[Illustration: THE BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS] THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS JANUARY TO JULY 1918 BY ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE AUTHOR OF 'THE GREAT BOER WAR,' ETC. HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO MCMXIX SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S HISTORY OF THE WAR Uniform with this Volume. THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS VOL. I--1914 THE BREAKING OF THE PEACE. THE OPENING OF THE WAR. THE BATTLE OF MONS. THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU. THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE. THE LA BASSÉE-ARMENTIÈRES OPERATIONS. THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES. A RETROSPECT AND GENERAL SUMMARY. THE WINTER LULL OF 1914. VOL II.--1915 THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915. NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60. THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES. THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG-FESTUBERT. THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE. THE BATTLE OF LOOS. VOL III.--1916 JANUARY TO JULY 1916. THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE. THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE. VOL IV.--1917 THE BATTLE OF ARRAS. THE BATTLE OF MESSINES. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI. With Maps, Plans, and Diagrams HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON, NEW YORK, AND TORONTO {v} PREFACE This fifth volume deals with one of the most tremendous episodes in history, when the vigour of the German attack and the desperate resistance of the British both on the Somme and in Flanders, held an awestruck world in suspense. A million men released from the Russian front, rolled across Europe and, swelling that great tide which was already banked up before the British breakwater, it washed over all the front line barriers and threatened at one time to sweep down to the sea. The account of how the British Army, upon which incomparably the greater pressure fell, rose to the occasion and first slowed and then held the terrific flood is one of the most wonderful of military epics. At the same time every credit must be given to the loyalty of the French commanders who, while guarding their own extended lines, endeavoured to spare all possible help to their hard-pressed Allies. This volume carries the story of the German attack to its close. The next and final one will describe the enormous counter-attack of the Allies leading up to their final victory.