162
THE YPRES TIMES
other kind of gas. No masks or even respirators were known then, and the
effects were terrible. Many troops were suffocated to death, and many still suffer
even now. The result to us was an immediate fall in." Skeleton equipment
and no overcoats. Extra ammunition was served out, and we had 220 rounds
apiece. Then we started to march off and did about five miles. It was dark by
now, and the gas had practically dispersed, but over everything there was the thick
pungent smell which affected the eyes, mouth and throat. We lined up in a field
and expected to be warned for trench duty. This was the idea, it turned out after
wards, but the fates decided otherwise and our battalion was wanted elsewhere.
It transpired later on that about two miles behind the original front line which
had been vacated by the Erench Colonials there was a battery of 4.7's of the
London Heavy Artillery. These guns had been abandoned, and the Germans,
advancing behind their screen of gas, had taken them. This was our objective.
FMo] [Illustrated London News.
THE CANADIANS' NIGHT ATTACK THAT SAVED THE SITUATION AT YPRES.
Canadian Scottish and the 10th Infantry recapture the lost 4.7's at the point of the bayonet.
The position was indeed a terrible one. A big gap in the line and the rest of the
line held by one division, whilst the Germans had at least four divisions against us.
One cannot help thinking that the enemy lost a wonderful opportunity, for surely
with an equality of determination similar to that shown on the defence by the
British, he could have walked through üs like a man could walk through a hoop
of tissue paper. However, he did not, and Calais was saved again.
We were rather inclined to think that our objective was not only the four guns
in the little wood near St. Julien, but also to convince the Germans that we were
there in considerable force, and thus not only to take the guns but to have an
adverse moral effect upon the enemy. Whatever the reasons, two battalions of
The Canadian Scottishthe 16th of the 3rd Brigade, and the 10th of the 2nd
