168
THE YPRES TIMES
bombardment of this farm began to take place, and the writer and his companion were
at first driven to the cellar until this became filled with asphyxiating fumes from gas-
shells sent over, then, with their two signallers, they were forced to come out and lean
with their backs to the best remaining wall.
They were in a highly unpleasant position, owing to the fact that their telephonic
communication had been rendered useless through shells breaking the wire in several
places, and through the fact that they were completely isolated from their own side of
the line.
The shelling then became so severe that it was decided, their job having been done,
that, accompanied by the signallers, they should make a desperate effort to regain their
front lineor rather, the French front-line trenchesand they had almost started on
this project when a shell burst immediately in front of their party, very seriously wound
ing the writer's companion and shell-shocking one of the signallers.
It now became more vital than ever that the French front-line trenches should be
reached, and an attempt was made and although subjected to intensive shell and
machine-gun fire, all four reached these trenches successfully, without any damage
being done, save that the writer's revolver case, which he was wearing at his side, was
penetrated by a machine-gun bullet.
Passing down this trench to the French Battalion Headquarters already mentioned,
which were in the front line, it was discovered that the entire French staff, with whom
they had had lunch, had been wiped out by shell-fire, and a pause was made to give what
little medical aid was possible to several officers and men who were lying around wounded
and unable to help themselves.
Then, moving a little farther along the line, the party had scarcely regained their
breath when one of the signallers remarked that he smelled a peculiar odour and, putting
his head slightly above the trench, gave one yell, leapt out and started a rapid retreat
down the slopes, across the muddy fields, towards the French rear lines. The second
signaller, almost immediately, went through the same procedure, and then the scribe
and his companion decided that it was time to see what was happening themselves.
What they saw was a low bank of greenish-yellow fog advancing irresistibly towards
them, with an odour which was already becoming nauseating. It did not take long to
decide what was to be done. Their job was finished, and it not only was their duty to
return as quickly as possible to their battery, but it had become a question of sauve
qui peut."
Therefore, as best they could, they got out of the trench and started off in the general
direction of the battery, coughing and choking as they went.
Owing to their heavy equipment and the lack of breath caused by the gas, it was
soon found impossible to run, and their retreat, even before they lost track of one another,
had degenerated into a stumbling walk.
The writer, having recognized the smell of chlorine, and by great good fortune
having his water-bottle with him, soaked his handkerchief with water and placed it in
front of his mouth and nose, thereby unquestionably saving his life, as most of
the chlorine and phosgene (of which the gas was composed) became dissolved before
penetrating to his lungs.
The retreat down the slope was an appalling experience, the whole of the ground
being not only continuously swept by German shrapnel, but the Germans, being hidden
by their gas throughout the attack, had mounted their machine guns on the parapets
of their trenches and swept the retreating forces continuously with intensive machine-
gun fire.
In spite of this, however, the scribe arrived at the banks of the Yser Canal, per
sonally unscathed, although one of his shoulder-straps had disappeared, a strap from
one of his leggings had been torn off, a bullet had penetrated the heel of one of his boots,
and a slight blood-stain above the right eye testified to the fact that a shell had burst
within a few feet of him.