and these lines describe better than any other how men felt
in that great moment。
It was in April； 1915。 The enemy was in the full cry of victory。
All that remained for him was to occupy Paris； as once he did before；
and to seize the Channel ports。 Then France； England； and the world
were doomed。 All winter the German had spent in repairing his plans；
which had gone somewhat awry on the Marne。 He had devised his final stroke；
and it fell upon the Canadians at Ypres。 This battle；
known as the second battle of Ypres； culminated on April 22nd；
but it really extended over the whole month。
The inner history of war is written from the recorded impressions of men
who have endured it。 John McCrae in a series of letters to his mother；
cast in the form of a diary； has set down in words the impressions
which this event of the war made upon a peculiarly sensitive mind。
The account is here transcribed without any attempt at 〃amplification〃；
or 〃clarifying〃 by notes upon incidents or references to places。
These are only too well known。
Friday； April 23rd； 1915。
As we moved up last evening； there was heavy firing about 4。30 on our left；
the hour at which the general attack with gas was made
when the French line broke。 We could see the shells bursting over Ypres；
and in a small village to our left； meeting General ； C。R。A。；
of one of the divisions； he ordered us to halt for orders。
We sent forward notifications to our Headquarters； and sent out orderlies
to get in touch with the batteries of the farther forward brigades
already in action。 The story of these guns will be read elsewhere。
They had a tough time； but got away safely； and did wonderful service。
One battery fired in two opposite directions at once；
and both batteries fired at point blank； open sights； at Germans in the open。
They were at times quite without infantry on their front；
for their position was behind the French to the left of the British line。
As we sat on the road we began to see the French stragglers
men without arms； wounded men； teams； wagons； civilians； refugees
some by the roads； some across country； all talking； shouting
the very picture of debacle。 I must say they were the 〃tag enders〃
of a fighting line rather than the line itself。 They streamed on；
and shouted to us scraps of not too inspiriting information
while we stood and took our medicine； and picked out gun positions
in the fields in case we had to go in there and then。 The men were splendid；
not a word； not a shake； and it was a terrific test。 Traffic whizzed by
ambulances； transport； ammunition； supplies； despatch riders
and the shells thundered into the town； or burst high in the air nearer us；
and the refugees streamed。 Women； old men； little children；
hopeless； tearful； quiet or excited； tired； dodging the traffic；
and the wounded in singles or in groups。 Here and there I could give
a momentary help； and the ambulances picked up as they could。
So the cold moonlight night wore on no change save that
the towers of Ypres showed up against the glare of the city burning；
and the shells still sailed in。
At 9。30 our ammunition column （the part that had been 〃in〃） appeared。
Major had waited； like Casabianca； for orders until the Germans were
500 yards away； then he started； getting safely away save for one wagon lost；
and some casualties in men and horses。 He found our column；
and we prepared to send forward ammunition as soon as we could learn
where the batteries had taken up position in retiring； for retire they had to。
Eleven； twelve； and finally grey day broke； and we still waited。
At 3。45 word came to go in and support a French counterattack at 4。30 A。M。
Hastily we got the order spread； it was 4 A。M。 and three miles to go。
Of one's feelings all this night of the asphyxiated French soldiers
of the women and children of the cheery； steady British reinforcements
that moved up quietly past us； going up； not back I could write；
but you can imagine。
We took the road at once； and went up at the gallop。 The Colonel rode ahead
to scout a position （we had only four guns； part of the ammunition column；
and the brigade staff； the 1st and 4th batteries were back in reserve
at our last billet）。 Along the roads we went； and made our place on time；
pulled up for ten minutes just short of the position； where I put Bonfire
＇his horse＇ with my groom in a farmyard； and went forward on foot
only a quarter of a mile or so then we advanced。 Bonfire had soon to move；
a shell killed a horse about four yards away from him； and he wisely took
other ground。 Meantime we went on into the position we were to occupy
for seventeen days； though we could not guess that。 I can hardly say more
than that it was near the Yser Canal。
We got into action at once； under heavy gunfire。 We were
to the left entirely of the British line； and behind French troops；
and so we remained for eight days。 A Colonel of the R。A。； known to fame；
joined us and camped with us； he was our link with the French Headquarters；
and was in local command of the guns in this locality。 When he left us
eight days later he said； 〃I am glad to get out of this hell…hole。〃
He was a great comfort to us； for he is very capable； and the entire battle
was largely fought 〃on our own〃； following the requests of the Infantry
on our front； and scarcely guided by our own staff at all。
We at once set out to register our targets； and almost at once
had to get into steady firing on quite a large sector of front。
We dug in the guns as quickly as we could； and took as Headquarters
some infantry trenches already sunk on a ridge near the canal。
We were subject from the first to a steady and accurate shelling；
for we were all but in sight； as were the German trenches
about 2000 yards to our front。 At times the fire would come in salvos
quickly repeated。 Bursts of fire would be made for ten or fifteen minutes
at a time。 We got all varieties of projectile； from 3 inch to 8 inch；
or perhaps 10 inch； the small ones usually as air bursts；
the larger percussion and air； and the heaviest percussion only。
My work began almost from the start steady but never overwhelming；
except perhaps once for a few minutes。 A little cottage behind our ridge
served as a cook…house； but was so heavily hit the second day
that we had to be chary of it。 During bursts of fire I usually took
the back slope of the sharply crested ridge for what shelter it offered。
At 3 our 1st and 4th arrived； and went into action at once
a few hundred yards in our rear。 Wires were at once put out；
to be cut by shells hundreds and hundreds of times； but always repaired
by our indefatigable linemen。 So the day wore on； in the night the shelling
still kept up： three different German attacks were made and repulsed。
If we suffered by being close up； the Germans suffered from us；
for already tales of good shooting came down to us。 I got some sleep
despite the constant firing； for we had none last night。
Saturday； April 24th； 1915。
Behold us now anything less than two miles north of Ypres
on the west side of the canal； this runs north； each bank flanked
with high elms； with bare trunks of the familiar Netherlands type。
A few yards to the West a main road runs； likewise bordered；
the Censor will allow me to say that on the high bank between these
we had our headquarters； the ridge is perhaps fifteen to twenty feet high；
and slopes forward fifty yards to the water； the back is more steep；
and slopes quickly to a little subsidiary water way； deep but dirty。
Where the guns were I shall not say； but they were not far；
and the German aeroplanes that viewed us daily with all but impunity
knew very well。 A road crossed over the canal； and interrupted the ridge；
across the road from us was our billet the place we cooked in； at least；
and where we usually took our meals。 Looking to the south between the trees；
we could see the ruins of the city： to the front on the sky line；
with rolling ground in the front； pitted by French trenches； the German lines；
to the left front； several farms and a windmill； and farther left；
again near the canal； thicker trees and more farms。 The farms and windmills
were soon burnt。 Several farms we used for observing posts were also
quickly burnt during the next three or four days。 All along behind us
at varying distances French and British guns； the flashes at night
lit up the sky。
These high trees were at once a protection and a danger。
Shells that struck them were usually destructive。 When we came in
the foliage was still very thin。 Along the road； which was constantly shelled
〃on spec〃 by the Germans； one saw all the sights of war：
wounded men limping or carried； ambulances； trains of supply； troops；
army mules； and tragedies。 I saw one bicycle orderly： a shell exploded
and he seemed to pedal on for eight or ten revolutions and then collapsed
in a heap dead。 Straggling soldiers would be killed or wounded；
horses also； until it got to be a nightmare。 I used to shudder every time
I saw wagons or troops on that road。 My dugout looked o