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Thb Ypres Times.
grenade had accounted for an officer. Back through Dickebusch, with its underground
population of troops. The houses were labelledBillets for Men. Cellars for four
(or other number)." On through Bailleul to Cassel.
November 12th.To Kemmel Hill, invaluable for observation and defence, and form
ing part of our share of the rim of the saucer in which Ypres lay to be shot at from
the rest of the rim. The Sound-ranging Station was the most interesting thing to be seen,
and it is curious to reflect that its most essential part, the string galvanometer, is also used
in the electro-cardiograph, the most recent piece of apparatus for the study of heart disease.
Later in the day visited the Divisional School of Instruction at Ste. Marie Capelle.
November 13th.To Armentières, at that time practically intact. A systematic
strafe against enemy gun positions was in progress, directed from a Sound-ranging
Station. Visited an O.P. in a church tower, from which prisoners of war could be seen
working behind the Boche lines, exposed to shell fire, contrary to the usages of war.
On the return journey saw part of a Maori Pioneer Battalion on the road. Much to
their disappointment this warlike race was not allowed to engage in combatant service,
but it is alleged that some occasional scrapping was permitted as a treat."
November 14th.Studied some of the varied activities at H.Q. By this time the
spy-danger in the area appears to have been pretty well eliminated, and the movements
of civilians were well under control. The enemy knowledge of our doings in the earlier
part of the campaign was largely due to the efficient listening apparatus with which
they were provided. We ourselves were beginning to be similarly equipped, and the
value of this source of information was proved at the time of my visit. The Map and
Aeroplane Photograph Departments were of particular interest, and a complete photo
graphic survey of the forward area had been made and was constantly being checked.
Among the numerous picture postcards taken from prisoners were some representing
churches ruthlessly desecrated by our shell fire, doubtless intended as a set-off to the
Allied cards showing the destruction of Rheims Cathedral, etc., by enemy action.
November 15th.Visited two Divisional Schools. In the early morning an enemy
'plane had made an unsuccessful attempt on the rail-head at Abeele, but it only missed
the bomb-store by 25 yards! There was a vigorous strafing of the Germans on the
Messines ridge in the course of the day. At this time, no doubt, the preparations for
blowing up the ridgewhich materialized some months laterwere in active progress.
This will always be remembered as the one large-scale operation on our side which was
entirely successful according to plan," and went like clockwork without any hitch.
In the evening came news of a Boche raid on the Chicken Run (N.E. of Armentières),
in the course of which a small part of our trenches were damaged by intense T.M.
bombardment.
November 16th.Witnessed important demonstrations at the Berthen Trench
Mortar School. At that time only three of the new 6-inch Stokes Gun, devised by Newton,
were in existence, and on this occasion one of them reached a range of 700 yards with a
50 lb. projectile. The range was subsequently extended to double that distance or even
more. A 240 millimetre trench mortar, improved by Newton, was also demonstrated,
and shown to be reliable. The original type had proved so dangerous to the users that
it had been abandoned.
Went on to the aerodrome of the 1st R.F.C. at Bailleul (three flights of six machines
each), where a number of ingenious devices for training observers were being used. A
contingent of 450 German prisoners were happily employed in various ways.
November 17th.Two Russian prisoners of war escaped into our lines. They
belonged to a fatigue company which had mutinied on account of bad treatment. Twenty
were shot down by Uhlans, and of the remaining 17, who bolted, these two succeeded
in getting across No Man's Rand in the course of two days.
November i8tb.Motored to Staples and saw something of the training given in
the Base Camps. Thence to embark at Boulogne.
