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Файл:The Great War. Part III
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THE GREAT WAR
comrades so stretched out that they were covering a front of 5000
yards. The left American sector then remained stationary, but the
118th Regiment swept forward and took at the point of the bayonet the villages of Vaux Andigny and La Haie Manneresse, making
an advance of 1000 yards. That night the Twenty-seventh Division
came forward and relieved the Thirtieth. We shall now return and
follow the movements of the Ninth Corps on the right during these
fi ve days of battle.
This Corps had joined vigorously in the attack on October 8, advancing with the 71st Brigade of the Sixth Division on the left, the
16th Brigade in the centre, and the 139th Sherwood Foresters Brigade on the right, the function of the latter being to keep in touch
with the French. The line sped forward without a check for 2000
yards, a squadron of whippets leading them gallantly on. The 16th
Brigade had the hardest task, but they forced their way eastwards,
and by midday Mannequin and Doon Hills with Beauregard Farm
were all within the British lines. The cavalry tried to get through,
but the machine-guns were still their masters, and it could only
have been done at the cost of unjustifi able losses. Cerise Wood was
a serious obstacle, but the resistance there suddenly collapsed before the stern insistence of the 16th Brigade, and 190 prisoners gave
themselves up. Mericourt also was taken. Out of Mannequin Wood
200 more Germans were extracted. Altogether it was a very successful day, as 4 guns, 35 machine-guns, and 1200 prisoners remained
with the victors. The Corps line on the left was well forward on its
objectives, though on the right the advance had not been as far as
was expected.
In order to strengthen the right the Forty-sixth Division was put
in between the Sixth Division on the left and the French. With this
greater weight of attack things went very much better on October 9.
The new-comers captured Fresnoy-le-Grand, while the Sixth Divi-
451
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
sion took J onnecourt Farm which had been a lion in the path upon
the previous day. A railway lay across the front and the Germans
tried to build up a fresh line upon it, but in the afternoon they had
lost their grip. The usual organised retreat of the Germans showed
signs now of hurry and demoralisation. Late in the evening the Sixth
Division occupied Bohain, which was found to contain several thousands of civilians, many of whom had not touched food for three
days, but who forgot their hunger in the joys of liberty.
The next day, October 10, the whole Corps front was moving
forward, but resistance thickened as it advanced, and fi nally in the
evening they appeared to be once more faced by an organised line
of battle. The Sixth Division was now in touch with the Thirtieth
Americans at Vaux Andigny. On October 11 a fresh German division, the Fifth Reserve, had come into line, and it was very diffi cult
to get forward in face of their fi re. The casualties were low, however, and indeed it may be remarked that the greater tactical skill
acquired by years of practice showed itself now, not merely by the
defeat of the enemy but also by the cheapness of the cost. The iron
front of the tank took many a bullet which in earlier days would
have found the breast of the stormer, for brain work in England had
come to the aid of valour in France. Up to now, in all these momentous operations from the 18th of September, the total casualties of
the Ninth Corps had only been 6000, less than those of many a futile trench attack in the early years. On the other hand their prisoners were 12,000, a most remarkable record.
VII.
THE OPERATIONS
OF RAWLINSON’S
FOURTH ARMY
From the Battle of the Selle, October 17, to the end
Attack upon the line of the Selle River – Stubborn work by the
Second American Corps – Success of the Ninth Corps – Hard fi ghting at Le Cateau – Great feat of the South Africans – Continued
advance – Delay-action mines – Capture of Landrecies – Dramatic
exit of the German machine-gunner – Splendid work of the First
Division.
THERE was a pause now on the front of the Fourth Army, and
a period for preparation and reorganisation which was badly needed after the rapid and unremitting advance. The Selle River in front
of the American section of the line had been carefully reconnoitred
and was found to be fordable except for occasional deep holes. The
position opposite to this Corps was very diffi cult, the enemy holding
the east bank strongly, with outposts near St. Souplet in the north
and Molain in the south. Across the stream and parallel with it was
the railway, which had an embankment rising in places as high as
thirty feet. Behind the railway was rising ground.
The Americans attacked with both their divisions in the line, the
Thirtieth being on the right. The 301st American Tank Battalion
led them on. The attack was on a three-brigade front, the Twenty-
453
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
seventh Division having both its units in the fi ghting line. It should
be explained that an American division has only two brigades as
against the three in the British system, but that each brigade is very
much stronger, consisting nominally of 6000 bayonets. These particular brigades, however, were already very worn, and a great strain
was thrown upon them by the failure of the reinforcing organisation which, for some reason, had been unable to make good the very
serious casualties already incurred.
The battle began at 5.20 in the morning of October 17. The left
of the American line had its jumping-off place in the partially destroyed village of St. Souplet, and it was no easy matter to get forward
from the beginning. None the less the whole line fought its way
across the stream and up to the high railway embankment beyond.
This, as in the area of the Thirteenth Corps, proved to be a very formidable obstacle, the more so as the fog made cohesion of attack
and accurate observation equally impossible. Bandoval Farm on the
left of the line poured out a destructive volume of machine-gun fi re,
but it was eventually rushed by the American Infantry. The right of
the Twenty-seventh Division got the village of Arbre Guernon. The
diffi culties of this unit were greatly increased by the fact that their
tanks could not ford the stream, and though it had been arranged
that they should join them from the south, where there was a crossing, only two did eventually arrive, both of which were destroyed by
shell-fi re. In spite of everything, however, the Twenty-seventh Division fought their way forward to the Le Cateau – Arbre Guernon
Road, where they fi nally halted, as both of their fl anks were, for the
moment, in the air.
The Thirtieth American Division had encountered a fi erce resistance from the start at the villages of Molain and St. Martin, so
that they were held up in crossing the river. After taking these villages they were faced by heavy fi re from the ridge across the river.
454
THE GREAT WAR
They formed a defensive fl ank, however, up to the point which their
comrades had reached on the left. The total achievement of the Second American Corps was a fi ne one, for their prisoners amounted
to nearly 1500 men, while their front had been advanced for 4000
yards.
Next morning, October 18, the attack was renewed by General
Read, the Thirtieth Division bringing up the 60th Brigade which
had been in reserve on the day before. In front of it was a line of
well-fortifi ed villages, two of which, Ribeauville and Ecaillon, were
captured before evening, while a third, Mazinghien, was ringed
round and American patrols were in the streets. This success represented a further advance of 1500 yards. The last-named village
was completely cleared by the bayonet on the morning of October
19 and the advance was carried on for a further distance of 3000
yards. The objective of this day’s attack was the high ground overlooking the Canal, and by night the west slope of this ridge had
been reached all along the divisional front.
The Twenty-seventh Division had advanced on the left and had
taken Jonquière Farm, pushing its patrols across the St. Maurice
River and up to the ridge beyond, behind which lay Le Catillon.
A pause was now ordered while fresh dispositions were made all
along the British front, and during this pause the two American divisions, which had fought a succession of severe actions ever since
September 27, were drawn out. Their losses had been very heavy,
and as already stated no replacements had been received. In their
term of service the Second American Corps had taken 81 German
guns, 6000 prisoners, and a large amount of material, while their
own casualties amounted to the very honourable total of 364 offi cers and 12,826 men. They left the line with the deep respect and
affection of their British comrades, who well appreciated the dif-
455
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
fi culties which newcomers, however brave, must meet with in work
which calls for so terrible an apprenticeship.
We will now return to the operations of the Ninth Corps, on the
right fl ank of the Americans, from October 17 onwards. The action
was started with the Forty-sixth Division on the right and the Sixth
on the left, while the First Division was in close support, ready to
come through when needed. A great forest lay on their front and the
general idea was that the Ninth Corps should encircle this from the
north and join beyond the wood with the Fifteenth French Corps,
General Braithwaite coming forward with his headquarters to the
immediate rear of the battle so as to keep control of what would be
a delicate and diffi cult operation. One battalion of the 139th Brigade, attacking on the right of the British line, lost its direction in
the fog and got into so false a position that upon the fog suddenly
lifting it was exposed to very heavy loss from the German machineguns. The splendid Sherwood Foresters have seldom had a more severe ordeal. The left of the battalion swung round, however, and
changed direction, with the result that the situation was restored.
Without any loss of spirit the brigade rushed on and captured Regnicourt, driving back a heavy counter-attack which rolled in from
the east about 11.30. The other three brigades in the line, which
were, counting from the right, the 138th, 18th, and 16th, all made
good progress, though in the fog they left several lively machineguns in their rear. Each captured all the objectives in front, including the wood of St. Pierre.
The First Division was now coming up behind the Sixth with the
intention of passing through them, but they ran into very heavy fi re
before they had reached their allotted positions. Both the 1st and 2nd
Brigades had to advance for 2000 yards under the constant thrashing of the machine-guns, in spite of which these veteran battalions
maintained their cohesion and direction, arriving at their starting-
456
THE GREAT WAR
point in the battle line at the time arranged. Passing through the
Sixth Division they continued the advance, with the 1st Brigade on
the right and the 2nd in touch with the Americans on the left. The
village of La Vallée Mulatre was very sternly defended, but nothing
could stop the fi re of the attack, and by 2.30 it had been entirely occupied. The Forty-sixth Division on the right had fought their way
through the woody country, and had fi nally completed the whole
scheme by joining hands with the French at the outskirts of the great
Forêt Domanial just north-west of Mennevret. It was a good day for
the Ninth Corps, and the prisoners amounted to 150 offi cers and
1500 men, a proportion of offi cers which suggests that the demoralisation of the German Army had not stopped at the ranks. Among the
prisoners were samples from 6 divisions, 13 regiments, and 31 battalions, indicating the urgency with which reinforcements had been
hurried up to prevent a complete fracture of the line.
In the early morning of October 18 the Forty-sixth Division in
co-operation with the French captured Mennevret and Le Repas.
On the same morning the 3rd Brigade advanced in co-operation
with the Americans on the left and pushed the line forward as far
as Ribeauville. The French had come on well in the south and were
now in touch with the 1st Brigade, while the Forty-sixth and Sixth
Divisions were drawn out of the line. By evening on October 19 the
First Division had made its way forward and was lining the western
bank of the Canal. The Sixth Division now came in again on the left,
and got touch with the Thirteenth Corps, thus covering the gap left
by the withdrawal of the Americans.
Returning to the Thirteenth Corps, who were on the left of
the Fourth Army at the battle of the Selle River on October 17, the
weary Twenty-fi fth Division had been drawn into reserve, while the
Fiftieth, their heavy losses made good by reinforcements, were put
into the right of the line once more, while the Sixty-sixth carried
457
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
on to the left. The river was at once reconnoitred and found to be
a serious impediment, especially in the immediate neighbourhood
of Le Cateau, where it had been dammed and deepened, while it
was commanded by high ground in the east and also by numerous strongly-built houses in the town. Arrangements were made,
therefore, that the main attack should be lower down where the
facilities were greater. The Fiftieth Division held this right sector,
with St. Souplet as its southern limit for the 151st Brigade, while the
149th was near St. Benin. The Sixty-sixth covered the ground up to
Le Cateau, the South African Brigade under General Tanner being
north of the town. The South Africans with great skill and daring arranged their assembly within fi fty yards of the German outposts on
the other side of the stream, at a point where they were absolutely
commanded by the German guns in case of discovery. There they
lay in silence until, at the fi rst twinkle of dawn, they sprang to their
feet and rushed forward to the eight bridges which the sappers with
their usual splendid effi ciency had prepared for them during the
night. So well had the bridge-makers worked, that in the region of
the main attack they had actually been able to throw across bridges
which would carry forward the ten tanks allotted for the assault.
The fog was so dense and the communications so precarious that
the offi cers in charge of the operations had the nerve-trying experience of seeing their whole force vanish into the gloom and knowing
nothing of what had become of them, save that the deafening roar
of guns told of a deadly struggle. Soon there came news of disasters
to the tanks. Three drove into a morass and were embedded there.
Two developed engine trouble and collapsed. One never got across.
The others lost their place in the fog and all hope of useful co-operation with the infantry was at an end. Then came belated news of
the storm troops. The leading battalions of the Fiftieth Division had
got across in safety but had been swallowed up in the fog, shroud-
458
THE GREAT WAR
ing several German posts containing machine-guns, which opened
on the supports after the front fi les had passed them. On the left
the formidable obstacle of the station with its heavy loop-holed outbuildings held up the fl ank battalion of the 151st Brigade, and the
whole advance was stopped and greatly disorganised at this point.
The railway was a strong line of German resistance, and especially
a wooded mound on its eastern side, which bristled with guns. The
attack being held, the reserve of the Fiftieth Division, the 150th Brigade, was thrown into the fi ght which in the early afternoon was
still in a condition of equilibrium.
In the meanwhile a great deed of arms had been wrought in the
northern part of the line. Tanner’s South African Brigade, having
reached the eastern bank of the river, had penetrated the German
wire and stormed through the fog up the hill on the north of the
town. The second wave was held by the concentrated fi re, and the
fi rst wave was so utterly lost that the patrols could fi nd no trace of
where it had got to. Just as all hope had been given up, and it had
been arranged to restart the barrage, a brave runner got through
with the news that the leading South Africans were right through
the town and engaged in a desperate hand-to-hand fi ght in the deep
cutting on the farther side. In order to reach this place they had
been compelled to force their way through another broad apron
of untouched wire, a most remarkable achievement. Gradually the
very strenuous German resistance was overcome, small bodies of
South Africans dribbling up in support of their comrades. By noon
this part of the German line had fallen, with a corresponding weakening along the rest of their front, for the bravest man is less brave
when he begins to think that the day is already lost and that his selfsacrifi ce is manifestly vain.
With a view to helping the Fiftieth Division the 198th Brigade
of the Sixty-sixth was now ordered to cross the river to the south of
459
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
the town, and to strike in on the left of the long-drawn struggle at
the station, where the assailants were now so mixed up that the two
brigades were telescoped into one and all battalion order had been
lost. A strong counter-attack had developed about 3 o’clock on the
right of the line, where the British and American Corps joined, and
this had some success, though the 4th King’s Royal Rifl es held on
desperately to their ground. It was necessary to send in the 150th
Brigade to steady the line. The 7th Wiltshires and the Munster Fusiliers were the reinforcing battalions and by their aid the position
was once more restored. It was a dangerous crisis, for with the river
in the rear any sort of retreat would have been disastrous.
There was now a concentrated bombardment of the obdurate
station, and this seems to have broken down fi nally the spirit of the
brave defenders. Shortly after dusk patrols forced their way into the
buildings, and by 8 P.M. the whole place was in British hands, and
Le Cateau, save for the extreme eastern outskirt, was cleared of the
enemy. It had been a very desperate battle, the laurels of which rest
with the South African Brigade, who had carried out so remarkable
an assault, and also with the Fiftieth Division which had held on
with such a bulldog grip to its purpose.
The day’s work had not been quite completed, as the neighbouring village of Bazuel had not been captured, and this was undertaken on October 18 by the Fiftieth Division, strengthened by the
inclusion of the 75th Brigade. This operation was carried out with
perfect success. There was considerable opposition from scattered
machine-gun posts, but before noon Bazuel and the whole ridge to
the east of Le Cateau had been secured, while the Sixty-sixth Division had cleared up the suburbs of the town. Thus the whole capture and command of the Selle River had been triumphantly accomplished. To get a complete view of the battle these operations
are to be read in connection with the fi ghting of the Third Army, as
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