The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1915Doyle, Arthur Conan
History
The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1915
Doyle, Arthur Conan
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front
missing, about 100 coming under the last category, {33} who represent
the men destroyed by the explosion. The German losses were certainly
not less, but it must be admitted that the mound, as representing the
trophy of victory, remained in their hands. In the morning of the
15th the Germans endeavoured to turn the Leinsters out of the trench
which they had recaptured, but their attack was blown back, and they
left 34 dead in front of the position.
It is pleasing in this most barbarous of all wars to be able to
record that all German troops did not debase themselves to the
degraded standards of Prussia. Upon this occasion the Bavarian
general in charge consented at once to a mutual gathering in of the
wounded and a burying of the dead--things which have been a matter of
course in all civilised warfare until the disciples of Kultur
embarked upon their campaign. It is also to be remarked that in this
section of the field a further amenity can be noted, for twice
messages were dropped within the British lines containing news as to
missing aviators who had been brought down by the German guns. It
was hoped for a time that the struggle, however stern, was at last
about to conform to the usual practices of humanity--a hope which was
destined to be wrecked for ever upon that crowning abomination, the
poisoning of Langemarck.
A month of comparative quiet succeeded the battle of Neuve Chapelle,
the Germans settling down into their new position and making no
attempt to regain their old ones. Both sides were exhausted, though
in the case of the Allies the exhaustion was rather in munitions than
in men. The regiments were kept well supplied from the depots, and
the brutality of the German methods of warfare {34} ensured a steady
supply of spirited recruits. That which was meant to cow had in
reality the effect of stimulating. It is well that this was so, for
so insatiable are the demands of modern warfare that already after
eight months the whole of the regiments of the original expeditionary
force would have absolutely disappeared but for the frequent
replenishments, which were admirably supplied by the central
authorities. They had been far more than annihilated, for many of
the veteran corps had lost from one and a half times to twice their
numbers. The 1st Hants at this date had lost 2700 out of an original
force of 1200 men, and its case was by no means an exceptional one.
Even in times of quiet there was a continual toll exacted by snipers,
bombers, and shells along the front which ran into thousands of
casualties per week. The off-days of Flanders were more murderous
than the engagements of South Africa. Now and then a man of note was
taken from the Army in this chronic and useless warfare. The death
of General Gough, of the staff of the First Army, has already been
recorded. Colonel Farquhar, of the Princess Patricia Canadians, lost
his life in a similar fashion. The stray shell or the lurking sniper
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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