CHAPTER XI

THE FINAL VICTORY

Canadians take the initiative--The Anglo-French offensive--Good fellowship between the Imperial and Canadian Army--British Brigade supports the Canadians--The Württembergers and the Canadians--General Burstall commands formidable assembly of heavy guns--Aeroplane photographs--Battalions massed in strength--Divisional Commanders--Artillery pounds the German position--The enemy demoralised--The advance to the assault--Intense artillery preparation--A struggle between weapons of attack and methods of defence--Unforeseen developments of trench warfare--The significance of the Battle of the Marne--The use of gas a failure--Terrific force of great guns--Mr. Lloyd George and the industrial development of England--The 3rd Toronto Battalion advances--The centre attack--A daring scheme to baffle the enemy--The front line moves forward unnoticed--German listening post captured--The forward rush--The bayonets clear the trenches--Captain Bell-Irving's daring exploit--The 16th and the 3rd Battalions recapture the heights--The 13th Battalion to the charge--Machine-gun fight and bombing encounters--Hill 62 in Canadian hands--Real gain of the day--Counter-attacks dispersed--The enemy dazed by the suddenness and the success of the onset--Splendid arrangement and precision of the attack in face of difficulties--Ypres salient reconquered with bayonet in semi-darkness--A devastated territory--The natural green blotted out--Earth churned up into masses of mud--The sight after the battle--Where captains and soldiers lie--Those we shall remember--Defeat turned into victory