CHAPTER V

ST. ELOI

Canadians in a serious engagement--The old German line--The new British line--The effect of the eruption--Trenches little better than drains--The Second Division in "No Man's Land"--The situation described by General Turner--A gap in our line--The call for additional guns--Welcome relief--The importance of rear exits--Evacuation of the wounded--Our weak spot discovered--Prompt and intelligent action by General Turner--Steadfast endurance--The bravery of Privates Smith and Bowden--Conspicuous gallantry of Captain Meredith--Miscalculation--The enemy dashes through the zone of our artillery--Desperate situation of the Canadians--Communication by telephone intermittent--Confusion in the trenches--Under bombardment for sixty hours--The enemy's artillery preparation begins--Pandemonium inevitable--Clogged rifles and machine-guns--A brave struggle for existence--A moment of doubt--The enemy gains the craters--An unfortunate mistake--Unorganised retirement--Precipitate action--A case for help--Dilemma of the Higher Command--Trench mortars put out of action--Full story of the retirement cut short by death--A hand-to-hand encounter--Failure less welcome than success--Reasons for retirement only appreciated by those experienced in trench warfare--The Fates unpropitious--The error of the craters--Success denied though well deserved