ST. ELOI (_continued_)
Counter-attacks--Obstacles to victory--The ground described--The enemy
deceived--Ravage wrought by heavy guns--Impassable ground--Schemes
based upon unreliable information--Forward movement ordered--The 28th
severely shelled at Voormezeele--Confusion regarding the occupation of
the craters--Raid on Craters 2 and 3 fails--Wrong craters attacked--The
Canadian infantry in Craters 6 and 7--Enemy patrols walk straight into
Canadian trenches and are taken prisoners--The actual situation
revealed by aerial photographs--Unit follows unit to certain death--The
brave 28th--Heavy casualties--Determination of the Higher
Command--Sniper Zacharias--A gallant deserter--Imperative order to take
the German positions--Crater No. 1 captured--Unfortunate lack of
reliable information--Four privates hold an exposed position for 70
hours--Individual acts of bravery common--Good work of the Lewis gun
team--"Get on at any cost"--Brave though fruitless attempts--A glorious
failure--Repeated counter-attacks unsuccessful--The third phase of the
Battle of St. Eloi--A parallel of Verdun--The enemy seizes a dominant
position--A deadlock--General Turner's suggestions--Reconstruction of
the old British line under General Watson--The inglorious drudgery of
digging--Perilous position of Canadians in advanced positions--Carrier
pigeons used as messengers for the first time--Value of position
problematical--Superior trenches of the enemy--Useful work of
aircraft--Historic ground--First and second great actions of Dominion
Army contrasted--Failure and success enter into the education of a
nation