CHAPTERVIII

chapterviii

intheautumnof1917theitaliandisasterofcaporettohadhappened,andsirherbertplumer,withhischiefofstaff,sirjohnharington,andmanystaff-officersofthesecondarmy,had,asihavetold,beensenttoitalywithsomeofourbestdivisions,soweakeningsirdouglashaig'scommand.atthatverytime,also,afterthebloodylossesinflanders,thefrenchgovernmentandgeneralheadquartersbroughtseverepressureuponthebritishwarcounciltotakeoveragreaterlengthoflineinfrance,inordertoreleasesomeoftheolderclassesofthefrencharmywhohadbeenunderarmssince1914.weyieldedtothatpressureandsirdouglashaigextendedhislinesnorthandsouthofst.-quentin,wherethefiftharmy,undergeneralgough,wasintrustedwiththedefense.

iwentoverallthatnewgroundofours,outfromnoyontochaulnyandbarisisandthefloodsoftheoisebylafere;outfromhamtoholmonforestandfrancillyandtheepinededullon,andthefortdeliezbyst.-quentin;andfromperonnetohargicourtandjeancourtandlaverguier.itwasapleasantcountry,withlivingtreesandgreenfieldsnotannihilatedbyshell-fire,thoughwiththenakedeyeicouldseethescarredwallsofst.-quentincathedral,andthevillagesnearthefrontlineshadbeendamagedintheusualway.itwasdeadquietthereformiles,exceptforshortburstsofharassingfirenowandthen,andoddshellshereandthere,andburstsofblackshrapnelintheblueskyofmilddays.

“paradise,afterflanders!”saidourmen,butiknewthattherewasagreatmovementoftroopswestwardfromrussia,andwonderedhowlongthisparadisewouldlast.

ilookedaboutfortrenchsystems,supportlines,anddidnotseethem,andwonderedwhatourdefensewouldbeiftheenemyattackedhereingreatstrength.ourarmyseemedwonderfullythinnedout.therewerefewmentobeseeninouroutpostlineorinreserve.itwasallstrangelyquiet.alarminglyquiet.

yet,pleasantforthetimebeing.ihadabrothercommandingabatteryalongtherailwaylinesouthofst.-quentin.iwenttoseehim,andwehadapicnicmealonalittlehillstaringstraighttowardst.-quentincathedral.oneofhisjuniorofficerssetthegramophonegoing.thecoloneloftheartillerybrigadecameinguponhishorseandcalledout,“finemorning,andaprettyspot!”theinfantrydivisionswerecheerful.“likearest-cure!”theysaid.theyhadsportsalmostwithinsightofthegermanlines.isawaboxing-matchinanirishbattalion,andwhiletwofellowshammeredeachotheriglancedawayfromthemtowinding,wavylinesofchalkontheoppositehillsides,andwonderedwhatwashappeningbehindtheminthatquietude.

“whatdoyouthinkaboutthisgermanoffensive?”iaskedthegeneralofalondondivision(generalgorringeofthe47th)standingonawagonandwatchingatug-of—war.fromthatplacealsowecouldseethegermanpositions.

“g.h.q.hasgotthewind-up,”hesaid.“itisallbluff.”

generalhall,temporarilycommandingtheirishdivision,wasofthesameopinion,andtooksomepainstoexplainthefollyofthinkingthegermanswouldattack.yetdayafterday,weekafterweek,theintelligencereportswerefullofevidenceofimmensemovementsoftroopswestward,ofintensivetrainingofgermandivisionsinbackareas,ofnewhospitals,ammunition-dumps,airplanes,batterypositions.therewasoverwhelmingevidenceastotheenemy'sintentions.intelligenceofficerstookmeononesideandsaid:“englandoughttoknow.thepeopleoughttobeprepared.allthisisveryserious.weshallbe'upagainstit.'”g.h.q.wasconvinced.onfebruary23dthewarcorrespondentspublishedarticlessummarizingtheevidence,pointingoutthegravityofthemenace,andtheywerepassedbythecensorship.butenglandwasnotscared.danceswereinfullswinginlondon.littleladieslaughedasusual,light-hearted.flandershadmadenodifferencetonationaloptimism,thoughthehospitalswerecrowdedwithblindandmaimedandshell-shocked.

“iamskepticalofthegermanoffensive”saidmr.bonarlaw.

nobodybelievedthewarcorrespondents.nobodyeverdidbelieveus,thoughsomeofuswrotethetruthfromfirsttolastasfarasthefactsofwargoapartfromdeeperpsychology,andanakedrealismofhorrorsandlosses,andcriticismoffacts,whichdidnotcomewithinourlibertyofthepen.

theywerestrangemonthsforme.ifeltthatiwasinpossession,asindeediwas,ofaterriblesecretwhichmightleadtotheendingoftheworld—ourworld,asweknewit—withourlibertiesandpower.forweeksihadbeenpledgedtosaynowordaboutit,towritenotawordaboutit,anditwaslikebeinghauntedbyaspecteralldaylong.onelaughed,butthespecterechoedone'slaughterandsaid,“wait!”themildsunshineofthosespringdayswaspleasanttoone'sspiritinthewoodsabovelafere,andinfieldswheremachine-gunschatteredalittle,whileoverheadourairplanesdodgedgerman“archies.”butthespecterchilledone'sbloodatthereminderofvastmassesoffield-graymendrawingnearertoourlinesinoverwhelmingnumbers.imotoredtomanypartsofthefront,andmycompanionsometimeswasalittlefrenchmanwhohadlostaleginthewar—d'artagnanwithawoodenpeg,mostvaliant,mostgay.alongthewayherecitedthepoemsofronsard.atthejourney'sendonedayhesangoldfrenchchansons,inanenglishmess,withingunshotofthegermanlines.heclimbedupatreeandgazedatthegermanpositions,andmadesketcheswhilehehummedlittletunesandsaidbetweenthem,“ah,lessacresboches!...ifonlyicouldfightagain!”

irememberapleasantdinnerintheoldtownofnoyon,inalittlerestaurantwheretwoprettygirlswaited.theyhadcomefrompariswiththeirparentstostartthisbusiness,nowthatnoyonwassafe.(safe,olord!)andeverythingwasverydaintyandclean.atdinnerthatnighttherewasahostileairraidoverhead.bombscrashed.butthegirlswerebrave.oneofthemvolunteeredtogowithanofficeracrossthesquaretoshowhimthewaytothea.p.m.,fromwherehehadtogetapasstostayfordinner.shrapnelbulletswerewhippingtheflagstonesofthegrandeplace,fromanti-aircraftguns.theofficerworehissteelhelmet.thegirlwasgoingoutwithoutanyhataboveherbraidedhair.wedidnotlethergo,andtheofficerhadanotherguide.onenightibroughtmybrothertotheplacefromhisbatterynearst.quentin.wedinedwell,sleptwell.

“noyonisagoodspot,”hesaid.“ishallcomehereagainwhenyougivemealift.”

afewdayslatermybrotherwasfiringatmassesofgermanswithopensights,andthebritisharmywasinafull-tideretreat,andthejuniorofficerwhohadplayedhisgramophonewasdead,withotherofficersandmenofthatbattery.wheninextpassedthroughnoyonshellswerefallingintoit,andlaterisawitinruins,withthegloryoftheromanesquecathedralsadlyscarred.ihaveofttimeswonderedwhathappenedtothelittlefamilyintheoldhotel.

somarch21stcame,asweknewitwouldcome,eventotheverydate,andludendorffplayedhistrumpcardsandthegreatgame.

beforethatdateihadaninterviewwithgeneralgough,commandingthefiftharmy.hepulledouthismaps,showedhismethodofforwardredoubtsbeyondthemainbattlezone,andinaquiet,amiablewayspokesomewordswhichfrozemyblood.

“wemayhavetogiveground,”hesaid,“iftheenemyattacksinstrength.wemayhavetofallbacktoourmainbattlezone.thatwillnotmatterverymuch.itispossiblethatwemayhavetogofartherback.ourreallineofdefenseisthesomme.itwillbenothinglikeatragedyifweholdthat.ifwelosethecrossingsofthesommeitwill,ofcourse,beserious.butnotatragedyeventhen.itwillonlybetragicifweloseamiens,andwemustnotdothat.”

“thecrossingsofthesomme...amiens!”

suchathoughthadneverenteredmyimagination.generalgoughhadestedterriblepossibilities.

allbuttheworsthappened.inmydespatches,reprintedinbookformwithexplanatoryprefaces,ihavetoldinfulldetailthemeaningandmeasureofthebritishretreat,whenforty-eightofourdivisionswereattackedbyonehundredandfourteengermandivisionsandfellbackfightingstubbornrear-guardactionswhichatlastbroughttheenemytoadeadhaltoutsideamiensandalongtheriverancrenorthwardfromalbert,whereafterwardinanorthernattacktheenemyunderprincerupprechtofbavariabrokethroughtheportuguesebetweengivenchyandfestubert,whereourwingsheld,droveuptobailleul,whichwasburnedtotheground,andcausedustoabandonalltheridgesofflanderswhichhadbeengainedatsuchgreatcost,andfallbacktotheedgeofypres.inthisbookineednotnarrateallthishistoryagain.

theywereevildaysforus.thegermanoffensivewasconductedwithmasterlyskill,accordingtothenewmethodof“infiltration”whichhadbeentriedagainstitalywithgreatessintheautumnof'17atcaporetto.

itconsistedinapenetrationofourlinesbywedgesofmachine-gunnersconstantlyreinforcedandworkinginwardsothatourmen,attackedfrontallyafterterrificbombardment,foundthemselvesunderflankingfireontheirrightandleftandindangerofbeingcutoff.takingadvantageofadensefog,forwhichtheyhadwaitedaccordingtometeorologicalforecast,thegermanshadeasilymadetheirwaybetweenourforwardredoubtsonthefiftharmyfront,whereourgarrisonsheldoutforalongtime,completelysurrounded,andpenetratedourinnerbattlezone.throughthegapstheymadetheycameinmassesatagreatpacewithimmensemachine—gunstrengthandlightartillery.onthethirdarmyfrontwherepenetrationsweremade,notablynearbullecourtbetweenthe6thand51stdivisions,thewholeofourarmymachinewasupsetforatimelikeawatchwithabrokenmainspringandloosewheels.staffslosttouchwithfightingunits.communicationswerebrokendown.ordersweregivenbutnotreceived.afterenormouslossesofmenandguns,ourheavyartillerywaschokingtheroadsofescape,whileourrear-guardsfoughtfortimeratherthanforground.thecrossingsofthesommewerelosttooeasily.intheconfusionandtumultofthosedayssomeofourmen,beinghuman,weredemoralizedandpanic-stricken,andgavegroundwhichmighthavebeenlongerheld.butonthewhole,andinthemass,therewasnopanic,andamostgrimvalorofmenwhofoughtfordaysandnightswithoutsleep;foughtwhentheywerealmostsurroundedorquitesurrounded,anduntilfewofthemremainedtoholdanykindofline.fortunatelythegermanswereunabletodragtheirheavygunsoverthedeserttheyhadmadeayearbeforeintheirownretreat,andattheendofaweektheirpaceslackenedandtheyhalted,inexhaustion.

iwentintotheswirlofourretreatdayafterdayupbyguiscardandhum;then,asthelinemovedback,byperonneandbapaume,andatlastonadreadfuldaybythewindmillatpozieres,ouroldheroicfighting-ground,whereonceagainaftermanybattlestheenemywasincourceletteandhighwoodanddelvillewood,and,asisawbygoingtotherightthroughalbert,drivingharduptomametzandmontauban.thatmeantthelossofalltheoldsommebattlefields,andthatstruckachillinone'sheart.butwhatimarveledatalwayswastheabsenceofpanic,thefatalisticacceptanceoftheturnoffortune'swheelbymanyofficersandmen,andtherefusalofcorpsanddivisionalstaffstogivewaytodespairinthosedaysoftragedyandcrisis.

thenorthernattackwasinmanywaysworsetobearandworsetosee.themenacetothecoastwasfrightfulwhentheenemystruckuptobailleulandcapturedkemmelhillfromafrenchregimentwhichhadcomeuptorelievesomeofourexhaustedandunsupportedmen.allthroughthiscountrybetweenestairesandmerville,tosteenwerck,metern,andbailleul,thousandsofcivilianshadbeenlivingontheedgeofthebattlefields,believingthemselvessafebehindourlines.nowthelinehadslippedandtheywerecaughtbygermanshell-fireandgermanguns,andafternearlyfouryearsofwarhadtoabandontheirhomeslikethefirstfugitives.isawoldwomencomingdownlaneswhere5.9'swereburstingandwhereourgunnersweregettingintoaction.isawyoungmotherspackingtheirbabiesandtheirbundlesintoperambulatorswhileshellscamehurtlingoverthethatchedroofsoftheircottages.istoodonthemontdeschatslookingdownuponawidesweepofbattle,andsawmanylittlefarmsteadsonfireandbailleulonetorchofflameandsmoke.

therewasanoldmonasteryonthemontdeschatswhichhadbeeninthemidstofacavalrybattleinoctoberof1914,whenprincemaxofhesse,thekaiser'scousin,wasmortallywoundedbyashotfromoneofourtroopers.hewascarriedintothecelloftheoldprior,whowatchedoverhiminhisdyinghourswhenhespokeofhisfamilyandfriends.thenhisbodywasbornedownthehillatnightandburiedsecretlybyaparishpriest;andwhenthekaiserwrotetothepope,desiringtoknowthewhereaboutsofhiscousin'sgrave,thepriesttowhomhismessagewasconveyedsaid,“tellthekaiserheshallknowwhenthegermanarmieshavedepartedfrombelgiumandwhenreparationhasbeenmadeforalltheirevildeeds.”itwasthepriorwhotoldmethatstoryandwhodescribedtomehowthebritishcavalryhadforgedtheirwayupthehill.heshowedmethescarsofbulletsonthewallsandthewindowsfromwhichthemonkslookedoutuponthebattle.

“allthatisawonderfulmemory,”saidtheprior.“thankstotheenglish,wearesafeandbeyondtherangeofgermanshells.”

ithoughtofhiswordsthatdayiclimbedthehilltoseethesweepofbattlebeyond.themonasterywasnolongerbeyondtherangeofgermanshells.aneight—inchshellhadjustsmashedintotheprior'sparlor.othershadopenedgapsinthehighroofsandwalls.themonkshadfledbyorderoftheprior,whostayedbehind,likethecaptainofasinkingship.hiscorridorsresoundedtothetrampofarmyboots.theulstergunnershadmadetheirheadquartersintherefectory,butdidnotstaytherelong.afewdayslaterthemonasterywasaruin.

frommanylittlevillagescaughtbytheoncomingtideofwaroursoldiershelpedthepeopletoescapeinlorriesorongun-wagons.theydidnotweep,norsaymuch,butwerewonderfullybrave.irememberalittlefamilyinrobecqwhomipackedintomycarwhenshellsbegantofallamongthehouses.aprettygirl,withalittleinvalidbrotherinherarms,andamotherbyherside,pointedthewaytoacottageinawoodsomemilesaway.shewasgayandsmilingwhenshesaid,“aurevoiretmerci!”afewdayslaterthecottageandthewoodwerebehindthegermanlines.

thenortherndefense,bythe55thlancashires,51sthighlanders(whohadbeenallthroughthesommeretreat),the25thdivisionofcheshires,wiltshiresandlancashirefusiliers,andthe9thscottishdivision,andothers,whofought“withtheirbackstothewall,”assirdouglashaigdemandedofthem,withoutreliefs,untiltheywerewornthin,washeroicandtragicinitsordeal,untilfochsentuphiscavalry(isawthemridingincloudsofdustandheardthepantingoftheirhorses),followedbydivisionsofbluemeninhundredsofbluelorriestearinguptheroads,andformingastrongbluelinebehindourthinbrownline.princerupprechtofbavariahadtwenty-sixfreshdivisionsinreserve,buthadtoholdthemuntilotherplansweredeveloped—thecrownprince'splanagainstthefrench,andtheattackonarras.

thedefenseofarrasbythe3dand56thdivisions—theirondivisionandthelondondivisionontheleft,andbythe15thdivisionandguardsontheright,savedthecenterofourlineandallourline.wehadabreathing—spacewhileheavyblowsfellagainstthefrenchandagainstthreebritishdivisionswhohadbeensenttohold“aquietsector”ontheirright.thegermansdroveacrossthechemindesdames,struckrightandleft,terrificblows,beatthefrenchback,reachedthemarneagain,andthreatenedparis.

fochwaitedtostrike.thegeniusoffochwasthathewaiteduntilthelastminuteofsafety,takingimmenserisksinordertobecertainofhiscounter-stroke.foratimehehadtodissipatehisreserves,buthegatheredthemtogetheragain.asquickasthebluemenhadcomeupbehindourlinestheywerewithdrawnagain.threeofourdivisionswentwiththem,the51sthighlandersand15thscottish,andthe48thenglish.theflowerofthefrencharmy,theveteransofmanybattles,wasmassedbehindthemarne,andatchateauthierrytheamericanmarinesandinfantryweregiventheirfirstbigjobtodo.whathappenedalltheworldknows.thecrownprince'sarmywasattackedonbothflanksandinthecenter,andwassentreelingbacktoescapecompleteannihilation.