts +of the dressing station until dusk. Several shells came close to us. I +tried to write to my mother with my left hand, so that when she received +the War Office cable she would know I was able to write. + +Dusk came, then night, and finally the Ford ambulance cars which were to +take us out of Hell. It was a beautiful night. Belgium looked lovely. The +merciful night had thrown a veil over the war scars on the land and a moon +was shining. I was told to sit up in the seat with the driver. We traveled +along one road, then the shelling became so bad that the drivers decided +to go back and take another road which was running nearly parallel. Back +over the line the planes of the Royal Flying Corps were bombing the Forest +of Houltholst, and the bursting of the shrapnel from the German +anti-aircraft guns pierced the velvet of the sky like stars as we went out +of Belgium into France. + + ------------------------------------- + +Several times shells burst on the road, and from the inside of the car +came the stifled groans of the men as the Ford hit limbs of trees and +shell-holes. + +Our first stop was a ruined windmill, the walls of which were nearly six +feet thick. Here the dangerous cases were taken off and attended to. The +last I saw of the corporal was after they had cut off his coat at the +seams and the doctors were taking a piece of wire out of his chest. While +I was waiting a chaplain asked me if I would like a cup of coffee or some +whiskey, realising that it would take some time to get the coffee made I +had some more whiskey. + +I was given two more tags, which this time were tied on buttons at the top +of my jacket. I stayed here about two hours, then I was sent to a clearing +hospital. It was here that I met the first nurses. They were two fine, +splendid women who were wearing the scarlet hoods of the British Regular +Army nurse. They were both strong and quite capable of handling a man, +even if he became delirious. One of them quickly got me into bed. I +apologized for my terribly dirty state, but I was told that it made no +difference; they were used to it. To be between clean sheets again was +wonderful. I felt I wanted to go to sleep forever. Suddenly a roar, and a +terrible explosion. The hospital was being bombed; a bomb had dropped +within a hundred yards of my tent. This was the German reprisal for our +bombing Houltholst. They deliberately bombed a hospital. The doctor at +this hospital next day looked at my hand and said in a nonchalant way, +"Looks as though you will lose it." At that time it didn't strike me as a +great loss to lose a hand, even if it was my "painting hand." + +The hospital train of the next day was crowded and the nurse in charge of +my coach was named Keene. We tried in the little spare time she had to see +if we couldn't work out our genealogy and find out if we were even +remotely connected, but before we did we came to the station of Etaples +and then went to the Duchess of Westminster Hospital at Latouquet. Here I +was operated on. A piece of Krupp's steel was taken out of my hand and a +rubber drainage tube inserted instead. The Duchess used to come round a +great deal and won everybody's affection. She used to sit on my bed and +talk to me about pleasant things. So unlike many people who visit +hospitals and ask the patients silly war questions, such as: "How does it +feel to be wounded?" or "Which hurts more, a bayonet or a shell wound?" +One exasperated Tommy, when asked if the shell hit him, said: "Naw, it +crept up behind and bit me." + +FINIS + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CRUMPS, THE PLAIN STORY OF A CANADIAN WHO WENT*** + + + +CREDITS + + +May 25, 2009 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by David King, and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. (This file was + produced from images generously made available by The Internet + Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 28964.txt or 28964.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/9/6/28964/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of +this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away +-- you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks. +Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), +you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. + + +General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works + + +1.A. + + +By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work, +you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the +terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) +agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this +agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee +for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work +and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may +obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set +forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + + +1.B. + + +"Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or +associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be +bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can +do with most Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works even without complying +with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are +a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works if you +follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + + +1.C. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or +PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual +work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in +the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, +distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on +the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of +course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of +promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for +keeping the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} name associated with the work. You can +easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License when you +share it without charge with others. + + +1.D. + + +The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you +can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant +state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of +your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before +downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating +derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work. +The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of +any work in any country outside the United States. + + +1.E. + + +Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + + +1.E.1. + + +The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access +to, the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License must appear prominently whenever +any copy of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work (any work on which the phrase +"Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" +is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or +distributed: + + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + + +1.E.2. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is derived from the +public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with +permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and +distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or +charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you +must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 +or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.3. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is posted with the +permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply +with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed +by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License for all works posted with the permission of the +copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + + +1.E.4. + + +Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License +terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any +other work associated with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}. + + +1.E.5. + + +Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic +work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying +the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate +access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + + +1.E.6. + + +You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, +marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word +processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted +on the official Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. +Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License as +specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + + +1.E.7. + + +Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, +copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works unless you comply +with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.8. + + +You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to + the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark, but he has agreed to + donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 + days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally + required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments + should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, + "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary + Archive Foundation." + + You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the + works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and + all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + +1.E.9. + + +If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic +work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this +agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in +Section 3 below. + + +1.F. + + +1.F.1. + + +Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to +identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain +works in creating the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection. Despite these +efforts, Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, and the medium on which they +may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, +incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright +or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk +or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot +be read by your equipment. + + +1.F.2. + + +LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -- Except for the "Right of +Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for +damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE +NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH +OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE +FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT +WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, +PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY +OF SUCH DAMAGE. + + +1.F.3. + + +LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -- If you discover a defect in this +electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund +of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to +the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a +physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. +The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect +to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the +work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose +to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in +lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a +refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. + + +1.F.4. + + +Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in +paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + + +1.F.5. + + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the +exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or +limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state +applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make +the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state +law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement +shall not void the remaining provisions. + + +1.F.6. + + +INDEMNITY -- You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark +owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and +any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution +of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs +and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from +any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of +this or any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, and (c) any Defect +you cause. + + +Section 2. + + + Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic +works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including +obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the +efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks +of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance +they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}'s goals and ensuring +that the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection will remain freely available for +generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} and future generations. To learn more about the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations +can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at +http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. + + + Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of +Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. +The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. +Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full +extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North +1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information +can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at +http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. + + + Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive + Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the +number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment +including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are +particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. +Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable +effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these +requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not +received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or +determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have +not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against +accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us +with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the +United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods +and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including +checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please +visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. + + + General Information About Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with +anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} eBooks are often created from several printed editions, +all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright +notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance +with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed +(zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the +old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org + + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}, including how +to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, +how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email +newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + + + + +***FINIS*** +
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/28964.zip b/28964.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..78acf13 --- /dev/null +++ b/28964.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97e525a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #28964 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28964) |
