ST. ELOI (_conclusion_)
The enemy's final effort to capture Canadian trenches--The Higher
Command decides to hold on--The precise position of affairs--The 5th
Brigade in inferno--Loneliness of the watchers--Carrier pigeons killed
by shell-shock--Crater No. 6 abandoned--The enemy's lack of
imagination--The power of the British Army "to come again"--Troops of
the Allies able to act without support--General Watson on the state of
the craters--The report of Lieut. Vernon--Linking up the craters with
the old British line--Advantageous position of the Huns--Four attempts
to take Canadian craters--The Huns driven back--The assault on Craters
6 and 7--Isolated position of the Canadians--Aeroplanes reveal the true
position--Army Commanders blameless--The importance of dominant
ground--Difficulties of the Higher Command--The enemy begins an intense
bombardment--Many casualties--Permission to surrender---Lieutenant
Myers fires his last round--Five survivors--Sergeant Bostel's
narrative--The failures at St. Eloi--The garrison of the Canadian
craters swept out of existence