ST. ELOI
Canadians in a serious engagement--The old German line--The new British
line--The effect of the eruption--Trenches little better than
drains--The Second Division in "No Man's Land"--The situation described
by General Turner--A gap in our line--The call for additional
guns--Welcome relief--The importance of rear exits--Evacuation of the
wounded--Our weak spot discovered--Prompt and intelligent action by
General Turner--Steadfast endurance--The bravery of Privates Smith and
Bowden--Conspicuous gallantry of Captain Meredith--Miscalculation--The
enemy dashes through the zone of our artillery--Desperate situation of
the Canadians--Communication by telephone intermittent--Confusion in
the trenches--Under bombardment for sixty hours--The enemy's artillery
preparation begins--Pandemonium inevitable--Clogged rifles and
machine-guns--A brave struggle for existence--A moment of doubt--The
enemy gains the craters--An unfortunate mistake--Unorganised
retirement--Precipitate action--A case for help--Dilemma of the Higher
Command--Trench mortars put out of action--Full story of the retirement
cut short by death--A hand-to-hand encounter--Failure less welcome than
success--Reasons for retirement only appreciated by those experienced
in trench warfare--The Fates unpropitious--The error of the
craters--Success denied though well deserved