[13] The following extract from an infantry officer’s letter home, giving his impressions of the enemy’s methods of advance, is worth quoting here: “The Boche came on in ones and twos and small groups, apparently disorganized, and yet with wonderful speed and method. In a few moments hundreds would filter down into a depression of the ground, and from there advance in small sections, running anyhow, one after another, and making an exceedingly difficult target. Our artillery cut him to pieces when they saw him massing, but it was very difficult to inflict heavy losses with the rifle—though at times we had good practice, and all we had to do then was to take a rifle and shoot at odd parties of Boche. The German army is a wonderful organization. The pace at which they came on, and how they managed to pile up line after line of men in successive attacks, was almost incredible. One minute you would be watching the crest of a ridge and see a few men sauntering over the top in twos and threes, and two minutes later you would find the face of the ridge swarming with men, and more and more pushing on behind. As fast as their lines were shot down, other lines took their place.” NOTE.—This method of “infiltration,” to which the writer refers, had formed part of the Division’s training while in the La Bassée sector, was still more assiduously practised in May, June, and July, 1918, and was put into operation with signal success as soon as the British Offensive began. [14] The Dispatch Riders sometimes had the luck that dash and courage deserve. But not always! A corporal writes: “We were passing the canteen at Achiet-le-Grand as it was about to be burnt, so of course we looked round for what we could win, and in the dark stumbled over a box. When in the dim light we made out the name Abdullah on the side, we quickly strapped the box to a carrier. On arrival at Headquarters the box drew a crowd, and we learnt for the first time what decent fellows we were, and how everybody liked us. What was more to the point, we were offered up to five francs a tin for the contents. After a struggle with jack-knives, willingly lent, we got the box open. It was full of the cheapest kind of razor-strops.... During four years in France as Dispatch Rider I have been with several Divisions, and never met better sports than the Dispatch Riders and Headquarter staff of the 42nd. I tried hard to get back to the 42nd later, but couldn’t manage it.” [15] It was not easy to make the men understand why they had to retire. They were holding their own and punishing the enemy. The Divisional Commander, on going the round of the troops later in the day, was asked by one of the men: “Why did you order us back, sir? Weren’t we doing right?” [16] Colonel Davies, formerly an officer of the 6th Manchesters, went out with the Division in 1914, and served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Sinai. He was a gallant soldier with a charming personality, and his loss was keenly felt.