WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIAGRAMS
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1918
Copyright, 1918, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
Published October, 1918
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | INTRODUCTORY | [1] |
| II. | TO THE FRONT | [12] |
| III. | UNDERGROUND | [27] |
| IV. | CRATER FIGHTING | [44] |
| V. | TUNNELLING IN THE VIMY RIDGE TRENCHES | [61] |
| VI. | CHALK CAVERNS AND TRENCH MORTARS | [78] |
| VII. | AROUND THE VIMY RIDGE | [97] |
| VIII. | THE SOMME SHOW | [115] |
| IX. | THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE | [127] |
| X. | THE RETREAT OF ARRAS | [142] |
| XI. | THE BATTLE OF ARRAS | [162] |
| XII. | THE HINDENBURG LINE | [176] |
| XIII. | THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR | [199] |
| XIV. | SOME PRINCIPLES OF MINING | [207] |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| Captain Trounce | [Frontispiece] |
| FACING PAGE | |
| Breathing-apparatus necessary in going into "gassy" galleries | [50] |
| Sector near Neuville-St.-Vaast, Vimy Ridge trenches, April 3, 1916 | [64] |
| The same sector, Vimy Ridge trenches, May 16, 1916 | [66] |
| Explosion of a mine | [80] |
| A cellar, protected by sand-bags, in the village of Hebuterne used as a shelter by engineer officers | [130] |
| In a German trench | [156] |
| View from rear of a typical German reinforced concrete machine-gun emplacement. Taken on the Hindenburg line south of Arras | [178] |
| Rough sketch illustrating breastworks and systems of underground galleries | [At end of volume] |
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY
It has been frequently suggested to me that I write of my experiences at the front. As one of the advance-guard of the American army who participated in the great struggle for freedom long before the United States espoused the cause of the Allies, I am more than willing to do this, owing to my strong desire that the public should know something of the constant fighting which is going on underneath as well as on the surface and above the ground of the trenches both in France and elsewhere, especially if, by so doing, I can help the people at large more fully to appreciate the importance of the work and the unflinching devotion of that branch of the army which but seldom finds itself singled out for the bestowal of special honors or for the expression of public approbation.