Once through Templeux and on the main road for Peronne things became less exciting, and we drew up to see a column of 900 prisoners pass us. Each side of the causeway was lined by Australians, with their keen, clear-cut, falcon faces, and between lurched these heavy-jawed, beetle-browed, uncouth louts, new caught and staring round with bewildered eyes at their debonnaire captors. I saw none of that relief at getting out of it which I have read of; nor did I see any signs of fear, but the prevailing impression was an ox-like stolidity and dulness. It was a herd of beasts, not a procession of men. It was indeed farcical to think that these {313} uniformed bumpkins represented the great military nation, while the gallant figures who lined the road belonged to the race which they had despised as being unwarlike. Time and Fate between them have a pretty sense of humour. One of them caught my eye as he passed and roared out in guttural English, "The old Jairman is out!" It was the only word I heard them speak. French cavalry troopers, stern, dignified, and martial, rode at either end of the bedraggled procession. They are great soldiers, these Australians. I think they would admit it themselves, but a spectator is bound to confirm it. There is a reckless dare-devilry, combined with a spice of cunning, which gives them a place of their own in the Imperial ranks. They have a great advantage, too, in having a permanent organisation, the same five divisions always in the same Corps, under the same chief. It doubles their military value--and the same applies equally, of course, to the Canadians. None the less, they must not undervalue their British comrades or lose their sense of proportion. I had a chance of addressing some 1200 of them on our return that evening, and while telling them all that I thought of their splendid deeds, I ventured to remind them that 72 per cent of the men engaged and 76 per cent of the casualties were Englishmen of England. But this is a description of a day's adventure on the Hindenburg line, and my deep appreciation of the Commonwealth soldiers, of their officers, and of their Commander, must appear elsewhere. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. {315} INDEX Abancourt, 259, 261, 262 Achiet-le-Grand, 81, 102, 103, 106, 121, 123 Achiet-le-Petit, 121 Adams, Sapper, V.C., 202 Aisne River, 1, 5, 6, 21, 80 Albert, 26, 45, 47, 48, 82, 84, 85, 228 Allason, General, 86 Allenby, General Sir Edmund, 22, 296 American Army, co-operation of, with British Armies, 6, 25, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 150-158, 161, 164, 166, 168, 169, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 307-313; advance in the Argonne, 293; successful attack on the St. Mihiel salient, 293; in Sedan, 293 Americans reinforce the Allies on Western front, 2, 23 Amerval, 231, 234 Amiens, 26, 40, 45 Ancre River, 31, 33, 39, 47, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 103, 120, 122, 124 Angre, 274, 275 Anneux, 215, 216, 217