CHAPTER XII

THE END

Before entering into the terms of the Armistice it may be instructive to give some short outline of the course of events at the German Headquarters which led to so sudden and dramatic a collapse. No doubt the political and economic state of Germany was very bad, but the disaster was primarily a military one, as is clearly shown by the subsequent White Book published after the declaration of peace. This compilation shows that the arrogance with which the military leaders spoke during their successful offensive, and down to the middle of July, had changed in the short space of ten weeks to such utter despair that on October 1 they were sending urgent messages to Berlin that the war was to be closed down at any cost, and that even such questions as the loss of the German colonies and the cession of Alsace-Lorraine were not to weigh in the balance against the imperative necessity of staving off a tremendous military disaster. The inclined plane seems to have taken an abrupt tilt on August 14, after the first successful British advance, when it was decided to take the opportunity of the next German success to ask for peace. No success arrived, however, but rather a long succession of disasters, and Hertling, the dotard Chancellor, was unable to make up his {300} mind what to do, so that matters were allowed to drift from bad to worse. Early in October it was announced from General Headquarters that a break through might occur at any moment. Prince Max of Baden had been made Chancellor on the understanding that he would at once appeal to President Wilson for a cessation of hostilities, which was the more urgent as Bulgaria had already dropped out of the war and Austria was on her last legs. As might have been foreseen, President Wilson refused to treat without the concurrence of his Allies, and some improvement in the German defensive line enabled them to hold on until early November, when their needs once again became overpowering, and the great twin-brethren Hindenburg and Ludendorff finally admitted defeat. Then followed in quick succession events which are political and outside the scope of this record--the revolution in the Fatherland, the flight of the Kaiser and of the Crown Prince into Holland, and the advance of the Allied armies, under the terms of the Armistice, to the left bank of the Rhine.

Some account should, however, be given of the circumstances under which the Armistice was signed, and the drastic terms which were exacted by the Allies, the fit preliminaries to a peace founded upon a stern justice. It was at nine o'clock on the evening of Thursday, November 7, that the German delegates, led by the ambiguous and scheming Erzberger, travelling along shell-broken roads, under the glare of searchlights and signal-fires, entered within the French lines near La Capelle. The roar of the battle in their rear was a constant reminder of the urgency of their mission. They came no farther than Marshal Foch's travelling headquarters, where they were met {301} by the Marshal himself, with Admiral Wemyss to represent that British sea-power which had done so much to promote this interview. The proceedings were short and strained. A proposition for a truce was waved aside by the victors, and a list of terms was presented which made the German delegates realise, if they had failed to do so before, the abyss into which their country had been precipitated by two generations of madmen. Disgrace abroad, revolution at home, a fugitive monarch, a splitting empire, a disbanding army, a mutinous fleet--these were the circumstances under which Germany ended her bid for the dictatorship of the world.

At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, the Armistice was signed, and at 11 A.M., as already recorded, the last shot of the greatest war that ever has been, or in all probability ever will be, had been fired. London and Paris were at last relieved from their terrific strain, and none who witnessed them can forget the emotions and rejoicings of the day. Those who had not realised the complete collapse of the Colossus were surprised at the severity of the terms which had been accepted in such haste. All invaded territory had to be cleared within fourteen days. All Allied prisoners to be at once returned, while those of Germany were retained. The left bank of the Rhine, together with ample bridge-heads, to be handed over, as a temporary measure, to the Allies, the Belgians holding the north, the British the Cologne area, the Americans the Coblentz area, and the French, Strasburg, with all Alsace-Lorraine. All danger of a continuation of the struggle was averted by the immediate surrender of 5000 guns, 30,000 machine-guns, and 2000 aeroplanes, together with {302} great numbers of locomotives, lorries, waggons, and barges. All Roumanian, Russian, and other forced treaties were abrogated. East Africa was to be evacuated. All submarines and a large portion of the German navy were to be handed over to the care of the Allies until peace terms should decide their ultimate fate. The blockade was to continue. Such were the main points of the Armistice which foreshadowed the rigorous peace to come.

It was not until January 11, 1919, that the delegates from the various interested nations assembled in Paris, and their deliberations, which seemed long to us, but may appear hasty and ill-considered to our descendants, terminated on May 7, a most dramatic date, being the anniversary of that sinking of the _Lusitania_ which will always be recorded as the supreme instance of German barbarity. So stringent were the terms that the Scheidemann Government resigned and left the unpleasant task of ratification to a cabinet of nobodies, with Herr Bauer at their head. So long as the firm signed, it mattered nothing to the Allies which particular partner was the representative. There was higgling and wriggling up to the last moment, and some small concessions were actually gained. The final results were briefly as follows:

1. Two new countries shall be formed--Poland in the north and Czecho-Slovakia in the south, the former largely at the expense of Germany, the latter of Austria. Germany shall contribute to the building up of Poland the districts of West Prussia and Posen, both of which are historically Polish. The important district of Upper Silesia--the prized conquest of Frederick from Maria Theresa--was left indeterminate, its fate to be decided by the people's will.

{303}

2. The northern portion of Schleswig shall revert to Denmark, from which it was taken.

3. Alsace-Lorraine shall be returned to France, and that country shall receive for a time the produce of the Saar coal-fields as recompense for the destruction of her own coal-fields by the Germans.

Thus on each side, Germany was trimmed down to the lands inhabited by Germans, the Danes, the Poles, and the French borderers being emancipated. When next they march to war they will not swell their ranks by unwilling conscripts forced to fight against their own friends and interests.

4. Every effort was made by the treaty to disarm Germany, and to prevent her in the future from plotting the destruction of her neighbours. Those sudden irruptions of 1864, 1866, 1870, and 1914 were to be stopped once and for ever--if indeed we can place final terms upon a phenomenon which dates back to the days of the Roman republic.

The German General Staff--that dangerous _imperium in imperio_--was to be dissolved. The army should be only sufficiently powerful to keep internal order and to control the frontiers. Compulsory service was abolished, and the manhood of Germany--to the probable detriment of all trade competitors--was dedicated to the arts of peace. The import and export of war material were forbidden, and the great war-god, Krupp, lay prostrate in his shrine at Essen. All submarines were forbidden. The navy was limited to thirty-six vessels of mediocre strength. Zeppelins were to be handed over. German cables, fourteen in number, and all German oversea possessions passed into the hands of the Allies. With such terms, if the Allies continue to stand together and {304} guarantee their enforcement, the Frenchman may look eastward without a tremor, and the mists of the North Sea can cloud no menace for our islands. For many a long year to come the formidable military history of Germany has reached its close. A clause which dealt with the trial of all military offenders, including the Kaiser, concluded the more important items of the Treaty.

So at last the dark cloud of war, which had seemed so endless and so impenetrable as it covered the whole heavens from the Eastern horizon to the Western, passed and drifted beyond us, while a dim sun in a cold sky was the first herald of better times. Laden with debt, heart-heavy for its lost ones, with every home shaken and every industry dislocated, its hospitals filled with broken men, its hoarded capital all wasted upon useless engines--such was the world which the accursed German Kultur had left behind it. Here was the crop reaped from those navy bills and army estimates, those frantic professors and wild journalists, those heavy-necked, sword-trailing generals, those obsequious, arrogant courtiers, and the vain, swollen creature whom they courted. Peace had come at last--if such a name can be given to a state where international bitterness will long continue, and where within each frontier the bulk of mankind, shaken by these great events from the ruts of custom, contend fiercely for some selfish advantage out of the general chaos. In the East, Russia, like some horrible invertebrate creature, entangles itself with its own tentacles, and wrestles against itself with such intricate convulsions that one can hardly say which attacks or which defends, which is living or which already dead. But the world swings on the divine {305} cycle. He who made the planet from the fire-mist is still at work moulding with set and sustained purpose the destinies of a universe which at every stage can only reach the higher through its combat with the lower.

Here the historian's task is done. It has occupied and alleviated many heavy days. Whatever its sins of omission it should surely contain some trace of the spirit of the times, since many a chapter was written to the rumble of the distant guns, and twice the author was able to leave his desk and then return with such inspiration as an actual view of the battlefields could afford him. The whole British line in 1916, the Soissons and Ardennes positions of the French, the Carnic Alps, the Trentino, and the Isonzo positions of the Italians were all visited in turn; while in 1918, as recorded, the crowning mercy of September 29 was actually witnessed by the writer. He lays down his pen at last with the deep conviction that the final results of this great convulsion are meant to be spiritual rather than material, and that upon an enlightened recognition of this depends the future history of mankind. Not to change rival frontiers, but to mould the hearts and spirits of men--there lie the explanation and the justification of all that we have endured. The system which left seven million dead upon the fields of Europe must be rotten to the core. Time will elapse before the true message is mastered, but when that day arrives the war of 1914 may be regarded as the end of the dark ages and the start of that upward path which leads away from personal or national selfishness towards the City Beautiful upon the distant hills.

{307}

APPENDIX

The following account of some personal experiences on the day when the Hindenburg Line was finally broken--the most important day, perhaps, in the whole war--may possibly be worthy of the decent obscurity of an appendix, though it is too slight and too personal for the pages of a serious chronicle. It is appended for what it is worth, reprinted with a few additions from the columns of _The Times_:--

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.

The grand, sonorous, mystical lines of Julia Ward Howe rang in my head as I found myself by most unlooked-for chance an actual eyewitness of this, one of the historical episodes of the greatest of wars. Yes, with my own eyes I saw the rent while the men who made it were still pushing forward from the farther side of it.

Even now I can hardly realise that it was so. A kindly invitation from the Australian Government explains my presence on their front, while the energy and goodwill of a helpful soldier on the spot, a captain of Australian Artillery, brought about the rest. Let me try to transcribe what I saw.

It was about 11 o'clock when we reached the edge of the battle-field on Sunday, September 29. "We" refers to Sir Joseph Cook, Colonial statesman, Commander Latham, the Australian Naval Attaché, and myself, with Captain Plunket, a twice-wounded Australian officer, as our shepherd.

The programme of the day was already clear in our heads. American Divisions were to rush the front line. The Australian {308} Divisions were to pass through them, and carry the battle front forward. Already as we arrived the glad news came back that the Americans had done their part, and that the Australians had just been unleashed. Also that the Germans were standing to it like men.

As our car threaded the crowded street between the ruins of Templeux we met the wounded coming back, covered cars with nothing visible save protruding boots, and a constant stream of pedestrians, some limping, some with bandaged arms and faces, some supported by Red Cross men, a few in pain, most of them smiling grimly behind their cigarettes. Amid them came the first clump of prisoners, fifty or more, pitiable enough, and yet I could not pity them, the weary, shuffling, hang-dog creatures, with no touch of nobility in their features or their bearing.

The village was full of Americans and Australians, extraordinarily like each other in type. One could well have lingered, for it was all of great interest, but there were even greater interests ahead, so we turned up a hill, left our car, which had reached its limit, and proceeded on foot. The road took us through a farm, where a British anti-aircraft battery stood ready for action. Then we found open plain, and went forward, amid old trenches and rusty wire, in the direction of the battle.

We had now passed the heavy gun positions, and were among the field-guns, so that the noise was deafening. A British howitzer battery was hard at work, and we stopped to chat with the major. His crews had been at it for six hours, but were in great good-humour, and chuckled mightily when the blast of one of their guns nearly drove in our eardrums, we having got rather too far forward. The effect was that of a ringing box on the exposed ear--with which valediction we left our grinning British gunners and pushed on to the east, under a screaming canopy of our own shells. The wild, empty waste of moor was broken by a single shallow quarry or gravel-pit, in which we could see some movement. In it we found an advanced dressing station, with about a hundred American and Australian gunners and orderlies. {309} There were dug-outs in the sides of this flat excavation, and it had been an American battalion H.Q. up to a few hours before. We were now about a thousand yards from the Hindenburg Line, and I learned with emotion that this spot was the Egg Redoubt, one of those advanced outposts of General Gough's Army which suffered so tragic and glorious a fate in that great military epic of March 21--one of the grandest in the whole war. The fact that we were now actually standing in the Egg Redoubt showed me, as nothing else could have done, how completely the ground had been recovered, and how the day of retribution was at hand.

We were standing near the eastward lip of the excavation, and looking over it, when it was first brought to our attention that it took two to make a battle. Up to now we had seen only one. Now two shells burst in quick succession forty yards in front of us, and a spray of earth went into the air. "Whizz-bangs," remarked our soldier-guide casually. Personally, I felt less keenly interested in their name than in the fact that they were there at all.

We thought we had done pretty well to get within 1000 yards of the famous line, but now came a crowning bit of good fortune, for an Australian gunner captain, a mere lad, but a soldier from his hawk's eyes to his active feet, volunteered to rush us forward to some coign of vantage known to himself. So it was Eastward Ho! once more, still over a dull, barren plain sloping gently upwards, with little sign of life. Here and there was the quick fluff of a bursting shell, but at a comforting distance. Suddenly ahead of us a definite object broke the sky-line. It was a Tank, upon which the crew were working with spanners and levers, for its comrades were now far ahead, and it would fain follow. This, it seems, was the grand stand which our young gunner had selected. On to the top of it we clambered--and there, at our very feet and less than 500 yards away, was the rift which had been torn a few hours before in the Hindenburg line. On the dun slope beyond it, under our very eyes, was even now being fought a part of that great fight where at last the children of light were beating down into the earth the forces of darkness. It {310} was there. We could see it. And yet how little there was to see!

The ridge was passed and the ground sloped down, as dark and heathy as Hindhead. In front of us lay a village. It was Bellicourt. The Hindenburg position ran through it. It lay quiet enough, and with the unaided eye one could see rusty red fields of wire in front of it. But the wire had availed nothing, nor had the trench that lurked behind it, for beyond it, beside the village of Nauroy, there was a long white line, clouds of pale steam-like vapour spouting up against a dark, rain-sodden sky. "The Boche smoke barrage," said our guide. "They are going to counter-attack." Only this, the long, white, swirling cloud upon the dark plain, told of the strife in front of us. With my glasses I saw what looked like Tanks, but whether wrecked or in action I could not say. There was the battle--the greatest of battles--but nowhere could I see a moving figure. It is true that all the noises of the Pit seemed to rise from that lonely landscape, but noise was always with us, go where we would.

The Australians were ahead where that line of smoke marked their progress. In the sloping fields, which at that point emerged out of the moor, the victorious Americans, who had done their part, were crouching. It was an assured victory upon which we gazed, achieved so rapidly that we were ourselves standing far forward in ground which had been won that day. The wounded had been brought in, and I saw no corpses, though some friends who had reached the line to our left found eighteen American lads lying dead by the roadside. On that side the fight was very severe, and the Germans, who had been hidden in their huge dug-outs, were doing their usual trick of emerging and cutting off the attack. So much we gathered afterwards, but for the moment it was the panorama before us which was engrossing all our thoughts.

Suddenly the German guns woke up. I can but pray that it was not our group which drew their fire upon the half-mended Tank. Shell after shell fell in its direction, all of them short, but creeping forward with each salvo. It was time for us to go. If any man says that without a call of {311} duty he likes being under aimed shell-fire, he is not a man whose word I would trust. Some of the shells burst with a rusty red outflame, and we were told that they were gas shells. I may say that before we were admitted on to the battle-field at all, we were ushered one by one into a room where some devil's pipkin was bubbling in the corner, and were taught to use our gas-masks by the simple expedient of telling us that if we failed to acquire the art then and there a very painful alternative was awaiting us.

We made our way back, with no indecent haste, but certainly without loitering, across the plain, the shells always getting rather nearer, until we came to the excavation. Here we had a welcome rest, for our good gunner took us into his cubby-hole of a dug-out, which would at least stop shrapnel, and we shared his tea and dried beef, a true Australian soldier's meal.

The German fire was now rather heavy, and our expert host explained that this meant that he had recovered from the shock of the attack, had reorganised his guns, and was generally his merry self once more. From where we sat we could see heavy shells bursting far to our rear, and there was a general atmosphere of explosion all round us, which might have seemed alarming had it not been for the general chatty afternoon-tea appearance of all these veteran soldiers with whom it was our privilege to find ourselves. A group of sulky-looking German prisoners sat in a corner, while a lank and freckled Australian soldier, with his knee sticking out of a rent in his trousers was walking about with four watches dangling from his hand, endeavouring vainly to sell them. Far be it from me to assert that he did not bring the watches from Sydney and choose this moment for doing a deal in them, but they were heavy old Teutonic time-pieces, and the prisoners seemed to take a rather personal interest in them.

As we started on our homeward track we came, first, upon the British battery which seemed to be limbering up with some idea of advancing, and so lost its chance of administering a box on our other ear. Farther still we met our friends of the air guns, and stopped again to exchange a few impressions. {312} They had nothing to fire at, and seemed bored to tears, for the red, white, and blue machines were in full command of the sky. Soon we found our motor waiting in the lee of a ruined house, and began to thread our way back through the wonderfully picturesque streams of men, American, Australian, British, and German, who were strung along the road.

And then occurred a very horrible incident. One knew, of course, that one could not wander about a battlefield and not find oneself sooner or later involved in some tragedy, but we were now out of range of any but heavy guns, and their shots were spasmodic. We had halted the car for an instant to gather up two German helmets which Commander Latham had seen on the roadside, when there was a very heavy burst close ahead round a curve in the village street. A geyser of red brick-dust flew up into the air. An instant later our car rounded the corner. None of us will forget what we saw. There was a tangle of mutilated horses, their necks rising and sinking. Beside them a man with his hand blown off was staggering away, the blood gushing from his upturned sleeve. He was moving round and holding the arm raised and hanging, as a dog holds an injured foot. Beside the horses lay a shattered man, drenched crimson from head to foot, with two great glazed eyes looking upwards through a mask of blood. Two comrades were at hand to help, and we could only go upon our way with the ghastly picture stamped for ever upon our memory. The image of that dead driver might well haunt one in one's dreams.

Once through Templeux and on the main road for Peronne things became less exciting, and we drew up to see a column of 900 prisoners pass us. Each side of the causeway was lined by Australians, with their keen, clear-cut, falcon faces, and between lurched these heavy-jawed, beetle-browed, uncouth louts, new caught and staring round with bewildered eyes at their debonnaire captors. I saw none of that relief at getting out of it which I have read of; nor did I see any signs of fear, but the prevailing impression was an ox-like stolidity and dulness. It was a herd of beasts, not a procession of men. It was indeed farcical to think that these {313} uniformed bumpkins represented the great military nation, while the gallant figures who lined the road belonged to the race which they had despised as being unwarlike. Time and Fate between them have a pretty sense of humour. One of them caught my eye as he passed and roared out in guttural English, "The old Jairman is out!" It was the only word I heard them speak. French cavalry troopers, stern, dignified, and martial, rode at either end of the bedraggled procession.

They are great soldiers, these Australians. I think they would admit it themselves, but a spectator is bound to confirm it. There is a reckless dare-devilry, combined with a spice of cunning, which gives them a place of their own in the Imperial ranks. They have a great advantage, too, in having a permanent organisation, the same five divisions always in the same Corps, under the same chief. It doubles their military value--and the same applies equally, of course, to the Canadians. None the less, they must not undervalue their British comrades or lose their sense of proportion. I had a chance of addressing some 1200 of them on our return that evening, and while telling them all that I thought of their splendid deeds, I ventured to remind them that 72 per cent of the men engaged and 76 per cent of the casualties were Englishmen of England. But this is a description of a day's adventure on the Hindenburg line, and my deep appreciation of the Commonwealth soldiers, of their officers, and of their Commander, must appear elsewhere.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

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INDEX

Abancourt, 259, 261, 262

Achiet-le-Grand, 81, 102, 103, 106, 121, 123

Achiet-le-Petit, 121

Adams, Sapper, V.C., 202

Aisne River, 1, 5, 6, 21, 80

Albert, 26, 45, 47, 48, 82, 84, 85, 228

Allason, General, 86

Allenby, General Sir Edmund, 22, 296

American Army, co-operation of, with British Armies, 6, 25, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 150-158, 161, 164, 166, 168, 169, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 307-313; advance in the Argonne, 293; successful attack on the St. Mihiel salient, 293; in Sedan, 293

Americans reinforce the Allies on Western front, 2, 23

Amerval, 231, 234

Amiens, 26, 40, 45

Ancre River, 31, 33, 39, 47, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 103, 120, 122, 124

Angre, 274, 275

Anneux, 215, 216, 217

Ardres River, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 139

Argonne, American advance in the, 293

Arleux, 258, 264

Armistice, the, 204, 205, 275, 295, 297; signed, 301; terms of, 302

Arras, 139, 277

Artres, 270, 271

Atkinson, Major, 20

Auby, 278, 287

Aunelle, Petite, 253

Aunelle River, 254, 274

Austria, defeated on the Piave, 3, 22; collapse of, 294-295, 300

Avesnes, 204, 227

Avre River, 25, 27

Awoingt, 221, 227

Babington, General Sir J., 294

Baden, Prince Max of, 300

Bagdad, 22

Bailleul, 139, 282

Baku, 22

Banks, Colonel, 51

Banteux, 210

Bapaume, 60, 90, 91, 125, 126

Barastre, 93, 127

Barbow, Colonel, 20

Barker, General, 50

Barnes, General, 129

Bauer, Herr, 302

Bavay, 255, 275

Bazuel, 190, 191

Beaucourt, 81, 83

Beaufort, 29, 34, 35, 247

Beaulencourt, 89, 91, 92, 126

Beaurevoir, 162, 165, 168, 171, 172, 174

Beaurevoir Line, 152, 166, 167, 171, 210, 219, 220, 248

Behagnies, 105, 107, 108

Belgians, King Albert of, 283

Belgian Army, co-operation with British Armies, 283, 284, 288, 289

Bell, General (U.S. Army), 38

Bellenglise, 158, 160

Bellicourt, 66, 151, 153, 156, 310

Benstall, General, 28

Berlaimont, 197, 242, 246

Berthaucourt, 74, 75, 76

Berthelot, General, 13

Bertry, 176, 222

Bethell, General, 170, 204

Beugneux, 19, 20

Beugny, 126, 127

Biastre, 224, 229

Bickmore, Colonel, 10

Bihucourt, 120, 123

Billon Wood, 49, 50

Birdwood, General Sir W., 141, 276, 281, 283, 286, 290, 291, 292

Bissett, Lieutenant, V.C., 269

Blacklock, General, 273

Blanding, General (U.S. Army), 152

Blecourt, 259, 260, 262

Bligny, 6, 13, 14

Boiry Becquerelle, 103, 142

Bois du Temple, 246, 247

Bois l'Évêque, 192, 200

Bouchavesnes, 59, 60

Bouilly, 7, 8

Bourlon village, 256, 257

Bourlon Wood, 216, 256

Bousies, 192, 193, 237

Boyd, General, 75, 157

Braithwaite, General, 6, 8, 12, 64, 72, 98, 118, 119, 149, 150, 157, 161, 164, 185, 205

Brancourt, 178

Bray, 45

Brie, 63, 64

Brodie, Colonel, V.C., 106

Brutinel, General, 263

Bucquoy, 81, 82, 121

Bulgaria, surrender to Allies, 296, 300

Bullecourt, 131, 132, 133, 134

Burnett, General, 8

Burnyeat, Colonel, 194

Butler, General, 26, 40, 63, 68, 149

Buzancy, 14, 15, 17

Byng, General Sir Julian, 24, 43, 79, 80, 83, 98, 107, 109, 120, 126, 128, 129, 138, 170, 214, 218, 230

Cadorna, General, 294

Caix, 28, 34

Calvert, Sergeant, 118

Cambrai, 144, 225, 227, 260, 262, 263, 265

Cameron, General, 143, 267

Campbell, General, 6, 82, 84, 87, 88, 95, 97, 208, 246

Canal de l'Escaut, 150, 170, 208, 209, 210, 212, 213, 214, 217, 218, 219, 260, 263, 265, 266

Canal du Nord, 66, 94, 117, 118, 137, 142, 144, 147, 215, 256, 257, 258, 261, 264, 265

Cantaing, 215, 216, 217

Capelle, 239

Caporetto, 294

Carey, General, 286

Carter-Campbell, General, 12, 139

Cartwright, General, 204

Catillon, 194, 195, 200, 202, 203

Cayley, General, 284

Chaplin, General, 18

Charles, General, 170

Château-Thierry, 5

Chaumuzy, 12, 14

Cheape, General, 282

Chipilly, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39

Clarke, Sergeant, 201

Clemenceau, M., 3, 283

Cloutman, Major, V.C., 245

Cockhill, Captain, 9

Coffin, General, 284

Cojeul River, 104, 129, 130

Comines, 285, 288

Constantine, King, 22

Constantinople, 297

Cook, Sir Joseph, 307

Courcelette, 86, 89

Courcelles, 101

Coussmaker, Colonel, 105

Craigie-Hackett, General, 174

Cressaire Wood, 39, 40

Crevecœur, 166, 210, 223, 247

Croisilles, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 114, 129, 130, 131

Cross, Colonel, 106

Crown Prince of Germany, 300

Cubitt, General, 82, 84, 233

Cuitron, 7, 9

Currie, General Sir A., 26, 259, 263, 266

Daly, General, 218, 226, 227

Damascus occupied, 296

Damery, 35, 41

Dardanelles, 297

Dawson, Colonel, 70, 287

Daykins, Corporal, V.C., 235

Debeney, General, 25

De Lisle, General, 282, 283, 290

Delville, 50

Delville Wood, 91

D'Esperey, General Franchet, 295

Deverell, General, 98, 112, 211

Diaz, General, 294

Dixmude, 288

Doake, Captain, 48

Dobson, Colonel, 21

Doiran, Lake, 296

Dompierre, 52, 198

Dooner, Colonel, 20

Douai, 144, 204, 279, 290

Douai Canal, 278

Drocourt-Quéant Line, 132, 135, 136, 143, 261, 265, 277

Dudgeon, General, 87

Duncan, General, 218

Dury, 144, 145

East Africa, 297

Ecaillon, 184

Ecaillon River, 238, 239, 267, 268, 269, 270

Ecoust, 107, 110, 113, 114, 132, 133

Egerton, Lieutenant, 287

Englefontaine, 193, 240, 241

Epéhy, 62, 66, 68, 97

Ervillers, 104, 105, 106, 107

Erzberger, Herr, 300

Escarmain, 239, 251

Escaufort, 176, 179

Estrées, 52, 157, 172, 174, 264

Eterpigny, 143, 161

Faison, General (U.S. Army), 153

Favreuil, 110, 125

Fergusson, General Sir Charles, 110, 114, 128, 138, 139, 140, 145, 214, 218, 250

Feuillaucourt, 54, 55, 57

Fisher, General, 101, 102

Flers, 89, 90, 91

Flesquières, 209, 211

Foch, Marshal, 3, 4, 21, 292, 300

Fonsomme, 162, 166

Fontaine, 215, 217, 257

Fontaine-les-Croisilles, 129, 131

Forest, 177, 237

Fortune, General, 16

Framerville, 34, 36

Frémicourt, 90, 126

French Army, co-operation of, with British Armies, 10-21, 27, 28, 78, 80, 161, 162, 165, 166, 178, 179, 180, 185, 186, 187, 194, 283, 288, 289, 291

Fresnes, 265, 277

Fresnoy, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 243

Fresnoy-le-Grand, 180

Freyberg, General, 282

Frisby, Captain, V.C., 212

Fryell, General, 174

Gagnicourt, 135, 136, 144, 145

Gauche Wood, 96

Gavrelle, 141, 276

General position on Western front in July, 1-4; survey of the various fronts at beginning of August, 21-23

George, Mr. Lloyd, 3

Germany, internal condition of, 2; collapse of resistance, 299

Gheluvelt, 284, 288

Gheluwe, 289

Ghisignies, 238, 240

Gillibrand, General, 29

Girdwood, General, 60, 60

Glasgow, General, 30

Godley, General Sir A. J., 6, 40, 63, 143, 258, 264, 276

Gomiecourt, 103, 104, 105, 106, 123

Gorringe, General, 32, 40

Gort, Lord, V.C., 211

Gough, General Sir Hubert, 71, 309

Gouraud, General, 4, 5

Gouy, 151, 154, 171, 172, 173, 219

Gouzeaucourt, 96, 97, 98, 127, 207

Graincourt, 211, 215, 216, 257

Grandcourt, 82, 87, 88

Grand Rozoy, 18, 19, 20

Greenland Hill, 141, 142

Greenwood, Colonel, 88

Gregg, Lieutenant, V.C., 262

Gricourt, 77, 78, 149, 159

Griffiths, Lieutenant, 85

Grogan, General, 277

Guémappe, 140

Gueudecourt, 89, 91

Guild, Major, 202

Guillemont, 51, 90

Guillemont Farm, 151, 154, 155, 163

Gwyn-Thomas, General, 86, 98

Haig, Field Marshal Sir Douglas, 21, 25, 80, 166, 241

Haking, General Sir R., 283, 290

Haldane, General Sir J., 80, 83, 98, 103, 105, 110, 114, 224, 239, 240, 249

Hamelincourt, 103, 104

Harper, General Sir G. M., 80, 83, 98, 120, 208, 209, 213, 223, 234, 238, 248

Harpies River, 237, 251

Harris, Sergeant, V.C., 40

Hart, General, 242

Hart, Colonel, 17

Hartennes Forest, 16, 17

Hartley, Colonel, 100

Haspres, 266, 267

Haucourt, 141, 143

Haussy, 228, 250, 251

Havrincourt, 118, 119, 120, 128

Havrincourt Wood, 210

Hendecourt, 131, 132, 133, 134, 145

Henderson, Colonel, 104, 116

Heneker, General, 141, 276, 277

Henin, 108

Henin Hill, 108, 129, 130

Herbert, Colonel, 114

Herting, Count von, 299

Hickie, General Sir W., 173

Higginson, General, 31, 51, 66, 287

High Wood, 90

Hill, General, 129

Hindenburg, General von, 48, 300

Hindenburg Line, the, 42, 43, 62, 65, 66, 69, 71, 72, 75, 77, 79, 83, 95, 98, 105, 106, 108, 109, 111, 118, 119, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 136, 137, 143, 149, 151, 152, 153, 155, 163, 166, 169, 207, 208, 210, 214, 215, 219, 282, 307-313

Hobbs, General, 30, 155

Holland, General, 141, 283

Hollebeke, 283, 285

Holnon, 74, 75

Honey, Lieutenant, V.C., 262

Hongnau River, 249, 254

Horne, General Sir H., 24, 41, 138, 141, 276, 280

Houthulst Forest, 284

Hull, General, 129

Hunter, General, 176

Hunter-Weston, General Sir A., 141, 170, 265, 276

Inchy, 137, 223

Incledon-Webber, General, 39

Irles, 120, 124

Irwin, Colonel, 59, 193

Italy, victorious on the Piave, 3, 22, 294; co-operation of, on Western front, 7

Iwuy, 227, 264, 266

Jackson, General, 170, 173

Jackson, Corporal, V.C., 212

Jacob, General Sir C., 283, 284, 285, 288

Jeffreys, General, 218, 286

Jerusalem, 296

Johnson, Colonel, V.C., 203

Joncourt, 156, 161, 162

Jourdain, Colonel, 20

Kaiser, the, 300

Kennedy, Colonel, 17

Kerr, Lieutenant, V.C., 262

Kruseik, 284

La Bassée, 286, 292

La Boiselle, 49, 85

La Capelle, 300

La Folie Wood, 215, 217

Lagnicourt, 115, 135

Lambert, General, 44, 72, 158

Landrecies, 195, 196, 197, 204

Latham, Commander, 307, 312

Lawford, General, 284

Le Cateau, 147, 177, 183, 187, 188, 190, 191, 247, 290

Le Catelet, 151, 154, 156, 157, 171, 172, 173, 219

L'Escaut, 267

Le Hamel, action of, 24, 25

Le Quesnel, 29, 34, 35

Le Quesnoy, 238, 242, 270

Le Tronquoy, 158, 161

Le Vergies, 161, 162

Le Verguier, 65, 72

Lee, General, 31, 46, 66, 170

Lempire, 66, 67

Lens, 27, 100, 276, 286, 287

Lettow-Vorbeck, General von, 297

Lewis, General (U.S. Army), 152

Lihons, 35, 36, 37

Lille, 290, 292, 293

Lipsett, General, 28, 267

Locquignol, 197, 242

Logeast Wood, 82, 121, 123

Longueval, 89, 90, 91

Lucas, General, 267

Luce River, 27

Ludendorff, General, 30, 42, 281, 300

Lys River, 285, 288, 289, 290

M'Culloch, General, 87, 88

MacDonald, Captain, 192

Macdonell, General, 28

MacGregor, Captain, V.C., 262

MacGregor, Lieutenant R. R., 116

Maclagan, General, 30, 37

Macleod, Colonel, 17

Macquincourt Valley, 163, 164

Malincourt, 220, 222

Mametz, 49, 50

Mametz Wood, 89

Manchester Hill, 75, 78

Mangin, General, 5, 14, 18, 44, 80

Mannequin Hill, 165, 166, 180

Marcoing, 212, 217

Marden, General, 72, 73, 78, 157

Marfaux, 7, 9, 14

Marindin, General, 284

Marne River, 1, 4, 5, 6, 11

Maroilles, 195, 197

Marou, 235, 236

Marshall, General, 22, 297

Martin, General, 54, 167

Masnières, 171, 213, 223

Maubeuge, 197, 249, 255

Meaulte, 47, 48

Menin, 289

Menin Road, 284, 285, 288

Mennevret, 186, 187

Mericourt, 180, 286

Merisfield, Sergeant, V.C., 262

Merville, 292

Mesopotamia, 22, 297

Messines, 283, 285

Meteren, 282

Mezières, 28, 204

Milne, General, 296

Miraumont, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 120, 122, 123, 124

Misitch, Marshal, 295

Mœuvres, 117, 137, 256

Moir, Major, 12

Molain, 182, 184

Monash, General Sir John, 25, 26, 29, 36, 52, 63, 71, 169

Monchy, 140

Mons, 280

Mont St. Quentin, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64

Montauban, 50

Montay, 177, 231

Montbrehain, 165, 168, 171

Morchies, 115, 135

Morcourt, 31, 34

Morlancourt, 25, 26, 31, 33, 34

Morland, General, 164, 169, 170, 171, 174, 179, 199, 200, 219, 230

Mormal Forest, 191, 195, 237, 241, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248

Morval, 51, 91, 92

Mory, 106, 107, 109, 110

Moyenneville, 81, 99, 100

Murman Coast, 23

Nagle, Captain, 116

Nauroy, 151, 154, 156, 157, 160, 161, 310

Neuve Eglise, 282

Neuvilly, 223, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234

Nicholson, General, 18, 19

Nicholson, Captain, 49

Nieppe, 281, 282

Niergnies, 221, 222

Nivelle, 287

Noreuil, 115, 134

Norton, General, 244

Noyelles, 212, 268

Nurlu, 61, 62, 94

Oise River, 3, 5, 80

Oldham, General, 244

Onions, Corporal, V.C., 123

Oppy, 141, 276, 287

Orr-Ewing, General, 16

Ors, 194, 195, 200, 201

O'Ryan, General (U.S. Army), 151

Ostend, 289, 290

Ovillers, 85

Owen, General, 62

Palestine, 22

Parvillers, 35, 41

Peace conference at Paris, 302; chief terms of settlement, 302-304

Peizières, 62, 66, 67, 94, 97

Pelves, 141, 142

Penet, General, 18

Percival, Colonel, 51

Pereira, General, 98

Peronne, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64

Pershing, General, 293

Petit Camp Wood, 7, 8, 9

Piave, defeat of Austrians on, 3, 22, 294

Pierce, General (U.S. Army), 151

Pinney, General, 96, 208, 231

Ploegsteert, 282

Ploegsteert Wood, 285

Plumer, General Sir H., 283, 284

Plunket, Captain, 307

Ponchaux, 172, 173, 175

Ponsonby, General, 124

Pout d'Aire, 262, 263

Pontruet, 76, 77, 158, 159

Portuguese, 292

Pozières, 85, 86

Premont, 175, 176, 178

Preseau, 252, 272, 273

Priez Farm, 51, 59, 60

Pronville, 137, 146

Prospect Hill, 171, 172

Puisieux, 120, 122

Pys, 89, 124

Quadrilateral, the, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78

Quéant, 115, 116, 135, 136, 137, 146, 264

Quinnemont Farm, 151, 154

Raillencourt, 258, 259

Ramicourt, 163, 165, 166

Ramillies, 226, 262, 263

Ramsay, General, 31

Rancourt, 59, 60

Rawlinson, General Sir Henry, 24, 25, 34, 40, 41, 53, 59, 80, 82, 84, 90, 94, 96, 107, 138, 148, 149, 169, 223

Read, General (U.S. Army), 150, 184

Regiments:

_Artillery--_

Royal Field Artillery, 10, 21

Honourable Artillery Company, 294

Trench Mortar, 49, 60

_Cavalry--_

6th Dragoon Guards, 91, 227

12th Lancers, 198

16th Lancers, 275

3rd Hussars, 245

8th Hussars, 89

20th Hussars, 89

Northumberland Hussars, 33

Oxford Hussars, 226, 240

Australian Light Horse, 64, 275

Canadian Light Horse, 263

_Guards--_

Coldstream, 100, 104, 110, 111, 212

Grenadier, 100, 104, 109, 110, 211

Scots, 100, 104, 107, 109

Welsh, 107, 109

_Infantry--_

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 10, 11, 20, 142, 269, 271

Bedford, 48, 51, 192, 196, 244

Berkshire, 49, 50. 51, 61, 62, 99, 107, 193, 276, 277, 287

Black Watch, 10, 14, 15, 142, 159, 196

Border, 94, 234

Buffs (East Kent), 39, 47, 193

Cambridge, 33, 62, 287

Cameron Highlanders, 16, 17, 73

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 16, 215, 289, 291

Cheshire, 20, 244, 253, 254

Connaught Rangers, 177

Devon, 8, 119, 123, 245, 277

Dorset, 86, 93, 98, 201, 233

Duke of Cornwall's, 245

Durham Light Infantry, 8, 9, 87, 97, 118, 177

East Surrey, 47, 50, 59, 193, 244

East Yorkshire, 87, 88, 97, 223, 233

Essex, 48, 50, 62, 69, 192, 196, 269, 270

Gloucester, 76, 77, 78, 159, 196, 202, 203, 250

Gordon Highlanders, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 101, 102, 103, 112, 113, 142, 225, 238, 271

Hampshire, 7, 118, 208, 272

Hereford, 20, 128

Highland Light Infantry, 105, 106, 108, 215

Inniskilling Fusiliers, 171, 198

King's Liverpool, 100, 104, 106, 107, 113, 177

King's Own Royal Lancaster, 101, 103, 225, 239

King's Own Scottish Borderers, 16, 17, 134, 289

King's Royal Rifles, 73, 74, 77, 107, 172, 190

Lancashire Fusiliers, 201, 238, 269, 270

_Infantry--_

Leicester, 156, 160

Lincoln, 94, 97, 160

London Rifle Brigade, 131, 274

1st London, 108, 131

2nd London, 49, 131, 274

3rd London, 49

4th London, 49, 105, 133

6th London, 38

10th London, 32, 38

13th London (Kensingtons), 105, 133, 274

14th London (Scottish), 105, 133, 274

20th London, 119

22nd London, 46

23rd London, 46

24th London, 46

24th London (Queen's Westminsters), 131

Manchester, 231, 235, 236

Middlesex, 108, 131, 258, 277, 278, 279

Munster Fusiliers, 135, 136, 190

Norfolk, 62, 244

Northampton, 47, 51, 70, 76, 163, 227, 254

North Lancashire, 20, 73, 158, 159

North Staffordshire, 159, 160

Northumberland Fusiliers, 100, 102, 114, 172

Oxford and Bucks, 105, 106, 108

Queen's (West Surrey), 48, 59, 193

Rifle Brigade, 224, 272, 279

Royal Fusiliers, 47, 48, 51, 67, 70, 99, 100, 105, 108, 113

Royal Irish, 136

Royal Scots, 10, 12, 16, 17, 101, 104, 115, 116, 120, 215, 239

Royal Scots Fusiliers, 101, 115, 116, 120, 239

Royal West Kent, 40, 48, 50, 60, 70, 192, 193, 196, 287

Seaforth Highlanders, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 142, 273

Sherwood Foresters, 160, 174, 177, 179, 185, 277

Shropshire, 101, 104, 115

Somerset Light Infantry, 268

South Staffordshire, 106, 159, 160

South Wales Borderers, 159, 202, 203

Suffolk, 101, 103, 112, 116, 225, 239

Sussex, 20, 62, 73, 74, 76, 203

Warwick, 196, 251, 252, 268

Welsh, 77, 84, 85, 202, 203, 242

Welsh Fusiliers, 294

West Riding, 7, 8, 9, 93, 110, 118, 232, 268

West Yorkshire, 13, 93, 98, 212, 234, 277

Wiltshire, 190, 251, 254

Worcester, 196, 252, 277, 279

York and Lancaster, 7, 8, 118, 235

Yorkshire, 177, 288

Yorkshire Light Infantry, 7, 87, 97, 118, 172, 198, 269, 273

Royal Engineers, 21, 104, 160, 201, 202, 245, 287

Royal Naval Division, 101, 102, 121, 123, 124, 125, 135, 136, 137, 145, 146, 214, 216, 217, 218, 221, 222, 273, 275

Tunnelling Companies, 196, 278

_Overseas Forces--_

Australians, 6, 12, 25, 29, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 65, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, 79, 149, 150, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 162, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 282, 307-313

Canadians, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 41, 42, 107, 110, 111, 116, 129, 130, 132, 134, 135, 136, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 176, 215, 216, 217, 227, 228, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 269, 271, 276, 278

New Zealanders, 6, 9, 83, 95, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 166, 209, 210, 213, 223, 224, 226, 232, 238, 240, 242, 243, 245, 248

South Africans, 52, 170, 175, 188, 189, 190

Rheims, 3, 4, 6

Rhonelle River, 252, 270, 271, 272

Ribeauville, 184, 187

Ribecourt, 211, 212

Richemont River, 192, 193

Riencourt, 126, 131, 132, 134, 136, 145

Riqueval, 158, 159

Ritchie, General, 286

Roberts, Colonel, 279

Robertson, General (17th Division), 82, 87, 93, 97, 231

Robertson, General (5th Brigade), 57

Robinson, General, 196

Robinson, Mr. Perry, correspondent of _The Times_, quoted, 146, 147

Rollo, General, 172

Romeries, 238, 251

Ronssoy, 66, 67

Rosenthal, General, 54, 58, 63

Rosières, 34, 35, 36

Roulers, 289

Rumilly, 213, 214

Russell, General Sir A. H., 209, 223

Russia in revolution, 22, 23, 304

St. Benin, 177, 179, 188

St. Christ, 63, 64

St. Georges River, 238

St. Leger, 107, 109

St. Maurice River, 184

St. Mihiel, American success at, 293

St. Pierre, 186

St. Pierre Divion, 83, 84, 85

St. Pierre Vaast Wood, 61

St. Python, 226, 235

St. Quentin Canal, 54, 157, 158, 159, 160, 162, 163, 164, 165, 171, 172, 174, 175

St. Souplet, 179, 182, 183, 187

Sadleir-Jackson, General, 48

Sailly-Sallisel, 60, 92

Saint, Colonel, 33

Salonica, 22, 295

Sambre and Oise Canal, 191, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203

Sambre River, 197, 241, 245, 246, 249

Sanders, General, 98

Sapignies, 105, 107, 108

Sassegnies, 195, 197

Scarpe River, 138, 139, 140, 143, 258, 265, 276, 277, 278, 287

Scheidemann, Herr, 302

Scheldt River, 292

Schwaben Redoubt, 86

Sedan, Americans in, 293

Selency, 74, 76, 78

Selle River, 175, 176, 177, 179, 182, 187, 191, 199, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 250, 251, 266, 267, 268, 270

Sensée Canal, 263

Sensée River, 105, 131, 144, 258, 260

Sequehart, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 171

Serain, 175, 176

Serre, 81

Shute, General, 80, 82, 84, 98, 173, 208, 219, 230

Skinner, General, 284

Smith, Colonel (Gordons), 17

Smith, Colonel (Seaforths), 14

Smith, Colonel Holroyd, 87, 88, 97

Smyth, General, 29

Soissons, captured by French, 21

Solesmes, 226, 229, 234

Solly-Flood, General, 83, 122

Someren, Colonel van, 51

Somme River, 1, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 45, 52, 54, 60, 80

Spicer, Captain, 88

Statton, Sergeant, 38

Stephens, General, 283, 288

Strickland, General, 64, 72, 157

Sugden, General, 171

Suthery, Captain, 49

Swindells, Colonel, 20

Syria, 297

Tadpole Copse, 117, 137

Tanner, General, 188, 189

Tara Hill, 48, 82, 88

Tarleton, Colonel, 14

Templeux, 62, 67, 72, 308, 312

Thiepval, 82, 84, 85, 86

Thilloy, 125, 126

Thomas, Colonel, 93

Thomson, General, 14, 18

Thorpe, Colonel, 194

Thure River, 247

Tigris River, 296

Tortille River, 61

Tourcoing, 290

Trento captured, 295

Trescault, 96, 118, 119, 127, 128

Trieste, surrendered to Italy, 295

Trinquis River, 147, 258, 265, 278

Trones Wood, 50, 90

Tudor, General, 284

Turkey, collapse of, 296

Turner, Colonel, 17

Tweedie, Colonel, 78

Usna Hill, 48, 84, 85

Valenciennes, 269, 270, 271, 272

Vandhuile, 66, 149, 150, 151, 163, 164, 171, 172, 219

Vaulx-Vraucourt, 110, 112, 113, 126

Vaux Andigny, 179, 181

Vaux Wood, 52

Vendegies, 237, 240, 252, 268

Venizelos, M., 22

Vesle River, 21

Vickery, Colonel, 117

Vieux Berquin, 282

Villers-Bretonneux, 29, 169

Villers-Cotterets, 3, 4

Villers-Guislain, 208

Villera-Outreaux, 175, 176

Villers St. Ghislain, 275

Vincent, General, 33

Vitry, 277, 278

Walsh, Colonel, 97

Walthall, General, 21

Wambaix, 221, 225

Wargnies, 243, 254

Warlencourt, 89, 124

Watson, General, 28

Watts, General Sir H., 283, 284, 288

Weeks, Captain, 20

Wemyss, Admiral Sir Rosslyn, 301

Whigham, General, 98, 212

Wiancourt, 165, 167

Wilkinson, Private, V.C., 235

Williams, General (37th Division), 83, 121

Williams, General (102nd Brigade), 18

Wilson, President, 279, 300

Wisdom, General, 167

Wood, General, 67, 192, 193

Woodcock, General, 18

Wytschaete, 285

Young, Lieutenant, V.C., 128

Ypres, 281, 283

Zandvoorde, 284, 285

Zonnebeke, 284

THE END

_Printed in Great Britain by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_.