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+Project Gutenberg's How I Filmed the War, by Lieut. Geoffrey H. Malins
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: How I Filmed the War
+       A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who
+       Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.
+
+Author: Lieut. Geoffrey H. Malins
+
+Editor: Low Warren
+
+Release Date: October 19, 2009 [EBook #30285]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW I FILMED THE WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  +------------------------------------------------------------+
+  | Transcriber's Note                                         |
+  |                                                            |
+  | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in        |
+  | this text. For a complete list, please see the bottom of   |
+  | this document.                                             |
+  +------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+HOW I FILMED THE WAR
+
+     _When I was in France I made arrangements with my friend Mr.
+     Low Warren, at that time Editor of the_ Kinematograph
+     Weekly, _to arrange the manuscript I sent him for
+     publication in book form._
+
+     _The manuscript has in no way been altered in any material
+     respect, and is in the form in which I originally wrote it._
+
+     _GEOFFREY H. MALINS._
+
+[Illustration: FILMING THE PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT OF THE BIG PUSH, JULY
+1ST, 1916. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN A SHELL BURST
+WITHIN SIX YARDS, SMASHING DOWN THE TRENCH WALLS AND HALF BURYING ME.
+NOTE THE SANDBAG ON A WIRE IN FRONT OF MY CAMERA FOR "CAMOUFLAGE"]
+
+
+
+
+HOW I FILMED
+
+THE WAR
+
+A RECORD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
+EXPERIENCES OF THE MAN WHO
+FILMED THE GREAT SOMME BATTLES
+ETC.
+
+BY
+
+LIEUT. GEOFFREY H. MALINS, O.B.E.
+
+EDITED BY
+
+LOW WARREN
+
+HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED
+YORK STREET, ST. JAMES'S
+LONDON, S.W. 1 MCMXX
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+PART I
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WITH THE BELGIANS AT RAMSCAPELLE
+
+                                                              PAGE
+
+I Reach the First Line Belgian Trenches--And become a Belgian
+    Soldier for the Time Being--A Night Attack--An Adventure
+    whilst Filming a Mitrailleuse Outpost--Among the Ruins of
+    Ramscapelle--I Leave the Company and Lose my Way in the
+    Darkness--A Welcome Light and a Long Sleep--How Little
+    does the Public know of the Dangers and Difficulties a
+    Film Operator has to Face                                    6
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+WITH THE GOUMIERS AT LOMBARTZYDE
+
+A Morning of Surprises--The German Positions Bombarded from
+    the Sea--Filming the Goumiers in Action--How these
+    Tenacious Fighters Prepare for Battle--Goumier Habits and
+    Customs--I Take the Chief's Photograph for the First
+    Time--And Afterwards take Food with Him--An Interesting
+    and Fruitful Adventure Ends Satisfactorily                  15
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE BATTLE OF THE SAND-DUNES
+
+A Dangerous Adventure and What Came of It--A Race Across
+    the Sand-dunes--And a Spill in a Shell-hole--The Fate of
+    a Spy--A Battle in the Dunes--Of which I Secured Some
+    Fine Films--A Collision with an Obstructive Mule            22
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+UNDER HEAVY SHELL-FIRE
+
+In a Trench Coat and Cap I again Run the Gauntlet--A Near
+    Squeak--Looking for Trouble--I Nearly Find It--A Rough
+    Ride and a Mud Bath--An Affair of Outposts--I Get Used to
+    Crawling--Hot Work at the Guns--I am Reported Dead--But
+    Prove Very Much Alive--And then Receive a Shock--A Stern
+    Chase                                                       30
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+AMONG THE SNOWS OF THE VOSGES
+
+I Start for the Vosges--Am Arrested on the Swiss Frontier--And
+    Released--But Arrested Again--And then Allowed to Go My
+    Way--Filming in the Firing Zone--A Wonderful French
+    Charge Over the Snow-clad Hills--I Take Big Risks--And
+    Get a Magnificent Picture                                   40
+
+
+PART II
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HOW I CAME TO MAKE OFFICIAL WAR PICTURES
+
+I am Appointed an Official War Office Kinematographer--And Start
+    for the Front Line Trenches--Filming the German Guns in
+    Action--With the Canadians--Picturesque Hut Settlement
+    Among the Poplars--"Hyde Park Corner"--Shaving by
+    Candlelight in Six Inches of Water--Filming in Full View
+    of the German Lines, 75 yards away--A Big Risk, but a
+    Realistic Picture                                           51
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE FRONT
+
+Leave-taking at Charing Cross--A Fruitless Search for Food on
+    Christmas Eve--How Tommy Welcomed the Coming of the
+    Festive Season--"Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men" to the
+    Boom of the Big Guns--Filming the Guards' Division--And
+    the Prince of Wales--Coming from a Christmas
+    Service--This Year and Next                                 61
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+I GET INTO A WARM CORNER
+
+Boxing Day--But No Pantomime--Life in the Trenches--A Sniper
+    at Work--Sinking a Mine Shaft--The Cheery Influence of an
+    Irish Padre--A Cemetery Behind the Lines--Pathetic
+    Inscriptions and Mementoes on Dead Heroes' Graves--I Get
+    Into a Pretty Warm Corner--And Have Some Difficulty in
+    Getting Out Again--But All's Well that Ends Well            65
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE BATTLEFIELD OF NEUVE CHAPELLE
+
+A Visit to the Old German Trenches--Reveals a Scene of Horror
+    that Defies Description--Dodging the Shells--I Lose the
+    Handle of My Camera--And then Lose My Man--The Effect of
+    Shell-fire on a Novice--In the Village of Neuve
+    Chapelle--A Scene of Devastation--The Figure of the
+    Lonely Christ                                                72
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+FILMING THE PRINCE OF WALES
+
+How I Made a "Hide-up"--And Secured a Fine Picture of the Prince
+    Inspecting some Gun-pits--His Anxiety to Avoid the
+    Camera--And His Subsequent Remarks--How a German
+    Block-house was Blown to Smithereens--And the Way I
+    Managed to Film it Under Fire                               76
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MY FIRST VISIT TO YPRES AND ARRAS
+
+Greeted on Arrival in the Ruined City of Ypres by a Furious
+    Fusillade--I Film the Cloth Hall and Cathedral,
+    and Have a Narrow Escape--A Once Beautiful Town Now
+    Little More Than a Heap of Ruins--Arras a City of the
+    Dead--Its Cathedral Destroyed--But Cross and Crucifixes
+    Unharmed                                                    80
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE BATTLE OF ST. ELOI
+
+Filming Within Forty-five Yards of the German Trenches--Watching
+    for "Minnies"--Officers' Quarters--"Something" Begins to
+    Happen--An Early Morning Bombardment--Develops Into the
+    Battle of St. Eloi--Which I Film from Our First-Line
+    Trench--And Obtain a Fine Picture                           85
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A NIGHT ATTACK--AND A NARROW ESCAPE
+
+A Very Lively Experience--Choosing a Position for the Camera
+    Under Fire--I Get a Taste of Gas--Witness a Night Attack
+    by the Germans--Surprise an Officer by My Appearance in
+    the Trenches--And Have One of the Narrowest Escapes--But
+    Fortunately Get Out with Nothing Worse than a Couple of
+    Bullets Through My Cap                                      93
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+FOURTEEN THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GERMAN LINES
+
+The First Kinematograph Film Taken of the Western Front--And
+    How I Took It Whilst Travelling Through the Air at Eighty
+    Miles an Hour--Under Shell-fire--Over Ypres--A Thrilling
+    Experience--And a Narrow Escape--A Five Thousand Foot
+    Dive Through Space                                         107
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FILMING THE EARTH FROM THE CLOUDS
+
+Chasing an "Enemy" Aeroplane at a Height of 13,500 Feet--And
+    What Came of It--A Dramatic Adventure in which the Pilot
+    Played a Big Part--I Get a Nasty Shock--But am
+    Reassured--A Freezing Experience--Filming the Earth as we
+    Dived Almost Perpendicularly--A Picture that would Defy
+    the Most Ardent Futurist to Paint                          116
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+PREPARING FOR THE "BIG PUSH"
+
+The Threshold of Tremendous Happenings--General ----'s Speech
+    to His Men on the Eve of Battle--Choosing My Position for
+    Filming the "Big Push"--Under Shell-fire--A Race of
+    Shrieking Devils--Fritz's Way of "Making Love"--I Visit
+    the "White City"--And On the Way have Another Experience
+    of Gas Shells                                              121
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+FILMING UNDER FIRE
+
+The General's Speech to the Fusiliers Before Going Into
+    Action--Filming the 15-inch Howitzers--A Miniature
+    Earthquake--"The Day" is Postponed--Keeping Within "The
+    Limits"--A Surprise Meeting in the Trenches--A Reminder
+    of Other Days--I Get Into a Tight Corner--And Have An
+    Unpleasantly Hot Experience--I Interview a Trench
+    Mortar--Have a Lively Quarter of an Hour--And Then Get
+    Off                                                        135
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE DAWN OF JULY FIRST
+
+A Firework Display Heralds the Arrival of "The Day"--How the
+    Boys Spent Their Last Few Hours in the Trenches--Rats as
+    Bedfellows--I Make an Early Start--And Get Through a
+    Mine-shaft into "No Man's Land"--The Great Event Draws
+    Near--Anxious Moments--The Men Fix Bayonets--And Wait the
+    Word of Command to "Go Over the Top"                       151
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE DAY AND THE HOUR
+
+A Mighty Convulsion Signalises the Commencement of
+    Operations--Then Our Boys "Go Over the Top"--A Fine Film
+    Obtained whilst Shells Rained Around Me--My Apparatus is
+    Struck--But, Thank Goodness, the Camera is Safe--Arrival
+    of the Wounded--"Am I in the Picture?" they ask            162
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+ROLL-CALL AFTER THE FIGHT
+
+A Glorious Band of Wounded Heroes Stagger Into Line and
+    Answer the Call--I Visit a Stricken Friend in a
+    Dug-out--On the Way to La Boisselle I Get Lost in the
+    Trenches--And Whilst Filming Unexpectedly Come Upon the
+    German Line--I Have a Narrow Squeak of Being Crumped--But
+    Get Away Safely--And later Commandeer a Couple of German
+    Prisoners to Act as Porters                                169
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+EDITING A BATTLE FILM
+
+The Process Described in Detail--Developing the Negative--Its
+    Projection on the Screen--Cutting--Titling--Joining--Printing
+    the Positive--Building Up the Story--It is Submitted to the
+    Military Censors at General Headquarters--And After Being Cut
+    and Approved by Them--Is Ready for Public Exhibition       178
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE HORRORS OF TRONES WOOD
+
+Three Times I Try and Fail to Reach this Stronghold of
+    the Dead--Which Has Been Described as "Hell on Earth"--At
+    a Dressing Station under Fire--Smoking Two Cigarettes at
+    a Time to Keep off the Flies--Some Amusing Trench
+    Conversations by Men who had Lost Their Way--I Turn in
+    for the Night--And Have a Dead Bosche for Company          183
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+FILMING AT POZIERES AND CONTALMAISON
+
+Looking for "Thrills"--And How I Got Them--I Pass Through
+    "Sausage Valley," on the Way to Pozieres--You _May_ and
+    you _Might_--What a Tommy Found in a German Dug-out--How
+    Fritz Got "Some of His Own" Back--Taking Pictures in What
+    Was Once Pozieres--"Proofs Ready To-morrow"                196
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT WITH THE KING
+
+His Majesty's Arrival at Boulogne--At G.H.Q.--General Burstall's
+    Appreciation--The King on the Battlefield of
+    Fricourt--Within Range of the Enemy's Guns--His Majesty's
+    Joke Outside a German Dug-out--His Memento from a Hero's
+    Grave--His Visit to a Casualty Clearing Station--The King
+    and the Puppy--Once in Disgrace--Now a Hospital Mascot     205
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+KING AND PRESIDENT MEET
+
+An Historic Gathering--In which King and President, Joffre and
+    Haig Take Part--His Majesty and the Little French Girl--I
+    Am Permitted to Film the King and His Distinguished
+    Guests--A Visit to the King of the Belgians--A
+    Cross-Channel Journey--And Home                            214
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE HUSH! HUSH!--A WEIRD AND FEARFUL CREATURE
+
+Something in the Wind--An Urgent Message to Report at
+    Headquarters--And What Came Of It--I Hear for the First
+    Time of the "Hush! Hush!"--And Try to Discover What It
+    Is--A Wonderful Night Scene--Dawn Breaks and Reveals a
+    Marvellous Monster--What Is It?                            222
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE JUGGERNAUT CAR OF BATTLE
+
+A Weird-looking Object Makes Its First Appearance Upon the
+    Battlefield--And Surprises Us Almost as Much as It
+    Surprised Fritz--A Death-dealing Monster that Did the
+    Most Marvellous Things--And Left the Ground Strewn with
+    Corpses--Realism of the Tank Pictures                      230
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+WHERE THE VILLAGE OF GUILLEMONT WAS
+
+An Awful Specimen of War Devastation--Preparing for an
+    Advance--Giving  the Bosche "Jumps"--Breakfast Under
+    Fire--My Camera Fails Me Just Before the Opening of the
+    Attack--But I Manage to Set it Right and Get Some Fine
+    Pictures--Our Guns "Talk!" Like the Crack of a Thousand
+    Thunders--A Wonderful Doctor                               234
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+FIGHTING IN A SEA OF MUD
+
+Inspecting a Tank that was _Hors de Combat_--All that was
+    Left of Mouquet Farm--A German Underground Fortress--A
+    Trip in the Bowels of the Earth--A Weird and Wonderful
+    Experience                                                 245
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE EVE OF GREAT EVENTS
+
+A Choppy Cross-Channel Trip--I Indulge in a Reverie--And
+    Try to Peer Into the Future--At Headquarters
+    Again--Trying to Cross the River Somme on an Improvised
+    Raft--In Peronne After the German Evacuation--A Specimen
+    of Hunnish "Kultur"                                        250
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+AN UNCANNY ADVENTURE
+
+Exploring the Unknown--A Silence That Could be Felt--In
+    the Village of Villers-Carbonel--A Cat and Its Kittens in
+    an Odd Retreat--Brooks' Penchant for "Souvenirs"--The
+    First Troops to Cross the Somme                            259
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE GERMANS IN RETREAT
+
+The Enemy Destroy Everything as They Go--Clearing Away
+    the Debris of the Battlefield--And Repairing the Damage
+    Done by the Huns--An Enormous Mine Crater--A Reception by
+    French Peasants--"Les Anglais! Les Anglais!"--Stuck on
+    the Road to Bovincourt                                     266
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE STORY OF AN "ARMOURED CAR" ABOUT WHICH
+I COULD A TALE UNFOLD
+
+Possibilities--Food for Famished Villagers--Meeting the
+    Mayoress of Bovincourt--Who Presides at a Wonderful
+    Impromptu Ceremony--A Scrap Outside Vraignes--A Church
+    Full of Refugees--A True Pal--A Meal with the Mayor of
+    Bierne                                                     275
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+BEFORE ST. QUENTIN
+
+The "Hindenburg" Line--A Diabolical Piece of
+    Vandalism--Brigadier H.Q. in a Cellar--A Fight in
+    Mid-air--Waiting for the Taking of St.
+    Quentin--_L'Envoi_                                   292
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+FILMING THE PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT OF THE "BIG PUSH,"
+    JULY 1ST, 1916                                  _Frontispiece_
+
+                                                      TO FACE PAGE
+
+WITH A GROUP OF BELGIAN OFFICERS AT FURNES, BELGIUM, 1914       12
+
+ON SKIS IN THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS JUST BEFORE THE FRENCH
+    ATTACK, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1915                            12
+
+USING MY AEROSCOPE IN BELGIUM, 1914-15                          22
+
+HOW I CARRIED MY FILM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR IN
+    BELGIUM AND THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS                            40
+
+THE STATE OF THE TRENCHES IN WHICH WE LIVED AND SLEPT (?)
+    FOR WEEKS ON END DURING THE FIRST AND SECOND WINTER
+    OF WAR                                                      52
+
+OUR DUG-OUTS IN THE FRONT LINE AT PICANTIN IN WHICH WE
+    LIVED, FOUGHT, AND MANY DIED DURING 1914-15, BEFORE
+    THE DAYS OF TIN HATS                                        52
+
+CHOOSING A POSITION FOR MY CAMERA IN THE FRONT LINE TRENCH
+    AT PICANTIN. WITH THE GUARDS. WINTER, 1915-16               56
+
+THE PRINCE OF WALES TRYING TO LOCATE MY "CAMOUFLAGED
+    CAMERA"                                                     62
+
+THE PRINCE OF WALES LEAVING A TEMPORARY CHURCH AT LA
+    GORGUE, XMAS DAY, 1915                                      62
+
+ON THE WAY TO THE "MENIN GATE" WITH AN ARTILLERY OFFICER
+    TO FILM OUR GUNS IN ACTION                                  76
+
+TAKING SCENES IN DEVASTATED YPRES, MAY, 1916                    80
+
+IN YPRES, WITH "BABY" BROOKS, THE OFFICIAL STILL
+    PHOTOGRAPHER, MAY, 1916                                     84
+
+WITH MY AEROSCOPE CAMERA AFTER FILMING THE BATTLE OF
+    ST. ELOI                                                    90
+
+IN THE MAIN STREET OF CONTALMAISON THE DAY OF ITS CAPTURE       96
+
+LAUNCHING A SMOKE BARRAGE AT THE BATTLE OF ST. ELOI             96
+
+IN THE TRENCHES AT THE FAMOUS AND DEADLY "HOHENZOLLERN
+    REDOUBT," AFTER A GERMAN ATTACK                            109
+
+IN A SHELL-HOLE IN "NO MAN'S LAND" FILMING OUR HEAVY
+    BOMBARDMENT OF THE GERMAN LINES                            122
+
+GEOFFREY H. MALINS, O.B.E., OFFICIAL KINEMATOGRAPHER
+    TO THE WAR OFFICE                                          132
+
+BOMBARDING THE GERMAN TRENCHES AT THE OPENING BATTLE
+    OF THE GREAT SOMME FIGHT, JULY 1ST, 1916                   138
+
+MY OFFICIAL PASS TO THE FRONT LINE TO FILM THE BATTLE OF
+    THE SOMME, JULY 1ST, 1916                                  138
+
+THE PLAN OF ATTACK AT BEAUMONT HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916           146
+
+OVER THE TOP OF BEAUMONT HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916                 146
+
+IN THE SUNKEN ROAD AT BEAUMONT HAMEL, JUST BEFORE ZERO
+    HOUR, JULY 1ST, 1916                                       154
+
+IN A TRENCH MORTAR TUNNEL, DURING THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME,
+    AT BEAUMONT HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916                          154
+
+THE OPENING OF THE GREAT BATTLE OF THE SOMME, JULY 1ST,
+    1916                                                       162
+
+THE ROLL CALL OF THE SEAFORTHS AT "WHITE CITY," BEAUMONT
+    HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916                                      168
+
+FAGGED OUT IN THE "WHITE CITY" AFTER WE RETIRED TO OUR
+    TRENCHES, JULY 1ST, 1916                                   168
+
+THE GERMANS MAKE A BIG COUNTER ATTACK AT LA BOISSELLE AND
+    OVILLERS, JULY 3RD AND 4TH, 1916                           176
+
+MEN OF SCOTLAND RUSHING A MINE CRATER AT THE DEADLY
+    "HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT"                                     176
+
+FILMING THE KING DURING HIS VISIT TO FRANCE IN 1916. HE IS
+    ACCOMPANIED BY PRESIDENT POINCARE, SIR DOUGLAS HAIG,
+    GENERAL JOFFRE AND GENERAL FOCH                            184
+
+HIS MAJESTY THE KING, WITH PRESIDENT POINCARE, IN FRANCE,
+    1916                                                       206
+
+HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS, TAKING A SNAP OF
+    ME AT WORK WHILE FILMING THE KING                          218
+
+THE PRINCE OF WALES SPEAKING WITH BELGIAN OFFICERS AT LA
+    PANNE, BELGIUM                                             218
+
+THE FIRST "TANK" THAT WENT INTO ACTION, H.M.L.S. "DAPHNE."
+    SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1916                                       222
+
+THE BATTLEFIELD OF "GINCHY"                                    224
+
+RESERVES WATCHING THE ATTACK AT MARTINPUICH, SEPTEMBER
+    15TH, 1916                                                 224
+
+OVER THE TOP AT MARTINPUICH, SEPT. 15TH, 1916                  228
+
+TWO MINUTES TO ZERO HOUR AT MARTINPUICH, SEPT. 15TH, 1916      228
+
+THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE GOING OVER THE TOP AT MARTINPUICH,
+    SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1916                                       234
+
+LORD KITCHENER'S LAST VISIT TO FRANCE                          256
+
+FILMING OUR GUNS IN ACTION DURING THE GREAT GERMAN RETREAT
+    TO ST. QUENTIN, MARCH, 1917                                268
+
+THE QUARRY FROM WHICH I CRAWLED TO FILM THE GERMAN
+    TRENCHES IN FRONT OF ST. QUENTIN, 1917                     290
+
+OUR OUTPOST LINE WITHIN 800 YARDS OF ST. QUENTIN               302
+
+
+
+
+PART I
+
+
+
+
+HOW I FILMED THE WAR
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Fate has not been unkind to me. I have had my chances, particularly
+during the last two or three years, and--well, I have done my best to
+make the most of what has come my way. That and nothing more.
+
+How I came to be entrusted with the important commission of acting as
+Official War Office Kinematographer is an interesting story, and the
+first few chapters of this book recount the sequence of events that led
+up to my being given the appointment.
+
+Let me begin by saying that I am not a writer, I am just a "movie man,"
+as they called me out there. My mind is stored full to overflowing with
+the impressions of all I have seen and heard; recollections of
+adventures crowd upon me thick and fast. Thoughts flash through my mind,
+and almost tumble over one another as I strive to record them. Yet at
+times, when I take pen in hand to write them down, they seem to elude me
+for the moment, and make the task more difficult than I had anticipated.
+
+In the following chapters I have merely aimed at setting down, in simple
+language, a record of my impressions, so far as I can recall them, of
+what I have seen of many and varied phases of the Great Drama which has
+now been played to a finish on the other side of the English Channel.
+Most of those recollections were penned at odd moments, soon after the
+events chronicled, when they were still fresh in mind, often within
+range of the guns.
+
+It was my good fortune for two years to be one of the Official War
+Office Kinematographers. I was privileged to move about on the Western
+Front with considerable freedom. My actions were largely untrammelled; I
+had my instructions to carry out; my superiors to satisfy; my work to
+do; and I endeavoured to do all that has been required of me to the best
+of my ability, never thinking of the cost, or consequences, to myself of
+an adventure so long as I secured a pictorial record of the deeds of our
+heroic Army in France. I have striven to make my pictures worthy of
+being preserved as a permanent memorial of the greatest Drama in
+history.
+
+That is the keynote of this record. As an Official Kinematographer I
+have striven to be, and I have tried all the time to realise that I was
+the eyes of the millions of my fellow-countrymen at home. In my pictures
+I have endeavoured to catch something of the glamour, as well as the
+awful horror of it all. I have caught a picture here, a picture there; a
+scene in this place, a scene in that; and all the time at the back of my
+mind has always been the thought: "That will give them some idea of
+things as they are out here." My pictures have never been taken with the
+idea of merely making pictures, nor with the sole idea, as some people
+think, of merely providing a "thrill." I regarded my task in a different
+light to that. To me has been entrusted the task of securing for the
+enlightenment and education of the people of to-day, and of future
+generations, such a picture as will stir their imaginations and thrill
+their hearts with pride.
+
+This by way of introduction. Now to proceed with my task, the telling
+of the adventures of a kinematograph camera man in war-time.
+
+From my early days I was always interested in photography, and boyish
+experiments eventually led me along the path to my life's vocation. In
+time I took up the study of kinematography, and joined the staff of the
+Clarendon Film Company (of London and Croydon), one of the pioneer firms
+in the industry. There I learned much and made such progress that in
+time I was entrusted with the filming of great productions, which cost
+thousands of pounds to make. From there I went to the Gaumont Company,
+and I was in the service of this great Anglo-French film organisation
+when war broke out.
+
+During the early days of the autumn of 1914 I was busily occupied in
+filming various scenes in connection with the war in different parts of
+the country. One day when I was at the London office of the Company I
+was sent for by the Chief.
+
+"We want a man to go out to Belgium and get some good 'stuff.' [Stuff,
+let me say, is the technical or slang term for film pictures.] How would
+you like to go?"
+
+"Go?" I asked. "I'm ready. When? Now?"
+
+"As soon as you like."
+
+"Right, I'm ready," I said, without a moment's hesitation, little
+thinking of the nature of the adventure upon which I was so eager to
+embark.
+
+And so it came about. Provided with the necessary cash, and an Aeroscope
+camera, I started off next day, and the following chapters record a few
+of my adventures in search of pictorial material for the screen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WITH THE BELGIANS AT RAMSCAPELLE
+
+     I Reach the First Line Belgian Trenches--And become a
+     Belgian Soldier for the Time Being--A Night Attack--An
+     Adventure whilst Filming a Mitrailleuse Outpost--Among the
+     Ruins of Ramscapelle--I Leave the Company and Lose my Way in
+     the Darkness--A Welcome Light and a Long Sleep--How Little
+     does the Public know of the Dangers and Difficulties a Film
+     Operator has to Face.
+
+
+Leaving London, I crossed to France. I arranged, as far as possible, to
+get through from Calais to Furnes, and with the greatest of good luck I
+managed it, arriving at my destination at eleven o'clock at night. As
+usual, it was raining hard.
+
+Starting out next day for the front line, I reached the district where a
+battalion was resting--I was allowed in their quarters. Addressing one
+of the men, I asked if he could speak English. "Non, monsieur," and
+making a sign to me to remain he hurried off. Back came the fellow with
+an officer.
+
+"What do you want, monsieur?" said he in fine English.
+
+"You speak English well," I replied.
+
+"Yes, monsieur, I was in England for four years previous to the war." So
+I explained my position. "I want to accompany you to the trenches to
+take some kinema films."
+
+After exchanging a few words he took me to his superior officer, who
+extended every courtesy to me. I explained to him what I was desirous of
+doing. "But it is extraordinary, monsieur, that you should take such
+risks for pictures. You may in all probability get shot."
+
+"Possibly, sir," I replied, "but to obtain genuine scenes one must be
+absolutely in the front line."
+
+"Ah, you English," he said, "you are _extraordinaire_." Suddenly taking
+me by the arm, he led me to an outhouse. At the door we met his Captain.
+Introducing me, he began to explain my wishes. By the looks and the
+smiles, I knew things were going well for me.
+
+Calling the interpreter, the Captain said, "If you accompany my men to
+the trenches you may get killed. You must take all risks. I cannot be
+held responsible, remember!" And with a smile, he turned and entered the
+house.
+
+Hardly realising my good fortune, I nearly hugged my new friend, the
+Lieutenant.
+
+"Monsieur," I said, saluting, "I am un Belge soldat _pro tem_."
+
+Laughingly he told me to get my kit ready, and from a soldier who could
+speak English I borrowed a water-bottle and two blankets. Going round to
+the back of the farm, I came upon the rest of the men being served out
+with coffee from a copper. Awaiting my turn, I had my water-bottle
+filled; then the bread rations were served out with tinned herrings.
+Obtaining my allowance, I stowed it away in my knapsack, rolled up my
+blanket and fixed it on my back, and was ready. Then the "Fall in" was
+sounded. What a happy-go-lucky lot! No one would have thought these men
+were going into battle, and that many of them would probably not return.
+This, unfortunately, turned out to be only too true.
+
+In my interest in the scene and anxiety to film it, I was forgetting to
+put my own house in order. "What if I don't come back?" I suddenly
+thought. Begging some paper, I wrote a letter, addressed to my firm,
+telling them where I had gone, and where to call at Furnes for my films
+in the event of my being shot. Addressing it, I left it in charge of an
+officer, to be posted if I did not return, and requested that if
+anything happened to me my stuff should be left at my cafe in Furnes.
+Shaking me by the hand, he said he sincerely hoped it would not be
+necessary. Laughingly I bade him adieu. Falling in with the other men we
+started off, with the cheers and good wishes of those left behind
+ringing in our ears.
+
+It was still raining, and, as we crossed the fields of mud, I began to
+feel the weight of my equipment pressing on my shoulders, which with my
+camera and spare films made my progress very slow. Many a time during
+that march the men offered to help me, but, knowing that they had quite
+enough to do in carrying their own load, I stubbornly refused.
+
+On we went, the roar of the guns getting nearer: over field after field,
+fully eighteen inches deep in mud, and keeping as close to hedges as
+possible, to escape detection from hostile aeroplanes. Near a bridge we
+were stopped by an officer.
+
+"What's the matter?" I asked of my interpreter. Not knowing, he went to
+enquire.
+
+An order was shouted. The whole regiment rushed for cover to a hedge
+which ran by the roadside. I naturally followed. My friend told me that
+the Germans had sent up an observation balloon, so we dare not advance
+until nightfall, or they would be sure to see us and begin shelling our
+column before we arrived at the trenches. In the rain we sat huddled
+close together. Notwithstanding the uncomfortable conditions, I was very
+thankful for the rest. Night came, and we got the word to start again.
+Progress was becoming more difficult than ever, and I only kept myself
+from many a time falling headlong by clinging on to my nearest
+companion; he did likewise.
+
+Ye gods! what a night, and what a sight! Raining hard, a strong wind
+blowing, and the thick, black, inky darkness every now and then
+illuminated by the flash of the guns. Death was certainly in evidence
+to-night. One felt it. The creative genius of the weirdest, imaginative
+artist could not have painted a scene of death so truthfully. The odour
+arising from decaying bodies in the ground was at times almost
+overwhelming.
+
+We had been conversing generally during the march, but now word was
+passed that we were not to speak under any circumstances, not until we
+were in the trenches. A whispered order came that every man must hold on
+to the comrade in front of him, and bear to the left. Reaching the
+trench allotted to us, we went along it in single file, up to our knees
+in water. Sometimes a plank had been thrown along it, or bricks, but
+generally there was nothing but mud to plough through.
+
+"Halt!" came the command to the section I was with. "This is our
+shelter, monsieur," said a voice.
+
+Gropingly, I followed the speaker on hands and knees. The shelter was
+about 12 feet long, 3 feet 6 inches high, the same in width, and made of
+old boards. On the top, outside, was about 9 inches of earth, to render
+it as far as possible shrapnel-proof. On the floor were some boards,
+placed on bricks and covered with soddened straw. There was just enough
+room for four of us.
+
+Rolling ourselves in our blankets we lay down, and by the light of an
+electric torch we ravenously ate our bread and herrings. I enjoyed that
+simple meal as much as the finest dinner I have ever had placed before
+me. Whilst eating, a messenger came and warned us to be prepared for an
+attack. Heavy rifle-fire was taking place, both on the right and left
+of our position.
+
+"Well," thought I, "this is a good start; they might have waited for
+daylight, I could then film their proceedings." At any rate, if the
+attack came, I hoped it would last through the next day.
+
+Switching off the light, we lay down and awaited events. But not for
+long. The order came to man the trench. Out we tumbled, and took up our
+positions. Suddenly out of the blackness, in the direction of the German
+positions, came the rattle of rifle-fire, and the bullets began to
+whistle overhead. Keeping as low as possible, we replied, firing in
+quick succession at the flashes of the enemy rifles. This continued
+throughout the night.
+
+Towards morning a fog settled down, which blocked out our view of each
+other, and there was a lull in the fighting. At midday the attack
+started again. Taking my apparatus, I filmed a section of Belgians in
+action. Several times bullets whistled unpleasantly near my head.
+Passing along the trench, I filmed a mitrailleuse battery in action,
+which was literally mowing down the Germans as fast as they appeared.
+Then I filmed another section of men, while the bullets were flying all
+around them. Several could not resist looking round and laughing at the
+camera.
+
+Whilst thus engaged, several shells fell within thirty feet of me. Two
+failed to explode; another exploded and sent a lump of mud full in my
+face. With great spluttering, and I must admit a little swearing, I
+quickly cleaned it off. Then I filmed a large shell-hole filled with
+water, caused by the explosion of a German "Jack Johnson."
+
+The diameter was 28 feet across, and, roughly, 6 feet deep in the
+centre. At the other end of the line I filmed a company damming the
+Canal, to turn it into the German trenches.
+
+Then I cautiously made my way back, and filmed a section being served
+with hot coffee while under fire. Coming upon some men warming
+themselves round a bucket-stove, I joined the circle for a little
+warmth. How comforting it was in that veritable morass. Even as we
+chatted we were subjected to a heavy shrapnel attack, and the way we all
+scuttled to the trench huts was a sight for the gods. It was one mad
+scramble of laughing soldiers. Plunk--plunk--plunk--came the shells, not
+20-25 feet from where we were sitting by the fire. Six shells fell in
+our position, one failed to explode. I had a bet with a Belgian officer
+that it was 30 feet from us. He bet me it was 40 feet. Not to be done, I
+roughly measured off a yard stick, and left the shelter of the trench to
+measure the distance. It turned out to be 28 feet. Just as I had
+finished, I heard three more shells come shrieking towards me. I simply
+dived for the trench, and luckily reached it just in time.
+
+Towards evening our artillery shelled a farm-house about three-quarters
+of a mile distant, where the Germans had three guns hidden, and through
+the glasses I watched the shells drop into the building and literally
+blow it to pieces. Unfortunately, it was too far off to film it
+satisfactorily.
+
+That night was practically a repetition of the previous one. The trench
+was attacked the greater part of the time, and bullets continually
+spattered against the small iron plate.
+
+Next morning I decided to try and film the mitrailleuse outpost on a
+little spot of land in the floods, only connected by a narrow strip of
+grass-land just high enough to be out of reach of the water. Still
+keeping low under cover of the trenches, I made my way in that
+direction. Several officers tried to persuade me not to go, but knowing
+it would make an excellent scene, I decided to risk it. On the side of
+the bank nearest our front line the ground sloped at a more abrupt
+angle, the distance from the trench to the outpost being about sixty
+yards. Rushing over the top of the parapet, I got to the edge of the
+grass road and crouched down. The water up to my knees, I made my way
+carefully along. Twice I stumbled over dead bodies. At last I reached
+the outpost safely, but during the last few yards I must have raised
+myself a little too high, for the next minute several bullets splashed
+into the water where I had been.
+
+The outpost was very surprised when I made my appearance, and expressed
+astonishment that I had not been shot. "A miss is as good as a mile," I
+laughingly replied, and then I told them I had come to film them at
+work. This I proceeded to do, and got an excellent scene of the
+mitrailleuse in action, and the other section loading up. The frightful
+slaughter done by these guns is indescribable. Nothing can possibly live
+under the concentrated fire of these weapons, as the Germans found to
+their cost that day.
+
+After getting my scenes, I thanked the officer, and was about to make my
+way back; but he forbade me to risk it, telling me to wait until night
+and return under cover of the darkness. To this I agreed, and that night
+left the outpost with the others when the relief party came up.
+
+Shortly after news was received that we were to be relieved from duty in
+the trenches for the next forty-eight hours; the relief column was on
+its way to take our places. I was delighted, for I had been wet through
+during the days and nights I had been there, but was fully satisfied
+that I had got some real live films. Hastily packing up my equipment, I
+stood waiting the signal to move off. At last the relief came up.
+Holding each other's hands, we carefully made our way in Indian file
+along the trench, on to the road, and into Ramscapelle.
+
+[Illustration: WITH A GROUP OF BELGIAN OFFICERS AT FURNES, BELGIUM,
+1914. ONE OF THEM USED TO ACT AS MY COURIER]
+
+[Illustration: ON SKIS IN THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS JUST BEFORE THE FRENCH
+ATTACK, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1915]
+
+What a terrible sight it was! The skeletons of houses stood grim and
+gaunt, and the sound of the wind rushing through the ruins was like the
+moaning of the spirits of the dead inhabitants crying aloud for
+vengeance. The sounds increased in volume as we neared this scene of
+awful desolation, and the groans became a crescendo of shrieks which,
+combined with the crash of shell-fire, made one's blood run cold.
+
+Leaving the ruins behind we gained the main road, and on arriving at the
+bridge where we had stopped on our journey out, I parted with the
+company, thinking to make my way to a cafe by a short cut over some
+fields. I wished to heaven afterwards that I had not done so. I cut
+across a ditch, feeling my way as much as possible with a stick. But I
+had not gone far before I knew I had lost my way. The rain was driving
+pitilessly in my face, but I stumbled on in the inky darkness, often
+above my knees in thick clay mud. Several times I thought I should never
+reach the road. It was far worse than being under fire.
+
+I must have staggered along for about two miles when I perceived a light
+ahead. Never was sight more welcome. Remember, I had about fifty to
+sixty pounds weight on my back, and having had little or no sleep for
+five nights my physical strength was at a low ebb. It seemed hours
+before I reached that house, and when at last I got there I collapsed on
+the floor.
+
+I struggled up again in a few minutes, and asked the bewildered
+occupants to give me hot coffee, and after resting for an hour, I made
+again for Furnes reaching it in the early hours of the morning.
+
+Going to my cafe, I went to bed, and slept for eighteen hours; the
+following day I packed up and returned to London.
+
+A day or two afterwards I was sitting comfortably in a cushioned chair
+in the private theatre at our London office watching these selfsame
+scenes being projected upon the screen. Ah! thought I, how little does
+the great public, for whom they are intended, know of the difficulties
+and dangers, the trials and tribulations, the kinematograph camera man
+experiences in order to obtain these pictures.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+WITH THE GOUMIERS AT LOMBARTZYDE
+
+     A Morning of Surprises--The German Positions Bombarded from
+     the Sea--Filming the Goumiers in Action--How these Tenacious
+     Fighters Prepare for Battle--Goumier Habits and Customs--I
+     Take the Chief's Photograph for the First Time--And
+     Afterwards take Food with Him--An Interesting and Fruitful
+     Adventure Ends Satisfactorily.
+
+
+Once more I went to Furnes, and while sipping my coffee at the cafe I
+heard a remark made about the Goumiers (the Arab horsemen employed by
+the French as scouts). Quickly realising the possibilities in a film of
+such a body of men, I made enquiries of the speakers as to their
+whereabouts.
+
+"Ah, monsieur, they are on the sand-dunes near Nieuport. They are
+veritable fiends, monsieur, with the Bosches, who run away from them
+like cats. They are terrible fighters."
+
+After such a glowing account, I thought the sooner I interviewed these
+fighters the better.
+
+Starting out next morning, I made a bee-line for the coast.
+
+I soon began to hear the sharp crackle of rifle-fire, and artillery on
+my right opened fire on the German position, and then the heavy boom,
+boom of the guns from the sea. Looking in that direction, I discerned
+several of our battleships opening fire, the shells giving a fearful
+shriek as they passed overhead. The Germans were certainly in for it
+that day.
+
+Keeping along the bottom of the dunes, I observed a Goumier encampment
+in the distance. At that moment there came a rasping voice on my right.
+
+"Halt!" This certainly was a morning of surprises.
+
+"Ah," I said, with a laugh, "you startled me."
+
+"I am sorry, monsieur," he said. "The password, if you please?"
+
+"It is not necessary," I replied. "I wish to speak to your officer. I
+will go by myself to the officer in charge, it is not necessary for you
+to leave your post. Direct me to Headquarters, and tell me your
+captain's name."
+
+"Captain ----, monsieur. He is billeted in that house which is half
+destroyed by shell-fire. Be careful, monsieur, and keep low, or you will
+draw the fire on you." He saluted, and turned back to his post.
+
+Making straight for the ruined house in question, I observed a sentry on
+guard at the door. This, I perceived, led to a cellar. I asked to see
+the Captain. The man saluted and entered the house, appearing in a few
+minutes with his chief. I saluted, and bade him "good morning,"
+extending my hand, which he grasped in a hearty handshake. I straightway
+explained my business, and asked him for his co-operation in securing
+some interesting films of the Goumiers in action.
+
+He replied that he would be glad to assist me as far as possible.
+
+"You will greatly help me, sir," I said, "if you can roughly give me
+their location."
+
+"That I cannot do," he replied, "but follow my directions, and take your
+chance. I will, however, accompany you a short distance."
+
+We started out, keeping as much to the seashore as possible.
+
+"Keep low," the Captain said, "the place is thick with Bosche snipers."
+I certainly needed no second warning, for I had experienced those
+gentry before. "Our Goumiers are doing splendid work here on the dunes.
+It is, of course, like home to them among the sand-heaps."
+
+Our conversation was suddenly cut short by the shriek of a shell coming
+in our direction. Simultaneously we fell flat on the sand, and only just
+in time, for on the other side of the dune the shell fell and exploded,
+shaking the ground like a miniature earthquake and throwing clouds of
+sand in our direction.
+
+"They have started on our encampment again," the Captain said, "but our
+huts are quite impervious to their shells; the sand is finer than
+armourplate."
+
+Several more shells came hurtling overheard, but fell some distance
+behind us. Looking over the top of the dune, I expected to see an
+enormous hole, caused by the explosion, but judge my surprise on seeing
+hardly any difference. The sides of the cavity had apparently fallen in
+again. A short distance further on the Captain said he would leave me.
+
+"You can start now," and he pointed in the distance to a moving object
+in the sand, crawling along on its stomach for all the world like a
+snake. "I will go," he said, "and if you see the Chief of the Goumiers,
+tell him I sent you." With a handshake we parted. I again turned to look
+at the Goumier scout, his movements fascinated me. Keeping low under the
+top of the dune, I made for a small hill, from which I decided to film
+him. Reaching there, I did so.
+
+I then saw, going in opposite directions, two more scouts, each
+proceeding to crawl slowly in the same fashion as the first.
+
+"This film certainly will be unique," I thought. Who could imagine that
+within half an hour's ride of this whirling sand, with full-blooded
+Arabs moving about upon it, the soldiers of Belgium are fighting in two
+feet of mud and water, and have been doing so for months past. No one
+would think so to look at it.
+
+A rattle of musketry on my right served as a hint that there were other
+scenes to be secured. Making my way in the direction of the sound, I
+came upon a body of Goumiers engaged in sniping at the Germans. I filmed
+them, and was just moving away when the interpreter of the company
+stopped and questioned me. I told him of my previous conversation with
+the Captain, which satisfied him.
+
+"Well," he said, "you are just in time to catch a troop going off on a
+scouting expedition," and he led the way to a large dune looking down on
+the sea, and there just moving off was the troop.
+
+What a magnificent picture they made, sitting on their horses. They
+seemed to be part of them. Veritable black statues they looked, and
+their movements were like a finely tensioned spring. Hastily filming the
+troop, I hurried across and succeeded in obtaining some scenes of
+another detachment proceeding further on the flank, and as they wound in
+and out up the sand-hills, I managed to get into a splendid point of
+vantage, and filmed them coming towards me. Their wild savage huzzas, as
+they passed, were thrilling in the extreme. Looking round, I perceived a
+curious-looking group a short distance away, going through what appeared
+to be some devotional ceremony.
+
+Hastening down the hill, I crossed to the group, which turned out to be
+under the command of the Chief of the Goumiers himself, who was going
+through a short ceremony with some scouts, previous to their meeting the
+Germans. It was quite impressive. Forming the four men up in line, the
+Chief gave each of them instructions, waving signs and symbols over
+their heads and bodies, then with a chant sent them on their journey.
+The actual obeisance was too sacred in itself to film. I was told by the
+interpreter afterwards that he was glad I did not do so, as they would
+have been very wrath?
+
+A few words about the customs of the Goumiers may not be out of place.
+These men are the aristocracy of the Algerian Arabs; men of independent
+means in their own land. At the outbreak of war they patriotically
+combined under their chief, and offered themselves to the French
+Government, which gladly accepted their services for work on the
+sand-dunes of Flanders. The troop bore the whole cost of their outfit
+and transport. They brought their own native transport system with them.
+The men obey none but their chief, at whose bidding they would, I
+believe, even go through Hell itself. All arguments, quarrels, and
+discussions in the troop are brought before the Chief, whose word and
+judgment is law.
+
+On the dunes of Northern Flanders they had their own encampment,
+conducted in their own native style. They looked after their horses with
+as much care as a fond mother does her child. The harness and trappings
+were magnificently decorated with beautiful designs in mother-of-pearl
+and gold, and the men, when astride their horses and garbed in their
+long flowing white _burnouses_, looked the very personification of
+dignity. The Chief never handles a rifle, it would be beneath his
+position to do so. He is the Head, and lives up to it in every respect
+possible.
+
+I filmed him by the side of his horse. It was the first time he had been
+photographed.
+
+Returning to the point where the scouts were leaving, I decided to
+follow close behind them, on the chance of getting some good scenes.
+Strapping my camera on my back, and pushing a tuft of grass under the
+strap, to disguise it as much as possible if viewed from the front, I
+crawled after them. One may think that crawling on the sand is easy;
+well, all I can say to those who think so is, "Try it." I soon found it
+was not so easy as it looked, especially under conditions where the
+raising of one's body two or three inches above the top of the dune
+might be possibly asking for a bullet through it, and drawing a
+concentrated fire in one's direction.
+
+I had crawled in this fashion for about 150 yards, when I heard a shell
+come shrieking in my direction. With a plunk it fell, and exploded about
+forty feet away, choking me with sand and half blinding me for about
+five minutes. The acrid fumes, too, which came from it, seemed to
+tighten my throat, making respiration very difficult for some ten
+minutes afterwards. Cautiously looking round, I tried to locate the
+other scouts, but nowhere could they be seen. I crawled for another
+thirty yards or so, but still no sign of them. Deciding that if I
+continued by myself I had everything to lose and nothing to gain, I
+concluded that discretion was the better part of valour. Possibly the
+buzzing sensation in my throat, and the smarting of my eyes, helped me
+in coming to that decision, so I retraced my steps, or rather crawl.
+Getting back to the encampment, I bathed my eyes in water, which quickly
+soothed them.
+
+In a short time news came in that the scouts were returning. Hurrying to
+the spot indicated, I was just in time to film them on their arrival.
+The exultant look on their faces told me that they had done good work.
+
+I then filmed a general view of the encampment, and several other
+interesting scenes, and was just on the point of departing when the
+Chief asked me to partake of some food with him. Being very hungry, I
+accepted the invitation, and afterwards, over a cup of coffee and
+cigarettes, I obtained through an interpreter some very interesting
+information.
+
+The night being now well advanced, I bade the Chief adieu, and striking
+out across the dunes I made for Furnes. The effect of the star-shells
+sent up by the Germans was very wonderful. They shed a vivid blue light
+all round, throwing everything up with startling clearness.
+
+After about a mile I was suddenly brought up by the glitter of a
+sentry's bayonet. "Password, monsieur." Flashing a lamp in my face, the
+man evidently recognised me, for he had seen me with his officer that
+day, and the next moment he apologised for stopping me. "Pardon,
+monsieur," he said. "Pass, Monsieur Anglais, pardon!"
+
+Accepting his apologies, I moved off in the direction of Furnes, where,
+after reviewing the events of the previous days, I came to the
+conclusion that I had every reason to be thankful that I had once more
+returned from an interesting and fruitful adventure with a whole skin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE BATTLE OF THE SAND-DUNES
+
+     A Dangerous Adventure and What Came of It--A Race Across the
+     Sand-dunes--And a Spill in a Shell-Hole--The Fate of a
+     Spy--A Battle in the Dunes--Of which I Secured Some Fine
+     Films--A Collision with an Obstructive Mule.
+
+
+I arrived at Oost-Dunkerque, which place I decided to use as a base for
+this journey, chiefly because it was on the main route to Nieuport Bain.
+Having on my previous visit proceeded on foot, and returned
+successfully, I decided that I should go by car. To get what I required
+meant that I should have to pass right through the French lines.
+
+Finding out a chauffeur who had previously helped me, I explained my
+plans to him.
+
+"Well, monsieur," he said, "I will try and help you, but for me it is
+not possible to get you through. I am stationed here indefinitely, but I
+have a friend who drives an armoured car. I will ask him to do it." We
+then parted; I was to meet him with his friend that night.
+
+I packed my things as close as possible, tying two extra spools of film
+in a package round my waist under my coat, put on my knapsack, and drew
+my Balaclava helmet well down over my chin.
+
+Anxiously I awaited my friends. Seven o'clock--eight o'clock--nine
+o'clock. "Were they unable to come for me?" "Was there some hitch in the
+arrangement?" These thoughts flashed through my mind, when suddenly I
+heard a voice call behind me.
+
+"Monsieur, monsieur!"
+
+[Illustration: USING MY AEROSCOPE CAMERA IN BELGIUM, 1914-15]
+
+Turning, I saw my chauffeur friend beckoning to me. Hurrying forward, I
+asked if all was well.
+
+"Oui, monsieur. I will meet you by the railway cutting."
+
+This was the beginning of an adventure which I shall always remember. I
+had been up at the bridge some two minutes, when the armoured car glided
+up. "Up, monsieur," came a voice, and up I got. Placing my camera by the
+side of the mitrailleuse, I sat by my chauffeur, and we started off for
+the French lines.
+
+Dashing along roads covered with shell-holes, I marvelled again and
+again at the man's wonderful driving. Heaps of times we escaped a
+smash-up by a hair's-breadth.
+
+On we went over the dunes; the night was continuously lighted up by
+flashes from the big guns, both French and German. We were pulled up
+with a jerk, which sent me flying over the left wheel, doing a
+somersault, and finally landing head first into a lovely soft sandbank.
+Spluttering and staggering to my feet, I looked round for the cause of
+my sudden exit from the car, and there in the glare of the headlight
+were two French officers. Both were laughing heartily and appreciating
+the joke. As I had not hurt myself, I joined in. After our hilarity had
+subsided they apologised, and hoped I had not hurt myself. Seeing that I
+was an an Englishman, they asked me where I was going. I replied, "to
+Nieuport Bain." They asked me if my chauffeur might take a message to
+the Captain of the ---- Chasseurs. "Yes, yes," I replied, "with
+pleasure."
+
+Thinking that by staying every second might be dangerous, I asked the
+officers to give the message, and we would proceed. They did so, and
+again apologising for their abrupt appearance, they bade us "good
+night."
+
+I hurriedly bade the driver start off, and away we went. He evidently
+had not got over his nervousness, for, after going about three-quarters
+of a mile, we ran into a large, partially filled shell-hole, burying the
+front wheels above the axle. To save myself from a second dive I
+clutched hold of the mitrailleuse.
+
+This was a position indeed! Scooping away as much sand as possible from
+the front wheels, we put on full power, and tried to back the car out of
+it. But as the rear wheels were unable to grip in the sand it would not
+budge.
+
+While there the Germans must have seen our light, for suddenly a
+star-shell shot up from their position, illuminating the ground for a
+great distance. I swiftly pinched the tube of our headlight, so putting
+it out, then dropped full length on the sand. I observed my companion
+had done the same.
+
+We lay there for about ten minutes, not knowing what to expect, but
+luckily nothing happened. It was obvious that we could not move the car
+without assistance, so shouldering my apparatus we started to walk the
+remaining distance. Twice we were held up by sentries, but by giving the
+password we got through. Enquiring for the headquarters of Captain ----,
+we were directed to a ruined house which had been destroyed by German
+shell-fire. "Mon Capitaine is in the cellar, monsieur."
+
+Thinking that it would be a better introduction if I personally
+delivered the message to the Captain, I asked my chauffeur to let me do
+so. Asking the sentry at the door to take me to his Captain, we passed
+down some dozen steps and into a comfortably furnished cellar. Sitting
+round a little table were seven officers. I asked for Captain ----.
+
+"He is not here, monsieur," said one. "Is it urgent?"
+
+"I do not know," I replied. I was trying to form another reply in
+French, when an officer asked me in English if he could be of any
+service. I told him that an officer had given me a message to deliver on
+my journey here, but owing to an accident to the car I had had to walk.
+Taking the letter, he said he would send a messenger to the Captain with
+it.
+
+"You must be hungry, monsieur. Will you share a snack with us?" Gladly
+accepting their hospitality, I sat down with them. "Are you from
+London?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," I said. "Do you know it?"
+
+"Yes, yes," he replied. "I was for three years there. But are you
+_militaire_?" he enquired.
+
+"Well, hardly that," I confess. "I am here to take kinema records of the
+war. I have come in this direction to film an action on the sand-dunes.
+Will you help me?"
+
+"I will do what I can for you," he replied. "We expect to make a sortie
+to-morrow morning. It will be very risky for you."
+
+"I will take my chance," I replied, "with you."
+
+Whilst our conversation proceeded, I noticed a scuffling on the cellar
+steps, then into the room came four soldiers with a man in peasant's
+clothes. He turned out to be a spy caught signalling in the dunes. They
+brought him in to have a cup of coffee before taking him out to be shot.
+He was asked if he would take sugar; his reply was "No."
+
+Presently there was a shot outside, and there was one spy the less.
+
+The Captain returned and, after explanations, made me understand that he
+would accept no responsibility for my safety. Those conditions I did not
+mind a scrap. Rolling myself in a blanket, I tumbled in. "What would the
+morrow bring forth?" I wondered.
+
+I was up next morning at four o'clock. Everywhere there was a state of
+suppressed excitement. Outside the men were preparing, but there was
+not the least sign of confusion anywhere. To look at them one would not
+imagine these men were going out to fight, knowing that some of them at
+least would not return again. But it is war, and sentiment has no place
+in their thoughts.
+
+The order came to line up. Hours before the scouts had gone out to
+prepare the ground. They had not returned yet. Personally, I hoped they
+would not turn up till the day was a little more advanced. Eight
+o'clock; still not sufficient light for filming. A lieutenant came to
+me, and said if I would go carefully along the sand-dunes in the
+direction he suggested, possibly it would be better; he would say no
+more. I did so; and I had only gone about half a kilometre when,
+chancing to turn back, I spied coming over the dunes on my right two
+scouts, running for all they were worth.
+
+Quietly getting my camera into position, I started exposing, being
+certain this was the opening of the attack. I was not mistaken, for
+within a few minutes the advance guard came hurrying up in the distance;
+the attack was about to begin. Suddenly the French guns opened fire;
+they were concealed some distance in the rear. Shells then went at it
+thick and fast, shrieking one after the other overhead.
+
+The advance guard opened out, clambered up the dunes, and disappeared
+over the top, I filming them. I waited until the supporting column came
+up, and filmed them also. I followed them up and over the dunes.
+Deploying along the top, they spread out about six metres apart, with
+the object of deceiving the Germans as to their numbers, until the
+supporting column reached them. The battle of musketry then rang out.
+Cautiously advancing with a company, I filmed them take the offensive
+and make for a large dune forty yards ahead. Successfully reaching it
+they lay down and fired in rapid succession. Crawling up, I managed to
+take a fine scene of the attack, showing the explosion of two French
+shells over the ruins of the town. The Germans evidently found our
+range, for several shells came whistling unpleasantly near me.
+
+What followed was a succession of scenes, showing the covering columns
+advancing and others moving round on the flank. The Germans lost very
+heavily in this engagement, and great progress was made by the gallant
+French. While filming a section of the flanking party, I had the nearest
+acquaintance with a shell that I shall ever wish for. I don't think it
+would have been the good fortune of many to have such an experience and
+come scathless out of it.
+
+I was kneeling filming the scene, when I heard a shell hurtling in my
+direction. Knowing that if I moved I might as likely run into it as not,
+I remained where I was, still operating my camera, when an explosion
+occurred just behind me, which sounded as if the earth itself had
+cracked. The concussion threw me with terrific force head over heels
+into the sand. The explosion seemed to cause a vacuum in the air for
+some distance around, for try as I would I could not get my breath. I
+lay gasping and struggling like a drowning man for what seemed an
+interminable length of time, although it could have only been a few
+seconds.
+
+At last I pulled round; my first thought was for my camera. I saw it a
+short distance away, half buried in the sand. Picking it up, I was
+greatly relieved to find it uninjured, but choked with sand round the
+lens, which I quickly cleared. The impression on my body, caused by the
+concussion of the exploding shell, seemed as if the whole of one side of
+me had been struck with something soft, yet with such terrible force
+that I felt it all over at the same moment. That is the best way I can
+describe it, and I assure you I don't wish for a second interview.
+Noticing some blood upon my hand, I found a small wound on the knuckle.
+Whether or no it was caused by a small splinter from the shell, I cannot
+say; in all probability it was, for I do not think striking the soft
+sand would have caused it.
+
+Turning back, I made for the sea road, and filmed the reserves coming up
+to strengthen the positions already won. Hurrying across in the
+direction of another column, I filmed them steadily advancing, while
+their comrades kept the Germans employed from the top of a large dune.
+The main body then came up and lined the top for a considerable
+distance, and at the word of command the whole body arose as one man.
+For the fraction of a second they were strikingly silhouetted against
+the sky-line; then with a cheer they charged down the other side.
+
+Darkness was now closing in, making it impossible for me to film any
+further developments, so I proceeded back to the cellar with an officer
+and some men. After resting awhile, I decided to go back to Furnes that
+night with my films and get home with them as quickly as possible.
+Meeting a small transport car going in the desired direction after some
+stores, I begged a ride, and getting up beside the driver, we started
+off. Owing to the enormous shell-holes it was impossible to proceed
+along the road without a light.
+
+What a magnificent sight it was. Magnesium star-shells were continually
+being sent up by the Germans. They hung in the air alight for about
+thirty seconds, illuminating the ground like day. When they disappeared
+the guns flashed out; then the French replied; after that more
+star-shells; then the guns spoke again, and so it continued. We were
+suddenly stopped by an officer warning us to put out our lamp
+immediately, and proceed cautiously for about three hundred yards.
+While doing so a shell came screaming by. We knew then that the Germans
+had seen our light. We immediately rushed to a shell-proof shelter in
+the sand. I had barely reached it when a shell exploded close by the
+car, half destroying the body of it. That was the only one that came
+anywhere near. Running to see what damage was done, I was pleased to
+see, by the aid of a covered light, that the chassis was practically
+uninjured. So starting up we once more proceeded on our journey.
+
+We had several narrow squeaks in negotiating corners and miniature
+sand-banks, and once we bumped into a mule that had strayed on to the
+road--but whether it will do so again I don't know, for after the bump
+it disappeared in a whirl of sand, making a noise like a myriad of
+fiends let loose. But the remainder of the journey was uneventful, and
+after a long night's rest I left for Calais.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+UNDER HEAVY SHELL-FIRE
+
+     In a Trench Coat and Cap I again Run the Gauntlet--A Near
+     Squeak--Looking for Trouble--I Nearly Find It--A Rough Ride
+     and a Mud Bath--An Affair of Outposts--I Get Used to
+     Crawling--Hot Work at the Guns--I am Reported Dead--But
+     Prove Very Much Alive----And then Receive a Shock--A Stern
+     Chase.
+
+
+Time after time I crossed over to France and so into Belgium, and
+obtained a series of pictures that delighted my employers, and pleased
+the picture theatre public. But I wanted something more than snapshots
+of topical events.
+
+Unfortunately, I had been unable to make previous arrangements for a car
+to take me into Belgium. The railroad was barred to me, and walking
+quite out of the question. A motor-car was the only method of
+travelling. After two days of careful enquiries, I at last found a man
+to take me. He was in the transport department, taking meat to the
+trenches. I was to meet him that evening on the outskirts of Calais. And
+I met him that night at an appointed rendezvous, and started on our
+journey.
+
+Eventually we entered Furnes. Making my way into a side street, I told
+my chauffeur to call at a certain address whenever he passed through the
+town, and if I should require his services further, I would leave a
+letter to that effect.
+
+I was awakened next morning by being vigorously shaken by my Belgian
+friend, Jules.
+
+"Quick, monsieur, the Germans are bombarding us," he cried.
+
+Jumping out of bed, I rushed to the window. The next second I heard the
+shriek of shells coming nearer. With a crash and a fearful explosion
+they burst practically simultaneously on the houses opposite, completely
+demolishing them, but luckily killing no one. Hastily dressing, I
+grabbed my camera and went out into the square and waited, hoping to
+film, if possible, the explosion of the shells as they fell on the
+buildings. Two more shells came shrieking over. The few people about
+were quickly making for the cover of their cellars. Getting my camera
+into position, ready to swing in any direction, I waited. With deafening
+explosions the shells exploded in a small street behind me. The Germans
+were evidently trying to smash up the old Flemish town hall, which was
+in the corner of the market-place, so I decided to fix my focus in its
+direction. But though I waited for over an hour, nothing else happened.
+The Germans had ceased firing for that morning at least. Not till I had
+gone to my cafe did I realise the danger I had exposed myself to, but
+somehow I had seemed so confident that I should not get hit, that to
+film the explosions entirely absorbed all my thoughts.
+
+Next morning I decided to tour the front line, if possible from Dixmude
+to Nieuport, making Ramscapelle a centre. I hoped to drop in with an
+isolated action or a few outpost duels, for up to the present things
+were going exceedingly slow from my point of view.
+
+Arranging for a dispatch rider to take me along to Ramscapelle, away I
+went. The roads were in a frightful condition after months of rain, and
+shell-holes were dotted all over the surface. It is marvellous these men
+do not more frequently meet death by accident, for what with the back
+wheel sliding and skidding like an unbroken mule, and dodging round
+shell-holes as if we were playing musical chairs, and hanging round the
+driver's waist like a limpet to keep our balance, it was anything but a
+comfortable experience. In the end one back wheel slipped into a
+shell-hole and pitched me into a lovely pool of water and mud. Then
+after remounting, we were edged off the road into the mud again by a
+heavy transport lorry, and enjoyed a second mud-bath. After that I came
+to the conclusion that I would rather film a close view of a bayonet
+charge than do another such journey.
+
+By now I was the most abject-looking specimen of humanity imaginable. My
+camera in its case was securely fastened on my shoulders as a knapsack,
+and so, with the exception of a slight derangement, which I soon
+readjusted, no damage was done. But the motor-cycle suffered
+considerably, and leaving it alongside the road to await a breakdown
+lorry to repair it--or a shell to finish it--I proceeded on foot to
+Ramscapelle.
+
+Within a hundred yards of the ruined town, from the shelter of a wrecked
+barn came the voice of a Belgian soldier peremptorily ordering me to
+take cover. Without asking questions, I did so by sprawling full length
+in a deep wheel-rut, but as I had previously had a mud-bath, a little
+more or less did not matter. I wriggled myself towards the cover of the
+barn, when a sharp volley of rifle-fire broke out on my left. Gaining
+shelter, I asked the soldier the reason of the fusillade.
+
+"Uhlan outposts, monsieur," replied the man laconically.
+
+Keeping under cover, I crawled towards the back of the barn, and
+ensconced behind some bales of straw, on a small bridge, I filmed this
+Belgian outpost driving off the Uhlans, and peeping through one of the
+rifle slots, I could see them showing a clean pair of heels, but not
+without losing one of their number. He was brought into our lines later,
+and I was lucky enough to secure the pennon from his lance as a
+souvenir.
+
+I made my way by various means into the town. The place was absolutely
+devoid of life. It was highly dangerous to move about in the open. To be
+seen by the German airmen was the signal for being shelled for about
+three hours.
+
+Whilst filming some of the ruins, I was startled by a sharp word of
+command. Turning round, I saw a Belgian soldier, with his rifle pointing
+at me. He ordered me to advance. I produced my permit, and giving the
+password, I quite satisfied him. Bidding me come inside he indicated a
+seat, and asked me to have some soup. And didn't it smell appetising! A
+broken door served as a table; various oddments, as chairs and the
+soup-copper, stood in the centre of the table. This proved one of the
+most enjoyable meals of the campaign.
+
+The soldier told me they had to be very careful to guard against spies.
+They had caught one only that morning, "but he will spy no more,
+monsieur," he said, with a significant look.
+
+I rose, and said I must leave them, as I wanted to take advantage of the
+daylight. I asked my friend if he could give me any information as to
+the whereabouts of anything interesting to film, as I wanted to take
+back scenes to show the people of England the ravages caused in Belgium
+by the Huns, and the brave Belgians in action. He was full of regrets
+that he was not able to accompany me, but being on duty he dare not
+move.
+
+With a hearty shake of the hand and best wishes we parted, and, keeping
+under cover of the ruined buildings as much as possible, I made my way
+through Ramscapelle. Hardened as I was by now to sights of devastation,
+I could not help a lump rising in my throat when I came upon children's
+toys, babies' cots, and suchlike things, peeping out from among the
+ruins caused by the German guns.
+
+These scenes caused me to wander on in deep thought, quite oblivious to
+my immediate surroundings. This momentary lapse nearly proved
+disastrous. By some means I had passed the sentries, and wandered
+practically on top of a Belgian concealed heavy gun battery. I was
+quickly brought to my senses by being dragged into a gun trench,
+absolutely invisible both from the front and above.
+
+Compelled to go on hands and knees into the dug-out, I was confronted by
+a rather irate Belgian officer, who demanded why I was there walking
+about and not taking cover. Did I know that I had drawn the enemy's
+fire, which was very nearly an unpardonable offence?
+
+Quickly realising the seriousness of my position, I thought the best
+thing to do was to tell him my mission, and so I explained to the
+officer that I had unconsciously wandered there.
+
+"There, monsieur," he said, "that is what you have done," and at that
+moment I heard two shells explode fifteen yards behind us. "We dare not
+reply, monsieur," he said, "because this is a secret battery. Mon Dieu!"
+he exclaimed, "I hope they cease firing, or they may destroy our
+defences." Fortunately, the Germans seeing no further sign of life,
+evidently thought it was a case of an isolated soldier, and so ceased
+their fire. Imagine my thankfulness.
+
+I enquired if there was anyone there who could speak English. A
+messenger was sent out and returned with a Belgian, who before the war
+broke out was a teacher of languages in England. With his aid I gave the
+chief officer full explanation, and pledged my word of honour that
+neither names, districts, nor details of positions should ever be
+mentioned.
+
+Wishing to film some scenes of big guns in action, I enquired whether he
+was going to fire. He was expecting orders any minute, so making myself
+as comfortable as possible in the dug-out, I waited. But nothing
+happened, and that night, and the one following, I slept there.
+
+Early next morning (about 3 a.m.) I was awakened by the noise of a
+terrific cannonading. Together with the officer I crawled out on to the
+top of our embankment and viewed the scene. The Germans had started a
+night attack, the Belgian guns had caught them in the act and were
+shelling them for all they were worth.
+
+As soon as it was daylight I strapped my camera on my back, and, lying
+flat in the mud, I edged away in the direction of the battery. Before
+leaving, the officer gave me a final warning about drawing the Germans'
+fire. Alternately crawling and working my way on hands and knees, and
+taking advantage of any little bit of cover, I drew nearer to the guns.
+While I was lying here, there crashed out a regular inferno of
+rifle-fire from the German trenches. The bullets sang overhead like a
+flight of hornets. This certainly was a warm corner. If I had filmed
+this scene, all that would have been shown was a dreary waste of
+mud-heaps, caused by the explosion of the shells, and the graves of
+fallen soldiers dotted all over the place. As far as the eye could see
+the country was absolutely devoid of any living thing.
+
+Thousands of people in England, comfortably seated in the picture
+theatre, would have passed this scene by as quite uninteresting except
+for its memories. But if the sounds I heard, and the flying bullets that
+whizzed by me, could have been photographed, they might take a different
+view of it.
+
+Death was everywhere. The air was thick with it. To have lifted my head
+would have meant the billet for a bullet. So there I had to lie soaked
+through to the skin, and before I had been there twenty minutes I was
+literally lying in water. The German fusillade seemed interminable.
+Suddenly with a roar the Belgian guns spoke. About fifty shells were
+fired, and gradually the rifle-fire ceased. With a sigh of relief I drew
+myself out of the hole which my body had made, and on my elbows and
+knees, like a baby crawling, I covered the intervening ground to the
+battery. Getting up, and bending nearly double, I ran under cover of the
+barricades.
+
+The men were astounded to see me run in. I went in the direction of a
+group of officers, who looked at me in amazement. Saluting me, one of
+them came forward and asked who I wanted. Explaining my business, I told
+him I had permission from headquarters to film any scenes of interest.
+The officer then introduced me to his friends, who asked me how in the
+world I had crossed the district without getting hit. I described my
+movements, and they all agreed that I was exceedingly lucky.
+
+Once more the guns started, so getting my camera ready I commenced
+filming them in action, one scene after another. I changed from the
+firing of one gun to the full battery in action. The men were working
+like mad. All the time they were baling water out of the gun trenches
+with buckets. In some cases after the gun had fired it sank back about
+eighteen inches in the mud, and had to be dug out and set again. These
+poor devils had been doing this for nearly four months, every man of
+them was a hero.
+
+While taking these scenes, my compressed air cylinders ran out. Looking
+round for somewhere solid on which to put my machine and foot-pump, I
+found some bricks, and made a little foundation. Then I started to pump
+up. At every six strokes of the pump, it was necessary to pack under it
+more bricks, and still more, for the ground was a veritable morass. In
+the ordinary way my camera takes ten minutes to refill. On this occasion
+it took me forty-five minutes, and all the time guns were thundering
+out.
+
+Making my way in a semi-circle, under cover of the communication
+trenches, to the most advanced outpost, I filmed a party of Belgian
+snipers hard at work, cheerfully sniping off any German unwise enough to
+show the smallest portion of his head. Several times while I was
+watching, I noticed one of the men mark upon his rifle with the stub of
+a pencil. I asked why he did it.
+
+"That, monsieur," he replied, "is a mark for every Bosche I shoot. See,"
+he said, holding the butt-end for me to look at, and I noticed
+twenty-eight crosses marked upon it. Snatching it up to his shoulder he
+fired again, and joyfully he added another cross.
+
+By this time it was getting dark, and quite impossible to take any more
+scenes, so I returned to the battery, where the officer kindly invited
+me to stay the night. Getting some dry straw from a waterproof bag, we
+spread it out on the boards of the trench-hut, rolled our blankets round
+our shoulders, and lighted our cigarettes. Then they asked me about
+England. They told me that as long as Belgium existed they would never
+forget what England had done for her people. While talking our candle
+went out, and as we had no other we sat in the darkness, huddled
+together to keep warm. Heavy rain again came on, penetrating through the
+earth roof and soaking into my blanket.
+
+I must have dozed off, for after a little while I awoke with a start
+and, looking towards the entrance, I noticed a blue-white glare of
+light. As my companions were getting out, I followed them, in time to
+see the Germans sending up star-shells, to guard against any attack on
+our part.
+
+The following day I filmed several scenes connected with the Belgian
+artillery and outposts. I waited during the remainder of the day to
+catch, if possible, some scenes of German shells exploding, but again I
+was doomed to disappointment, for, with the exception of a few at a
+distance, I was never able to get the close ones in my field of view.
+
+Having exhausted my stock of film, I decided to return to my base, but
+on bidding adieu to the Commandant he begged me to return under cover of
+darkness. That night I set out for Furnes, and after walking about an
+hour, I was lucky enough to get a lift in an ambulance waggon, which set
+me down in the market-place.
+
+Entering the cafe by a side door, my Belgian friend seemed to me to be
+astounded at my appearance. He immediately rushed up to me, shook my
+hands and pummelled my back. His friends did the same. After I had got
+over my astonishment, I ventured to ask the reason for this jubilation.
+
+"We thought you were dead," he cried; "we heard you had been shot by the
+Germans, and as you had not turned up for the last five days, we came to
+the conclusion that it was true. But, monsieur, we cannot tell you how
+pleased we are to see you again alive and well."
+
+Seeing the condition I was in, they heated water for a bath, and
+assisted me in every way possible. When I was once more comfortable, I
+asked my friend, over a cup of coffee, to tell me the exact report, as
+it highly amused me.
+
+"Well, monsieur," he said, "your motor cyclist came rushing in the other
+evening, saying that Monsieur Malins, the Englishman, had been shot
+while crossing ground between the two batteries. He told us that you had
+been seen attempting the crossing; that you suddenly threw up your
+arms, and pitched forward dead. And, monsieur, we were preparing to send
+your bag to London, with a letter explaining the sad news. The Colonel
+was going to write the letter."
+
+"Well," I replied with a laugh, "I am worth a good many dead men yet. I
+remember crossing the ground you mention--but, anyway, the 'eye-witness'
+who saw my death was certainly 'seeing things.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+AMONG THE SNOWS OF THE VOSGES
+
+     I Start for the Vosges--Am Arrested on the Swiss
+     Frontier--And Released--But Arrested Again--And then Allowed
+     to Go My Way--Filming in the Firing Zone--A Wonderful French
+     Charge Over the Snow-clad Hills--I Take Big Risks--And Get a
+     Magnificent Picture.
+
+
+The man who wants to film a fight, unlike the man who wants to describe
+it, must be really on the spot. A comfortable corner in the Hotel des
+Quoi, at Boulogne, is no use to the camera man.
+
+"Is it possible to film actual events with the French troops in the
+Vosges and Alsace?" I was asked when I got back after my last adventure.
+
+"If the public wants those films," I replied, "the public must have
+them." And without any previous knowledge of the district, or its
+natural difficulties, apart from the normal military troubles to which
+by that time I was hardened, I set out for Paris, determined to plan my
+route according to what I learned there. And for the rest I knew it
+would be luck that would determine the result, because other camera men
+had attempted to cover the same district, men who knew everything there
+was to be known in the way of getting on the spot, and all had been
+turned back with trifling success.
+
+[Illustration: HOW I CARRIED MY FILM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR IN
+BELGIUM AND THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS]
+
+For various reasons, among them the claims of picturesqueness, St. Die
+struck me as the best field, and to get there it is necessary to make a
+detour into Switzerland. From Geneva, where I arranged for transport of
+my films in case of urgent need, much as an Arctic explorer would
+leave supplies of food behind him on his way to the Pole, I arranged in
+certain places that if I was not heard from at certain dates and certain
+times, enquiries were to be made, diplomatically, for me.
+
+From Basle I went to the Swiss frontier, and had a splendid view of the
+Alsace country, which was in German possession. German and Swiss guards
+stood on either side of the boundary, and they made such a picturesque
+scene that I filmed them, which was nearly disastrous. A gendarme
+pounced on me at once, took me to general headquarters and then back to
+Perrontruy, where I was escorted through the streets by an armed guard.
+
+At the military barracks I was thoroughly examined by the chief of the
+staff, who drew my attention to a military notice, prohibiting any
+photographing of Swiss soldiery. He decided that my offence was so rank
+that it must go before another tribunal, and off I was marched to
+Delemont, where a sort of court-martial was held on me. My film, of
+course, was confiscated; that was the least I could expect, but they
+also extracted a promise in writing that I would not take any more
+photographs in Switzerland, and they gave me a few hours to leave the
+country, by way of Berne.
+
+That didn't suit me at all. Berne was too far away from my intended
+destination, and, after a hurried study of the map, I decided to chance
+it, and go to Biel. I did. So did the man told off to watch me. And when
+I left the train at Biel he arrested me. I am afraid I sang "Rule
+Britannia" very loudly to those good gentlemen before whom he took me,
+claiming the right of a British citizen to do as he liked, within
+reason, in a neutral country.
+
+In the result they told me to get out of the country any way I liked, if
+only I would get out, and, as my opinion was much the same, we parted
+good friends.
+
+I had lost a week, and many feet of good film, which showed me that the
+difficulties I should have to face in my chosen field of operations were
+by far the greatest I had up to then encountered in any of my trips to
+the firing line. I pushed on through Besancon on the way to Belfort.
+
+Now Belfort, being a fortified town, was an obviously impossible place
+for me to get into, because I shouldn't get out again in a hurry. So I
+took a slow train, descended at a small station on the outskirts,
+prepared to make my way across country to Remiremont. This I achieved,
+very slowly, and with many difficulties, by means of peasants' carts and
+an occasional ride on horseback.
+
+This brought me into the firing zone, and the region of snow. My danger
+was increased, and my mode of progress more difficult, because for the
+first time in my life I had to take to skis. So many people have told
+the story of their first attempts with these that I will content myself
+with saying that, after many tumbles, I became roughly accustomed to
+them, and that when sledge transport was not available, I was able to
+make my way on ski. I don't suppose anyone else has ever learned to ski
+under such queer conditions, with the roar of big guns rumbling round
+all the time, with my whole expedition trembling every moment in the
+balance.
+
+The end of my journey to St. Die was the most dramatic part of the whole
+business. Tired out, I saw a cafe on the outskirts of the village, which
+I thought would serve me as a reconnoitring post, so I went in and
+ordered some coffee. I had not been there five minutes when some
+officers walked in, and drew themselves up sharply when they saw a
+stranger there, in a mud-stained costume that might have been a British
+army uniform. I decided to take the bold course. I rose, saluted them,
+and in my Anglo-French wished them good evening. They returned my
+greeting and sat down, conversing in an undertone, with an occasional
+side-flung glance at me. I saw that my attack would have to be pushed
+home, especially as I caught the word "_espion_," or my fevered
+imagination made me think I did.
+
+I rose and crossed to their table, all smiles, and in my best French
+heartily agreed with them that one has to be very careful in war time
+about spies. In fact, I added, I had no doubt they took me for one.
+
+This counter-attack--and possibly the very noticeable Britishness of my
+accent--rather confused them. Happily one of them spoke a little
+English, and, with that and my little French, satisfactory explanations
+were made.
+
+I affected no secrecy about my object, and asked them frankly if it
+would be possible for pictures of their regiment to be taken. One of
+them promised to speak to the Commandant about it. I begged them not to
+trouble about it, however, as really all I wanted was a hint as to when
+and where an engagement was probable, and then I would manage to be
+there.
+
+They shrugged their shoulders in a most grimly expressive way.
+
+"If you do that it will be at your own risk," they said.
+
+I gladly accepted the risk, and they then told me of one or two vantage
+points in the district from which I might manage to see something of the
+operations, taking my chance, of course, of anything happening near
+enough to be photographed, as they could not, and quite rightly would
+not, say anything as to the plans for the future.
+
+It was not quite midday. I had at least four hours of daylight, and I
+determined not to lose them. It was obvious that my stay in St. Die
+would be very brief at the best. I hired a sledge and persuaded the
+driver to take me part of the way at least to the nearest point which
+the officers had mentioned.
+
+But neither he nor his horse liked the way the shells were coming
+around, and at last even his avarice refused to be stimulated further at
+the expense of his courage. So I strapped on my skis, thankful for my
+earlier experience with them, and sped towards a wood which French
+soldiers were clearing of German snipers. I managed to get one or two
+good incidents there, though occasional uncertainty about my skis
+spoiled other fine scenes, and in my haste to move from one spot to
+another, I once went head over heels into a snowdrift many feet deep.
+
+The ludicrous spectacle that I must have cut only occurred to me
+afterwards, and the utterly inappropriate nature of such an incident
+within sight of men who were battling in life and death grip was a
+reflection for calmer moments. I do not mind confessing that my sole
+thought during the whole of that afternoon was my camera and my films.
+The lust of battle was in me too. I had overcome great difficulties to
+obtain not merely kinema-pictures, but actual vivid records of the Great
+War, scenes that posterity might look upon as true representations of
+the struggle their forefathers waged. Military experts may argue as to
+whether this move or that was really made in a battle: the tales of
+soldiers returned from the wars become, in passing from mouth to mouth,
+fables of the most wondrous deeds of prowess. But the kinema film never
+alters. It does not argue. It depicts.
+
+The terrific cannonade that was proceeding told me that beyond the crest
+of the hill an infantry attack was preparing. It was for me a question
+of finding both a vantage point and good cover, for shells had already
+whizzed screaming overhead and exploded not many yards behind me. There
+were the remains of a wall ahead, and I discarded my skis in order to
+crawl flat on my stomach to one of the larger remaining fragments, and
+when I got behind it I found a most convenient hole, which would allow
+me to work my camera without being exposed myself.
+
+In the distance a few scouts, black against the snow, crawled crouching
+up the hill.
+
+The attack was beginning.
+
+The snow-covered hill-side became suddenly black with moving figures
+sweeping in irregular formation up towards the crest. Big gun and rifle
+fire mingled like strophe and antistrophe of an anthem of death. There
+was a certain massiveness about the noise that was awful. Yet there was
+none of the traditional air of battle about the engagement. There was no
+hand to hand fighting, for the opponents were several hundred yards
+apart. It was just now and then when one saw a little distant figure
+pitch forward and lie still on the snow that one realised there was real
+fighting going on, and that it was not manoeuvres.
+
+The gallant French troops swept on up the hill, and I think I was the
+only man in all that district who noted the black trail of spent human
+life they left behind them.
+
+I raised myself ever so little to glance over the top of my scrap of
+sheltering wall, and away across the valley, on the crest of the other
+hill, I could see specks which were the Germans. They appeared to be
+massing ready for a charge, but the scene was too far away for the
+camera to record it with any distinctness.
+
+I therefore swept round again to the French lines, to meet the splendid
+sight of the French reserves dashing up over the hill behind me to the
+support. Every man seemed animated by the one idea--to take the hill.
+There was a swing, an air of irresistibility about them that was
+magnificent. But even in the midst of enthusiasm my trained sense told
+me that my position must have been visible to some of them, and that it
+was time for me to move.
+
+I edged my way along the broken stumps of wall to the shelter of a wood,
+and there, with bullets from snipers occasionally sending twigs, leaves,
+and even branches pattering down around me, with shells bursting all
+round, I continued to film the general attack until the spool in the
+camera ran out. To have changed spools there would have been the height
+of folly, so I plunged down a side path, where in the shelter of a dell,
+with thick undergrowth, I loaded up my camera again, and utterly
+careless of direction, made a dash for the edge of the wood again,
+emerging just in time to catch the passage of a French regiment
+advancing along the edge of the wood to cut off the retreat of the
+little party of Germans who had been endeavouring to hold it as an
+advanced sniping-post.
+
+Snipers seemed to be in every tree. Bullets whistled down like acorns in
+the autumn breeze, but the French suddenly formed a semi-circle and
+pushed right into the wood, driving the enemy from their perches in the
+trees or shooting them as they scrambled down.
+
+Through the wood I plunged, utterly ignoring every danger, both from
+friend or foe, in the thrill of that wonderful "drive." Luck, however,
+was with me. Neither the French nor the Germans seemed to see me, and we
+all suddenly came out of the wood at the far side, and I then managed to
+get a splendid picture of the end of the pursuit, when the French, wild
+with excitement at their success in clearing the district of the enemy,
+plunged madly down the hill in chase of the last remnants of the sniping
+band.
+
+A few seconds later I darted back into the cover of the trees.
+
+My mission was accomplished. I had secured pictures of actual events in
+the Vosges. But that was the least part of my work. I had to get the
+film to London.
+
+The excitement of the pursuit had taken me far from my starting-point,
+and with the reaction that set in when I was alone in the wood, with all
+its memories and its ghastly memorials of the carnage, I found it
+required all my strength of nerve to push me on. I had to plough through
+open spaces, two feet and more deep in snow, through undergrowth, not
+knowing at what moment I might stumble across some unseen thing. Above
+all, I had but the barest recollection of my direction. It seemed many
+hours before I regained my stump of wall and found my skis lying just
+where I had cast them off.
+
+It was a race against time, too, for dusk was falling, and I knew that
+it would be impossible to get out of St. Die by any conveyance after
+dark.
+
+I had the luck to find a man with a sledge, who was returning to a
+distant village, some way behind the war zone, and he agreed for a
+substantial consideration to take me. We drove for many hours through
+the night, and it was very late when at last, in a peasant's cottage, I
+flung myself fully dressed on a sofa, for there was no spare bed, and
+slept like a log for several hours.
+
+It was by many odd conveyances that I made my way to Besancon, and
+thence to Dijon. I had managed to clean myself up, and looked less like
+an escaped convict than I had done; but I was very wary all the way to
+Paris, where I communicated with headquarters, and received orders to
+rush the films across to London as fast as ever I could.
+
+Having overcome the perils of the land, I had to face those of the sea,
+for the German submarines were just beginning their campaign against
+merchant shipping, and cross-Channel steamers were an almost certain
+mark. So the boat service was suspended for a day or two, and there was
+I stranded in Dieppe with my precious films, as utterly shut off from
+London as the German army.
+
+I was held up there for three days, during which time I secured pictures
+of the steamer _Dinorah_, which limped into port after being torpedoed,
+of a sailing vessel which had struck a mine, and some interesting scenes
+on board French torpedo boat destroyers as they returned from patrolling
+the Channel.
+
+I spent most of my time hanging around the docks, ready to rush on board
+any steamer that touched at an English port. At last I heard of one that
+would start at midnight. My films were all packed in tins, sealed with
+rubber solution to make them absolutely watertight, and the tins were
+strung together, so that in the event of the ship going down I could
+have slipped them round my waist. If they went to the bottom I should go
+too, but if I was saved I was determined not to reach London without
+them.
+
+As it happened, my adventures were at an end. We saw nothing of any
+under-water pirates, and my trip to the fighting line ended in a prosaic
+taxi-cab through London streets that seemed to know nothing of war.
+
+
+
+
+PART II
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HOW I CAME TO MAKE OFFICIAL WAR PICTURES
+
+     I am Appointed an Official War Office Kinematographer--And
+     Start for the Front Line Trenches--Filming the German Guns
+     in Action--With the Canadians--Picturesque Hut Settlement
+     Among the Poplars--"Hyde Park Corner"--Shaving by
+     Candlelight in Six Inches of Water--Filming in Full View of
+     the German Lines, 75 yards away--A Big Risk, but a Realistic
+     Picture.
+
+
+During the early days of the war I worked more or less as a free lance
+camera man, both in Belgium and in France, and it was not till the
+autumn of 1915 that I was appointed an Official Kinematographer by the
+War Office, and was dispatched to the Front to take films, under the
+direction of Kinematograph Trade Topical Committee. When offered the
+appointment, I did not take long to decide upon its acceptance. I was
+ready and anxious to go, and as I had had considerable experience of the
+work, both in Belgium and in the Vosges, I knew pretty well what was
+expected of me. Numerous interviews with the authorities and members of
+the Committee followed, and for a few days I was kept in a fever of
+expectation.
+
+Eventually arrangements were completed, and the announcement was then
+made that Mr. Tong (of Jury's Imperial Pictures) and myself had been
+appointed Official War Office Kinematographers. I was in the seventh
+heaven of delight, and looked forward to an early departure for the
+Front in my official capacity. This came soon enough, and on the eve of
+our going Tong and I were entertained to dinner by the members of the
+Topical Committee, and during the post-prandial talk many interesting
+and complimentary things were said.
+
+We left Charing Cross on an early morning in November, and several
+members of the Committee were there to see us off, and wish us
+God-speed. We reached the other side safely, after a rather choppy
+crossing, and soon I was on my way to the Front--and the front line
+trenches, if possible.
+
+Passing through Bailleul, Armentieres and Ploegsteert, I was able to
+film some hidden batteries in action. As the whole road was in full view
+of the German lines we had to go very carefully. Several shells dropped
+close by me when running across the open ground. I managed at last to
+get into a house, and from a top window, or rather what was once a
+window, filmed the guns in action.
+
+While doing so an artillery officer came and told me not to move too
+much as the Germans had been trying to find this battery for some
+considerable time, and if they saw any movement they would undoubtedly
+start to shell heavily. Not wishing to draw a cloud of shells on me,
+needless to say, I was very careful. Eventually I obtained the desired
+view, and making my way through the communication trenches to the front
+of the guns, I obtained excellent pictures of rapid firing. I had to
+keep very low the whole of the time. About forty yards on my right a
+small working party of our men had been seen, and they were immediately
+"strafed."
+
+During the next few days it rained the whole of the time, and there was
+little opportunity for photography; but I obtained some excellent
+scenes, showing the conditions under which our men were living and
+fighting, and their indomitable cheerfulness.
+
+[Illustration: THE STATE OF THE TRENCHES IN WHICH WE LIVED AND SLEPT (?)
+FOR WEEKS ON END DURING THE FIRST AND SECOND WINTER OF WAR]
+
+[Illustration: OUR DUG-OUTS IN THE FRONT LINE AT PICANTIN IN WHICH WE
+LIVED, FOUGHT, AND MANY DIED DURING 1914-15, BEFORE THE DAYS OF TIN
+HATS]
+
+About this time I arranged to go to the Canadian front trenches, in
+their section facing Messines. Arriving at the headquarters at Bailleul,
+I met Lieutenant-Colonel ----, and we decided to go straight to the
+front line. Leaving in a heavy rain, we splashed our way through one
+continuous stream of mud and water. Mile after mile of it. In places the
+water covered the entire road, until at times one hardly knew which was
+the road and which was the ditch alongside. Several times our car got
+ditched. Shell-holes dotted our path everywhere.
+
+Apart from the rotten conditions, the journey proved most interesting;
+vehicles of all kinds, from motor-buses to wheelbarrows, were rushing
+backwards and forwards, taking up supplies and returning empty.
+Occasionally we passed ambulance cars, with some poor fellows inside
+suffering from frost-bite, or "trench-foot" as it is generally called
+out here. Though their feet were swathed in bandages, and they were
+obviously in great pain, they bore up like true Britons. Line after line
+of men passed us. Those coming from the trenches were covered in mud
+from head to foot, but they were all smiling, and they swung along with
+a word and a jest as if they were marching down Piccadilly. Those going
+in to take their places: were they gloomy? Not a bit of it! If anything
+they were more cheerful, and quipped their mud-covered comrades on their
+appearance.
+
+We drew up at a ruined farm-house, which the Colonel told me used to be
+their headquarters, until the position was given away by spies. Then the
+Germans started shelling it until there was hardly a brick standing.
+Luckily none of the staff were killed. Leaving the farm, we made our way
+on foot to Ploegsteert Wood. A terrible amount of "strafing" was going
+on here. Shells were exploding all round, and our guns were replying
+with "interest." As we made our way cautiously up to the side of the
+wood, with mud half way up to our knees, we scrambled, or rather
+waddled, round the base of the much-contested hill, which the Germans
+tried their hardest to keep, but which, thanks to the Canadians, we
+wrested from them.
+
+Under cover of canvas screens, which in many places were blown away by
+shell-fire, and bending low to save our heads from the snipers' bullets,
+we gained the communication trenches. Again wading knee-deep in mud and
+water, we eventually reached the firing trench.
+
+The German front line was only sixty-five yards away, and the town of
+Messines could be seen in the distance.
+
+Staying in this section of trench, I filmed several scenes of the men at
+work repairing and rebuilding the sides which the night previous had
+been destroyed by shell-fire and the heavy rains. Then followed scenes
+of relief parties coming in, and working parties hard at it trying to
+drain their dug-outs. This latter seemed to me an almost superhuman
+task; but through it all, the men smiled. Bending low, I raced across an
+open space, and with a jump landed in an advanced sniper's post, in a
+ruined farm-house. I filmed him, carefully and coolly picking off the
+Germans foolish enough to show their heads.
+
+Then I set my camera up behind what I thought quite a safe screen, to
+film a general view of our front line, but I had hardly started exposing
+when, with murderous little shrieks, two bullets whizzed close by my
+head--quite as near as I shall ever want them. Dropping as low as
+possible, I reached up, and still turning the handle finished the scene.
+Then followed several pictures of scouts and snipers making their way
+across the ground, taking advantage of any slight cover they could get,
+in order to take up suitable positions for their work.
+
+By this time the light was getting rather bad, and as it was still
+raining hard I made my way back. During the return journey, an officer
+who accompanied me showed himself unknowingly above the parapet, and
+"zipp" came a bullet, which ripped one of the stars off his coat.
+
+"Jove!" said he, with the greatest of _sang-froid_, "that's a near
+thing; but it's spoilt my shoulder-strap": and with a laugh we went on
+our way.
+
+Again we had to cross the open ground to the covered way. Accordingly we
+spread out about fifty yards apart, and proceeded. Careful as we were,
+the Germans spotted us, and from thence onwards to the top of the hill
+shrapnel shells burst all round us and overhead. Several pieces fell
+almost at my feet, but by a miracle I escaped unscathed.
+
+For some minutes I had to lie crouching in a ditch, sitting in water. It
+was a veritable inferno of fire. I cautiously worked my way along. Where
+the rest of the party had gone I did not know. I hugged my camera to my
+chest and staggered blindly on. In about half an hour I gained the cover
+of some bushes, and for the first time had a chance to look about me.
+The firing had momentarily ceased, and from various ditches I saw the
+heads of the other officers pop out. The sight was too funny for words.
+With a hearty laugh they jumped up and hurried away. My chauffeur, who
+incidentally used to carry my tripod, was the most sorry spectacle for
+he was absolutely covered from head to foot with clay, and my tripod was
+quite unrecognisable. Hurrying over the top of the hill we gained our
+cars, and rapidly beat a retreat for headquarters.
+
+The following day I went to film the ruins of Richebourg St. Vaaste.
+What an awful spectacle! A repetition of the horrors of Ypres on a
+smaller scale. Nothing left, only the bare skeletons of the houses and
+the church. With great difficulty, I managed to climb to the top of the
+ruined tower, and filmed the town from that point. I was told by an
+observation officer to keep low, as the Germans had the church still
+under fire. Naturally I did so, not wishing for a shell that might bring
+the tower down, and myself with it.
+
+Remarkable to relate, the figure of Christ upon the Cross was untouched
+in the midst of this terrible scene of devastation. Subsequently the
+tower was completely destroyed by German shells.
+
+Hearing that the Canadian guns were going to bombard Petite Douve, a
+large farmstead which the Germans had fortified with machine-guns and
+snipers, I started off from headquarters in the company of a
+lieutenant-colonel and a captain. A few passing remarks on the
+conditions of the road as we went along to Hill 63 will be interesting.
+No matter where one looked there was mud and water. In several places
+the roads were flooded to a depth of six inches, and our cars several
+times sank above the front axle in hidden shell-holes. The whole
+district was pitted with them. Entire sections of artillery were stuck
+in the mud on the roadside, and all the efforts of the men failed to
+move them.
+
+All around us hidden guns, 4.5 and 9.2, were hurtling their messengers
+of death with a monotonous regularity. Passing a signpost, marked "Hyde
+Park Corner," which looked incongruous in such a place, we entered
+Ploegsteert Wood. But what a change! It was as if one had suddenly
+left France and dropped unceremoniously into the western woods of
+America, in the times of the old pioneers. By the wood-side, as far as
+one could see, stretched a series of log-huts. To the right the same
+scene unfolded itself. Our cars came to a stop. Then I had a chance to
+study the settings more closely.
+
+[Illustration: CHOOSING A POSITION FOR MY CAMERA IN THE FRONT LINE
+TRENCH AT PICANTIN, WITH THE GUARDS. WINTER, 1915-16]
+
+What a picture! Amidst all the glamour of war, these huts, surrounded by
+tall poplars, which stood grim, gaunt and leafless--in many places
+branchless, owing to the enemies' shells, which tore their way
+through them--presented the most picturesque scene I had come across for
+many a long day. Upon the boards fixed over the doorposts were written
+the names of familiar London places. As the time of the bombardment was
+drawing near I could not stay at the moment to film anything, but
+decided to do so at an early opportunity.
+
+Sharing my apparatus with two men, we started climbing through eighteen
+inches of slimy mud towards the top of Hill 63. The effort was almost
+backbreaking. At last we got through and paused, under cover of the
+ruins of an old chateau, to gain breath. To negotiate the top needed
+care as it was in full view of the German front. I went first with the
+Captain, and both of us kept practically doubled up, and moved on all
+fours. The men behind us waited until we had covered about one hundred
+yards, then they followed. We decided to make for a point in the
+distance which was at one time a grand old chateau. Now it was nothing
+more than a heap of rubble. We waited for the remainder of the party to
+come up before proceeding, the idea being that in case either of us was
+hit by shrapnel, or picked off by a sniper, no time would be lost in
+rendering assistance.
+
+Resting awhile, we again proceeded in the same order as before. We were
+held up by a sentry, and warned to take to the communication trenches
+down the hill, as German snipers had been picking off men in the working
+parties the whole of the morning, and shrapnel was continually bursting
+overhead. We entered the trench, and as usual sank up to our knees in
+mud.
+
+How in the world we got through it I don't know! Every time I lifted my
+foot it seemed as though the mud would suck my knee-boot off. After
+going along in this way for about three hundred yards, and occasionally
+ducking my head to avoid being hit by bursting shells, we came to a
+ruined barn. The cellars had been converted, with the aid of a good
+supply of sandbags, into a miniature fort. A sloping tunnel led to the
+interior, and the Captain going in front, we entered.
+
+There by the light of a candle, and standing in a good six inches of
+water, was a captain shaving himself. This officer the previous week had
+led his party of bombers into the German trenches, killed over thirty
+and captured twelve, and only suffered one casualty. For this action he
+was awarded the D.S.O. I was introduced, and sitting on the edge of a
+bench we chatted until the others came up. A few minutes later the
+Colonel entered.
+
+We then started off in single file down the other side of Hill 63. I had
+to take advantage of any bit of cover that offered itself during the
+descent. At one point we had to cross an open space between a ruined
+farm and a barn. The Germans had several snipers who concentrated on
+this point, and there was considerable risk in getting across. Bending
+low, however, I started, and when half-way over I heard the whistle of a
+bullet overhead. I dropped flat and crawled the remainder of the
+distance, reaching cover in safety.
+
+At that moment our big guns started shelling the German trenches, and
+knowing that the diversion would momentarily occupy the snipers'
+attention the others raced safely across in a body. The remainder of the
+journey was made in comparative safety, the only danger being from
+exploding shrapnel overhead. But one does not trouble very much about
+that after a time. Reaching the front trenches, I made my way along to a
+point from which I could best view the Petite Douve. Obtaining a
+waterproof sheet we carefully raised it very, very slowly above the
+parapet with the aid of a couple of bayonets. Without a doubt, I
+thought, the Germans would be sure to notice something different on
+that section after a few seconds. And so it proved. Two rifle-shots rang
+out from the enemy trench, and right through the sheet they went.
+
+Our object in putting up this temporary screen was to hide the erection
+of my tripod and camera, and then at the moment the bombardment began it
+was to be taken away, and I would risk the rest.
+
+Just when the bullets came through I was bending to fasten the tripod
+legs. A few seconds earlier and one or other of them would have surely
+found my head. Getting some sandbags, we carefully pushed them on to the
+parapet, in order to break the contact as much as possible, and we put
+one in front of the camera in a direct line to cover the movement of my
+hand while exposing. I was now ready. Raising my head above the parapet
+for a final look, I noticed I was fully exposed to the right German
+trenches, and was just on the point of asking Captain ---- if there was
+any possibility of getting sniped from that direction when with a "zipp"
+a bullet passed directly between our heads. Having obtained such a
+practical and prompt answer to my enquiry, though not exactly the kind I
+had expected, I had some more sandbags placed, one on top of the other,
+to shelter my head as much as possible.
+
+All I had to do now was to focus, and to do that I lifted the bottom
+edge of the screen gently. In a few seconds it was done, and dropping
+the screen, I waited for the first shot. I was warned by an observing
+officer that I had still five minutes to spare. They were not bombarding
+until 2.15. German shells were continually dropping all round. The part
+of the hill down which we came was getting quite a lively time of it.
+The enemy seemed to be searching every spot. On the right a Canadian
+sniper was at work, taking careful aim. Turning to me, he said:
+
+"Wall, sir, I bet that chap won't want any more headache pills."
+
+The remark caused a good deal of laughter.
+
+Boom--boom--boom. In rapid succession came two shells from our guns.
+Everyone was alert. I sprang to my camera. Two men were standing by me,
+ready to take down the screen. Boom came another shell, and at a sign
+the men dropped the screen.
+
+I was exposed to the full view of the German lines, from my shoulders
+upwards.
+
+I started exposing; the shells came in rapid succession, dropping right
+in the middle of the Petite Douve. As they fell clouds of bricks and
+other debris were thrown in the air; the din was terrific. Nothing in
+the world could possibly have lived there. After about thirty shells had
+been dropped there was a slight pause for about half a minute, during
+which I continued turning the handle. The Germans were too occupied in
+getting under cover to notice the fine target my head offered, for not a
+single shot was fired at me.
+
+Once more our guns rang out, and in as many seconds--at least so it
+seemed to me--another thirty shells dropped into the buildings and tore
+them wall from wall. Word was then passed to me that this was the
+finishing salvo.
+
+With the same suddenness as it had begun, the firing ceased. Dropping
+quickly, and dragging the camera after me, I stood safely once more in
+the bottom of the trench and, to tell the truth, I was glad it was over.
+To put one's head above the parapet of a trench, with the Germans only
+seventy-five yards away, and to take a kinematograph picture of a
+bombardment, is not one of the wisest--or safest--things to do!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE FRONT
+
+     Leave-taking at Charing Cross--A Fruitless Search for Food
+     on Christmas Eve--How Tommy Welcomed the Coming of the
+     Festive Season--"Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men" to the
+     Boom of the Big Guns--Filming the Guards' Division--And the
+     Prince of Wales--Coming from a Christmas Service--This Year
+     and Next.
+
+
+On December 23rd I met an officer, a captain, at Charing Cross Station.
+We were leaving by the 8.50 train, and we were not the only ones to
+leave Christmas behind, for hundreds of men were returning to the Front.
+Heartbreaking scenes were taking place, and many of the brave women-folk
+were stifling their sobs, in order to give their men a pleasant
+send-off, possibly for the last time.
+
+Amidst hurried good-byes and fond kisses from mothers, sisters,
+sweethearts and wives, and with shouts of good luck from hundreds of
+throats, the train started off. Handkerchiefs were waved from many
+windows, cheerful heads were thrust out, and not until the train had
+cleared the platform, and the "hurrahs" had faded away in the distance,
+did we take our seats. Then with set faces, grim with determination, we
+resigned ourselves to the fate that awaited us on the battlefields of
+France. Reaching Boulogne, after a rather choppy voyage, our car
+conveyed us to G.H.Q., which we reached late in the evening.
+
+The following morning I was told to leave for La Gorgue, to film scenes
+connected with the Guards' Division. Late that afternoon, the Captain
+and I set out for our destination, reaching there about 8 o'clock. I
+was billeted in a private house, and immediately enquired for some food,
+but it was impossible to obtain any there. Going out I walked through
+the town, in the hope of finding a place to get something. But none
+could be found. Feeling very tired, I began to retrace my steps, with
+the intention of going to bed.
+
+On my way back I had reason to change my mind. Quite an interesting
+scene unfolded itself. The boom of the guns rang out sharp and clear.
+The moon was shining brightly, and at intervals there flashed across the
+sky the not-far-distant glare of star-shells. In the houses, lining both
+sides of the road, there was music, from the humble mouth-organ to the
+piano, and lusty British voices were singing old English tunes with the
+enthusiasm of boyhood.
+
+On the pavement clusters of our Tommies were proceeding towards their
+billets, singing heartily at the top of their voices. Some batches were
+singing carols, others the latest favourites, such as "Keep the Home
+Fires Burning."
+
+No matter where one went, the same conditions and the same sounds
+prevailed; just happy-go-lucky throngs, filled with the songs and
+laughter born of the spirit of Christmas. And yet as I reached my room,
+despite the scenes of joyousness and hilarity rampant, I could still
+hear the crash of the guns.
+
+[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF WALES TRYING TO LOCATE MY "CAMOUFLAGED
+CAMERA"]
+
+[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF WALES LEAVING A TEMPORARY CHURCH AT LA
+GORGUE, XMAS DAY, 1915]
+
+This was my second Christmas at the Front, although not in the same
+district. Last year I was with the brave Belgian army. This year was
+certainly very different in all respects except the weather, and that
+was as poisonous as ever. A miserable, misty, drifting rain, which would
+soak through to the skin in a few minutes anyone not provided with a
+good rainproof. Donning my Burberry, I proceeded towards a small chapel,
+or rather to a building which is now used as one. It was originally a
+workshop. On three sides it was entirely surrounded by the floods. The
+front door was just clear, but I had to paddle through mud half-way up
+to my knees to get there. I intended to obtain a film of the Guards'
+Division attending the Christmas service.
+
+Fixing up my camera, I awaited their arrival. After a short time they
+came along, headed by their band. What a fine body of men! Swinging
+along with firm stride, they came past. Thinking I had got sufficient I
+packed my camera, when, to my astonishment, I saw the Prince of Wales,
+with Lord Cavan, coming up at the rear. Rushing back to my old position,
+I endeavoured to fix up again, to film them coming in, but I was too
+late. "Anyway," I thought, "I will get him coming out."
+
+Fixing up my machine at a new and advantageous point of view, I waited.
+The service began. I could hear the strains of the old, old carols and
+Christmas hymns. Surely one could not have heard them under stranger
+conditions, for as the sound of that beautiful carol, "Peace on Earth,
+Good Will to Men!" swelled from the throats of several hundreds of our
+troops, the heavy guns thundered out round after round with increasing
+intensity. Strange that at such a moment so terrific a bombardment
+should have taken place. It seems as if some strange telepathic
+influence was at work, commanding all the guns in the vicinity to open
+fire with redoubled fury. And high in the air, our steel "birds" were
+hovering over the enemy lines, directing the fire, and flecked all round
+them, like flakes of snow, was the smoke from the shrapnel shells fired
+on them by the Germans.
+
+"Peace on earth, good will to men," came the strains of music from the
+little church. Crash! went the guns again and again, throwing their
+shrieking mass of metal far overhead. I fell into a deep reverie, and
+my thoughts naturally strayed to those at home.
+
+Returning to my room. I donned my thick woollen coat, as I intended to
+rush off to G.H.Q. to see Tong, who had got a bad attack of dysentery,
+and try and cheer him up. Getting into my car, I told the chauffeur to
+drive like the wind. I had fifty kilometres to go. Away we rushed
+through the night, and as we went through villages where our Tommies
+were billeted, the strains of the old home songs--Irish, Scotch and
+English--were wafted to my ears. Except for the incessant shelling, the
+flash of guns, and the distant glare from the star-shells, it was almost
+impossible to believe we were in the terrible throes of war. I arrived
+at G.H.Q. about 8.30 p.m.
+
+Poor Tong was very queer and feeling dejected. Not being able to speak
+French, he could not let the people of the hotel know what he wanted. I
+soon made him as comfortable as possible, and sat beside his bed
+chatting about this, the strangest Christmas Day I had ever experienced.
+After remaining with him for about an hour and a half, I again started
+for the front line, where I arrived about 1 a.m., dog-tired, and at once
+turned in.
+
+So ended my second Christmas Day at the Front, and, as I dozed off to
+sleep, I found myself wondering whether the next Christmas would find me
+still in France. Should I be listening to carols and guns at the Front,
+or would the message of the bells peal from a church in an adjacent
+street at home, and announce the coming of another Christmas to me and
+mine?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+I GET INTO A WARM CORNER
+
+     Boxing Day--But No Pantomime--Life in the Trenches--A Sniper
+     at Work--Sinking a Mine Shaft--The Cheery Influence of an
+     Irish Padre--A Cemetery Behind the Lines--Pathetic
+     Inscriptions and Mementoes on Dead Heroes' Graves--I Get
+     Into a Pretty Warm Corner--And Have Some Difficulty in
+     Getting Out Again--But All's Well that Ends Well.
+
+
+Boxing Day! But nothing out of the ordinary happened. I filmed the Royal
+Welsh Fusiliers en route for the trenches. As usual, the weather was
+impossible, and the troops came up in motor-buses. At the sound of a
+whistle, they formed up in line and stopped, and the men scrambled out
+and stood to attention by the roadside. They were going to the front
+line. They gave me a parting cheer, and a smile that they knew would be
+seen by the people in England--perchance by their own parents.
+
+I went along the famous La Bassee Road--the most fiercely contested
+stretch in that part of the country. It was literally lined with
+shell-destroyed houses, large and small; chateaux and hovels. All had
+been levelled to the ground by the Huns. I filmed various scenes of the
+Coldstreams, the Irish and the Grenadier Guards. At the furthermost
+point of the road to which cars are allowed shells started to fall
+rather heavily, so, not wishing to argue the point with them, I took
+cover. When the "strafing" ceased I filmed other interesting scenes, and
+then returned to my headquarters.
+
+The next day was very interesting, and rather exciting. I was to go to
+the front trenches and get some scenes of the men at work under actual
+conditions. Proceeding by the Road, I reached the Croix Rouge crossing,
+which was heavily "strafed" the previous day. Hiding the car under cover
+of a partly demolished house, and strapping the camera on my back, my
+orderly carrying the tripod, I started out to walk the remaining
+distance. I had not gone far when a sentry advised me not to proceed
+further on the road, but to take to the trench lining it, as the
+thoroughfare from this point was in full view of the German artillery
+observers. Not wishing to be shelled unnecessarily, I did as he
+suggested. "And don't forget to keep your head down, sir," was his last
+remark. So bending nearly double, I proceeded. As a further precaution,
+I kept my man behind me at a distance of about twenty yards. Several
+times high explosives and shrapnel came unpleasantly near.
+
+Presently I came upon a wooden tramway running at right angles to the
+road. My instructions were to proceed along it until I came to "Signpost
+Lane." Why it was so dubbed I was unable to discover, but one thing I
+was certainly not kept in ignorance of for long, and that was that it
+was perpetually under heavy shell-fire by the Germans. They were
+evidently under the impression that it was the route taken by our relief
+parties going to the trenches at appointed times during the day, and so
+they fairly raked it with shell-fire.
+
+Unfortunately I happened to arrive on one of these occasions, and I knew
+it. Shells dropped all round us. Hardly a square yard of ground seemed
+untouched. Under such conditions it was no good standing. I looked round
+for cover, but there was none. The best thing to do under the
+circumstances was to go straight on, trust to Providence, and make for
+the communication trenches with all speed. I doubled like a hare over
+the intervening ground, and I was glad when I reached the trenches, for
+once there, unless a shell bursts directly overhead, or falls on top of
+you, the chances of getting hit are very small.
+
+I was now in the sniping zone, and could continually hear the crack of a
+Hun rifle, and the resulting thud of a bullet striking the mud or the
+sandbags, first one side then the other. The communication trenches
+seemed interminable, and, as we neared the front line, the mud got
+deeper and parts of the trench were quite water-logged.
+
+Plod, plod, plod; section after section, traverse after traverse.
+Suddenly I came upon a party of sappers mending the parapet top with
+newly filled sandbags. At that particular section a shell had dropped
+fairly near and destroyed it, and anyone walking past that gap stood a
+very good chance of having the top of his head taken off. These men were
+filling up the breach. "Keep your head well down, sir," shouted one, as
+I came along. "They" (meaning the Germans) "have got this place marked."
+
+Down went my head, and I passed the gap safely.
+
+We were now well up in the firing trench. Fixing the camera, and the
+rest of the apparatus, I began taking scenes of actual life and
+conditions in the trenches--that mysterious land about which millions
+have read but have never had the opportunity of seeing. No mere verbal
+description would suffice to describe them. Every minute the murderous
+crack of rifles and the whir of machine-guns rang out. Death hovered all
+round. In front the German rifles, above the bursting shrapnel, each
+shell scattering its four hundred odd leaden bullets far and wide,
+killing or wounding any unfortunate man who happened to be in the way.
+
+The trenches looked as if a giant cataclysm of Nature had taken place.
+The whole earth had been upheaved, and in each of the mud-hills men had
+burrowed innumerable paths, seven feet deep. It was hard to distinguish
+men from mud. The former were literally caked from head to foot with the
+latter. I filmed the men at work. There were several snipers calmly
+smoking their cigarettes and taking careful aim at the enemy.
+
+Crack--crack--crack--simultaneously.
+
+"Sure, sir," remarked one burly Irish Guardsman, "and he'll never bob
+his ---- head up any more. It's him I've been afther this several
+hours!" And as coolly as if he had been at a rifle range at home, the
+man discharged the empty cartridge-case and stood with his rifle,
+motionless as a rock, his eyes like those of an eagle.
+
+All this time it was raining hard. I worked my way along the
+never-ending traverses. Coming upon a mount of sandbags, I enquired of
+an officer present the nature and cause of its formation. He bade me
+follow him. At one corner a narrow, downward path came into view.
+Trudging after him, I entered this strange shelter. Inside it was quite
+dark, but in a few seconds, when my eyes had got used to the conditions,
+I observed a hole in the centre of the floor about five feet square.
+
+Peering over the edge, I saw that the shaft was about _twenty-five feet
+deep_, and that there was a light at the bottom. It then dawned upon me
+what it really was. It was a mine-shaft. At the bottom, men worked at
+their deadly occupation, burrowing at right angles under our own
+trenches (under "No Man's Land") and under the German lines. They laid
+their mines, and at the appointed time exploded them, thus causing a
+great amount of damage to the enemy's parapets and trenches, and killing
+large numbers of the occupants.
+
+Retracing my steps, I fixed the camera up and filmed the men entering
+the mines and others bringing up the excavated earth in sandbags and
+placing them on the outside of the barricade. Then I paused to film the
+men at work upon a trench road. Thinking I could obtain a better view
+from a point in the distance, I started off for it, bent nearly double,
+when a warning shout from an officer bade me be careful. I reached the
+point. Although about fifty yards behind the firing trench, I was under
+the impression that I was still sheltered by the parapet. Evidently I
+had raised my head too high while fixing up the tripod, for with a
+murderous whistle two bullets "zipped" by overhead. I must be more
+careful if I wanted to get away with a whole skin; so bending low, I
+filmed the scene, and then returned.
+
+While proceeding along the line, I filmed the regimental padre of the
+Irish Guards wading through the mud and exchanging a cheery word with
+every man he passed. What a figure he was! Tall and upright, with a long
+dark beard, and a voice that seemed kind and cheery enough to influence
+even the dead. He inspired confidence wherever he went. He stayed awhile
+to talk to several men who were sitting in their dug-outs pumping the
+water out before they could enter. His words seemed to make the men work
+with redoubled vigour. Then he passed on.
+
+Along this section, at the back of the dug-outs, were innumerable white
+crosses, leaning at all angles, in the mud. They were the last
+resting-place of our dead heroes. On each cross a comrade had written a
+short inscription, and some of these, though simple, and at times badly
+spelt, revealed a pathos and a feeling that almost brought tears to the
+eyes. For all its slime and mud it was the most beautiful cemetery I
+have ever seen. On some of the graves were a few wildflowers. No
+wreaths; no marble headstones; no elaborate ornamentation; but in their
+place a battered cap, a rusty rifle or a mud-covered haversack, the
+treasured belongings of the dead.
+
+I had barely finished filming this scene when with a shriek several
+shells came hurtling overhead from the German guns and burst about a
+hundred yards behind our firing line. Quickly adjusting the camera, I
+covered the section with my lens. In a few seconds more shells came
+over, and turning the handle I filmed them as they burst, throwing up
+enormous quantities of earth. The Huns were evidently firing at
+something. What that something was I soon found out. An enemy observer
+had seen a small working party crossing an open space. The guns
+immediately opened fire. Whether they inflicted any casualties I do not
+know, but a few minutes later the same party of men passed me as though
+nothing had happened.
+
+The rain was still falling, and the mist getting heavy, so I decided to
+make my way back to headquarters. Packing up, and bidding adieu to the
+officers, I started on the return journey through the communication
+trenches. One officer told me to go back the same way, via "Signpost
+Lane." "You will manage to get through before their evening 'strafing,'"
+he called out. After wearily trudging through nearly a mile of trenches,
+I came out at "Signpost Lane," and I am never likely to forget it.
+
+We had left the shelter of the trench, and were hurrying, nearly
+doubled, across a field, when a German observer spotted us. The next
+minute "whizz-bangs" started falling around us like rain. No matter
+which way I turned, the tarnation things seemed to follow and burst with
+a deafening crash. At last, I reached the crossing, and was making my
+way down the trench lining the road, when a shell dropped and exploded
+not thirty feet ahead. But on I went, for a miss is as good as a mile.
+About a hundred yards further on was the battered shell of a farm-house.
+When almost up to it a couple of shells dropped fairly in the middle of
+it and showered the bricks all round. A fairly warm spot!
+
+I had just reached the corner of the building when I heard the shriek of
+a shell coming nearer. I guessed it was pretty close, and without a
+moment's hesitation dropped in the mud and water of a small ditch, and
+not a moment too soon for with a dull thud the shell struck and burst
+hardly seven feet from me. Had I not fallen down these lines would never
+have been written. Picking myself up, I hurried on. Still the shells
+continued to drop, but fortunately at a greater distance. When I reached
+Croix Rouge, I was literally encased in mud. Our progress along the road
+had been anxiously watched by the sentries and by my chauffeur.
+
+"Well, sir," said the latter, with a sigh of relief, "I certainly
+thought they had you that time."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE BATTLEFIELD OF NEUVE CHAPELLE
+
+     A Visit to the Old German Trenches--Reveals a Scene of
+     Horror that Defies Description--Dodging the Shells--I Lose
+     the Handle of My Camera--And then Lose My Man--The Effect of
+     Shell-fire on a Novice--In the Village of Neuve Chapelle--A
+     Scene of Devastation--The Figure of the Lonely Christ.
+
+
+It occurred to me that an interesting film might be made out of scenes
+of the battlefield of Neuve Chapelle. The very thought of it conjured up
+a reeking, whirling mass of humanity, fighting with all the most
+devilish, death-dealing weapons that had ever been conceived by the mind
+of man. I decided to do a picture of the scene, and took with me an
+orderly who had never been under fire before.
+
+We proceeded along the La Bassee Road, and at the Croix Rouge proceeded
+on foot towards Neuve Chapelle. As usual, Bosche shelling was so
+consistent in its intensity that we thought it advisable to spread out a
+bit in case a shell burst near us. My guide was Major ----, who
+commanded one of the regiments holding the ground on the other side of
+Neuve Chapelle.
+
+Eventually I reached the assembly trenches, where our men concentrated
+for the great attack. In shape they were just ordinary trenches,
+branches off a main gallery, but they were in an awful state of decay,
+and literally torn to shreds by shell-fire. What tales these old
+sandbags might tell if only they could speak, tales of our brave boys
+and our Indian troops that would live for ever in the history of
+mankind. Standing upon one of the parapets, I looked round, and
+marvelled that it was possible in so small a section of ground so many
+men were hidden there. Quickly formulating my programme, I decided to
+begin at the assembly trenches, and follow in imagination the path of
+the troops during the battle, ending up in the ruins of Neuve Chapelle
+village itself, which I could see in the distance.
+
+"Be careful," came the warning voice of a major, "the whole of the
+ground here is in view of the Bosche artillery observers. If they see
+anyone moving about they'll start 'strafing' like anything, and I assure
+you they do it very conscientiously."
+
+I therefore kept as low as possible.
+
+Fixing up the camera, I started to film the scenes from the assembly
+trenches to the old first line trench, and then into the stretch of
+ground known as "No Man's Land." Finishing this particular picture, we
+went along to the old German trenches, and during the whole time we bent
+nearly double, to keep under the line of the old parapets. In the old
+German trenches the frightful effect of modern shell-fire was only too
+apparent. The whole line, as far as one could see, was absolutely
+smashed to atoms. Only the bases of the parapets were left, and in the
+bottom of the trenches was an accumulation of water and filth. It was a
+disgusting sight. The whole place was littered with old German
+equipment, and whilst wading and splashing along through the water I saw
+such things, and such stenches assailed my nostrils, as I shall not
+easily forget. Dotted all over the place, half in and half out of the
+mud and water, were dead bodies.
+
+But why recount the horrors of the scene? Imagine the sights and the
+smell. How I got through that section of trench Heaven only knows. It
+was simply ghastly.
+
+To escape from the scene I hurried to the end of the trench and again
+crossed "No Man's Land." The sight here was not so bad as in the
+trenches. To obtain a good view of the spot I got up very gingerly on
+top of the parapet, fixed the machine, and filmed the scene. But this
+enterprise nearly put an end to my adventure, _and also to the other
+members of the party_. I had finished taking, and had got my camera down
+on the stand, in the bottom of the trench, and was on the point of
+unscrewing it, when two shells came hurtling overhead and exploded about
+forty feet away. The Major ran up to me and shouted that I had been
+seen, and told me to take cover at once. He and the others, suiting the
+action to the word, dived below the parapets. Snatching the camera off
+its stand, I followed, and paddled as close as possible to the mud. The
+shells began falling in quick succession. Nearer and nearer they came.
+Some just cleared the parapet top; some burst in front, some immediately
+behind.
+
+"They have got our line; let's shift along further," some one said.
+
+From one point of the trench to the other we dodged. The shells seemed
+to follow us wherever we went. Crash! One struck the crumbling parapet
+on the very spot where, a few seconds before, I had been sheltering. In
+the rush for cover I had lost the handle of the camera, and as it was
+the only one I had there, I began to work my way back to find it.
+
+"Don't be a fool," called the Major. "If you show yourself they'll have
+you, as sure as eggs are eggs." But my anxiety to obtain pictures of the
+bursting shells was too much for me. I set to to make a handle of wood.
+Looking round, I spotted an old tree-trunk, behind which I could take
+cover. Doubling towards it, I crouched down, and finding a piece of wood
+and an old nail I fashioned a handle of a sort.
+
+At this moment a funny incident occurred. I had momentarily forgotten
+the existence of the other members of the party. I was hoping against
+hope that they had escaped injury. What had happened to them? Where were
+they? It almost seemed as if my thoughts were communicated by telepathy
+to one of them, for just above the parapet in front of me rose the head
+of Captain ----.
+
+"I say, Malins," he said, "did you find your handle?"
+
+The words were barely out of his mouth when a shell shot by. Captain
+----'s head went down like a jack-in-the-box. The sight was too funny
+for words. If he hadn't ducked the shell would have taken his head off,
+for it struck the ground and exploded, as we found out afterwards, only
+ten feet away.
+
+For three-quarters of an hour this "strafing" continued, then giving
+Bosche ten minutes to settle down we came out of our holes and corners.
+What sights we were!
+
+Collecting my apparatus, I again crossed "No Man's Land," and carefully
+made my way into the village of Neuve Chapelle itself. To describe it
+would only be to repeat what I said of the devastated city of Ypres.
+There was nothing whole standing. The place was smashed and ground down
+out of all recognition. And yet, from its solitary high position upon
+the cross, the figure of Christ looked down upon the scene. It was
+absolutely untouched. It stood there--this sacred emblem of our
+Faith--grim and gaunt against the sky. A lonely sentinel. The scene was
+a sermon in itself, and mere words fail to describe the deep impression
+it made upon me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+FILMING THE PRINCE OF WALES
+
+     How I Made a "Hide-up"--And Secured a Fine Picture of the
+     Prince Inspecting some Gun-pits--His Anxiety to Avoid the
+     Camera--And His Subsequent Remarks--How a German Block-house
+     was Blown to Smithereens--And the Way I Managed to Film it
+     Under Fire.
+
+
+To-day has certainly been most interesting, and not without excitement.
+I was to film the bombardment of a concrete German block-house from the
+Guards' trenches at ----. Previous to starting out from ---- news came
+through from headquarters that the Prince of Wales was going to inspect
+some guns with Lord Cavan.
+
+The staff officer who told me this knew the trouble I had previously
+experienced in trying to obtain good films of the Prince, and warned me
+to be very careful. I enquired the time of his arrival at the gun-pits.
+So far as I could ascertain, it was to be at 11.30 a.m. I therefore
+decided to be there half an hour earlier, and make a "hide-up" for
+myself and camera. I was determined to succeed this time. Proceeding by
+way of ----, which place has suffered considerable bombardment, the
+church and surrounding buildings having been utterly destroyed, I stayed
+awhile to film the interior and exterior of the church, and so add
+another to the iniquitous record of the Bosche for destroying everything
+held sacred.
+
+[Illustration: ON THE WAY TO THE "MENIN GATE" WITH AN ARTILLERY OFFICER,
+TO FILM OUR GUNS IN ACTION]
+
+A short distance outside the town I came upon the gun positions, and
+crossing a field--or rather shall I say a mud-pond, for the mud very
+nearly reached my knees--I selected a point of vantage at one side of
+a hedge which ran at right angles to the gun-pits. There was only one
+path fit to traverse, and getting hold of an officer, I asked him if we
+could so arrange it that the Prince started from the further end of the
+path and came towards camera. He said he would try. Fixing up the
+camera, I got in front of the hedge facing the path, and completely hid
+all signs of the machine with bracken and branches of trees. Pushing the
+lens well through the hedge, I ripped open an old sandbag, cut a hole in
+it and hung it on the hedge, with my lens pointing through. By such
+means it was quite impossible for anyone in front to see either myself
+or the camera, and having completed my preparations, I settled down to
+patiently await the arrival of the Prince.
+
+In about half an hour he came along with Lord Cavan, a general, and
+other officers of the staff. True to his promise, Captain ---- got the
+Prince to follow the path I had indicated. When he arrived at the
+further end of the row of guns, I started filming. He came direct
+towards the camera, but when within fifteen feet of it the noise of
+handle turning attracted his attention. He stood fully fifteen seconds
+gazing in my direction, evidently wondering what it was on the other
+side of the hedge. Then he passed out of range. I hurried across the
+field with my aeroscope (an automatic camera), and stood at the end of
+the path waiting for him to pass.
+
+In a few moments he came along, and I started filming. The smiles of the
+staff officers were pleasing to behold. One of them remarked to the
+Prince that it was quite impossible to escape this time. As he passed
+inside the farm-house, I heard him remark: "That was the man I tried to
+dodge on Christmas Day. How did he know I was coming here? Who told
+him?" The enquiry was followed by some good-natured laughter, and
+feeling satisfied with my work, I hurried away.
+
+I had now to proceed to the front line trenches, taking the car, as far
+as possible, along the road. I had hidden it under cover of some ruined
+buildings, and taking the camera, and bidding my chauffeur bring the
+tripod, I started out. A captain conducted me. We quickly got to the
+communication trenches. As usual, a good deal of "strafing" was going
+on, and the German snipers were very busy. When we reached the first
+line firing trenches, I peered over the parapet through a periscope, but
+found I was too far south of the block-house. So I proceeded higher up,
+and about eight hundred yards further on came a traverse, which I had
+chosen, and the loophole through which I was going to film the scene.
+The distance to the German block-house from where I was standing was
+about 150 yards.
+
+The thickness of the parapet, I should say, was roughly four feet; and
+through the parapet was a conical, square-shaped, wooden cylinder. In
+front, under cover of darkness, the night previous, I had had two
+sandbags placed, so that when everything was ready, and my camera fixed,
+a slight push from the back with a stick would shift them clear of the
+opening. Fixing up the camera, I very carefully pinned an empty sandbag
+over the back of the aperture, with the object of keeping any daylight
+from streaming through. I placed a long stick ready to push the sandbags
+down. I intended doing that after the first shell had fallen.
+
+This particular loophole had been severely sniped all the morning, the
+Germans evidently thinking it was a new Maxim-gun emplacement. Time was
+drawing near. I thought I would try with the stick whether the sandbags
+would fall easily. Evidently I gave them too vigorous a push, for the
+next moment they came toppling down. Knowing such a movement as that was
+certain to attract the German snipers' attention, I quickly ducked my
+head down and hoped our 9.2's would soon open fire. I did not relish
+the idea of having a bullet through my camera.
+
+Sure enough the Germans had seen the movement, for bullets began
+battering into sandbags around the loophole. At that moment the C.O.
+withdrew the whole of the men from that section of the trench, and I was
+left alone. But the prospect of getting a fine film drove all other
+thoughts from my mind.
+
+A few minutes later the first shell came hurtling over and exploded
+within ten yards of the block-house. I started filming. Shell after
+shell I recorded as it exploded, first on one side then on the other,
+until at last the eighth shell fell directly on top of the block-house,
+and with a tremendous explosion the whole fabric disappeared in a cloud
+of smoke and flame. Debris of every description rattled in the trench
+all round me, and continued to fall for some moments, but luckily I was
+not hit. Being unable to resist the temptation of looking over the
+parapet, I jumped up and gazed at the remains of the building which now
+consisted of nothing more than a twisted, churned-up mass of concrete
+and iron rails. Our artillery had done its work, and done it well.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MY FIRST VISIT TO YPRES AND ARRAS
+
+Greeted on Arrival in the Ruined City of Ypres by a Furious Fusillade--I
+Film the Cloth Hall and Cathedral, and Have a Narrow Escape--A Once
+Beautiful Town Now Little More Than a Heap of Ruins--Arras a City of the
+Dead--Its Cathedral Destroyed--But Cross and Crucifixes Unharmed.
+
+
+To Ypres! This was the order for the day. The news gave me a thrill of
+excitement. The thunder of the big guns grew louder as we approached the
+front line, until they seemed to merge into one continuous roar.
+
+Stopping on the road, I asked if the Germans were "strafing" to-day.
+
+"Yes," said one of our military police, "they were shelling us pretty
+heavily this morning: you will have to be very careful moving about
+inside. Bosche machines are always up in the air, taking bearings for
+the guns."
+
+Arriving at the outskirts of the ruined town, we were pulled up by a
+sentry, who, finding our papers in order, allowed us to proceed. At that
+moment a furious fusillade of gun-fire attracted our attention, and
+three shrill blasts of a whistle rang out; then we heard a cry,
+"Everyone under cover!" Stopping the car, I immediately jumped out, and
+stood under cover of a broken-down wall, and looking up, could see the
+cause of this activity.
+
+[Illustration: TAKING SCENES IN DEVASTATED YPRES, MAY, 1916]
+
+High in the air, about eight to ten thousand feet, was a Bosche
+aeroplane, and while I was watching it shrapnel shells from our
+anti-aircraft guns were exploding round it like rain. A great number
+were fired at it. The whole sky was flecked with white and black patches
+of smoke, but not one hit was recorded. The machine seemed to sail
+through that inferno as if nothing were happening, and at last it
+disappeared in the haze over its own lines. Only then were we allowed to
+proceed.
+
+I had made a rough programme of what to film, and decided to start from
+the Grand Place. In a few words, I may say that I filmed the Place from
+the remains of the Cloth Hall, the Cathedral, and various districts of
+the town, but to try and describe the awful condition of what was once
+the most beautiful town in Belgium would be to attempt the impossible.
+No pen, and no imagination, could do justice to it. The wildest dreams
+of Dante could not conjure up such terrible, such awful scenes.
+
+The immensity of the outrage gripped me perhaps more completely when I
+stood upon the heap of rubble that was once the most beautiful piece of
+architecture of its kind in all the world. The Cloth Hall, and the
+Cathedral, looked exactly as if some mighty scythe had swept across the
+ground, levelling everything in its path. The monster 15-inch German
+shells had dismembered and torn open the buildings brick by brick.
+Confusion and devastation reigned everywhere, no matter in what
+direction you looked. It was as if the very heavens and the earth had
+crashed together, crushing everything between them out of all semblance
+to what it had been.
+
+The ground was literally pock-marked with enemy shell-holes. The stench
+of decaying bodies followed me everywhere. At times the horror of it all
+seemed to freeze the understanding, and it was difficult to realise that
+one was part and parcel of this world of ours. Literally, horror was
+piled upon horror. And this was the twentieth century of which men
+boasted; this was civilisation! Built by men's hands, the result of
+centuries of work. Now look at them; those beautiful architectural
+monuments, destroyed, in a few months, by the vilest spawn that ever
+contaminated the earth. A breed that should and would be blotted out of
+existence as effectively as they had blotted out the town of Ypres.
+
+Beneath one large building lay buried a number of our gallant soldiers,
+who were sheltering there, wounded. The position was given away by
+spies, with the result that the Germans poured a concentrated fire of
+shells upon the helpless fellows, and the shelling was so terrific that
+the whole building collapsed and buried every living soul beneath the
+debris.
+
+As I stood upon the heap tears came into my eyes, and the spirits of the
+brave lads seemed to call out for vengeance. And even as I stood and
+pondered, the big guns rang out, the very concussion shaking bricks and
+dust upon me as I stood there. While filming the scene, German shells
+came hurtling and shrieking overhead, exploding just behind me and
+scattering the debris of the ruins high above and whizzing in my
+direction.
+
+To obtain a good view-point, I clambered upon a mount of bricks nearly
+fifty feet high, all that was left of the Cathedral Tower. From that
+eminence I could look right down into the interior, and I succeeded in
+taking an excellent film of it. While doing so, two German shells
+exploded a short distance away. Whether it was the concussion or pieces
+of shell that struck it, I do not know--probably the latter--but large
+pieces of stone and granite fell at my feet, and one piece hit my
+shoulder. So I quickly made my way to more healthy quarters, and even as
+I left the shells overhead began to shriek with redoubled fury, as if
+the very legions of hell were moaning, aghast at the terrible crime
+which the fiendish Huns had perpetrated.
+
+Arras, although not by any means as badly damaged as Ypres, is one of
+the most historical and beautiful places systematically destroyed by the
+Germans. The Cathedral, the wonderful Museum, the Hotel de Ville, once
+the pride of this broken city, are now no more. Arras provides yet
+another blasting monument of the unspeakable methods of warfare as
+practised by the descendants of Attila, the Hun. The city was as silent
+as the tomb when I visited it. It was dead in every sense of the word; a
+place only fit for the inhabitants of the nether world. Only when the
+German shells came screaming overhead with unearthly noise, in an empty
+street, was the silence broken in this city of the dead.
+
+I visited the ruined Cathedral, and filmed various scenes of the
+interior and exterior, having to climb over huge mounds of fallen
+masonry to obtain my best view-points. In places all that was left
+standing was the bare walls. The huge columns, with their beautiful
+sculptures, no longer able to support the roof, still stood like grim
+sentinels watching over their sacred charge. And yet, despite the
+unholy bombardment to which the building had been subjected, three
+things remained unharmed and untouched in the midst of this scene of
+awful desolation. The three crucifixes, with the figures of Christ
+still upon them, gazed down upon this scene of horror. And high upon
+the topmost joint of the south wall stood the cross, the symbol of
+Christianity--unharmed. The united endeavours of the Powers of Evil
+could not dislodge that sacred emblem from its topmost pinnacle.
+
+I left the Cathedral and walked along the grass-covered streets,
+pock-marked by innumerable shell-holes, and every now and then I had to
+dive into some cellar for shelter from falling shells. At the Hotel de
+Ville the same sight presented itself. The bombardment had reduced its
+walls to little more than a tottering shell, which fell to pieces at the
+merest touch.
+
+[Illustration: IN YPRES, WITH "BABY" BROOKS, THE OFFICIAL STILL
+PHOTOGRAPHER, MAY, 1916]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE BATTLE OF ST. ELOI
+
+     Filming Within Forty-five Yards of the German
+     Trenches--Watching for "Minnies"--Officers'
+     Quarters--"Something" Begins to Happen--An Early Morning
+     Bombardment--Develops Into the Battle of St. Eloi--Which I
+     Film from Our First-Line Trench--And Obtain a Fine Picture.
+
+
+A bombardment was to take place. A rather vague statement, and a common
+enough occurrence; but not so this one.
+
+I had a dim idea--not without foundation, as it turned out--that there
+was more in this particular bombardment than appeared on the surface.
+Why this thought crossed my mind I do not know. But there it was, and I
+also felt that it would somehow turn out seriously for me before I had
+finished.
+
+I was to go to a certain spot to see a general--and obtain permission to
+choose a good view-point for my machine. My knowledge of the topography
+of this particular part of the line was none too good.
+
+Reaching the place I met the General, who said, in a jocular way, when I
+had explained my mission:
+
+"Have you come to me to-day by chance, or have you heard something?"
+
+This remark, "Had I heard something?" confirmed my opinion that
+something _was_ going to happen. Without more ado, the General told me
+the bombardment would take place on the morrow, somewhere about 5.30
+a.m.
+
+"In that case," I said, "it will be quite impossible to obtain any
+photographs. Anyway," I added, "if you will permit me, sir, I will sleep
+in the front line trenches to-night, and so be ready for anything that
+may happen. I could choose a good spot for my machine this afternoon."
+
+"Well," he replied, "it's a hot corner," and going to the section maps
+he told me our front line was only forty-five yards away from the
+Bosche. "You will, of course, take the risk, but, honestly speaking, I
+don't expect to see you back again."
+
+This was anything but cheerful, but being used to tight corners I did
+not mind the risk, so long as I got some good films.
+
+The General then gave me a letter of introduction to another general,
+who, he said, would give me all the assistance he could. Armed with this
+document, I started out in company of a staff officer, who was to guide
+me to the Brigade headquarters. Arriving there (it was the most advanced
+point to which cars were allowed to go), I obtained two orderlies, gave
+one my aeroscope the other the tripod, and strapping another upon my
+back, we started off on a two-mile walk over a small hill, and through
+communication trenches to the section.
+
+At a point which boasted the name of "Cooker Farm," which consisted of a
+few dug-outs, well below ground level, and about five by six feet high
+inside by seven feet square, I interviewed two officers, who 'phoned to
+the front line, telling them of my arrival. They wished me all good luck
+on my venture, and gave me an extra relay of men to get me to the front.
+A considerable amount of shelling was going on overhead, but none,
+fortunately, came in my immediate neighbourhood. The nearest was about
+fifty yards away.
+
+From our front line trenches the Bosche lines were only forty-five yards
+away, therefore dangers were to be anticipated from German snipers. A
+great many of our men had actually been shot through the loophole of
+plates. I immediately reported myself to the officer in charge, who was
+resting in a dug-out, built in the parapet. He was pleased to see me,
+and promised me every assistance. I told him I wished to choose a point
+of vantage from which I could film the attack. Placing my apparatus in
+the comparative safety of the dug-out, I accompanied him outside.
+Rifle-fire was continuous; shells from our 60-pounders and 4.2's were
+thundering past overhead, and on either side "Minnies" (German bombs)
+were falling and exploding with terrific force, smashing our parapets
+and dug-outs as if they had been the thinnest of matchwood.
+
+Fortunately for us these interesting novelties could be seen coming. Men
+are always on the look-out for "Minnies," and when one has been fired
+from the Bosche it rises to a height of about five hundred feet, and
+then with a sudden curve descends. At that point it is almost possible
+to calculate the exact whereabouts of its fall. Everyone watches it; the
+space is quickly cleared, and it falls and explodes harmlessly.
+Sometimes the explosion throws the earth up to a height of nearly 150
+feet.
+
+While I was deciding upon the exact point of the parapet upon which I
+would place the camera, a sudden cry of "Minnie" was heard. Looking up,
+I saw it was almost overhead, and with a quick rush and a dive I
+disappeared into a dug-out. I had barely got my head into it before
+"Minnie" fell and blew the mud in all directions, covering my back
+plentifully, but fortunately doing no other damage.
+
+Eventually I decided upon the position, and looking through my periscope
+saw the German trenches stretching away on the right for a distance of
+half a mile, as the ground dipped into a miniature valley. From this
+point I could get an excellent film, and if the Germans returned our
+fire I could revolve the camera and obtain the resulting explosions in
+our lines.
+
+The farm-house where I spent the night was about nine hundred yards
+behind the firing track. All that now remained of a once prosperous
+group of farm buildings were the battered walls, but with the aid of a
+plentiful supply of sandbags and corrugated iron the cellars were made
+comparatively comfortable.
+
+By the time I reached there it was quite dark, but by carefully feeling
+my way with the aid of a stick I stumbled down the five steps into the
+cellar, and received a warm welcome from Captain ----, who introduced me
+to his brother officers. They all seemed astounded at my mission, never
+imagining that a moving picture man would come into the front battle
+line to take pictures.
+
+The place was about ten feet square; the roof was a lean-to, and was
+supported in the centre by three tree-trunks. Four wooden frames, upon
+which was stretched some wire-netting, served as bedsteads; in a corner
+stood a bucket-fire, the fumes and smoke going up an improvised chimney
+of petrol tins. In the centre was a rough table. One corner of it was
+kept up by a couple of boxes; other boxes served as chairs.
+
+Rough as it was, it was like heaven compared with other places at which
+I have stayed. By the light of two candles, placed in biscuit tins, we
+sat round, and chatted upon kinematograph and other topics until 11.30
+p.m. The Colonel of another regiment then came in to arrange about the
+positions of the relieving battalions which were coming in on the
+following day. He also arranged for his sniping expert and men to
+accompany the patrolling parties, which were going out at midnight in
+"No Man's Land" to mend mines and spot German loop-holes.
+
+A message came through by 'phone from Brigade headquarters that the time
+of attack was 5.45 a.m. I could have jumped for joy; if only the sky was
+clear, there would be enough light for my work. The news was received in
+quite a matter-of-fact way by the others present, and after sending out
+carrying parties for extra ammunition for bomb guns, they all turned in
+to snatch a few hours' sleep, with the exception of the officer on duty.
+
+At twelve o'clock I turned in. Rolling myself in a blanket and using my
+trench-coat and boots as a pillow, I lay and listened to the continual
+crack of rifle-fire, and the thud of bullets striking and burying
+themselves in the sandbags of our shelter. Now and then I dozed, and
+presently I fell asleep. I suddenly awakened with a start. What caused
+it I know not; everything seemed unnaturally quiet; with the exception
+of an isolated sniper, the greatest war in history might have been
+thousands of miles away. I lit a cigarette, and was slowly puffing it
+(time, 4.15 a.m.), when a tremendous muffled roar rent the air; the
+earth seemed to quake. I expected the roof of our shelter to collapse
+every minute. The shock brought my other companions tumbling out.
+"Something" was happening.
+
+The rumble had barely subsided, when it seemed as if all the guns in
+France had opened rapid battery fire at the same moment. Shells poured
+over our heads towards the German positions in hundreds. The shrieking
+and earsplitting explosives were terrific, from the sharp bark of the
+4.2 to the heavy rumble and rush of the 9-inch "How." The Germans,
+surprised in their sleep, seemed absolutely demoralised. They were
+blazing away in all directions, firing in the most wild and
+extraordinary manner, anywhere and everywhere. Shells were crashing and
+smashing their way into the remains of the outbuildings, and they were
+literally exploding all round.
+
+Captain ---- instructed his officers to see what had happened to the
+ammunition party. They disappeared in the hell of shell-fire as though
+it were quite an every-day incident. I opened the door, climbed the
+steps, and stood outside. The sight which met my eyes was magnificent in
+its grandeur. The heavens were split by shafts of lurid fire. Masses of
+metal shot in all directions, leaving a trail of sparks behind them;
+bits of shell shrieked past my head and buried themselves in the walls
+and sandbags. One large missile fell in an open space about forty feet
+on my left, and exploded with a deafening, ear-splitting crash. At the
+same moment another exploded directly in front of me. Instinctively I
+ducked my head. The blinding flash and frightful noise for the moment
+stunned me, and I could taste the exploding gas surrounding me. I
+stumbled down the steps into the cellar, and it was some minutes before
+I could see clearly again. My companions were standing there, calmly
+awaiting events.
+
+The frightful din continued. It was nothing but high explosives, high
+explosive shrapnel, ordinary shrapnel, trench bombs, and bullets from
+German machine-guns. One incessant hail of metal. Who on earth could
+live in it? What worried me most was that there was not sufficient light
+to film the scene; but, thank Heaven, it was gradually getting lighter.
+
+It was now 5 a.m. The shelling continued with increasing intensity. I
+got my apparatus together, and with two men decided to make my way to
+the position in the front line.
+
+[Illustration: WITH MY AEROSCOPE CAMERA AFTER FILMING THE BATTLE OF ST.
+ELOI]
+
+Shouldering my camera I led the way, followed by the men at a distance
+of twenty yards. Several times on the journey shrapnel balls and
+splinters buried themselves in the mud close by. When I reached the
+firing trench all our men were standing to arms, with grim faces,
+awaiting their orders. I fixed up the tripod so that the top of it came
+level with our parapet, and fastened the camera upon it. It topped the
+parapet of our firing trench (the Germans only forty-five yards away),
+and to break the alignment I placed sandbags on either side of it.
+
+In this position I stood on my camera case, and started to film the
+Battle of St. Eloi.
+
+Our shells were dropping in all directions, smashing the German parapets
+to pulp and blowing their dug-outs sky-high. The explosions looked
+gorgeous against the ever-increasing light in the sky. Looking through
+my view-finder, I revolved first on one section then on the other; from
+a close view of 6-inch shells and "Minnies" bursting to the more distant
+view of our 9.2. Then looking right down the line, I filmed the clouds
+of smoke drifting from the heavy (woolly bears) or high shrapnel, then
+back again. Shells--shells--shells--bursting masses of molten metal,
+every explosion momentarily shaking the earth.
+
+The Germans suddenly started throwing "Minnies" over, so revolving my
+camera, I filmed them bursting over our men. The casualties were very
+slight. For fully an hour I stood there filming this wonderful scene,
+and throughout all the inferno, neither I nor my machine was touched. A
+fragment of shrapnel touched my tripod, taking a small piece out of the
+leg. That was all!
+
+Shortly after seven o'clock the attack subsided, and as my film had all
+been used up, I packed and returned to my shelter.
+
+What a "scoop" this was. It was the first film that had actually been
+taken of a British attack. What a record. The thing itself had passed.
+It had gone; yet I had recorded it in my little 7- by 6-inch box, and
+when this terrible devastating war was over, and men had returned once
+again to their homes, business men to their offices, ploughmen to their
+ploughs, they would be able to congregate in a room and view all over
+again the fearful shells bursting, killing and maiming on that winter's
+morning of March 27th, 1916.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A NIGHT ATTACK--AND A NARROW ESCAPE
+
+     A Very Lively Experience--Choosing a Position for the Camera
+     Under Fire--I Get a Taste of Gas--Witness a Night Attack by
+     the Germans--Surprise an Officer by My Appearance in the
+     Trenches--And Have One of the Narrowest Escapes--But
+     Fortunately Get Out with Nothing Worse than a Couple of
+     Bullets Through My Cap.
+
+
+The weather was very fine when I left G.H.Q., but on reaching ----, to
+interview Colonel ---- in reference to the mining section, rain fell
+heavily. I arrived soon after midday, and went to the Intelligence
+Department to report; the C.O. telephoned to the C. of M. for an
+appointment. It was made for nine o'clock that night. Having plenty of
+time at my disposal, I returned to ----, and passed a few hours with
+some friends. In the evening I returned for my appointment at the hour
+named. The Colonel was exceedingly interested in my project, and was
+willing to do anything to help me. He gave me a letter of introduction
+to the Corps Commander of the ---- Army, Brigadier-General ----; also
+one to Captain ----, C.O. of the ---- Mining Section. I was to proceed
+to General ---- first, and obtain the permission.
+
+At eight o'clock the following morning I rushed off to the Company H.Q.
+I met the General leaving his chateau. Having read my letter of
+introduction, he promptly gave his consent. I was to report to Major
+----, at H.Q., saying it was quite all right. Thanking the General, I
+hastened to H.Q., and showing his letter and delivering his message, I
+was given a note to Captain ----, asking him to give me every
+assistance. Before leaving, the Major wished me success, and asked me
+whether I was prepared to wait until a "blow" came off?
+
+"Yes, sir," I replied, "for five or six days in the trenches, if
+necessary."
+
+The Colonel had made arrangements with several Companies that they were
+to report immediately to ----th Company when they were going to "blow,"
+in order to give me time to go immediately to the spot and film it.
+
+Leaving the Company H.Q., I proceeded to ----, and duly presented the
+Captain's letter.
+
+"You have the Corps' permission," said the Colonel; "it will now be
+necessary to obtain the Divisional C.O. permit."
+
+This I eventually obtained. Now if by any chance a "blow" took place
+opposite either of the other Companies, it would be necessary to obtain
+their permission, as they were in another Division. Therefore, calling
+upon a major of that Division, I secured the final permit.
+
+Next morning I left for the front line trenches. Reaching ----, which
+was smashed out of all recognition, we drew up under cover of some
+ruined walls. Shells were falling and bursting among the ruins, but
+these diversions were of such ordinary, everyday occurrence that hardly
+any notice was taken of them. If they missed--well, they were gone. If
+they hit--well, it was war!
+
+The Miners, gathering near the "Birdcage" (a spot which derives its name
+from a peculiar iron cage erection at the corner of the road), formed
+up, and proceeded for about three hundred yards to the beginning of
+"Quarry Ally," the ammunition trench leading to their particular part of
+the front line. They filed in one by one; I filmed them meanwhile.
+
+The journey of thirteen hundred yards to the front line was quite an
+ordinary walk. It was interesting to note the different tones of the
+heavy and light shells as they flew overhead, from the dull rush of a
+9.2 to the shriek of the 18-pounder. I reached a Company dug-out. It was
+certainly one of the best I have ever seen. Going down three steps, then
+turning sharply at right angles, I disappeared through a four-foot
+opening; down more steps to a depth of ten feet, then straight for three
+paces. At the end was the main gallery, about twenty-five feet long,
+five feet in width, and five feet six inches high. Half of it was used
+for the telephone operator, and sleeping accommodation for the
+orderlies, the other half was used as officers' quarters. Several
+officers were busy discussing plans when I arrived. The conversation
+might sound strange and callous to an ordinary listener.
+
+"Well, what's the news? How's Brother Bosche?"
+
+"Bosche reported quite near," was the reply. "Our shaft is practically
+finished, and ready for charging. This morning you could distinctly hear
+Bosche speaking. His gallery was getting nearer to ours. I told the
+Sergeant to work only when Bosche was doing so."
+
+"When are you going to 'blow' ----?"
+
+"I am not sure of the date, but 'Dinkie' is going to 'poop' in a few
+days. He's got two tons under Bosche. It will be a ---- fine show; right
+under his trenches. Ought to snip a hundred or so."
+
+"Well," said another, "I was down in C shaft, and could hear Bosche
+working very hard, as if he had got all the world to himself."
+
+At that moment a tunnelling-sergeant came in, and reported that the
+Bosche was much nearer. The listener could distinctly hear talking
+through the 'phone.
+
+An officer immediately got up and went out with the sergeant, one of the
+speakers meanwhile suggesting that Brother Bosche was certainly going
+to visit realms of higher kultur than he had hitherto known.
+
+Then came a close scrutinising of maps, showing shafts in the making and
+mines ready for "blowing"; of sharp orders to the tunnelling-sergeants
+and fatigue parties to bring charges from the magazine. The whole thing
+was fascinating in the extreme. A new branch of His Majesty's Service,
+and one of the most dangerous. To be on duty in a listening-post thirty
+feet underground--in a narrow tunnel, scarcely daring to breathe,
+listening to German miners making a counter-mine, and gradually picking
+their way nearer and nearer, until at last you can hear their
+conversation--would try the nerves of the strongest of men.
+
+I went out, and made my way towards the well-known Quarries. Noting
+several interesting scenes of our Scottish battalions at work, I filmed
+them. A most pathetic touch was added to the scene, for a neat little
+graveyard occupied the right-hand corner, and about one hundred small
+crosses were there.
+
+I was not allowed to remain very long. The Bosche sent over several
+aerial torpedoes, which exploded with terrific force and split up the
+ground as if a 12-inch H.E. shell had been at work. Naturally every one
+rushed to obtain as much cover as possible. I crossed to the other side
+of the Quarry, and entered a small tunnel, which led into a winding maze
+of narrow communication trenches.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE MAIN STREET OF CONTALMAISON THE DAY OF ITS
+CAPTURE]
+
+[Illustration: LAUNCHING A SMOKE BARRAGE AT THE BATTLE OF ST. ELOI]
+
+"Be careful, sir," called a sentry. "Bosche is only thirty yards away,
+and they are plugging this corner pretty thoroughly; they're fairly
+whizzing through the sandbags, as if they warn't there, sir. They caught
+my Captain this morning, clean through the head. I was a-talking to him,
+sir, at the time; the finest gentleman that ever lived; and the swine
+killed him. I'll get six of them for him, sir." The look in his eyes and
+the tone of his voice told me he was in earnest. I passed on, keeping
+as low as possible.
+
+The crater, when I reached it, proved to be one of an enormous size. It
+must have been quite 150 feet across. The place had been converted into
+a miniature fort. I noticed how spongy the ground was. When walking it
+seemed as if one was treading upon rubber. I casually enquired of an
+officer the cause of it. "Dead bodies," said he; "the ground here is
+literally choked with them; we dare not touch it with a spade; the
+condition is awful. There are thousands of them for yards down, and when
+a shell tears away any section of our parapets the sight is too ghastly
+for words."
+
+At that moment a man yelled out "cover," and, looking up, I saw several
+Bosche rifle grenades falling. Shouting to my orderly to take cover with
+the camera, he disappeared into what I thought was a dug-out but which I
+afterwards discovered was an incline shaft to a mine. He made a running
+dive, and slid down about four yards before he pulled himself up.
+Luckily he went first, the camera butting up against him. He told us
+afterwards he thought he was really going to the lower regions.
+
+I dived under a sandbag emplacement, when the grenades went off with a
+splitting crash, and after allowing a few seconds for the pieces to
+drop, looked out. A tragic sight met my gaze. The officer with whom I
+had been speaking a few moments before had, unfortunately, been too late
+in taking cover. One of the grenades had struck him on the head, and
+killed him on the spot. Within a few moments some Red Cross men
+reverently covered the body with a mackintosh sheet and bore it away.
+One more cross would be added to the little graveyard in the Quarry.
+
+Shortly after I met an officer of the Mining Section. He was just going
+down into the gallery to listen to Bosche working a counter-mine. Did I
+care to accompany him? "Don't speak above a whisper," he said.
+
+He disappeared through a hole about three feet square. I followed,
+clinging to the muddy sides like a limpet, half sliding, half crawling,
+in the impenetrable darkness. We went on, seemingly for a great
+distance; in reality it was only about fifteen yards. Then we came to a
+level gallery, and in the distance, by the aid of a glow-lamp, I could
+see my companion crouching down, with a warning finger upon his lips to
+assure silence. The other side of him was a man of the tunnelling
+section, who had been at his post listening. The silence was uncanny
+after the din outside. In a few moments I heard a queer, muffled
+tap--tap--tap, coming through the earth on the left. I crept closer to
+my companion, and with my mouth close to his ear enquired whether that
+was the Bosche working.
+
+"Yes," he said, "but listen with this," giving me an instrument very
+similar to a doctor's stethoscope.
+
+I put it to my ear and rested the other end upon a ledge of mud. The
+effect was like some one speaking through a telephone. I could
+distinctly hear the impact of the pickaxe wielded by the Bosche upon the
+clay and chalk, and the falling of the debris.
+
+I turned to him with a smile. "Brother Bosche will shortly have a rise
+in life?"
+
+"Yes," said he, "I think we shall 'blow' first. It's going to be a race,
+though."
+
+Final orders were given to the man in charge, then we crawled up again
+into the din of the crashing shells. I was more at home in these
+conditions. Down below the silence was too uncanny for me. When I
+reached our dug-out once more a message was waiting for me to return to
+H.Q., as important things were in prospect the following morning.
+
+The message was urgent. Mines were to be blown at an early hour. I
+therefore decided that the best thing to do was to go into the trenches
+and stay the night, and so be prepared for anything that might happen.
+Little did I dream what the next forty-eight hours were going to bring.
+It's a good thing sometimes we don't know what the future has in store
+for us. The stoutest heart might fail under the conditions created by
+the abnormal atmosphere of a modern battlefield.
+
+I prepared to depart at 8 p.m., and bidding adieu to my friends, I
+started off in the car. The guns were crashing out continuously. Several
+times I pulled the car up to shelter under some ruins. Then for a few
+minutes there was a lull, and directing my chauffeur to go ahead at top
+speed we reached our destination safely. I had barely entered this scene
+of desolation when Bosche shells came hurtling overhead and fell with a
+deafening explosion a short distance away. Here I had my first taste of
+gas from the German weeping shells. The air was suddenly saturated with
+an extraordinarily sweet smell. For the first few moments I quite
+enjoyed it. Then my eyes began to water freely, and pain badly.
+Realising at once that I was being "gassed," I bade the driver rush
+through the village, and as far beyond as possible.
+
+His eyes, poor fellow, were in the same state. The car rolled and
+pitched its way through, smashing into shell-holes, bounding over fallen
+masonry, scraping by within a hair's-breadth of a recently smashed
+lorry. On and on, like a drunken thing. Still the air was thick with the
+foul gas. My eyes were burning; at last it was quite impossible to keep
+them open. But I had to get through, and so with a final effort looked
+ahead, and to my great relief found we were beyond the village, and the
+air smelt cleaner. I told the driver to pull up, and with a final roll
+the car landed its front wheels into a ditch.
+
+For two hours afterwards I was to all intents and purposes blind. My
+eyes were burning, aching and weeping. The pain at last subsided, and
+collecting the apparatus we trudged off along the communication trench
+to the front line. Threading our way through seemed much more difficult
+than previously. The sides of the trenches had been blown in by shells a
+few minutes before, and this necessitated climbing over innumerable
+mounds of rubble; but working parties were quickly on the scene clearing
+a way through. At last I reached the dug-out previously referred to, and
+believe me, I was very thankful. The officer there seemed rather
+surprised to see me.
+
+"Hullo!" he said. "What news? Anything doing?"
+
+"Yes," I replied. "H.Q. says they are 'blowing' in the early morning, so
+I decided to come along to-night and fix up a good position for the
+camera, not desiring to attract the too earnest attentions of a Bosche
+sniper."
+
+"Whose mine are they blowing?" said he. "I suppose I shall hear any
+moment." Just then a message came through on the 'phone. He picked up
+the receiver and listened intently. An earnest conversation was taking
+place. I could gather from the remarks that H.Q. was speaking. In a few
+minutes he replaced the receiver, and turning to me, said: "D shaft is
+going to blow; time, 7.15 a.m."
+
+Soon after I turned in. Rolling myself in a blanket, I lay down on a
+trestle-bed in the corner, and in doing so disturbed a couple of rats,
+almost as large as rabbits, which had taken up their temporary quarters
+there. Apparently there were plenty of them, for several times I felt
+the brutes drop on my blanket from holes and crannies in the chalk.
+Needless to say, I could not sleep a wink, tired out as I was, and as I
+lay there, twenty feet underground, I could hear the rumble and roar of
+the shells crashing their way through our parapets, tearing, killing and
+maiming our brave lads, who throughout all these horrors held this
+section of our line like a wall of steel.
+
+I had been lying there for about half an hour. Then I got up and climbed
+out of the incline into the open trench. I worked my way towards the
+firing trench; bullets from Bosche machine-guns and snipers were
+flattening themselves against the parapet. Several times I had to
+squeeze myself close to the muddy sides to allow stretcher-bearers to
+pass with their grim burdens; some for the corner of the Quarry, some
+for good old "Blighty."
+
+I stayed for a while alongside a sentry.
+
+"Any news?" I asked.
+
+"No, sir," said he, "but I feel as if something is going to happen."
+
+"Come," said I, with a laugh, "this is not the time for dreaming."
+
+"No, sir, I'm not dreaming, but I feel something--something that I can't
+explain."
+
+"Well, cheer up," I said. "Good night."
+
+"Good night, sir!"
+
+And as I wended my way along I could hear him softly whistling to
+himself the refrain of an old song.
+
+At last I came upon the section opposite which our mine was going up in
+the morning, and cautiously looking over the parapet I surveyed the
+ground in front. There were several sandbags that required shifting. If
+they remained it would be necessary to place the camera higher above the
+top than was safe or wise. Carefully pulling myself up, I lay along the
+top of the parapet and pushed them aside. Several star-shells were fired
+whilst I was so engaged, and I dare not stir--I scarcely dared
+breathe--for fear the slightest movement would draw a stream of bullets
+in my direction.
+
+Undoubtedly this was the only place from which to film the mine
+successfully. So marking the spot I slid down into the trench again, and
+retraced my steps to the dug-out. I found the officer I had previously
+seen enjoying a lovely, steaming tin of tea, and it wasn't many minutes
+before I was keeping him company. We sat chatting and smoking for a
+considerable time.
+
+"Is everything ready?" I asked.
+
+"Yes," he said. "There is over three thousand pounds of it there"
+(mentioning an explosive). "Brother Bosche will enjoy it."
+
+"Let me see your map," I said, "and I'll point out the spot where I'm
+working. It's about eighty yards away from Bosche. If we work out the
+exact degree by the map of the 'blow,' I can obtain the right direction
+by prismatic compass, and a few minutes before 'time' lift the camera up
+and cover the spot direct. It'll save exposing myself unnecessarily
+above the parapet to obtain the right point of view." The point of view
+was accordingly settled. It was 124 deg. from the spot chosen for the
+"blow."
+
+We had been so busy over our maps that we had not noticed how quiet
+everything had become. Hardly a gun sounded; the silence was uncanny.
+Save for the scurrying of the rats and the drip--drip--drip of water,
+the silence was like that of the grave.
+
+"What's wrong?" I asked.
+
+"Bosche is up to no good when he drops silent so soon," he said. The
+words of the sentry recurred to me. "I've a feeling, sir, that I cannot
+describe." I was beginning to feel the same.
+
+At length my companion broke the silence.
+
+"As Bosche seems to be going easy, and our artillery has shut up shop,
+let's lie down," and with that he threw himself on the bed. I sat on the
+box, which served as a table, smoking.
+
+Half an hour went by. Things were livening up a bit. We began to hum a
+tune or two from the latest revue. Suddenly we were brought to our feet
+by a crashing sound that was absolutely indescribable in its intensity.
+I rushed up the incline into the trench. What a sight! The whole of our
+front for the distance of a mile was one frightful inferno of fire. The
+concentration of artillery fire was terrific! Scores of star-shells shot
+into the air at the same moment, lighting the ground up like day,
+showing up the smoking, blazing mass more vividly than ever. Hundreds of
+shells, large and small, were bursting over our trenches simultaneously;
+our guns were replying on the German front with redoubled fury; the air
+was alive with whirling masses of metal. The noise was indescribable.
+The explosions seemed to petrify one.
+
+I made my way as near the front line as possible. A number of Scots
+rushed by me with a load of hand grenades. The trenches were packed with
+men rushing up to the fight. I asked an officer who raced by,
+breathlessly, if Bosche was getting through.
+
+"Yes," he yelled; "they are trying to get through in part of my section.
+They have smashed our communication trenches so much that I have got to
+take my men round on the right flank. It's hell there!"
+
+It was impossible to get through. The place was choked with men, many of
+them badly wounded; some of them, I'm afraid, destined as tenants of the
+little cemetery near by.
+
+The awful nightmare continued. Men were coming and going. Reserves were
+being rushed forward; more bombs were being sent up. The Bosche
+artillery quietened down a bit, but only, as I found out immediately
+afterwards, to allow their bombers to attack. I could see the flash of
+hundreds of bombs, each one possibly tearing the life out of some of our
+brave boys. Nothing in the world could have withstood such a
+concentrated artillery fire as the Germans put upon that five hundred
+yards of ground. It was torn and torn again, riven to shreds. It was
+like the vomiting of a volcano, a mass of earth soddened with the blood
+of the heroes who had tried to hold it.
+
+The Germans came on, bombing their way across to what was left of our
+trench. They dug themselves in. Then with a whirl and a crash, our guns
+spoke again. Our boys, who had been waiting like dogs on a leash, sprang
+to the attack. Briton met Bosche. The battle swayed first this way then
+that. Our men drove the Germans out twice during the night, and held on
+to a section commanding the flank of the original position. Towards four
+o'clock the fighting ceased. Daylight was breaking. The wounded were
+still being passed to the rear.
+
+I stopped and spoke to an officer. "How have you got on?" I asked.
+
+"We occupy the left flank trench, and command the position. But, what a
+fight; it was worse than Loos." Then suddenly, "What are _you_ doing
+here?"
+
+"I am taking kinema pictures!" I said.
+
+The look of amazement on his face was eloquent of his thoughts.
+
+"Doing _what_?" he asked.
+
+"I am taking kinema pictures," I repeated.
+
+"Well I'm damned," were his exact words. "I never thought you fellows
+existed. I've always thought war pictures were fakes, but--well--now I
+know different," and giving me a hearty shake of the hand he went on his
+way.
+
+Time was now drawing near for my work to begin. Taking the camera to
+the selected point in the front line, which, luckily, was just on the
+left of the fighting area, I took my bearings by the aid of a compass.
+Fixing up a tripod in such close quarters was very difficult. I
+stretched an empty sandbag on a piece of wire, cut a hole in it and hung
+it on the front of the camera in such a position that the lens projected
+through the hole. The sandbag stretched far enough on either side to
+shelter my hands, especially the right one, which operated the machine.
+
+I was now ready. I had to risk the attentions of the snipers; it was
+unavoidable. Little by little I raised the camera. It was now high
+enough up, and ramming some sand against the tripod legs, I waited.
+
+Had the Bosche seen it?
+
+Three more minutes, then the mine. One minute went by; no shots! Another
+minute went by. A bullet flew over my head. Immediately afterwards
+another buried itself in the parapet, then another. Surely they would
+hit it! Heavens how that last minute dragged! To be absolutely sure of
+getting the mine from the very beginning, I decided to start exposing a
+minute before time. It had to be done; reaching up, I started to expose.
+Another and another bullet flew by.
+
+Then the thing happened which I had been dreading. The Bosche opened a
+machine-gun on me.
+
+At that moment there was a violent convulsion of the ground, and with a
+tremendous explosion the mine went up. It seemed as if the whole earth
+in front of us had been lifted bodily hundreds of feet in the air.
+Showers of bombs exploded, showing that it had been well under the
+German position. Then with a mighty roar the earth and debris fell back
+upon itself, forming a crater about 150 feet across. Would our men rush
+the crater and occupy it? On that chance, I kept turning the handle.
+The smoke subsided; nothing else happened.
+
+The show was over. No, not quite; for as I hurriedly took down the
+camera, I evidently put my head up a little too high. There was a crack,
+and a shriek near my head, and my service cap was whisked off. The whole
+thing happened like a flash of lightning. I dropped into the bottom of
+the trench and picked up my cap. There, through the soft part of it,
+just above the peak, were two holes where a bullet had passed through.
+One inch nearer and it would have been through my head.
+
+Can you realise what my thoughts were at that precise moment?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+FOURTEEN THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GERMAN LINES
+
+     The First Kinematograph Film Taken of the Western Front--And
+     How I Took It Whilst Travelling Through the Air at Eighty
+     Miles an Hour--Under Shell-fire--Over Ypres--A Thrilling
+     Experience--And a Narrow Escape--A Five Thousand Foot Dive
+     Through Space.
+
+
+"I feel confident I can manage it, and that the result will be both
+instructive and unique, and provided the weather is clear and I get as
+small a dose of 'Bosche' as possible, there is no reason why it
+shouldn't be successful."
+
+"Of course, I am quite aware of the atmospheric difficulties. The fact
+that it is so thick and misty is entirely due to the heavy body of
+moisture in the ground--but if I start off early in the morning I may
+just escape it."
+
+This conversation took place in the office of a certain British
+aerodrome in France between the Flight Commander and myself. We had been
+going into the pros and cons of an aerial expedition over the German
+lines. I was anxious to film the whole line from an aeroplane.
+
+"Well," said he, "what about the height? I think I had better call in
+the Captain," and pressing a bell an orderly quickly appeared and was
+sent off to inform the Captain that his presence was required.
+
+"I say," said the Flight Commander, "this is Malins, the War Office
+Kinematographer." He then explained my mission and requirements.
+
+"Now," he said, after all preliminaries had been discussed, "the
+question is about the height. What is a tolerably safe height over
+'Bosche'?"
+
+"About 8,000 feet, I should say, though of course if we go well over his
+lines it will be necessary to rise higher. There are too many
+'Archibalds' about to dodge any lower."
+
+"Well," I replied, "I'll start taking my scenes when we arrive at the
+coast-line. We can then follow it along and turn off inland towards
+Ypres. I should very much like to film that place from above, then
+follow down the lines, passing over St. Eloi, Ploegsteert,
+Armentieres, Neuve Chapelle, Richebourg, Festubert, Givenchy, Loos,
+Hohenzollern Redoubt, and on to Arras. I am of course entirely in your
+hands. I do not want to jeopardise the trip, nor wish you to run any
+unnecessary risks, you understand, but I should like to get as low as
+possible, and so obtain more detail. It will be the first kinematograph
+film ever taken of the Western Front."
+
+"Well," said the Flight Commander, rising, "you have full permission.
+You can have the use of a BE 2C machine, with Captain ----. Do what you
+like, but take care. Don't be rash. Good luck to you. I shall be as
+anxious as you to see the result."
+
+In the Captain's company I left the office, and together we went round
+to make arrangements regarding the means of fixing my camera.
+
+The machine was the usual type of passenger-carrying aero, numbered BE
+2C, a very stable and reliable machine, but according to the Captain,
+not very fast. Speed in this case was not an absolute necessity, unless
+a Fokker favoured us with his attentions.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE TRENCHES AT THE FAMOUS AND DEADLY HOHENZOLLERN
+REDOUBT, AFTER A GERMAN ATTACK. SHORTLY AFTER THIS WAS TAKEN I WAS SHOT
+THROUGH MY SERVICE CAP BY A GERMAN SNIPER]
+
+I went aboard to find the best means of fixing and operating my camera.
+I decided to use my debrie, not the aeroscope. The latter had jambed a
+day or two previous, and I had not had an opportunity of repairing
+it. The observer's seat was in the front, and just above, on the main
+struts, was a cross-tube of metal. On each end was an upright socket,
+for the purpose of dropping into it a Lewis gun. The pilot also had the
+same in front of him.
+
+I suggested that a metal fixing, which would fit the socket, and a
+tilting arrangement, so that it would be possible to raise or lower the
+camera to any angle, would suit admirably, and on the other side, in
+case of attack, a Lewis gun could be fitted.
+
+"It's well to be prepared for emergencies," said the Captain. "It's
+quite possible we shall be attacked."
+
+"Well," I said, "I will have a good shot at him if he does turn up. And
+who knows--I may be able to get a picture of the Hun machine falling. By
+Jove, what a thrill it would provide!"
+
+Instructions were given to the excellent mechanics employed in the
+R.F.C., and within an hour or so the metal tilting-top was made and
+fixed on the plane.
+
+"You will have to wrap up well," said the Captain. "It's jolly cold up
+there. It looks rather misty, and that will make it all the worse. Now
+then, all aboard."
+
+Up I scrambled, or rather wriggled, between a network of wire stays, and
+taking my seat the camera was handed to me. I fastened it on one side of
+the gun-mounting and fixed a Lewis gun on the other, making sure I had
+spare boxes of film ready, and spare drums of ammunition. I then
+fastened the broad web belt round my waist, and fixed on my goggles.
+
+I was ready for the ascent.
+
+My companion was in his seat, and the machine was wheeled into position
+for starting. The mechanics were turning the propeller round to suck
+the gas into the many cylinders, to facilitate easier starting.
+
+"All ready," shouted the Captain. "Right away, contact, let her go." And
+with a jerk the motor started.
+
+The whirl of the huge blades developed into a deafening roar. The
+machine vibrated horribly. I clung to my camera, holding it tight to the
+socket. I knew that once in the air the shake would be reduced to a
+minimum. Faster and faster whirled the propeller as the Captain opened
+the throttle. How sweet and perfect was the hum of the giant motor. Not
+the slightest sound of a misfire. Being an ardent motorist, I could tell
+that the engine was in perfect tune. The Captain leaned over and shouted
+to me through the roar to fasten the telephone receiver against my ear
+under my leather cap.
+
+"That," said he, pointing to a mouthpiece attached to a small rubber
+tube, "is the transmitter. If you want to give me any instructions shout
+into that. I shall hear you. All fit?" he asked.
+
+I nodded my head. He took his seat, and opened the throttle. The engine
+leapt into new life. The roar was deafening. The whirring blades flung
+the air back into my face, cutting it as if with a whip. He dropped his
+arm. The men drew away the chocks from the wheels, and amid shouts of
+"Good luck!" from the officers present, the machine sprang forward like
+a greyhound, bounding over the grass, until at last it rose like a
+gigantic bird into the air.
+
+The earth gradually drew away. Higher and higher we rose, and began to
+circle round and round to gain height.
+
+"We will get up to three thousand feet before we strike towards the
+coast," he shouted through the telephone.
+
+The vibration, now we were in the air, was barely perceptible, at any
+rate it was not sufficient to affect the taking of my scenes. In case
+any moisture collected on my lens, I had brought a soft silk pad, to
+wipe it with occasionally. Higher, still higher, we rose.
+
+"What's the height now?" I asked.
+
+"Very nearly three thousand feet," he said. "We are now going towards
+the coast. That's Dunkirk over there."
+
+I peered ahead. The port, with its shipping, was clearly discernible.
+Over the sea hung a dense mist, looking for all the world like a
+snowfield. Here and there, in clear patches, the sun gleamed upon the
+water, throwing back its dazzling reflections.
+
+As soon as we reached the coast-line, I shouted: "Proceed well along
+this side, so that I can obtain an oblique view. It looks much better
+than directly above the object. What's our speed?"
+
+"Sixty miles," he said. "I shall keep it up until we reach the German
+lines."
+
+He turned sharp to the right. We are now following the coast-line
+towards Ostend. How beautiful the sand dunes looked from above. The
+heavy billows of sea-mist gave it a somewhat mystic appearance. How cold
+it was. I huddled down close into my seat, my head only above the
+fuselage. Keeping my eye upon the wonderful panorama unfolding itself
+out beneath me, I glanced at my camera and tested the socket. Yes, it
+was quite firm.
+
+"We are nearing the lines now," my companion shouted. "Can you see them
+on your right? That's the Belgium area. Our section, as you know, begins
+just before Ypres. Will this height suit you? Shall I follow the
+trenches directly overhead or a little to one side?"
+
+"Keep this side, I'll begin taking now." Kneeling up in my seat, I
+directed my camera downwards and started filming our lines and the
+German position stretching away in the distance.
+
+We were nearing Ypres, that shell-battered city of Flanders. White balls
+of smoke here and there were bursting among the ruins, showing that the
+Huns were still shelling it. What a frightful state the earth was in.
+For miles and miles around it had the appearance of a sieve, with
+hundreds of thousands of shell-holes, and like a beautiful green ribbon,
+winding away as far as the eye could see, was that wonderful yet
+terrible strip of ground between the lines, known as "No Man's Land."
+
+We were now running into a bank of white fleecy clouds, which enveloped
+us in its folds, blotting the whole earth from view. I held my
+handkerchief over the lens of the camera to keep the moisture from
+settling upon it. After a time several breaks appeared in the clouds
+beneath, and the earth looked wonderful. It seemed miles--many
+miles--away. Rivers looked like silver streaks, and houses mere specks
+upon the landscape. Here and there a puff of white smoke told of a
+bursting shell. But for that occasional, somewhat unpleasant reminder, I
+might have been thousands of miles away from the greatest war in
+history.
+
+Who could imagine anything more wonderful, more fantastic? I had dreamed
+of such things, I had read of them; I even remembered having read, years
+ago, some of the wonderful stories in _Grimm's Fairy Tales_. To my
+childish mind, they seemed very wonderful indeed. There were fairies,
+goblins, mysterious figures, castles which floated in the air, wonderful
+lands which shifted in a night, at the touch of a magic wand or the
+sound of a magic word. Things which fired my youthful imagination and
+set me longing to share in their adventures. But never in my wildest
+dreams did I think I should live to do the same thing, to go where I
+listed; to fly like a bird, high above the clouds. It was like an
+adventure in fairyland to take this weird and wonderful creation of men,
+called an aeroplane, through the home of the skylark.
+
+Boom! Boom! I was suddenly brought back to--no, not to earth, but
+to--things more material.
+
+Looking down, I could discern several balls of smoke, which I
+immediately recognised as shrapnel shells, or "Archibalds," that had
+been fired at us by the Germans. They were well below. I looked round at
+the Captain. He was smiling through his goggles, and humorously jerked
+his thumb in the direction of the bursting "Archies."
+
+"Too high, eh?" I shouted. But I had forgotten that in the fearful hum
+of the rushing air and whirling motors my voice would not carry. It was
+literally cut off as it left my lips. I picked up the 'phone and shouted
+through it.
+
+"Yes, they are pretty safe where they are," he said drily. Then a few
+more burst underneath us.
+
+By this time we were well out of the cloud bank. The atmosphere was much
+clearer. I knelt up again on my seat and began to expose, and continued
+turning the handle while we passed over St. Eloi and Hill 60. On certain
+sections I could see that a considerable "strafe" was going on. Fritz
+seemed to be having a very trying time. Near Messines my film suddenly
+ran out. I had to reload. This was anything but an easy operation. I
+unscrewed my camera from the gun socket, and in doing so had a near
+escape from doing a head-dive to earth. Like an idiot, I had unfastened
+my waist-strap, and in reaching over the fuselage my camera nearly
+over-balanced, the aeroplane contributing to this result by making a
+sudden dive in order to avoid an "Archibald."
+
+For a second or two I had clear visions of flying through space on wings
+other than those of an aeroplane. But fortunately I had the steel
+crossbar to cling to, and this saved me.
+
+Getting back to my seat, I asked the pilot to circle round the spot for
+a few minutes. While changing my spool, I settled down in the bottom of
+the car and reloaded my camera, eight thousand feet above the earth.
+This operation occupied about ten minutes, and when I had finished I
+gingerly raised myself on the seat and refixed the camera in its socket.
+
+"Right away," I shouted. "Is it possible to go any lower?"
+
+"It's very risky," he said, "but if you like I will try. Hold tight,
+it's a dive."
+
+I held tight. The nose of the machine tilted forward until it seemed as
+if it was absolutely standing on end. The earth rushed up to meet us.
+For the moment it seemed as if the aeroplane was out of control, but
+with a graceful glide, which brought us level, we continued our journey
+at a height of three thousand feet.
+
+"Get what you want quickly," he shouted. "We can't stay here long."
+
+I began to expose again. By now we were over line after line of
+trenches. At times we were well over the Bosche lines. I continued to
+film the scenes.
+
+First came Ploegsteert, Fromelles, and Aubers Ridge. Then we crossed
+to Neuve Chapelle, Festubert, La Bassee and Loos. Town after town,
+village after village, were passed over, all of them in ruins. From
+above the trenches, like a splash of white chalk dropped into the middle
+of a patch of brown earth. The long winding trenches cut out of the
+chalk twisted and wound along valley and dale like a serpent. Looking
+down upon it all, it seemed so very insignificant. Man? What was he? His
+works looked so small that it seemed one could, with a sweep of the
+foot, crush him out of existence. How small he was, yet how great; how
+powerful, yet how weak! We were now over La Bassee.
+
+"We shall have to rise," shouted my companion. "Look up there." I looked
+up, and thousands of feet above us was a small speck.
+
+"Bosche plane," said he. "Hold tight!" And I did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FILMING THE EARTH FROM THE CLOUDS
+
+     Chasing an "Enemy" Aeroplane at a Height of 13,500 Feet--And
+     What Came of It--A Dramatic Adventure in which the Pilot
+     Played a Big Part--I Get a Nasty Shock--But am Reassured--A
+     Freezing Experience--Filming the Earth as we Dived Almost
+     Perpendicularly--A Picture that would Defy the Most Ardent
+     Futurist to Paint.
+
+
+"Is that gun ready?" asked my companion, twisting round in his seat. I
+nodded. "Right-o! I'm going to get up higher. We are absolutely lost
+down here."
+
+I fixed on a drum of cartridges, and with a butt in my hand was ready
+for any emergency. Higher and higher we rose. The mist was becoming more
+and more dense. Photographing was impossible. The cold seemed to chill
+one's bones. I could tell by the increasing vibration we were going "all
+out," in order to get above the enemy machine, which seemed to be
+drawing closer and closer. I looked at the pilot. He had his eyes fixed
+upon the Bosche.
+
+"What are we now?"
+
+"Eight thousand," he said. "That chap must be at least thirteen thousand
+up. Do you notice whether he is coming nearer?"
+
+I told him it seemed to me as if he was doing so.
+
+Up and up we went. Colder and colder it grew. My face was frozen. To
+breathe, I had to turn my head sideways to avoid the direct rush of air
+from the whirling propeller. I could just discern the ground through the
+mist. I looked around for the Bosche. He seemed further away. I shouted
+to the pilot. He looked round.
+
+"I'm going to chase it," he said. And away he went. But the faster we
+moved the faster went the other machine. At last we discovered the
+reason. In fact, I believe we both discovered it at precisely the same
+moment. _The plane was one of our own!_ I looked at the Captain. He
+smiled at me, and I'm positive he felt disappointed at the discovery.
+
+"What's the height?" I enquired.
+
+"About thirteen thousand feet," he said. "Shall we go higher? We may get
+above the mist."
+
+"Try a little more," I replied. "But I don't think it will be possible
+to film any more scenes to-day; the fog is much too heavy."
+
+The whole machine was wet with moisture. It seemed as if we should never
+rise above it. I had never before known it so thick. My companion asked
+if we should return. With reluctance I agreed, then, turning round face
+to the sun, we rushed away.
+
+The mist did not seem to change. Mile after mile we encountered the same
+impenetrable blanket of clammy moisture. I was huddling as tight as
+possible to the bottom of the seat, taking advantage of the least bit of
+cover from the biting, rushing swirl of icy-cold air. Mile after mile;
+it seemed hours up there in the solitude. I watched the regular dancing
+up and down of the valves on top of the engine. I was thinking of a tune
+that would fit to the regular beat of the tappets.
+
+I shouted through the 'phone.
+
+No answer.
+
+He must be too cold to speak, I thought. For myself, I did not know
+whether I had jaws or not. The lashing, biting wind did not affect my
+face now. I could feel nothing. Once I tried to pinch my cheek; it was
+lifeless. It might have been clay. My jaw was practically set stiff. I
+could only just articulate.
+
+I tried again to attract my companion's attention. Still no answer.
+
+I was wondering whether anything had happened to him, when something did
+happen which very nearly petrified me. I felt a clutch on my shoulder.
+Quickly turning my head, I was horrified to see him standing on his seat
+and leaning over my shoulder.
+
+"Get off the telephone tube, you idiot. You are sitting on it," he
+shouted. "We can't speak to one another."
+
+"Telephone be damned!" I managed to shout. "Get back to your seat. Don't
+play monkey-tricks up here."
+
+If you can imagine yourself fourteen thousand feet above the earth,
+sitting in an aeroplane, and the pilot letting go all his controls, as
+he stands on his feet shouting in your ear, you will be able to realise,
+but only to a very slight extent, what my feelings were at this precise
+moment.
+
+He returned to his seat. He was smiling. I fumbled about underneath and
+found the tube. Putting it to my mouth, I asked him what he meant by it.
+
+"That's all right, my dear chap," he said, "there's no need to get
+alarmed. The old bus will go along merrily on its own."
+
+"I'll believe all you say. In fact I'll believe anything you like to
+tell me, but I'd much rather you sit in your seat and control the
+machine," I replied.
+
+He chuckled, apparently enjoying the joke to the full, but during the
+remainder of the journey I made sure I was not sitting on the speaking
+tube.
+
+The mist was gradually clearing now. The sun shone gloriously, the
+clouds, a long way beneath us, looked more substantial; through the gaps
+in their fleecy whiteness the earth appeared. It seemed a long time
+since I had seen it. We were again coming to the edge of a cloud bank.
+The atmosphere beyond was exceedingly clear.
+
+"We are nearly home," said my companion. "Are you going to take any more
+scenes?"
+
+"Yes," I said, "I suppose you'll spiral down?"
+
+"Right-ho!"
+
+"I'll take a film showing the earth revolving. It'll look very quaint on
+the screen."
+
+"Here goes then. We are going to dive down to about six thousand feet,
+so hold on tight to your strap."
+
+The engines almost stopped. Suddenly we seemed to be falling earthwards.
+Down--down--down! We were diving as nearly perpendicular as it is
+possible to be. Sharp pains shot through my head. It was getting worse.
+The pain was horrible. The right side of my face and head seemed as if a
+hundred pin-points were being driven into it. I clutched my face in
+agony; then I realised the cause. Coming down from such a height, at so
+terrific a speed, the different pressure of the atmosphere affected the
+blood pressure on the head.
+
+Suddenly the downward rush was stopped. The plane was brought to an even
+keel.
+
+"I'm going to spiral now," said the pilot. "Ready?"
+
+"Right away," I said, and knelt again in my seat. The plane suddenly
+seemed to swerve. Then it slanted at a most terrifying angle, and began
+to descend rapidly towards the earth in a spiral form. I filmed the
+scene on the journey. To say the earth looked extraordinary would be
+putting it very mildly. The ground below seemed to rush up and mix with
+the clouds. First the earth seemed to be over one's head, then the
+clouds. I am sure the most ardent futurist artist would find it utterly
+impossible to do justice to such a scene. Round and round we went. Now
+one side, now the other. How I held to my camera-handle goodness only
+knows. Half the time, I am sure, I turned it mechanically.
+
+Suddenly we came to an even keel. The earth seemed within jumping
+distance. The nose dipped again, the propeller whirled. Within a few
+seconds we were bounding along on the grassy space of the aerodrome, and
+finally coming to rest we were surrounded by the mechanics, who quickly
+brought the machine to a standstill.
+
+"By the way," I said to the pilot, as we went off to tea, "how long were
+we up there altogether?"
+
+"Two hours," he replied.
+
+Two hours! Great Scott! It seemed days!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+PREPARING FOR THE "BIG PUSH"
+
+     The Threshold of Tremendous Happenings--General ----'s
+     Speech to His Men on the Eve of Battle--Choosing My Position
+     for Filming the "Big Push"--Under Shell-fire--A Race of
+     Shrieking Devils--Fritz's Way of "Making Love"--I Visit the
+     "White City"--And On the Way have Another Experience of Gas
+     Shells.
+
+
+The time for which England has been preparing during these past two
+awful years is here. We are now on the threshold of tremendous
+happenings. The Great Offensive is about to begin. What will be the
+result?
+
+We see the wonderful organisation of our vast armies, and we know the
+firm and resolute methods of our General Staff--as I have seen and known
+them during the war--would leave nothing to be desired. As a machine, it
+is the most wonderful that was ever created.
+
+My position as Official Kinematographer has afforded me unique
+opportunities to gain knowledge of the whole system required to wage the
+most terrible war that has ever been known to mankind. I have not let
+these opportunities slip by.
+
+The great day was coming; there was a mysterious something which
+affected everyone at G.H.Q. There was no definite news to hand; nobody,
+with the exception of those directly concerned, knew when and where the
+blow was to be struck. Some thought on the northern part of our line,
+others the centre; others, again, the south. In the home, in the
+streets, in the cafes and gardens, the one topic of conversation
+was--the coming Great Offensive.
+
+I was told by a colonel that my chance to make history was coming. That
+was all. But those few words conveyed an enormous lot to me. Later in
+the day I was told by a captain to proceed to the front line, to choose
+a suitable position wherein to fix up my camera. Our section facing
+Gouerment was suggested to me as the place where there was likely to be
+the most excitement, and I immediately set out for that section. During
+the journey I was held up by a large body of our men, who turned out
+afterwards to be the London Scottish. They were formed up in a square,
+and in the centre was a general, with his staff officers, addressing the
+men. His words thrilled the hearts of every one who heard them:
+
+     "Gentlemen of the London Scottish: Within the next few days
+     you will take part in the greatest battle in the history of
+     the world. To you has been entrusted the taking and holding
+     of Gouerment.... England is looking to you to free the world
+     from slavery and militarism that is epitomized in the German
+     nation and German Kultur.... Gentlemen, I know you will not
+     fail, and from the bottom of my heart I wish you the best of
+     luck."
+
+I waited until the address was finished, and then proceeded to a certain
+place, striking out on the left and trudging through innumerable
+communication trenches, at times up to my knees in mud and water.
+Eventually I reached an eminence facing the village of Gouerment. It was
+in a valley. The German trenches ran parallel with my position, and on
+the right I could discern the long green ribbon of grass termed "No
+Man's Land," stretching as far as the eye could see. The whole front of
+the German lines was being shelled by our heavy guns; the place was a
+spitting mass of smoke and flame. Salvo after salvo was being poured
+from our guns.
+
+[Illustration: IN A SHELL HOLE IN "NO MAN'S LAND" FILMING OUR HEAVY
+BOMBARDMENT OF THE GERMAN LINES. I GOT INTO THIS POSITION DURING THE
+NIGHT PREVIOUS. IT WAS HERE THAT I EARNED THE SOUBRIQUET "MALINS OF NO
+MAN'S LAND"]
+
+"What an inspiring sight," I said to an officer standing by my side,
+"and these shells were made by the women of England."
+
+"Well," he said, "you see Gommecourt; that's all coming down in a day or
+two. Every gun, large and small, will concentrate its fire on it, and
+level it to the ground. That's your picture."
+
+"In that case," I replied, "I shall want to be much nearer our front
+line. I must get within five hundred yards of it. What a sight! What a
+film it will be!"
+
+I stood watching the bombardment for some time, then fixing my camera
+position, I returned. Divisional H.Q. told me I should be informed in
+ample time when the attack was to be made.
+
+That afternoon I returned to G.H.Q., but the best laid schemes of mice
+and men aft gang agley. I was told that night to prepare immediately to
+proceed to the H.Q. of a certain Division, with instructions to attach
+myself to them for the next week; all particulars would be given to me
+in the morning.
+
+I received my instructions next morning. I was to proceed to the
+Division, report myself, and I should receive all the information and
+assistance I required. With parting wishes for the best of luck, and
+"don't come back wounded," I left H.Q., and proceeded by car to the
+Company H.Q., where I was received with every courtesy by General ----.
+
+He told me the best thing to do was to go to Divisional H.Q. and see the
+General. He had been informed of my arrival, and the final details could
+be arranged with him, such as the best points of vantage for fixing up
+my camera. Accordingly I hurried off to Divisional H.Q. and met the
+General. On being ushered into his room, I found him sitting at a table
+with a large scale map of a certain section of our line before him. He
+looked the very incarnation of indomitable will, this General of the
+incomparable ---- Division.
+
+I quickly explained my mission, and told him I should like to go to the
+front trenches to choose my position.
+
+"Certainly," he said, "that is a very wise plan, but if you will look
+here I will show you the spot which, in my opinion, will make an ideal
+place. This is the German position. This, of course, is Beaumont Hamel,
+which is our objective. This is as far as we are going; it will be a
+pivot from which the whole front south of us will radiate. We are going
+to give the village an intense bombardment this afternoon, at 4 o'clock;
+perhaps you would like to obtain that?"
+
+"Yes, sir," I replied, "it is most necessary to my story. What guns are
+you using?"
+
+"Everything, from trench mortars to 15-inch howitzers. We are going to
+literally raze it to the ground. It is one of the strongest German
+redoubts, and it's not going to be an easy job to occupy it; but we
+achieved the impossible at Gallipoli, and with God's help we will win
+here. There is a spot here in our firing trench called 'Jacob's
+Ladder,'" and pointing to the map, he showed it me.
+
+"That certainly looks a most excellent point, sir," I said. "What is the
+distance from Bosche lines?"
+
+"About 150 yards. They 'strafe' it considerably, from what I am told;
+but, of course, you will have to take your chance, the same as all my
+other officers."
+
+"That is unavoidable, sir. The nature of my work does not permit me to
+be in very comfortable places, if I am to get the best results."
+
+"Right," he said, "if you will report to Brigade H.Q. the Brigade Major
+will give you what orderlies you require, and you had better draw
+rations with them while you are there. He has instructions to give you
+every assistance."
+
+"Oh, by the way, sir, what time does the mine go up?"
+
+"Ten minutes to zero," he replied. "You quite understand, don't you?
+Major ---- will give you zero time to-morrow night."
+
+After lunching with the General I started off for Brigade H.Q. The
+weather was vile. It had been raining practically without break for
+several days, and was doing its best to upset everything and give us as
+much trouble as possible.
+
+What an enormous number of munition waggons and lorries I passed on the
+road; miles and miles of them, all making for the front line. "Ye gods!"
+I thought, "Bosche is certainly going to get it."
+
+I reached my destination about 2.30. What a "strafe" there was going on!
+The concussion of what I afterwards found out was our 15-inch howitzers
+was terrible. The very road seemed to shake, and when I opened the door
+of the temporary Brigade H.Q., one gun which went off close by shook the
+building to such an extent that I really thought for the moment a shell
+had struck the house.
+
+"Captain ----, I presume?" said I, addressing an officer seated at a
+long table making out reports and giving them over to waiting dispatch
+riders. The room was a hive of industry.
+
+"Gad, sir," he said, "are you the kinema man? I am pleased to see you.
+Take a seat, and tell me what you want. You are the last person I
+expected to see out here. But, seriously, are you really going to film
+'The Day'?"
+
+"Yes," I replied.
+
+"Where do you propose to take it?"
+
+"General ---- suggested 'Jacob's Ladder.'"
+
+"What?" came a startled chorus from about half a dozen other officers.
+"Take photos from 'Jacob's Ladder,'" they repeated in tones of
+amazement. "Good Lord! it's an absolute death-trap. Bosche strafes it
+every day, and it's always covered by snipers."
+
+"Well," I said, "it certainly seems by the map to be an ideal place to
+get the mine going up and the advance over 'No Man's Land.'"
+
+"Granted, but--well!--it's your shoot. Will you let us introduce the
+doctor? You'll need him."
+
+"Gentlemen," I said, with mock gravity, "I assure you it would be most
+difficult for me to receive a more cordial welcome." This remark caused
+some laughter. Turning to the Captain, I said: "Will you give me an
+orderly? One who knows the trenches, as I wish to go there this
+afternoon to film the 'strafe' at 4 o'clock. I shall stay down there for
+the next few days, to be on the spot for 'The Day,' and ready for
+anything that follows."
+
+"Certainly," he said. "Have you got a trench map? What about blankets
+and grub?"
+
+"I have my blanket and some provisions, but if I can draw some bully and
+biscuits, I shall manage quite well."
+
+Having secured supplies and filled my knapsack, I strapped it on my
+shoulder, fixed the camera-case on my back and, handing the tripod to
+another man, started off. I had hardly got more than two hundred yards
+when the Captain ran up to me and said that he had just had a 'phone
+message from D.H.Q., saying that the General was going to address the
+men on the following day, before proceeding to battle. Would I like to
+film the scene? It would take place about 10 a.m. Naturally, I was
+delighted at the prospect of such a picture, and agreed to be on the
+field at the time mentioned. Then with a final adieu we parted.
+
+The weather was still vile. A nasty, drizzly mist hung over everything.
+The appearance of the whole country was much like it is on a bad
+November day at home. Everything was clammy and cold. The roads were
+covered to a depth of several inches with slimy, clayey mud. Loads of
+munitions were passing up to the Front. On all sides were guns, large
+and small. The place bristled with them, and they were so cunningly
+hidden that one might pass within six feet of them without being aware
+of their existence. But you could not get away from the sounds. The
+horrible dinning continued, from the sharp rat-tat-tat-tat of the French
+75mm., of which we had several batteries in close proximity, and from
+the bark of the 18-pounders to the crunching roar of the 15-inch
+howitzer. The air was literally humming with shells. It seemed like a
+race of shrieking devils, each trying to catch up with the one in front
+before it reached its objective.
+
+Salvo after salvo; crash after crash; and in the rare moments of
+stillness, in this nerve-shattering prelude to the Great Push, I could
+hear the sweet warblings of a lark, as it rose higher and higher in the
+murky, misty sky.
+
+At one place I had to pass through a narrow lane, and on either side
+were hidden batteries, sending round upon round into the German
+trenches, always under keen observation from enemy-spotting balloons and
+aeroplanes. The recent shell-holes in the roadway made me pause before
+proceeding further. I noticed a sergeant of the Lancashire Fusiliers at
+the entrance to a thickly sand-bagged shelter, and asked him if there
+was another way to the section of the front line I sought.
+
+"No, sir," he said, "that is the only way; but it's mighty unhealthy
+just now. The Hun is crumpling it with his 5.9-inch H.E., and making a
+tidy mess of the road. But he don't hit our guns, sir. He just improves
+their appearance by making a nice little frill of earth around them, he
+does, and--look out, sir; come in here.
+
+"Here she comes!"
+
+With a murderous shriek and horrible splitting roar a German shell burst
+on the roadway about fifty yards away.
+
+"That is Fritz's way of making love, sir," he said, with a chuckle;
+which remark admirably reflects the marvellous morale of our men.
+
+"Have they been shelling the avenues much?" I asked, referring to the
+various communication trenches leading to the front line.
+
+"Yes, sir. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are being severely crumped. I would suggest
+No. 5, sir; it's as clear as any of them. I should advise you to get
+along this lane as fast as possible. I have been here some time, so I
+know Fritz's little ways."
+
+He saluted, and like a mole disappeared into his dug-out as I moved
+away.
+
+I told my man to keep about ten yards behind me, so that in the event of
+a shell bursting near by one or the other of us would have a chance of
+clearing.
+
+"Now," I said, "let it go at a double. Come on," and with head well
+forward I raced up the road.
+
+Altogether, with my camera, I was carrying about seventy pounds in
+weight, so you can guess it was no easy matter. There was about another
+150 yards to go, when I heard the ominous shriek of a German shell.
+
+"Down in the ditch," I yelled. "Lie flat," and suiting the action to the
+word, I flung myself down in the mud and water near a fallen tree. Crash
+came the shell, and it exploded with a deafening roar more on the side
+of the road than the previous one, and near enough to shower mud and
+water all over me as I lay there.
+
+"Now then," I yelled to my man, "double-up before they range the next
+one," and jumping up we raced away. Not before I had got well clear,
+and near the old railway station, did I stay and rest. While there
+several shells crashed in and around the road we had just left. I was
+glad I was safely through.
+
+With the exception of the usual heavy shelling, getting down to the
+front trench was quite uneventful. My objective was a place called "The
+White City," so called because it is cut out of the chalk-bank of our
+position facing Beaumont Hamel. Getting there through the communication
+trenches was as difficult as in the winter. In places the mud and water
+reached my knees, and when you had come to the end of your journey you
+were as much like dirty plaster-cast as anything possibly could be.
+
+After three-quarters of an hour's trudging and splashing I reached "The
+White City," and turned down a trench called "Tenderloin Street." About
+one hundred yards on my right, at the junction of "King Street" and "St.
+Helena Street," my guide pointed me out the Brigade dug-out. Depositing
+my camera and outfit close to some sandbags I went inside and introduced
+myself. Four officers were present.
+
+"By Jove!" said one, "you are welcome. Have a drink. Here's a
+cigarette."
+
+"Here you are," said another, "have a match. Now tell us all the news
+from home. My word, we haven't heard a blessed thing for days. Have you
+really come to photograph 'The Day'?"
+
+"Yes," I replied. "But I have come this afternoon to look round, and to
+film the 'strafe' at Beaumont Hamel. You know the trenches round here:
+where can I see the village to the best advantage?"
+
+"Well," said one, "there are several places, but Bosche is 'hating' us
+rather this afternoon, and the firing trench is anything but healthy.
+He's been properly dosing us with 'whizz-bangs,' but you know he _will_
+have his bit of fun. You see, when Fritz starts we let off a few 'flying
+pigs' in return, which undoubtedly disturbs his peace of mind."
+
+"By my map, a spot called 'Lanwick Street' seems likely," I said. "It's
+bang opposite the village, and they are putting the 15-inch on the
+eastern corner. If you will be good enough to guide me, I will have a
+look now; it will take me some time to fix up my camera in reasonable
+safety."
+
+"You won't find much safety there," he replied. "We have practically to
+rebuild the parapet every night, but only for a few more days, thank
+Heaven! Anyway, come along."
+
+We proceeded by way of "King Street" to "Lanwick Street," and several
+times we had to fall flat in the trench bottom to escape being hit by
+shells. They seemed at times to burst almost overhead. The "whizz-bangs"
+which Fritz puts over are rather little beggars; you have no time to
+dodge them. They come with a "phut" and a bang that for sheer speed
+knocks spots off a flash of lightning. One only thinks to duck when the
+beastly thing has gone off.
+
+"Lanwick Street" was the usual sort of trench. At one end was an
+artillery observation officer, correcting the range of his guns.
+
+"Go easy, won't you?" he said to me. "Bosche has an idea we use this
+corner for something rather important. If he sees your camera we shall
+certainly receive his attention. For Heaven's sake, keep your head
+down."
+
+"Right-o!" I said. "Lend me your periscope; I will have a look at the
+ground first through that."
+
+I looked on the village, or rather the late site of it. It was
+absolutely flattened out, with the exception of a few remaining stumps
+of trees, which used to be a beautiful wood, near which the village
+nestled.
+
+"That's been done by our guns in five days; some mess, eh?"
+
+"My word, yes. Now about this afternoon's bombardment; they are working
+on the left-hand corner."
+
+I chose a spot for working and fixing up my tripod, and waited until
+4.30 p.m.
+
+In the meantime, with the aid of a stick, I gradually pushed away
+several sandbags which interfered with my view on the parapet. To do
+this it was necessary to raise myself head and shoulders above the top
+and, with one arm pushed forward, I worked the bags clear. I felt much
+better when that job was done.
+
+"You're lucky," said the A.O. "I had one of my periscopes hit clean by a
+bullet this morning. Fritz must be having a nap, or he would have had
+you for a cert."
+
+"Anyway," I replied, "it gives me a comparatively clear view now."
+
+Time was drawing near. I prepared my camera by clothing it in an old
+piece of sacking, and gently raising it on to the tripod I screwed it
+tight. Then gradually raising my head to the view-finder, I covered the
+section which was going to be "strafed," and wrapping my hand in a khaki
+handkerchief, waited.
+
+Our guns were simply pouring shells on the Bosche. The first of the
+15-inch came over and exploded with a deafening roar. The sight was
+stupefying.
+
+I began to expose my film, swinging the camera first on one side then
+the other. Shell after shell came roaring over; one dropped on the
+remaining walls of a chateau, and when the smoke had cleared there was
+absolutely nothing left. How in the world anything could live in such a
+maelstrom of explosive it is difficult to conceive.
+
+I continued to expose my film at intervals until about 6 o'clock, and
+twice I had to snatch my camera down hastily and take shelter, for the
+"whizz-bangs" came smashing too close for safety.
+
+I was just taking down my camera when several shells exploded in the
+trenches about fifteen yards behind us. Then a man came running into our
+traverse: "Shure, sor," he said, "and it's gas-shells the dirty swine
+are sending over. My eyes seem to be burning out." His eyes were
+undoubtedly bad. Tears were pouring down his cheeks, and he was trying
+to ease the pain by binding his handkerchief over them. Then I smelt the
+gas, and having had a previous dose at Vernilles, and not wishing for
+further acquaintance with it, I bade my man rush as quickly as possible
+back to "The White City."
+
+I got back to H.Q. dug-out just in time for tea. I told the officers
+present of my success in filming the "strafe," and I learned that it was
+the first time Fritz had put tear-shells over them. "We must certainly
+prepare our goggles," they said.
+
+"Have you seen 'Jacob's Ladder'?" enquired one of the officers.
+
+"No," I replied, "I shall wait until dusk. It will then be safer to move
+about."
+
+We sat smoking and talking about the prospects of the "Big Push," and at
+last we all lapsed into silence, which was broken by the arrival of a
+lieutenant. The Captain looked up from his bench. "Hullo, what's up? Any
+news?"
+
+"Oh, no; nothing much, sir," said he, "but H.Q. wishes me to go out for
+a raid to-night. They want a Bosche to talk to; there are a few things
+they want to know. We haven't brought one in for several nights now.
+They asked me to go out again; I said, if there was one to be had my
+Company would bring him along."
+
+[Illustration: GEOFFREY H. MALINS, O.B.E., OFFICIAL KINEMATOGRAPHER TO
+THE WAR OFFICE]
+
+"Right-o!" said the Captain. "Who are you taking?"
+
+"---- for one, and a few men--the same lot that have been across with me
+before. H.Q. specially want to know the actual results of the heavy
+'strafe.' They are going to cease fire to-night, between twelve and one.
+I want to find out where their machine guns are fixed up----" And so the
+conversation went on.
+
+At that moment another officer came in, and I got him to show me round
+"Jacob's Ladder." We went through "King Street" again, and followed the
+trench until we arrived at the place. The formation of this point was
+extraordinary.
+
+A stranger coming upon it for the first time would undoubtedly get a
+slight shock for, upon turning into a traverse, you come abruptly upon
+an open space, as if the trench had been sliced off, leaving an opening
+from which you could look down upon our front line trenches, not only
+upon them but well in front of them.
+
+I was on the bank of a small valley; leading down from this position
+were about twenty-five steps, hence the name "Jacob's Ladder." Our
+parapet still followed down, like the handrail of a staircase, only of
+course much higher.
+
+The position from a photographic point of view was admirable, and I
+doubt whether on any other part of our front such a suitable point could
+be found. "Jove!" I said, "this is the ideal place. I will definitely
+decide upon it."
+
+"If you look carefully over here you will see the Bosche line quite
+plainly. They are about seventy yards away, and at that point we are
+going to put a barrage of fire on their second line with our Stokes
+guns. We are going to do that from 'Sunken Road,' midway in 'No Man's
+Land.' Can you see it there?"
+
+"Yes," I replied; "splendid. As soon as I have got the mine exploding,
+and our men going over the parapet and across 'No Man's Land,' I can
+immediately--if all's well--swing my camera on to the barrage and film
+that. This is a wonderful position."
+
+"It rests entirely with Fritz now. If he does not crump this place you
+will be all right, but they are sure to plaster our front trench as soon
+as they see us go over."
+
+"Well, I must risk that," I said.
+
+And we turned and retraced our steps to the "White City," where I bade
+my companion good night, and returned to film the scene of the General's
+speech to his men the following morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+FILMING UNDER FIRE
+
+     The General's Speech to the Fusiliers Before Going Into
+     Action--Filming the 15-inch Howitzers--A Miniature
+     Earthquake--"The Day" is Postponed--Keeping Within "The
+     Limits"--A Surprise Meeting in the Trenches--A Reminder of
+     Other Days--I Get Into a Tight Corner--And Have An
+     Unpleasantly Hot Experience--I Interview a Trench
+     Mortar--Have a Lively Quarter of an Hour--And Then Get Off.
+
+
+Rain, rain, rain. It was like a dull, dismal December night. Owing to
+the tramping of hundreds of feet up and down the trenches, they became
+like a quagmire. We slipped and slid, clutching to the sticky, clay
+walls, and floundering up to our knees in holes, and, to make matters
+worse, Bosche, who knew that this was the time we brought up fresh
+munitions, crumped the Fifth Avenue as hard as he could. One or two
+shells crashed into the trench on the way up, and I had to pass over two
+working parties (by the aid of a candle-light, screened) searching for,
+and placing the remains of their comrades in sacks.
+
+Good God! it's a hellish game; and the terror of war gripped one's
+heartstrings that night. The momentary flash of the exploding shells
+lighted up the faces of the men with ghastly vividness, some grinding
+out curses then groping blindly on. I was glad when the journey was
+ended, and I turned into a dug-out in the village to rest for the night.
+
+Next morning a misty, drizzly pall still hung over everything. I
+wondered how in the world our men were going to attack under such
+conditions, and to-morrow was "The Day." I pitied them with all my
+heart and soul. And then I thought of myself, and my own particular job.
+I couldn't possibly "take" in such disgusting weather. The result would
+be an absolute failure. I controlled my feelings, and hoped for the
+best.
+
+The time arrived for the General's speech. Reaching the field, I found
+all the men mustered up. The General had just arrived. I started to film
+the scenes as they presented themselves to me. Jove! The speech was the
+most impressive that I had ever heard. I will give it as it was spoken,
+as near as I can. I do not think that it has been published before:
+
+     "Officers and men of the West Riding Field Company, R.E.,
+     and -- Battalion, Royal Fusiliers:
+
+     "I hoped yesterday to be able to come and wish you good
+     luck, on the first anniversary of the engagement in Gully
+     Ravine, there the Royal Fusiliers took the Turkish fifth
+     line of trenches. Owing to the rain, however, and to the
+     discomfort to which you would have been placed, I postponed
+     my visit until to-day.
+
+     "I want to tell you something of the situation as it now
+     stands. You are probably aware that we are now taking part
+     in the greatest battle ever fought by British troops. Not
+     only is it of far more importance than any fight since
+     Waterloo, but the numbers engaged far exceed any assembly of
+     troops in former days. The strength of this army,--the
+     Fourth Army--under General Sir H. S. Rawlinson, is ----
+     times as large as the force of British troops at Mons, when
+     we first came out a year and a half ago.
+
+     "The importance of winning a great victory is so great that
+     nothing has been left undone to ensure success. But the
+     higher Commanders know--and I know--that all the best
+     arrangements in the world cannot win battles. Battles are
+     won by infantry, and it is to the battalions like yourself
+     that we look to gain a great victory, equal to the great
+     victory which the Russians have obtained this month.
+
+     "The Germans are shut in all round. On their northern flank
+     they are shut in by the British Navy, on the eastern flank
+     pressed back by the Russians, on the southern flank the
+     Italians are advancing, and this week, on the western flank,
+     certain Divisions of the French and many Divisions of the
+     British are determined to break their line and drive them
+     back to their own country.
+
+     "Officers and men of the -- Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers:
+     You are very fortunate in having this opportunity to add to
+     the high honours already gained by your distinguished
+     regiment. Not only, however, are you fighting for your
+     battalion and your regiment, you are fighting to maintain
+     against the Germans the same high reputation which you have
+     won for the ---- Division on the Gallipoli Peninsula. More
+     than that, you are fighting for your country, and also you
+     are fighting for Christianity and Humanity. You are fighting
+     for truth and justice against oppression. We are fighting
+     for our liberty against slavery.
+
+     "It is now thirty-three years since I was first associated
+     with the Royal Fusiliers, the regiment I have looked up to
+     during all my service as a pattern of smartness and
+     efficiency. I have served with you in Gibraltar, Egypt, and
+     many stations in India; also at Aldershot, and on the
+     Gallipoli Peninsula during the past year. There is no
+     regiment in the service in which I have had a higher
+     confidence, and I hope next week to be able to assemble you
+     again and to congratulate you on the great victory that you
+     are going to win for me, as commanding this Division, and
+     for your country."
+
+The faces of the men shone with a new light. It seemed as if they had
+seen a sight which other mortals were not allowed to look upon. As
+upright as poplars, chests well forward and heads thrown back, their
+souls seemed to speak out of their inflexible determination to win. They
+marched away, going to that stretch of land from which many have never
+returned--giving their lives for freedom and the honour of England.
+
+I turned and gave a parting wave of the hand to a group of officers
+standing by.
+
+"See you to-night," I said, "at the 'White City.' We will drink to the
+health of 'The Day,'" and with a parting laugh I moved a way.
+
+I found out through H.Q. that some of our 15-inch howitzers were in the
+vicinity, so I decided to film them without delay, to work them into the
+story of the battle. I discovered their position on my map. I reached
+the battery. The state of the ground was indescribable. It was more
+like a "sea of mud," and standing in the middle of this morass was the
+giant gun, for all the world like a horrible frog squatting on its
+haunches. Each time it breathed it belched out flame and smoke with the
+most unearthly crash that could possibly be produced, and with each
+breath there flew with it a mass of metal and high explosive weighing
+fourteen hundred pounds, scattering death and destruction for hundreds
+of yards round the point of impact in the German defences, so that our
+boys might find it easier to force their way through.
+
+I filmed the firing several times, from various points of view, and when
+standing only about fifteen yards away the concussion shook the ground
+like a miniature earthquake. On one occasion, indeed, it lifted my
+camera and tripod in the air, driving it crashing into my chest. I had
+unknowingly placed myself in the danger zone which forms a semi-circle
+on either side of the muzzle when fired, the force being at times so
+great as to tear trees up by the roots and send them crashing to the
+ground.
+
+The prospects for "The Day" were certainly bad. As one burly Lancashire
+lad said to me: "the Devil was looking after his own; but we are going
+to beat them, sir." That was the spirit of all the men I met there.
+
+I went direct to B.H.Q. to get a full supply of film stock before going
+to the front line. I wished to get there early, to have a final look
+round and a discussion with the officers.
+
+A man I knew was there, looking for all the world like a man down and
+out. He had a face as long as a fiddle, and several other officers were
+looking just as glum. "You're a cheerful lot," I said. "What's up?
+Anything wrong?"
+
+"Yes, rather," they replied, "the ---- day is postponed for forty-eight
+hours."
+
+[Illustration: BOMBARDING THE GERMAN TRENCHES AT THE OPENING BATTLE OF
+THE GREAT SOMME FIGHT, JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+[Illustration: MY OFFICIAL PASS TO THE FRONT LINE TO FILM THE BATTLE OF
+THE SOMME, JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+"Great Scott! Why?" I asked.
+
+"The weather," he answered laconically. "It's quite impossible for our
+chaps to go over the top in such sticky stuff. They wouldn't stand an
+earthly. As I said before, it's doing its best to upset the whole
+affair. I know the men will be awfully disappointed. We can hardly hold
+them back now--but there, I suppose the Commander-in-Chief knows best.
+Undoubtedly it's a wise decision. The weather may break--God knows it
+couldn't be worse!"
+
+At that moment the Brigade-General came in. He was looking quite bright.
+
+"I hear 'The Day' has been postponed, sir," I said. "Is that official?"
+
+"Yes," he said. "If the weather improves ever such a little it will pay
+us for waiting, and of course it will suit you much better?"
+
+"Rather," I replied. "It also gives me more time to film the preliminary
+scenes. I shall, however, keep to my programme, and go to the trenches
+this afternoon."
+
+I packed all my apparatus together, put some bully and biscuits in my
+bag, and started off once more for the trenches. I admit that on the
+journey thoughts crept into my mind, and I wondered whether I should
+return. Outwardly I was merry and bright, but inwardly--well, I admit I
+felt a bit nervous. And yet, I had an instinctive feeling that all would
+be well, that I need not worry. Such is the complex mystery of the human
+mind, battling within itself against its own knowledge, its own
+decisions, its own instincts. And yet there is a predominating force
+which seems to shuffle itself out of the midst of that chaotic state of
+mind, and holds itself up as a beacon-light, saying "Follow me, believe
+in me, let me guide you, all will be well." And it is the man who allows
+himself to be guided by that mysterious something, which for the want of
+a better name we may call "instinct," who benefits, both spiritually
+and materially, by it.
+
+The usual big gun duel was proceeding with its usual intensity, but we
+were putting over about fifty shells to the Huns' one. "Crump" fell both
+ahead and behind me, compelling me, as before, to fall flat upon the
+ground. I reached the "Fifth Avenue." The trench was full of men taking
+down munitions. The news of the postponement had by some means reached
+them; they also were looking rather glum.
+
+Ye Gods, I thought, it's very nearly worth while to risk walking along
+the top. In places there was quite two feet of mud and water to wallow
+through.
+
+"Fritz is crumping down the bottom of the Avenue, sir," said a Tommy to
+me; "just caught several of our lads--dirty blighters: right in the
+trench, sir."
+
+"Thanks," I replied.
+
+Thinking there might be an opportunity of getting some scenes of
+shell-bursts, I hurried on as fast as conditions would permit. With men
+coming up, and myself and others going down, with full packs on, it was
+most difficult to squeeze past each other. At times it was impossible,
+so climbing up on to the parapet, I crawled into another traverse
+further along.
+
+Just then another shell burst lower down, but well away from the trench,
+hurting no one. I eventually reached the "White City" without mishap,
+and was greeted enthusiastically by the officers present.
+
+"What's the programme now?"
+
+"I am waiting for the final kick-off," I said. "Are you going to give me
+a good show? And don't forget," I said, "hold back some of your
+bayonet-work on Fritz until I get there with my machine."
+
+"But you're not coming after us with that affair, are you?"
+
+"Yes, certainly; bet your life I shan't be far behind. As soon as you
+get into Bosche trenches I shall be there; so don't forget--get there."
+
+From the corner some one shouted: "Tell brother Fritz if he gets out of
+'the limits,' won't you?" This remark caused much laughter.
+
+"Where have you heard that term used?" I enquired. "'Limits' is a
+technical term."
+
+"Yes, I heard it used once, a year or two ago. I was staying at a small
+place called Steyning, near Brighton. A Film Company was taking scenes
+in the village and on the downs. They had about two hundred horsemen and
+an immense crowd, and were rehearsing a scene for what I was told was a
+representation of the Battle of Worcester. It was some fight. The camera
+man was continually shouting out to them to keep in 'the limits' (I
+assumed he meant the angle of view). As I say, it was some fight.
+Everything went well until a section of the men, who were supposed to
+run away, got a few genuine knocks on the head and, wishing to get their
+own back, they continued fighting. It was the funniest thing in the
+world. Of course the camera was stopped, and the scene retaken."
+
+"That's extraordinary," I replied. "Do you know that I was the chap who
+filmed that scene? it was for a film play called 'King Charles.' It's
+very peculiar how one meets. I remember that incident quite well."
+
+I again filmed various scenes of the Germans "strafing" our lines. Our
+guns, as usual, were crashing out. They were pouring concentrated fire
+on the Hawthorn Redoubt, a stronghold of the Germans, and thinking it
+would yield an excellent picture, I made my way to a point of vantage,
+whence I could get an unobstructed field of view. There was only one
+place, and that was a point directly opposite. To get there it was
+necessary to cross a sunken road about twenty-five feet wide. But it
+was under continual fire from German machine guns, and being broad
+daylight it was absolutely asking for trouble, thick and unadulterated,
+to attempt to cross it. I was advised not to do so, and I admit I ought
+to have taken the advice. Anyway, the opportunity of getting such a fine
+scene of a barrage of fire was too strong, and for once my cautionary
+instincts were at fault.
+
+To reach the sunken road was comparatively easy. You had only to walk
+along our front line trench, and fall down flat on the ground when a
+German shell burst near you, then proceed. I reached the junction where
+the road ran across at right angles, and from the shelter of our parapet
+the road looked the quietest place on earth. It appeared easy enough to
+me to jump up quickly, run across and drop on the further side in our
+trench.
+
+"Ridiculously easy! I'm going across," I said to my man. "When I'm over
+I'll throw a cord across for you to tie my tripod on to; then I'll pull
+it across. It will save you attempting it."
+
+I tied the camera on my shoulders, so as to have my arms quite free. I
+was now ready. The firing was renewed with redoubled vigour. Shells I
+could see were falling on the Hun lines like hailstones. "Jove!" I said
+to myself, "I shall miss it. Here goes."
+
+Clambering up to the road level, I sprawled out flat and lay perfectly
+still for a few seconds, with my heart jumping like a steam engine.
+Nothing happened. I gradually drew up my leg, dug the toe of my boot in
+the ground, and pushed myself forward bit by bit. So far, so good: I was
+half-way across. I was congratulating myself on my easy task. "What in
+the world am I lying here for?" I asked myself; "why shouldn't I run the
+remaining distance?" And suiting the action to the word, I got up--and
+found trouble! I had barely raised myself to my hands and knees when,
+with a rattle and a rush, a stream of bullets came swishing by, some
+striking the ground on my left, about nine feet away.
+
+I took the whole situation in in a flash. To lie there was almost
+certain death; to stand up was worse; to go back was as bad as going
+forward. What happened afterwards I don't know. I could hear the bullets
+whizzing by my head with an ugly hiss. The next moment, with a jump and
+a spring, I landed head first in the trench on the opposite side. For
+the moment I did not know whether I was hit or not. I unstrapped my
+camera, to see if it had caught any bullets, but, thank Heaven, they had
+cleared it. Some of our men were standing looking aghast at me, and
+wondering what the devil it was that had made such a sudden dive into
+their midst. The look on their faces was just too funny for words; I had
+to roar with laughter, and, realising that I was safe, they also joined
+in.
+
+But I was not out of the wood yet, for brother Fritz immediately turned
+"whizz-bangs" on to us. "Phut-bang," "phut-bang," they came. Every one
+scampered for cover. Needless to say, I did so too. Five minutes went
+by. All the time these souvenirs dropped around us, but luckily none of
+them got any direct hits on our trench.
+
+I thought I would wait another five minutes, to see if Bosche would
+cease fire. But not he. He was rather cross about my crossing the road
+safely.
+
+Time went by. Still the firing continued. I decided to risk throwing the
+cord and pulling over my tripod. Keeping low, I yelled to my man: he,
+like a sage, had also taken cover, but hearing my shouts came out.
+
+"The rope is coming," I yelled. "Tug it as a signal, when you have it."
+
+"Right," came the reply.
+
+Three times I threw it before I received the welcome tug at the other
+end. Then a voice shouted: "Pull away, sir."
+
+I pulled. I had to do it gently, otherwise the broken nature of the
+ground might damage the head. At last it was safely over, but Bosche had
+seen something moving across; then he turned his typewriter on again.
+More bullets flew by, but with the exception of one which struck the
+metal revolving top and sliced out a piece as evenly as if it had been
+done by machine, no harm was caused.
+
+I bade one of the men shoulder my tripod. We rushed up the trench as
+fast as possible, and I thanked Heaven for my escape. When I reached the
+section where I judged it best to fit up my camera, I gently peeped over
+the parapet. What a sight. Never in my life had I seen such a hurricane
+of fire. It was inconceivable that any living thing could exist anywhere
+near it. The shells were coming over so fast and furious that it seemed
+as if they must be touching each other on their journey through the air.
+
+To get my camera up was the work of a few seconds. I had no time to put
+any covering material over it. The risk had to be run, the picture was
+worth it. Up went my camera well above the parapet and, quickly sighting
+my object, I started to expose. Swinging the machine first one way then
+the other, I turned the handle continuously. Pieces of shell were flying
+and ripping past close overhead. They seemed to get nearer every time.
+Whether they were splinters from the bursting shells or bullets from
+machine guns I could not tell, but it got so hot at last that I judged
+it wise to take cover. I had exposed sufficient film for my purpose, so
+quickly unscrewing the camera, my man taking the tripod, I hurried into
+a dug-out for cover. "Jove!" I thought, mopping the perspiration from
+my head, "quite near enough to be healthy!"
+
+Although the men were all taking cover, they were as happy as crickets
+over this "strafe." There is nothing a Tommy likes more than to see our
+artillery plastering Bosche trenches into "Potsdam."
+
+"Well, what's the next move?" I was asked.
+
+"Trench Mortars," I said. "Both 'Flying Pigs' and 'Plum Puddings' ought
+to make topping scenes."
+
+"Yes," the Captain said. "They are in action this afternoon, and I am in
+charge of H.T.M. I'll give you a good show. I have only one pit
+available, as Fritz dropped a 'crump' in the other yesterday, and blew
+the whole show to smithereens. My sergeant was sitting smoking at the
+time, and when she blew up it lifted him clean out of the trench,
+without even so much as scratching him. He turned round to me, and
+cursed Bosche for spoiling his smoke. He's promised to get his own back
+on 'Brother Fritz.' Bet your life he will too."
+
+He had hardly ceased speaking, when our dug-out shook as if a mine had
+gone up close by. I tumbled out, followed by the others. Lumps of earth
+fell on our heads; I certainly thought the roof was coming in on us.
+Getting into the trench, the bombardment was still going strong, and
+looking on my left I saw a dense cloud of smoke in our own firing
+trench.
+
+"What in the world's up?" I enquired of a man close by.
+
+"Dunno, sir," he said. "I believe it's a Bosche mine. It made enough
+fuss to be one, yet it seems in such an extraordinary position."
+
+"How about getting round to have a look at it?" I said to ----.
+
+"Right-o," he said; "but you know we can't cross the road there. I
+think if we back well down, about one hundred yards, we may nip across
+into No. 2 Avenue. That'll bring us out near 'Jacob's Ladder.'"
+
+"Lead on," I said. "I wish I had known. I came in across the road
+there," pointing down our firing trench.
+
+"You've got more pluck than I have," he said. "You can congratulate
+yourself that you are alive. Anyway, come on."
+
+Eventually I reached "Jacob's Ladder," and asked an officer what had
+happened.
+
+"I don't know," he said; "but whatever it was, it's smashed our front
+trench for about eighty yards: it's absolutely impassable."
+
+Another officer came running up at that moment. "I say," he said,
+"there's a scene up there for you. A trench mortar gun had a premature
+burst, and exploded all the munition in the pit; blew the whole lot--men
+and all--to pieces. It's made a crater thirty yards across. It's a
+beastly wreck. Can't use that section of the front line. And to make
+matters worse, Fritz is pumping over tear-shells. Everybody is tickled
+to death with the fumes."
+
+"Don't cheer me up, will you?" I remarked. "I'm going to film the trench
+mortar this afternoon, both the H.T.M. and the 2-inch Gee. I can thank
+my lucky stars I didn't decide to do them earlier. Anyway, here goes;
+the light is getting rather poor."
+
+The officer with whom I was talking kindly offered to guide me to the
+spot. Crumps were still falling, and so was the rain. "We'll go through
+'Lanwick Street,' then bear to the left, and don't forget to keep your
+head down."
+
+[Illustration: THE PLAN OF ATTACK AT BEAUMONT HAMEL. JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+[Illustration: OVER THE TOP OF BEAUMONT HAMEL. JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+There are two things I detest more than anything else in the trenches:
+they are "whizz-bangs" and rats. The latter got mixed up in my feet
+as I was walking through the trench, and one, more impudent than the
+rest, when I crouched down to avoid a burst, jumped on to my back and
+sprang away into the mud.
+
+"We will turn back and go by way of 'White City,' then up King Street.
+It may be cooler there." It certainly was not healthy in this
+neighbourhood.
+
+Turning back, I bade my man follow close behind. Entering the main
+trench, I hurried along, and was quite near the King Street turning when
+a Hun "crump" came tearing overhead. I yelled out to my man to take
+cover, and crushed into the entrance of a dug-out myself. In doing so, I
+upset a canteen of tea over a bucket-fire which one of our lads was
+preparing to drink. His remarks were drowned in the explosion of the
+shell, which landed barely twenty-five feet away.
+
+"Now then," I called to my man, "run for it into King Street," and I got
+there just in time to crouch down and escape another "crump" which came
+hurtling over. In a flash I knew it was coming very near: I crouched
+lower. It burst with a sickening sound. It seemed just overhead. Dirt
+and rubble poured over me as I lay there. I rushed to the corner to see
+where it had struck. It had landed only twelve feet from the dug-out
+entrance which I had left only a few seconds before, and it had killed
+the two men whom I had crushed against, and for the loss of whose tea I
+was responsible.
+
+It was not the time or place to hang about, so I hurried to the
+trench-mortar pit to finish my scenes whilst daylight lasted.
+
+I met the officer in charge of the T.M.
+
+"Keep your head down," he shouted, as I turned round a traverse. "Our
+parapet has been practically wiped out, and there is a sniper in the far
+corner of the village. He has been dropping his pellets into my show
+all day, and Fritz has been splashing me with his 'Minnies' to try and
+find my gun, but he will never get it. Just look at the mess around."
+
+I was looking. It would have beaten the finest Indian scout to try and
+distinguish the trench from the debris and honeycomb of shell-holes.
+
+"Where the deuce is your outfit?" I said, looking round.
+
+"You follow me, but don't show an inch of head above. Look out."
+Phut-bang came a pip-squeak. It struck and burst about five yards in
+front of us. "Brother Fritz is confoundedly inconsiderate," he said. "He
+seems to want all the earth to himself. Come on; we'll get there this
+time, and run for it."
+
+After clambering, crawling, running and jumping, we reached a hole in
+the ground, into which the head and shoulders of a man were just
+disappearing.
+
+"This is my abode of love," said my guide. "How do you like it?"
+
+I looked down, and at the depth of about twelve feet was a trench
+mortar. The hole itself was, of course, boarded round with timber, and
+was about seven feet square. There was a gallery leading back under our
+parapet for the distance of about eighty feet, and in this were stored
+the bombs. The men also sheltered there.
+
+I let myself down with my camera and threaded by the numerous "plum
+puddings" lying there: I fixed my camera up and awaited the order for
+the men to commence firing.
+
+"Are you ready?" came a voice from above.
+
+"Right, sir," replied the sergeant. I began exposing my film.
+
+"Fire!" the T.M. officer shouted down.
+
+Fire they did, and the concussion nearly knocked me head over heels. I
+was quite unprepared for such a backblast. Before they fired again, I
+got a man to hold down the front leg of my tripod. The gun was
+recharged; the order to fire was given, the lanyard was pulled, but no
+explosion.
+
+"Hullo, another----"
+
+"Misfire," was the polite remark of the sergeant. "Those fuses are
+giving us more trouble than enough."
+
+Another detonator was put on, everything was ready again. Another tug
+was given. Again no explosion.
+
+Remembering the happenings of the morning in another pit, when a
+premature burst occurred, I felt anything but comfortable. Sitting in
+the middle of about one hundred trench mortar bombs, visions of the
+whole show going up came to me.
+
+Another detonator was put in. "Fire," came the order. Again it failed.
+
+"Look here, sergeant," I said, "if that bally thing happens again I'm
+off."
+
+"The blessed thing has never been so bad before, sir. Let's have one
+more try."
+
+Still another detonator was put in. I began turning the handle of my
+camera. This time it was successful.
+
+"That's all I want," I said. "I'm off. Hand me up my camera. And with
+due respect to your gun," I said to the T.M. officer, "you might cease
+fire until I am about fifty yards away. I don't mind risking Brother
+Fritz's 'strafe,' but I do object to the possibility of being scattered
+to the four winds of heaven by our own shells." And with a laugh and
+good wishes, I left him.
+
+"I say," he called out, "come into my dug-out to-night, will you? It's
+just in front of Fifth Avenue. I shall be there in about half an hour; I
+have got to give Fritz a few more souvenirs to go on with. There is a
+little more wire left over there, and the C.O. wants it all 'strafed'
+away. Do come, won't you? So long. See you later. Keep your head down."
+
+"Right-o!" I said, with a laugh. "Physician, heal thyself. A little
+higher, and you might as well be sitting on the parapet." He turned
+round sharply, then dropped on his knees.
+
+"Strafe that bally parapet. I forgot all about it. Fire!" he yelled, and
+I laughed at the pleasure he was getting out of blowing up Fritz.
+
+I scrambled and slithered back into the recognised trench again, and on
+my way back filmed the H.T.M., or "Flying Pig," in action. By this time
+it was getting rather dull, so going to a dug-out, I dropped my
+apparatus, and had another final look at the position from which I was
+going to film the great attack in the morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE DAWN OF JULY FIRST
+
+     A Firework Display Heralds the Arrival of "The Day"--How the
+     Boys Spent Their Last Few Hours in the Trenches--Rats as
+     Bedfellows--I Make an Early Start--And Get Through a
+     Mine-shaft into "No Man's Land"--The Great Event Draws
+     Near--Anxious Moments--The Men Fix Bayonets--And Wait the
+     Word of Command to "Go Over the Top."
+
+
+Darkness came, and with it a host of star-shells, or Verey lights, which
+were shot up high in the air from both the German and our own trenches.
+They looked for all the world like a huge firework display at the
+Crystal Palace.
+
+Rain had ceased. The heavens were studded with countless millions of
+stars. "Great prospects for to-morrow," said one. "I hope it's fine, for
+the sake of the boys. They are as keen as mustard to go over the top."
+
+As we talked, batch after batch of men came gliding by in their full
+kit, smoking and chatting. While I was standing there hundreds must have
+passed me in that narrow trench, quietly going to their allotted
+positions. Now and again sharp orders were given by their officers.
+
+"How's your section, sergeant? Are you fitted up?"
+
+"Yes, sir," came a voice from the blackness.
+
+"Now, lads, come along: get through as quickly as possible. Post your
+sentries at once, and be sharp."
+
+It was not long before little red fires were gleaming out of the dug-out
+entrances, and crowds of men were crouching round, heating their
+canteens of water, some frying pieces of meat, others heating soup, and
+all the time laughing and carrying on a most animated conversation. From
+other groups came the subdued humming of favourite songs. Some were
+cursing and swearing, but with such a bluntness that, if I may say so,
+it seemed to take all the profanity from the words.
+
+And these men knew they were going "over the top" in the morning. The
+day which they had dreamed of was about to materialise. They knew that
+many would not be alive to-morrow night, yet I never saw a sad face nor
+heard a word of complaint. My feeling whilst watching these men in the
+glow of the firelight was almost indescribable. I was filled with awe at
+their behaviour. I reverenced them more than I had ever done before; and
+I felt like going down on my knees and thanking God I was an Englishman.
+No words of mine can fitly describe this wonderful scene. And all the
+time more men, and still more men, were pouring into the trenches, and
+munitions of all descriptions were being served out.
+
+The bursting German shells, and the shrieks overhead of the missiles
+from our own guns, were for the moment forgotten in the immensity of the
+sights around me. I turned and groped the way back to my shelter and, as
+I did so, our fire increased in intensity. This was the prelude to the
+greatest attack ever made in the history of the world, and ere the sun
+set on the morrow many of these heroes--the Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal
+Fusiliers, Middlesex, etc.--would be lying dead on the field of battle,
+their lives sacrificed that civilisation might live.
+
+At last I found a friend, and sitting down to our box-table we had a
+meal together. Afterwards I wandered out, and entered several other
+dug-outs, where friends were resting. They all seemed anxious for the
+morning to come. I met the mining officer.
+
+"I say; let me check my watch by yours," I said. "As the mine is going
+up at 7.20 I shall want to start my machine about half a minute
+beforehand."
+
+"Right-o!" he said. We then checked watches.
+
+I bade him good night, and also the others, and the best of luck.
+
+"Same to you," they cried in general chorus. "I hope to heavens you get
+through with it, and show them all at home in England how the boys
+fight. They will then realise what war really means. Good night, old
+man."
+
+"Good night," I replied, and then found my way back to the shelter. I
+rolled myself in a blanket, and tried to sleep.
+
+The night was very cold. I lay shivering in my blanket and could not get
+warm. The guns were continually crashing out. Shells were bursting just
+outside with appalling regularity. Suddenly they seemed to quieten down,
+as if by some means the Germans had got to know of our great plans and
+were preparing for the blow. Presently everything was comparatively
+quiet, except for the scurrying of countless rats, running and jumping
+over my body, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I expect
+I must have dozed off to sleep, for when I awoke day was breaking, and
+the din of the gun-fire was terrific. Innumerable worlds seemed to be
+crashing together, and it sounded as if thousands of peals of thunder
+had concentrated themselves into one soul-terrifying roar.
+
+An officer looked in at the entrance at that moment.
+
+"Hullo!" he said. "Are you the 'movie-man'?"
+
+"Yes," I said, sitting up. "What's up?"
+
+"Well, I'm hanged; I'm glad I've found you. Do you know, I asked
+several Johnnies down the line if you were in the trenches and they
+laughed at me; asked me if I had been drinking; they thought I was
+pulling their leg. 'A movie man in the trenches,' they said, in tones of
+amazement; 'not likely!' I told them that you were here last night, and
+that you are here to film the attack. Well, anyway, this is what I have
+come for. The Colonel sent me--you know him--to see if you would film a
+company of our men in occupation of Sunken Road. They occupied it during
+the night without a single casualty, by tunnelling for about fifty yards
+through the parapet, under 'No Man's Land'; then sapped up and into the
+road. It's a fine piece of work," he said, "and would make a good
+picture."
+
+"Rather," I said; "I'll come. It will be splendid from the historical
+point of view. Can you let me have a guide, to show me the quickest and
+best way?"
+
+"Yes, I will send one of our pioneers; he will guide you," he said. "Let
+me know how you get on, won't you? And, if possible, when you return
+call in and see the Colonel. He will be frightfully bucked."
+
+"Right-o!" I said. "By Gad! it's bally cold. My teeth won't hold still.
+Push that man along, and I'll get off."
+
+"Au revoir," he called out as he left. "See you later."
+
+[Illustration: IN THE SUNKEN ROAD AT BEAUMONT HAMEL, JUST BEFORE ZERO
+HOUR, JULY 1ST, 1916. MY EXPERIENCES IN GETTING INTO THIS PLACE AT 6.20
+A.M. REMAIN THE MOST VIVID OF ALL]
+
+[Illustration: IN A TRENCH MORTAR TUNNEL, DURING THE BATTLE OF THE
+SOMME, AT BEAUMONT HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+The guide turned up a few minutes afterwards; he took the tripod, I the
+camera. I started off and entered King Street, making my way towards the
+firing trench. I have described in previous chapters what it was like to
+be under an intense bombardment. I have attempted to analyse my feelings
+when lying in the trenches with shells bursting directly overhead. I
+have been in all sorts of places, under heavy shell-fire, but for
+intensity and nearness--nothing--absolutely nothing--compared with
+the frightful and demoralising nature of the shell-fire which I
+experienced during that journey.
+
+I had only just reached King Street, when it started on that section.
+Bosche was fairly plastering the whole trench, and smashing down our
+parapets in the most methodical manner. Four men passed me, with
+horrible wounds; another was being carried on the shoulders of his
+comrades, one arm being blown clean off, leaving flesh and remnants of
+cloth hanging down in a horrible manner. The shells fell in front,
+overhead and behind us.
+
+I bent low and rushed through traverse after traverse, halting when a
+shell burst in the trench itself round the next bend, sending a ghastly
+blast of flame and choking fumes full in my face. At one point I halted,
+hardly knowing which way to go; my guide was crouching as low as
+possible on the ground. The further I went, the worse it got; shrieking,
+splitting shells seemed to envelop us. I looked back. The same. In
+front, another burst; the flames swept right into my face. If I had been
+standing up it would have killed me without a doubt. To go back was as
+dangerous as to advance, and to stay where I was--well, it was worse, if
+anything. Truth to tell, I had gone so far now that I did not like
+turning back; the picture of our men in Sunken Road attracted me like a
+magnet.
+
+"Go on," I shouted to the guide. "We'll get through somehow. Are you
+game?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said he.
+
+We ran round the next traverse, and had to scramble over a heap of
+debris caused by a shell a few moments before.
+
+"Look out, sir! There are some dead men here, and the parapet has
+practically disappeared. Get down on your stomach and crawl along."
+
+Phut-bang! The shells crashed on the parapet with the rapidity of
+machine-gun fire.
+
+I went down, and crawled along over the dead bodies of some of our lads
+killed only a few minutes before. It couldn't be helped. Purgatory, in
+all its hideous shapes and forms, could not possibly be worse than this
+journey. It seemed years getting through that hellish fire.
+
+"How much more?" I yelled out.
+
+"We are quite near now, sir; about twenty yards."
+
+"Rush for it, then--rush."
+
+I did, and my guide pulled up quickly at the entrance of what seemed
+like a mine.
+
+"Incline in here, sir," he said, and disappeared. I followed. Never in
+all my experience had I welcomed cover as I did at that moment.
+
+"Hold on a bit," I said, "for five minutes' breathing space."
+
+The tunnel was no more than two feet six inches wide and five feet high.
+Men inside were passing ammunition from one to the other in an endless
+chain and disappearing into the bowels of the earth.
+
+The shaft took a downward trend. It was only by squeezing past the
+munition bearers that we were able to proceed at all, and in some places
+it was impossible for more than one to crush through at a time. By the
+light of an electric torch, stuck in the mud, I was able to see the men.
+They were wet with perspiration, steaming, in fact; stripped to the
+waist; working like Trojans, each doing the work of six men.
+
+The journey seemed endless. I could tell by the position that I was
+climbing. My guide was still in front, and letting me know of his
+whereabouts by shouting: "Straight ahead, sir! Mind this hole!"
+
+The latter part of the shaft seemed practically upright. I dragged my
+camera along by the strap attached to the case. It was impossible to
+carry it.
+
+We were nearing daylight. I could see a gleam only a few feet away. At
+last we came to the exit. My guide was there.
+
+"Keep down low, sir. This sap is only four feet deep. It's been done
+during the night, about fifty yards of it. We are in 'No Man's Land'
+now, and if the Germans had any idea we were here, the place would soon
+be an inferno."
+
+"Go ahead," I said. It was difficult to imagine we were midway between
+the Hun lines and our own. It was practically inconceivable. The
+shell-fire seemed just as bad as ever behind in the trenches, but here
+it was simply heavenly. The only thing one had to do was to keep as low
+as possible and wriggle along. The ground sloped downwards. The end of
+the sap came in sight. My guide was crouching there, and in front of
+him, about thirty feet away, running at right angles on both sides, was
+a roadway, overgrown with grass and pitted with shell-holes. The bank
+immediately in front was lined with the stumps of trees and a rough
+hedge, and there lined up, crouching as close to the bank as possible,
+were some of our men. They were the Lancashire Fusiliers, with bayonets
+fixed, and ready to spring forward.
+
+"Keep low as you run across the road, sir. The Bosche can see right
+along it; make straight for the other side." With that he ran across,
+and I followed. Then I set my camera up and filmed the scene. I had to
+take every precaution in getting my machine in position, keeping it
+close to the bank, as a false step would have exposed the position to
+the Bosche, who would have immediately turned on H.E. shrapnel, and
+might have enfiladed the whole road from either flank.
+
+I filmed the waiting Fusiliers. Some of them looked happy and gay,
+others sat with stern, set faces, realising the great task in front of
+them.
+
+I had finished taking my scenes, and asked an officer if the Colonel was
+there.
+
+"No, but you may find him in 'White City.' He was there about an hour
+ago. Great heavens," he said, "who would have believed that a
+'movie-man' would be here, the nearest point to Bosche lines on the
+whole front. You must like your job. Hanged if I envy you. Anyway, hope
+to see you after the show, if I haven't 'gone West.' Cheero," and with
+that he left me.
+
+Packing up my camera, I prepared to return. Time was getting on. It was
+now 6.30 a.m. The attack was timed for 7.20. As I wanted to obtain some
+scenes of our men taking up their final positions, I told my guide to
+start.
+
+"Duck as low as possible," I said, "when you cross the road."
+
+"We can't go yet, sir; munitions are being brought through, and, as you
+know, there isn't room to pass one another."
+
+I waited until the last man had come in from the sap, then, practically
+on hands and knees, made for the sap mouth.
+
+"Cheer up, boys," I shouted to the men as I parted from them, "best of
+luck; hope to see you in the village."
+
+"Hope so, sir," came a general chorus in reply. Again I struggled
+through the narrow slit, then down the shaft and finally into the
+tunnel. We groped our way along as best we could. The place was full of
+men. It was only possible to get my tripod and camera along by passing
+it from one to another. Then as the men stooped low I stepped over them,
+eventually reaching the other end--and daylight.
+
+The "strafe" was still on, but not quite so violent. Our parapets were
+in a sorry condition, battered out of all shape.
+
+Returning through King Street, I was just in time to film some of the
+men fixing bayonets before being sent to their respective stations in
+the firing trench. The great moment was drawing near. I admit I was
+feeling a wee bit nervous. The mental and nervous excitement under such
+conditions was very great. Every one was in a state of suppressed
+excitement. On the way I passed an officer I knew.
+
+"Are you going over?" I said.
+
+"Rather," he replied, "the whole lot of us. Some stunt, eh!"
+
+"Don't forget," I said, "the camera will be on you; good luck!"
+
+Bidding my man collect the tripod and camera, I made for the position on
+Jacob's Ladder. But I was to receive a rude shock. The shelling of the
+morning had practically blown it all down. But there was sufficient for
+a clearance all around for my purpose, and sufficient shelter against
+stray bits of shrapnel. I prepared to put up my camera. Not quite
+satisfied, I left it about thirty yards away, to view the situation
+quickly, as there were only twenty minutes to go. Hardly had I left the
+machine than a "whizz-bang" fell and struck the parapet immediately
+above the ladder, tumbling the whole lot of sandbags down like a pack of
+cards.
+
+It was a lucky escape for me. The position was absolutely no use now,
+and I had to choose another. Time was short. I hastily fixed my camera
+on the side of the small bank, this side of our firing trench, with my
+lens pointing towards the Hawthorn Redoubt, where the mine--the largest
+"blown" on the British Front--was going up. It was loaded with twenty
+tons of a new explosive of tremendous destructive power, and it had
+taken seven months to build.
+
+Gee, what an awakening for Bosche!
+
+My camera was now set ready to start exposing. I looked along the
+trench. The men were ready and waiting the great moment.
+
+One little group was discussing the prospects of a race across "No Man's
+Land."
+
+"Bet you, Jim, I'll get there first."
+
+"Right-o! How much?"
+
+"A day's pay," was the reply.
+
+"Take me on, too, will you?" said another hero.
+
+"Yes. Same terms, eh? Good enough."
+
+"Say Bill," he called to his pal, "pay up from my cash if I 'go West.'"
+
+"Shut up, fathead; we have to kill Huns, 'strafe' them."
+
+I turned away to speak to an officer as to the prospects.
+
+"Very good," he said. "I hope they don't plaster our trenches before all
+the men get out. They are as keen as mustard. Never known them so
+bright. Look at them now; all smoking."
+
+Our guns were still pounding heavily, and the din and concussion was
+awful. To hear oneself speak it was absolutely necessary to shout.
+
+"You are in a pretty rocky position," some one said to me. "Fritz will
+be sure to plaster this front pretty well as soon as our men 'get
+over.'"
+
+"Can't help it," I said; "my machine must have a clear view. I must take
+the risk. How's the time going?"
+
+"It's 'seven-ten' now," he said.
+
+"I am going to stand by. Cheero; best of luck!" I left him, and stood by
+my machine. The minutes dragged on. Still the guns crashed out. The
+German fire had died down a bit during the last half-hour. I glanced
+down our trenches. The officers were giving final instructions. Every
+man was in his place. The first to go over would be the engineers, to
+wire the crater. They were all ready, crouching down, with their
+implements in their hands.
+
+Time: 7.15 a.m.!
+
+Heavens! how the minutes dragged. It seemed like a lifetime waiting
+there. My nerves were strung up to a high pitch; my heart was thumping
+like a steam-hammer. I gave a quick glance at an officer close by. He
+was mopping the perspiration from his brow, and clutching his stick,
+first in one hand then in the other--quite unconsciously, I am sure. He
+looked at his watch. Another three minutes went by.
+
+Would nothing ever happen?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE DAY AND THE HOUR
+
+     A Mighty Convulsion Signalises the Commencement of
+     Operations--Then Our Boys "Go Over the Top"--A Fine Film
+     Obtained whilst Shells Rained Around Me--My Apparatus is
+     Struck--But, Thank Goodness, the Camera is Safe--Arrival of
+     the Wounded--"Am I in the Picture?" they ask.
+
+
+Time: 7.19 a.m. My hand grasped the handle of the camera. I set my
+teeth. My whole mind was concentrated upon my work. Another thirty
+seconds passed. I started turning the handle, two revolutions per
+second, no more, no less. I noticed how regular I was turning. (My
+object in exposing half a minute beforehand was to get the mine from the
+moment it broke ground.) I fixed my eyes on the Redoubt. Any second now.
+Surely it was time. It seemed to me as if I had been turning for hours.
+Great heavens! Surely it had not misfired.
+
+Why doesn't it go up?
+
+I looked at my exposure dial. I had used over a thousand feet. The
+horrible thought flashed through my mind, that my film might run out
+before the mine blew. Would it go up before I had time to reload? The
+thought brought beads of perspiration to my forehead. The agony was
+awful; indescribable. My hand began to shake. Another 250 feet exposed.
+I had to keep on.
+
+Then it happened.
+
+[Illustration: THE OPENING OF THE GREAT BATTLE OF THE SOMME, JULY 1ST,
+1916. AT 7.20 A. M. THIS HUGE MINE LOADED WITH 20 TONS OF AMINOL WHICH
+TOOK 7 MONTHS TO MAKE, WAS SPRUNG UNDER THE GERMAN TRENCHES AT BEAUMONT
+HAMEL]
+
+The ground where I stood gave a mighty convulsion. It rocked and swayed.
+I gripped hold of my tripod to steady myself. Then, for all the world
+like a gigantic sponge, the earth rose in the air to the height of
+hundreds of feet. Higher and higher it rose, and with a horrible,
+grinding roar the earth fell back upon itself, leaving in its place a
+mountain of smoke. From the moment the mine went up my feelings changed.
+The crisis was over, and from that second I was cold, cool, and
+calculating. I looked upon all that followed from the purely pictorial
+point of view, and even felt annoyed if a shell burst outside the range
+of my camera. Why couldn't Bosche put that shell a little nearer? It
+would make a better picture. And so my thoughts ran on.
+
+The earth was down. I swung my camera round on to our own parapets. The
+engineers were swarming over the top, and streaming along the sky-line.
+Our guns redoubled their fire. The Germans then started H.E. Shrapnel
+began falling in the midst of our advancing men. I continued to turn the
+handle of my camera, viewing the whole attack through my view-finder,
+first swinging one way and then the other.
+
+Then another signal rang out, and from the trenches immediately in front
+of me, our wonderful troops went over the top. What a picture it was!
+They went over as one man. I could see while I was exposing, that
+numbers were shot down before they reached the top of the parapet;
+others just the other side. They went across the ground in swarms, and
+marvel upon marvels, still smoking cigarettes. One man actually stopped
+in the middle of "No Man's Land" to light up again.
+
+The Germans had by now realised that the great attack had come. Shrapnel
+poured into our trenches with the object of keeping our supports from
+coming up. They had even got their "crumps" and high-explosive shrapnel
+into the middle of our boys before they were half-way across "No Man's
+Land." But still they kept on. At that moment my spool ran out. I
+hurriedly loaded up again, and putting the first priceless spool in my
+case, I gave it to my man in a dug-out to take care of, impressing upon
+him that he must not leave it under any circumstances. If anything
+unforeseen happened he was to take it back to Headquarters.
+
+I rushed back to my machine again. Shells were exploding quite close to
+me. At least I was told so afterwards by an officer. But I was so
+occupied with my work that I was quite unconscious of their proximity. I
+began filming once more. The first lot of men, or rather the remainder
+of them, had disappeared in the haze and smoke, punctured by bursting
+shells. What was happening in the German lines I did not know. Other men
+were coming up and going over the top. The German machine-gun fire was
+not quite so deadly now, but our men suffered badly from shell-fire. On
+several occasions I noticed men run and take temporary cover in the
+shell-holes, but their ranks were being terribly thinned.
+
+Still more went over, and still a stream of men were making for the mine
+crater; they then disappeared in the smoke. The noise was terrific. It
+was as if the earth were lifting bodily, and crashing against some
+immovable object. The very heavens seemed to be falling. Thousands of
+things were happening at the same moment. The mind could not begin to
+grasp the barest margin of it.
+
+The German shells were crashing all round me. Dirt was being flung in my
+face, cutting it like whipcord. My only thought was whether any of it
+had struck my lens and made it dirty, for this would have spoiled my
+film. I gave a quick glance at it. It was quite all right.
+
+Fearful fighting was taking place in the German trenches. The heavy
+rattle of machine-guns, the terrible din of exploding bombs, could be
+heard above the pandemonium. Our men had ceased to flow from our
+trenches. I crept to the top of the parapet, and looked towards the left
+of the village of Beaumont Hamel. Our guns were bursting on the other
+side of the village, but I could distinguish nothing else as to how
+things were going.
+
+I asked an officer who was standing close by.
+
+"God knows," he replied. "Everything over there is so mixed up. The
+General said this was the hardest part of the line to get through, and
+my word it seems like it, to look at our poor lads."
+
+I could see them strewn all over the ground, swept down by the accursed
+machine-gun fire.
+
+A quick succession of shell-bursts attracted my attention. Back to my
+camera position. Another lot of our men were going over the top. I began
+exposing, keeping them in my camera view all the time, as they were
+crossing, by revolving my tripod head.
+
+Shell after shell crashed in the middle of them, leaving ghastly gaps,
+but other men quickly filled them up, passing through the smoke, and
+over the bodies of their comrades, as if there were no such thing as a
+shell in all the world. Another spool ran out, making the fourth since
+the attack started. I gave it in charge of my man, with the same
+instructions as before. I loaded again, and had just started exposing.
+Something attracted my attention on the extreme left. What it was I
+don't know. I ceased turning, but still holding the handle, I veered
+round the front of my camera. The next moment, with a shriek and a
+flash, a shell fell and exploded before I had time to take shelter. It
+was only a few feet away. What happened after I hardly know. There was
+the grinding crash of a bursting shell; something struck my tripod, the
+whole thing, camera and all, was flung against me. I clutched it and
+staggered back, holding it in my arms. I dragged it into a
+shrapnel-proof shelter, sat down and looked for the damage. A piece of
+the shell had struck the tripod and cut the legs clean in half, on one
+side, carrying about six inches of it away. The camera, thank heaven,
+was untouched.
+
+Calling my man, we hastily found some pieces of wood, old telephone wire
+and string, and within an hour had improvised legs, rigid enough to
+continue taking scenes.
+
+I again set up my camera. Our gun-fire was still terrible, but the
+Germans had shortened their range and were evidently putting a barrage
+on our men, who had presumably reached the enemy's front trenches.
+Nobody knew anything definitely. Wounded men began to arrive. There was
+a rush for news.
+
+"How are things going?" we asked.
+
+"We have taken their first and second line," said one.
+
+An officer passed on a stretcher.
+
+"How are things going?"
+
+"God knows," he said. "I believe we have got through their first line
+and part of the village, but don't know whether we shall be able to hold
+out; we have been thinned shockingly."
+
+"Have you been successful?" he asked me.
+
+"Yes, I've got the whole of the attack."
+
+"Good man," he said.
+
+First one rumour then another came through. There was nothing definite.
+The fighting over there was furious. I filmed various scenes of our
+wounded coming in over the parapet; then through the trenches. Lines of
+them were awaiting attention.
+
+Scenes crowded upon me. Wounded and more wounded; men who a few hours
+before had leaped over the parapet full of life and vigour were now
+dribbling back. Some of them shattered and broken for life. But it was
+one of the most glorious charges ever made in the history of the world.
+These men had done their bit.
+
+"Hullo," I said to one passing through on a stretcher, "got a
+'blighty'?"
+
+"Yes, sir," he said; "rather sure Blighty for me."
+
+"And for me too," said another lad lying with him waiting attention, "I
+shan't be able to play footer any more. Look!" I followed the direction
+of his finger, and could see through the rough bandages that his foot
+had been taken completely off. Yet he was still cheerful, and smoking.
+
+A great many asked me as they came through: "Was I in the picture, sir?"
+I had to say "yes" to them all, which pleased them immensely.
+
+Still no definite news. The heavy firing continued. I noticed several of
+our wounded men lying in shell-holes in "No Man's Land." They were
+calling for assistance. Every time a Red Cross man attempted to get near
+them, a hidden German machine-gun fired. Several were killed whilst
+trying to bring in the wounded. The cries of one poor fellow attracted
+the attention of a trench-mortar man. He asked for a volunteer to go
+with him, and bring the poor fellow in. A man stepped forward, and
+together they climbed the parapet, and threaded their way through the
+barbed wire very slowly. Nearer and nearer they crept. We stood watching
+with bated breath. Would they reach him? Yes. At last! Then hastily
+binding up the injured man's wounds they picked him up between them, and
+with a run made for our parapet. The swine of a German blazed away at
+them with his machine-gun. But marvellous to relate neither of them were
+touched.
+
+I filmed the rescue from the start to the finish, until they passed me
+in the trench, a mass of perspiration. Upon the back of one was the
+unconscious man he had rescued, but twenty minutes after these two had
+gone through hell to rescue him, the poor fellow died.
+
+During the day those two men rescued twenty men in this fashion under
+heavy fire.
+
+[Illustration: THE ROLL CALL OF THE SEAFORTHS AT "WHITE CITY," BEAUMONT
+HAMEL, JULY 1ST, 1916]
+
+[Illustration: FAGGED OUT IN THE "WHITE CITY" AFTER WE RETIRED TO OUR
+TRENCHES, JULY 1ST, 1916. SOME OF THE INCOMPARABLE 29TH DIVISION]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+ROLL-CALL AFTER THE FIGHT
+
+     A Glorious Band of Wounded Heroes Stagger Into Line and
+     Answer the Call--I Visit a Stricken Friend in a Dug-out--On
+     the Way to La Boisselle I Get Lost in the Trenches--And
+     Whilst Filming Unexpectedly Come Upon the German Line--I
+     Have a Narrow Squeak of Being Crumped--But Get Away
+     Safely--And later Commandeer a Couple of German Prisoners to
+     Act as Porters.
+
+
+The day wore on. The success of the fighting swayed first this way, then
+that. The casualties mounted higher and higher. Men were coming back
+into our trenches maimed and broken; they all had different tales to
+tell. I passed along talking to and cheering our wonderful men as much
+as I could. And the Germans, to add to this ghastly whirlpool of horror,
+threw shell after shell into the dressing station, killing and wounding
+afresh the gallant lads who had gone "over the top" that morning. They
+seemed to know of this place and played upon it with a gloating,
+fiendish glee worthy only of unspeakable savages.
+
+As I was passing one group of wounded, I ran against my doctor friend of
+the night before.
+
+"Busy day for you?" I said.
+
+"My word, yes," he replied. "They are coming faster than I can attend to
+them. I am just off to see P----. He's caught it badly."
+
+"Serious?" I asked.
+
+"Yes, rather; in the back. He's in the dug-out."
+
+And the doctor rushed away. I followed him. P---- was lying there on a
+stretcher looking ghastly. The doctor was bending over him. Poor old
+chap. Only that morning he had hooked me out to film the sunken road
+scenes as full of life and hope as anyone could conceive. Now he was on
+his back, a broken wreck. In the trenches there were hundreds of cases
+as bad, or even worse, but they did not affect me. There were far too
+many for the mind to fully grasp their meaning. But down here in this
+dark dug-out, twenty feet below the earth, the sombre surroundings only
+illuminated by a guttering candle in a bottle, I was far more affected.
+It was natural though, for one always feels things more when some one
+one knows is concerned.
+
+P---- was the first to speak.
+
+"Hullo, old man," he said in a husky, low voice. "You've pulled
+through?"
+
+"Yes," I replied. "But 'touchwood'! I'm so sorry. Anyway, you're all
+right for 'Blighty,'" and to cheer him up I continued in a bantering
+strain: "You knew how to manage it, eh? Jolly artful, you know." His
+face lighted up with a wan smile.
+
+"Yes, Malins, rather a long 'Blighty,' I'm afraid."
+
+Two stretcher-bearers came in at that moment to take him away. With
+difficulty they got him out of the trench, and grasping his hand I bade
+him good-bye.
+
+"I'm glad you got our boys, Malins. I do so want to see that film," were
+his last words.
+
+"I'll show it to you when I get back to England," I called after him,
+and then he disappeared.
+
+The fighting was now beginning to die down. The remnants of four
+regiments were coming in. Each section was accumulating in spaces on
+their own. I realised that the roll-call was about to take place. I
+filmed them as they staggered forward and dropped down utterly worn out,
+body and soul. By an almost superhuman effort many of them staggered to
+their feet again, and formed themselves into an irregular line.
+
+In one little space there were just two thin lines--all that was left of
+a glorious regiment (barely one hundred men). I filmed the scene as it
+unfolded itself. The sergeant stood there with note-book resting on the
+end of his rifle, repeatedly putting his pencil through names that were
+missing. This picture was one of the most wonderful, the most impressive
+that can be conceived. It ought to be painted and hung in all the
+picture galleries of the world, in all the schools and public buildings,
+and our children should be taught to regard it as the standard of man's
+self-sacrifice.
+
+I stayed in the trenches until the following day, filming scene after
+scene of our wounded. I learned that nothing more was to be attempted
+until later, when fresh divisions were to be brought up. Knowing this I
+decided to leave this section of the trenches. But the ghastly scenes of
+which I was witness will always remain a hideous nightmare in my memory,
+though I thank God I had been spared to film such tremendous scenes of
+supreme heroism and sacrifice in the cause of freedom.
+
+I got safely back through the trenches to ----, where Brigade H.Q. told
+me of an urgent message from G.H.Q. I was to report as soon as possible.
+On my way I called on General ----, who was delighted to hear I had
+successfully filmed the attack, the record of which would show the world
+how gloriously our men had fought.
+
+Reaching advanced G.H.Q. I reported myself. All were pleased to see me
+safe and sound, and to hear of my success. I was told that lively things
+were happening at La Boisselle. I heard also how successful our troops
+had been in other parts of the line. Fricourt and Mametz and a dozen
+other villages had fallen to our victorious troops. This news put new
+life into me. At La Boisselle they said we had pushed through, and
+fighting was still going on. I decided to leave for that district right
+away.
+
+Passing through Albert, I halted the car at the top of Becourt Wood.
+From this point I had to walk. In the distance I could see hundreds of
+shells bursting, and guns were thundering out. I gave one camera to my
+orderly and another had the tripod. Taking the second camera myself, I
+started off. We threaded our way through the wood and out into the
+trenches. Shells were falling close by, but by hugging the parapet we
+got along fairly well.
+
+The communication trench seemed interminable.
+
+"Where the deuce am I?" I asked an officer in passing. "I want to get to
+our front trenches."
+
+"You want to go the other way. This trench leads back to ----."
+
+This was anything but cheering news. I had been walking for about an
+hour, always seeming to just miss the right turning. Truth to tell I had
+failed to provide myself with a trench map, and it was my first time in
+this section. The bursting shells were filling up the trenches, and I
+was becoming absolutely fogged. So, in sheer desperation--for the
+bombardment was getting more intense and I was afraid of losing
+pictures--I climbed on to the parapet to look round. What a scene of
+desolation. The first thing I saw was a dead German. That didn't help to
+cheer me up overmuch. Making a slight detour I stopped to fix the Hun
+front line if possible. Our own I could see. But no matter where I
+looked the Bosche line was apparently non-existent. Yet our shells were
+smashing into the ground, which seemed to be absolutely empty.
+
+I set up my camera and started to expose. While doing so I happened to
+glance down, for I must explain that I was on a slight mound. Which was
+the most surprised--the Bosche or myself--I do not know, for less than a
+hundred yards away was the German line. I stopped turning. Immediately
+I did so bullets came singing unpleasantly past my head. I dropped flat
+on the ground, which luckily for me was slightly protected by a ridge of
+earth. I dragged the camera down on top of me and, lying flat, the
+bullets whizzed by overhead. The Bosche must have thought he had got me,
+for in a few moments fire ceased. I wriggled towards the trench and
+dropped like a log into the bottom, dragging my camera after me. One of
+my men had followed, and seeing me drop, did the same. He came tumbling
+head first into the trench.
+
+"That was a near squeak, sir," he said. "Yes, come on, they will
+probably start shelling us. Cut through here. I noticed some German
+prisoners coming this way. I must get them. Where's the other man? Keep
+him close up."
+
+Reaching a trench through which the German prisoners were being led, I
+hurriedly fixed my camera and filmed them shambling in, holding their
+hands up, their nerves completely shattered by the intensity of our
+terrific bombardment. Some were covered with wounds, others were
+carrying our wounded Tommies in on stretchers. It was an extraordinary
+sight. Ten minutes before these men were doing their utmost to kill each
+other. Now, friend and foe were doing their best to help each other.
+Shells were dropping close by. One fell in the midst of a group of
+prisoners and, bursting, killed fourteen and wounded eleven. The others
+were marched on.
+
+Whether I had been spotted or not, I do not know, but German shells were
+crumping unpleasantly near. I was just thinking of moving when another
+burst so close that it made me quickly decide. I looked round for my
+men. One was there; the other was missing.
+
+"Get into a dug-out," I yelled. "Where is L----?"
+
+"Don't know, sir," he said.
+
+He dived into a dug-out at the first shell which burst near. At that
+moment another "crump" crashed down and exploded with a crunching roar,
+throwing a large quantity of earth all around me. One after another came
+over in quick succession.
+
+"Where the devil is that fellow?" I said to ----. "He's got my
+aeroscope. When brother Fritz has smoothed down this little 'strafe' I
+will try and find him."
+
+"He was in that section, sir, where Bosche crossed."
+
+For over half an hour the crumping continued, then it practically
+ceased. The Bosche evidently thought he had distributed us to the four
+winds of heaven. I emerged from my shelter and hurriedly ran along the
+trench to find my man. He was nowhere to be found. Several dug-outs had
+been smashed in, and in one place the water in the trench was deep red
+with blood, and wading through this was anything but pleasant. At that
+moment a telephone man came up.
+
+"Can you tell me, sir, if there is a machine-gun position hereabouts? I
+have been sent to run a wire." I was just replying when a crump came
+hurtling over.
+
+"Duck," I yelled, and duck we did. I tried to cover the whole of my body
+under my steel helmet, and crouching low on the ground, the crump burst
+just on the parapet above, showering huge lumps of dirt which clattered
+upon us.
+
+"You had better get out of this," I said, and suiting the action to the
+word I attempted to run, when another crump burst, this time in the
+traverse close behind. Well, which of us ran the fastest for cover I
+don't know, but I was a good second!
+
+The non-appearance of my other man worried me. He was nowhere to be
+found. It occurred to me that as he did not find me on emerging from
+his dug-out, and as it was coming on to rain, he had returned to the car
+thinking he might find me there. Packing up my camera, therefore, I
+started off, passing more prisoners on the way. I promptly collared two
+of them to carry my tripod and camera, and as we proceeded I could not
+restrain a smile at the sight of two German prisoners hurrying along
+with my outfit, and a grinning Tommy with his inevitable cigarette
+between his lips, and a bayonet at the ready, coming up behind. It was
+too funny for words.
+
+When I reached the car my lost man was not there. I enquired of several
+battle-police and stretcher-bearers if they had seen a man of his
+description wandering about, and carrying a leather case, but nobody had
+seen him. After having a sandwich, I decided to go again to the front
+line to find him. I could not leave him there. I must find out something
+definite. On my way down I made further enquiries, but without result. I
+searched around those trenches until I was soaked to the skin and fagged
+out, but not a trace of him could I discover; not even my camera or
+pieces of it. The only thing that could have happened, I thought, was
+that he had got into a dug-out, and the entrance had been blown in by
+heavy shell-fire.
+
+Retracing my steps I examined several smashed dug-outs. It was
+impossible to even attempt to lift the rubble. With gloomy thoughts I
+returned again to the car, and on my journey back left instructions with
+various men to report anything found to the town major at ----. I stayed
+the night in the vicinity in the hope of receiving news; but not a scrap
+came through. Again next day, and the next, I hunted the trenches,
+unsuccessfully, and finally I came to the conclusion that he had been
+killed and decided to post him as missing. I had arrived at this
+decision whilst resting on the grass at the top of Becourt Wood and was
+making a meal of bully and biscuits when, looking up, I saw what I took
+to be an apparition of my missing man walking along the road and
+carrying a black case. I could scarcely believe my eyes.
+
+"Where the devil have you been?" I asked. "I was just on my way back to
+post you as missing. What has happened?"
+
+"Well, sir, it was like this. When that shell burst I dived into a
+dug-out, and was quite all right. Then another shell burst and struck
+the entrance, smashing it in. I have been all this time trying to get
+out. Then I lost my way and--well, sir, here I am. But your camera case
+is spoilt." So ended his adventure.
+
+Thinking that the films I had obtained of the Somme fighting should be
+given to the public as quickly as possible, I suggested to G.H.Q.--and
+they fully agreed--that I should return to England without delay. So
+packing up my belongings I returned to London next day.
+
+Little time was lost in developing and printing the pictures, and the
+Military authorities, recognising what a splendid record they presented
+of "The Great Push," had copies prepared without delay for exhibition
+throughout the length and breadth of the land; in our Dependencies over
+seas, and in neutral countries. They were handled with wonderful
+celerity by Mr. Will Jury, a member of the War Office Committee, and put
+out through the business organisation over which he so ably presides. It
+is sufficient here to record the deep and abiding impression created by
+the appearance of the films on the screen. People crowded the theatres
+to see the pictures; thousands were turned away; and it has been
+estimated that the number of those who have seen these Official War
+Films must run into many millions.
+
+[Illustration: THE GERMANS MAKE A BIG COUNTER ATTACK AT LA BOISSELLE AND
+OVILLERS. JULY 3RD AND 4TH, 1916]
+
+[Illustration: MEN OF SCOTLAND RUSHING A MINE CRATER AT THE DEADLY
+"HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT"]
+
+The Somme Film has proved a mighty instrument in the service of
+recruiting; the newspapers still talk of its astounding realism, and it
+is generally admitted that the great kinematograph picture has done much
+to help the people of the British Empire to realise the wonderful spirit
+of our men in the face of almost insuperable difficulties; the splendid
+way in which our great citizen army has been organised; the vastness of
+the military machine we have created during the last two and a half
+years; and the immensity of the task which still faces us.
+
+His Majesty the King has declared that "the public should see these
+pictures"; and Mr. Lloyd George, after witnessing a display of the film,
+sent forth the following thrilling message to the nation: "Be up and
+doing! See that this picture, which is in itself an epic of
+self-sacrifice and gallantry, reaches every one. Herald the deeds of our
+brave men to the ends of the earth. This is _your_ duty."
+
+A thrilling message truly, and I am proud indeed to think that I have
+been permitted to play my part in the taking and making of this
+wonderful film.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+EDITING A BATTLE FILM
+
+     The Process Described in Detail--Developing the
+     Negative--Its Projection on the
+     Screen--Cutting--Titling--Joining--Printing the
+     Positive--Building Up the Story--It is Submitted to the
+     Military Censors at General Headquarters--And After Being
+     Cut and Approved by Them--Is Ready for Public Exhibition.
+
+
+In view of the immense and widespread interest aroused by the appearance
+of the Somme Film, it may perhaps be permissible to depart for a spell
+from the narration of my story, in order to explain briefly, for the
+benefit of those interested, how such a picture is prepared, and the
+various processes through which it must necessarily pass before it is
+ready for public exhibition.
+
+The process is technically known as "editing," and it must be admitted
+that this part of the work more nearly approaches the art of the
+newspaper editor than any other I know. Indeed, I am not sure that the
+functions of the film editor--at least in the case of a picture such as
+the Somme Film--do not call for a greater exercise of discretion,
+diplomacy and tact; for so many interests have to be taken into account;
+so much has to be left out, for so much is at stake.
+
+Time and thought is doubly intensified in editing or cutting up the film
+in all its various scenes and assembling them in their right order with
+suitable sub-titles. Immediately films arrive in London they are sent by
+the War Office to the works, and there in a long dark-room, with many
+compartments, the film is wound upon wooden frames, about three feet by
+four feet. Each section as it is unwound from the roll is numbered by a
+perforated machine, to save the unnecessary handling that would
+otherwise be caused if one had to wade through all the small sections to
+join in the original lengths in which they are received.
+
+The frames are then taken into the developing-room, where they are
+placed in tanks of developing mixture, warmed to a temperature of about
+sixty-five degrees. It is there that the technique of a developing
+expert asserts itself; he can either make or mar a film. During
+development the picture is carefully rinsed, and eventually it is ready
+for fixing. It is taken out, washed in a bath of pure water, and then
+dropped into an acid fixing bath and there allowed to remain until
+fixation is complete, usually a matter of about fifteen minutes.
+
+The films are then taken to the washing-room, where they are placed in
+huge tanks, taking from fifty to one hundred frames, and each one
+holding one hundred and twenty feet of films. Jets of water run
+continually over them, and in an hour they are taken out and sent to the
+drying-room, where the film is rewound whilst wet upon very large drums,
+about thirty feet long and seven feet in diameter. An electric motor is
+then started, and the drum revolves at an ever-increasing speed. Drum
+after drum is loaded in the same way, until the whole of the film is in
+position and the whirling continues until the negative is perfectly dry.
+
+Cleanliness in every possible respect is absolutely essential during the
+process of development, until the film is dry once more. The most minute
+speck of dust or foreign matter might adhere to the wet emulsion
+permanently disfiguring it. Therefore to avoid this the utmost care must
+be maintained throughout, and the negative is now ready to be projected
+on the screen for the first time in order to see that it is technically
+perfect in quality, and to decide upon the possibilities of a big
+feature film, or a series of short ones.
+
+For simplicity's sake we will assume that we are dealing with a subject
+such as the Battle of the Somme, approximately five thousand feet in
+length. As the film is projected, notes are taken of each scene in
+strict rotation. The negative, as in the ordinary process of
+photography, is quite the reverse to the film shown in the picture
+theatre. The black portions of the picture as we see it on the screen
+are white, and all whites are black. It therefore calls for a highly
+trained eye to be able to follow the film.
+
+Only now do I find out whether the scenes I have taken live up to my
+expectations. Sometimes yes--sometimes no. One great drawback is that
+the sounds are not there! When the projection is finished the whole of
+the negative is taken to the cutting and joining-room. I take every
+reel, and each scene is cut out separately and titled by means of a
+label fastened to the section by an elastic band.
+
+So the process goes on until I have the whole of the film cut up and
+registered. I often go through each scene again separately and closely
+scrutinise it, cutting out all blemishes, black stops, uninteresting
+sections of the scene, and many other faults which unavoidably present
+themselves. Before going further I should say that the film is "taken"
+in lengths of four hundred feet, and they are always kept at that length
+and in a separate tin box. Even when they are cut up the sections go
+back into the same tin. Each box is taken in turn and numbered one, two,
+three, four, five, six, and so on. Number one contains ten sections,
+representing ten scenes. Each is labelled and every title is copied on a
+sheet of foolscap, and each section numbered and credited to box one.
+The process continues in this way until the whole negative is
+registered.
+
+Meantime I am mentally building up my film story. In story form it must
+grip the interest of the general public, and yet I have to keep to
+strict military correctness. I think of my main title. That in itself is
+a great thing. It has to epitomise the story of the whole film. It has
+to be short and it must "hold." The title once decided upon, the first
+reel must deal with preparatory action. I then take the lists prepared
+as described and call for my sections. For instance, number twenty
+section, box fourteen; number twelve section, box six; and so on,
+gradually building up the first reel. The sub-titles must be appealing
+and concise, and in phraseology that can be easily understood by all.
+
+Eventually reel number one is finished. All the sections are joined
+together, with spaces marked for the titles. The same process continues
+with the other reels. Number two must finish their story so far as
+preparatory action goes. You are then ready for the thrill, and the
+harder you can hit that thrill into reels three and four the greater the
+ultimate success of the film. Reel five finishes the story. But after
+seeing a battle film through full of suffering and agony, as it
+unavoidably must be to be genuine, you must not leave the public with a
+bitter taste in their mouth at the end. The film takes you to the grave,
+but it must not leave you there; it shows you death in all its grim
+nakedness; but after that it is essential that you should be restored to
+a sense of cheerfulness and joy. That joy comes of the knowledge that in
+all this whirlpool of horrors our lads continue to smile the smile of
+victory. Therefore the film must finish with a touch of happiness to
+send you home from the picture theatre with a light heart--or at least
+as light a heart as circumstances permit.
+
+The film is now edited, and it goes into the printer's hands. A positive
+print is made from it on film stock, and after the printing the copies
+are returned to the dark-room and the process of developing is gone
+through again, as in the case of a negative.
+
+The print is then dried and joined up in its right order, and so divided
+that it makes five reels. The titles by this time have been corrected
+from the military point of view by the War Office, and are printed for
+insertion in their appropriate position. The length of reading matter
+controls the length of the title to be printed. In some instances it
+will take ten seconds to read a title. Ten feet of film is therefore
+necessary for insertion between the scenes to explain them. In other
+cases three feet of titling suffices.
+
+The film is then shown to the War Office officials, and once they have
+approved it, it is packed in a safe and sent to General Headquarters in
+France. Here it is again projected in a specially constructed theatre,
+before the chief censor and his staff, and it may happen that certain
+incidents or sections are deleted in view of their possible value to the
+enemy. These excisions are carefully marked and upon the return of the
+film to London those sections are taken out and kept for future
+reference. The film is now ready for public exhibition.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE HORRORS OF TRONES WOOD
+
+     Three Times I Try and Fail to Reach this Stronghold of the
+     Dead--Which Has Been Described as "Hell on Earth"--At a
+     Dressing Station Under Fire--Smoking Two Cigarettes at a
+     Time to Keep Off the Flies--Some Amusing Trench
+     Conversations by Men who had Lost Their Way--I Turn in for
+     the Night--And Have a Dead Bosche for Company.
+
+
+I have just come from England after seeing the Somme Film well on its
+way to the public. It has caused a great sensation. I really thought
+that some of the dead scenes would offend the British public. And yet
+why should they? It is only a very mild touch of what is happening day
+after day, week after week, on the bloody plains of France and Belgium.
+Bloody? Yes, inevitably so. There never was such dearly bought land
+since creation. The earth in the Somme district has been soaked with the
+blood of men. Sit out on a field a mile or two from our front line any
+morning early, when the mist is just rising. Sit out there on the ground
+which our boys have fought for and won. The place reeks with the
+horrible stench of countless decaying bodies, and every minute adds to
+their number.
+
+But the British public did not object to these realistic scenes in the
+film. They realised that it was their duty to see for themselves. They
+had been told by the press; they had been told by Parliament; they had
+been told by lecturers what was happening, but to no purpose. They must
+be shown; they must see with their own eyes. And the kinematograph
+camera performed this service. Has it justified itself? I put that
+question to all who have seen the film. What effect did it have upon
+you? Did you realise till you saw it what this vast battle-front was
+like? Did you realise what our Army was doing; how our wonderful
+soldiers--your husbands, your sons, your brothers--were driving the Huns
+back; how they were going to their death with a laugh upon their faces
+and a cigarette between their lips, fighting and dying like true
+Britons? That those who came back wounded and broken still had that
+smile?
+
+Yes: the truth has at last dawned upon you. With that knowledge new
+resolutions were born within you; resolutions that bade you never to
+slack for an instant in your endeavour to bring success to our arms.
+
+Trones Wood! That name had been drummed into my ears for days. It seemed
+to have a fascination for me. I asked several men to describe the place.
+
+"Quite impossible, sir; there baint anything like it on earth, and if
+hell is at all like it then I have been there. It's dead; just
+dead--dead--dead! And the smell--awful."
+
+"Is Fritz strafing there much?"
+
+"Yes, sir, he's at it all day: there's not room for a cat to hide in, so
+why Fritz is dropping his souvenirs there heaven knows; I don't."
+
+From the description the place seemed rather satisfactory from a scenic
+point of view, so I made up my mind to try and film it, as I wanted
+scenes of heavy bombardment which I could get if Fritz was concentrating
+upon the wood, for the Hun is a tolerably safe person to deal with if he
+has a target to fire at; he is so methodical.
+
+Going up by my car as far as the top of Camoy Valley, I left it there
+near a dressing station.
+
+[Illustration: FILMING THE KING DURING HIS VISIT TO FRANCE IN 1916. HE
+IS ACCOMPANIED BY PRESIDENT POINCARE, SIR DOUGLAS HAIG, GENERAL JOFFRE
+AND GENERAL FOCH]
+
+"Strafing!" I was out for "strafing," and by all appearances I was
+likely to get it hot and strong before long. I had only just stopped
+when a shell came hurtling overhead, falling about one hundred and fifty
+yards behind the dressing station. I went over to a doctor who was
+tending some wounded men--our own and Germans.
+
+"Has Fritz been sending you these souvenirs very often?" I enquired.
+
+The doctor rose, and mopping his forehead, grinned and replied: "Yes;
+the blighter won't let us alone. Why doesn't he play cricket? He must
+know this is Red Cross. That sign there," pointing to a large Red Cross
+lying on the ground, "is large enough to be seen by the men in Mars.
+Only this morning he put one bang through the roof of our dug-out,
+rewounding a lot of our chaps lying there. By the way, are you leaving
+your car there?"
+
+"Yes," I replied.
+
+"Well, you had better say good-bye to it; several of our ambulances have
+been strafed there."
+
+"Well," I said, "can't be helped; it must take its chance. I'm going to
+take a few scenes of you at work. Where did these Bosches come from?"
+
+"This morning, from Guillemont; our boys had a bit of a stunt on and
+landed a few of the beggars."
+
+I filmed various incidents showing the treatment of wounded prisoners.
+They received the same careful attention as our own men; whatever they
+asked for they had. Several padres were kneeling down beside our boys,
+taking down messages to be sent to their relatives.
+
+Stretcher after stretcher with its human freight of Briton and Hun was
+deposited on the ground. Immediately doctors and orderlies were upon
+their knees tending to their wants with a gentleness that was
+wonderful. While I was there several shells fell and exploded only a
+short distance away.
+
+I left the dressing station and paused upon a mound near a tree stump,
+the top of which had been carefully split off by shell-fire. I stood
+looking in the direction of Trones. The Bosches were "strafing" it
+pretty thoroughly. Away across at Montaubon village the same thing was
+happening. They were fairly watering the place with H.E. and shrapnel.
+Our guns were rattling out as well, and I am glad to say that it sounded
+to me as though ours were at least ten to their one.
+
+Well, the scenes had to be obtained. I admit the job looked anything but
+pleasant. "Well, here goes!" I said, and putting on a cigarette, I
+trudged off with my apparatus across the open, making a bee-line midway
+between Montaubon and Bernafay Wood. I gave both places a wide berth,
+thereby steering clear of possible Bosche shells. How hot it was.
+Perspiration was literally pouring from me. I kept on over the ground
+captured from the Germans. The smell in places was almost unbearable. I
+puffed away at my cigarette, thereby reducing the stench to a minimum.
+
+Several shells came whizzing overhead in the direction of the dressing
+station I had just left. With a grinding crash they exploded. "Shrapnel,
+woolly bears," I said under my breath. They seemed to burst right on top
+of them too. I thought of all those poor wounded Tommies lying helpless
+on their stretchers. Another--then another--came hurtling over. The
+splitting crash of the burst can only be appreciated by those who have
+been in close proximity to a German H.E. Woolly Bear exploding. It gives
+one rather a sickening sensation. Another came over. This time it burst
+nearer. "Gee! they're dropping the range." I hastily grabbed my tripod
+and hurried off at a tangent. Proceeding for a distance of about five
+hundred yards I turned off again and made tracks for my original point.
+
+In front, at a distance of about seven hundred yards, one of our forward
+field batteries of 18-pounders opened fire. I at first thought they were
+French 75 mm. owing to the extreme rapidity of fire. From my position I
+could not see the guns, but stretching across the country a rough line
+of brown earth was thrown up, which I afterwards found out was one of
+the old German lines. The guns were cunningly concealed in the trench.
+Thinking that it would make rather a good scene I decided to film it in
+action.
+
+I may add that I have previously been rather wary about having much to
+do with forward artillery positions. On three previous occasions I have
+been badly "strafed" by brother Fritz. He has the uncommonly irritating
+habit of putting his whizz-bangs much too near to be pleasant, with the
+result that I have more than once been compelled to take my camera and
+self off to the more congenial quarters of a dug-out, from which place,
+you will agree, one cannot obtain very interesting pictures.
+
+Reaching the batteries I unlimbered myself of my gear and approaching
+the C.O. in charge told him who I was and what I wanted. He was quite
+pleased to see me and said that he was just about to give Fritz a good
+dose of "iron rations," firing in salvos. Quickly fixing up my camera I
+filmed the scenes from various points of view. The men were stripped to
+the waist, jumping out the shells as fast as they could be handled.
+While I was filming the scene brother Fritz replied with whizz-bangs
+thick and fast. They are perfect devils, and it is practically
+impossible to hear them coming until they burst. I turned my machine
+round upon the spot near which they were dropping. Several times they
+got within the range of my camera, and I continued to turn upon them
+until two came much too close, so thinking discretion the better part of
+valour, I hastily disappeared into the doubtful shelter of a broken-down
+Hun trench. Then they came over, several smothering me in dust as they
+exploded close by. Having obtained all the pictures I required I thanked
+the C.O. and went on my way.
+
+My clothes were absolutely saturated with perspiration as I shambled
+away towards the top end of Bernafay Wood. I looked back at the battery.
+Bosche was still "strafing." I vowed I would never go near any forward
+guns again; but good resolutions are made to be broken, and my lust for
+pictures is too strong within me.
+
+Moving was now difficult. The weight of my camera outfit seemed to be
+getting heavier. I could only get along at a very slow pace. The strap
+around my chest seemed to squeeze the very breath out of my lungs. But
+worse was to come. The Huns began shelling the section with shrapnel in
+a searching manner, and several times I collapsed into a shell-hole, in
+the hope of obtaining a little cover. But there is very little shelter
+from shrapnel. On several occasions I felt like throwing away my steel
+helmet; the weight seemed abnormal; but prudence warned me and I clung
+to it.
+
+The fire was now too bad to proceed in the open. If there were any
+trenches or ditches I availed myself of their protection. The heat in
+the trenches was terrific, and to add to the horrors of the stench and
+heat there were millions of flies. Filthy brutes! They seemed to cling
+to one like leeches, and, my arms being full, I could not keep them off
+my face. Several times I almost decided to turn back, asking myself if
+it was worth while. But when I looked at Trones Wood in the distance,
+and the heavy shells bursting all round, I gritted my teeth and decided
+to push on.
+
+Thinking that more smoke might help to keep off the flies I lighted two
+cigarettes and puffed away at them, one in each corner of my mouth. I'm
+sure I must have looked a most extraordinary specimen of humanity at
+this moment. Loaded with kit, perspiring like a bull; my steel helmet
+cocked on one side of my head; puffing away like a chimney at two
+cigarettes, and millions of flies buzzing all around me. Picture me if
+you can.
+
+I was proceeding like an automaton along the trench when suddenly I came
+upon an officer who, I afterwards found out, was going up to fix his
+next gun positions. He was sitting on a sandbag swearing like Hades, and
+trying to disperse the clouds of flies which were settling upon him. He
+looked up as I approached, then suddenly burst into a peal of laughter.
+I stood still and grinned, not daring to open my mouth to laugh for fear
+of losing my cigarettes. Then I dropped my tripod and leaned against the
+trench side to rest. His laughter suddenly developed into a coughing and
+spluttering, spitting and swearing, which in itself was strong enough to
+drive all the flies in existence away.
+
+"Bust the things!" he spluttered. "I got a mouthful of them! They might
+have just come off some dirty Bosche. Got a drink on you?"
+
+"Yes," I said, and handed him my water-bottle.
+
+He rinsed out his mouth.
+
+"I do believe it's worth risking shrapnel rather than tolerate these
+vile things!" he remarked. "But excuse my laughter; you did look funny
+coming along there."
+
+"Yes, I expect I did," I said, still puffing away at my cigarettes. "I'd
+smoke a dozen at once if I could. Anything to keep the flies away."
+
+"Well," he said, "I'm stumped. Have you one to spare?"
+
+I handed him my case. He lighted up and both of us, puffing as hard as
+we could, made quite a healthy volume of smoke. From above it must have
+looked as if a small fire was raging.
+
+We had sat there alternately puffing and chatting and killing flies by
+the hundreds for about ten minutes. I told him I wanted to get some
+scenes of Trones. He politely told me I ought to have brought my keeper
+out with me, but as he was going in that direction he would help me on
+the way to being killed by carrying my tripod.
+
+We started off. The shelling was getting unpleasantly near. Phoot-bang!
+We both ducked, my head getting a nasty knock against the tripod top.
+For the moment I thought I had been struck by the whizz-bang. Presently
+we reached a junction in the trench, and as my friend's road lay in an
+opposite direction we parted, and I trudged on alone.
+
+I was brought to a standstill by a mound of earth which completely
+blocked the way. By all appearances the shell that had caused it could
+have only come over a few minutes before, for a thin wisp of smoke was
+still curling up from the debris. "Well," I thought, placing my kit on
+the ground, "it's got to be done; so over I go." Here the air was
+completely free from flies. Evidently the gas from the bursting shell
+had choked them off for a time. Jove! I was glad. It was like heaven;
+and my tongue was beginning to burn rather badly through fiercely
+smoking two cigarettes at once.
+
+Cautiously I crept up to the top of the parapet! What a sight! Shells
+were falling thick and fast over Trones and towards Baentin-le-Grand. I
+must film this, Bosche or no Bosche! So hastily fixing up my tripod, I
+fastened on the camera and began exposing. "Excellent," I thought;
+"I've got it." Another shell came along. This time it was evidently a
+5.9, and was right in the centre of my view, about one hundred and fifty
+yards away! Another one. Rotten! Just out of my limits. Phut-bang!
+Phut-bang! I grabbed my camera and fell with it on the opposite side of
+the mound. I let it lie there, and dashing back into the other section
+of trench grabbed my bags and returned. Whizz-bangs followed;
+whizz-bangs in front and behind! I crouched as low as possible and
+replacing the camera in its case hung it over my back and, still bending
+low, hurried away dragging my tripod behind me.
+
+The trench was blocked by a batch of men returning. They were crouching
+down for cover. The officer in charge asked me what in the world I was
+doing.
+
+"Thunder," he said, "if I knew the 'movie' man had been here I would
+have gone the other way. You've evidently drawn fire by that contraption
+of yours. Where are you going?"
+
+"To Trones Wood," I said.
+
+The look of blank amazement on his face was amusing.
+
+"My dear chap," he said, "are you serious?"
+
+"Well," I replied, "I had intended going there till a moment ago, but
+the strafing seems to get worse."
+
+Shrapnel was now bursting overhead, a piece hitting one of the men close
+by.
+
+"Where's he hit?" enquired the officer. The poor fellow was lying down.
+
+"In the shoulder, sir," one of the others shouted back. "Seems rather
+bad."
+
+"Two of you bring him through and get ahead to the dressing station as
+quickly as possible. Keep your heads down." Then turning to me the
+officer said: "Look here, I've just come from the Wood, and, by gad,
+it's fair hell there! The place is a charnel-house. It's literally
+choked with corpses; heaps of them; and we dare not bring them in. We've
+tried even at night, but the shelling prevents us. The place reeks. And
+the flies! They're awful. It's more than flesh and blood can stand! To
+put your head up means certain death and--well, you see what your camera
+did here. You can imagine what it would be like over there, can't you?"
+
+"Yes, I see, but of course if I had known any men were about I wouldn't
+have put my machine up. I know there is always the possibility of
+drawing fire. It has happened quite a number of times to me!"
+
+"If you respect your life don't go any further. The shell-fire is
+impossible, and the sight over there is too ghastly for words."
+
+So I decided to relinquish my visit for the time being.
+
+A call was made to proceed. "Half a minute," I said, "the trench had
+been blown in about fifty yards down, wouldn't it be better to clear it
+away rather than take these men over the top?"
+
+The officer decided that it was. The men worked away with a will, and
+quickly replaced the earth in the hollow of the trench wall from which
+it had been blown.
+
+Again we trudged on. The flies were beginning to annoy us once more. I
+put on a couple of cigarettes. All the men had ransacked odds and ends
+from their pockets, and the result was a line of men smoking as hard as
+they could, and enveloped in a haze of bluish white smoke. But the flies
+refused to budge. Smoke had no effect on them, and I'm inclined to think
+that nothing short of a 5.9 would do the trick. Not until we were out in
+the open were we free from them.
+
+On two further occasions I tried to enter Trones Wood, and both times
+the conditions were if anything worse. The merest sign of a camera put
+up over a parapet would have instantly brought a host of shells
+clattering round; therefore, on the third try, I decided to abandon the
+trip until a later date. But those attempts will always remain in my
+memory as a ghastly nightmare. The essence of death and destruction, and
+all that it means, was horribly visible everywhere.
+
+I have been there since. I reached the place just before the final
+cleansing, and brother Fritz, just to let us know that he existed, and
+that he had a spite against us, persisted in flinging his shrapnel
+around, thereby keeping me well on the run. He did not give me the
+slightest chance to get pictures, nor to meditate on the surroundings;
+in fact the only meditation I indulged in was to wonder whether the next
+shrapnel bullet would strike my helmet plumb on the top or glance off
+the rim. Then thinking of George Grave's remark, I called Fritz a "nasty
+person," with a few extra additions culled from the "trench dictionary."
+
+Being a fine night I decided to stay in the vicinity. An officer of a
+pioneer battalion kindly offered me a share of his dug-out--one of
+Fritz's cast-offs. I gladly accepted, and over a cup--or rather a
+tin--of tea, we exchanged views on various subjects. About ten o'clock I
+went above to terra firma and watched the shells bursting over the
+German lines. Myriads of star-shells or Verey lights shot high in the
+sky, lighting up the whole country-side like day. The sight was
+wonderful, and silhouetted against the flashes I could see countless
+bodies of men tramping on their way like silent phantoms.
+
+Here and there I watched a shell burst. I could see and hear that it had
+dropped into a section of those men, adding to the number of that great
+army of heroes who had already "gone West." But into those gaps,
+through which the blasting shells had torn their way, stepped other men.
+A sharp word of command was rapped out, then on again to take up their
+battle position, leaving the dead behind to be reverently buried on the
+morrow. The wounded were brought away by the stretcher-bearers, and as
+one lot passed me I heard a voice from the darkness murmur, "Bill, it's
+a blighty."
+
+I wandered on in the direction of our line. Near a junction of by-roads
+I heard some funny remarks passed by ration parties trying to find the
+way to their sections. To pick one's way in the dark over strange ground
+littered with debris is not an easy task. The exact language I heard
+would hardly bear repeating.
+
+One party had evidently bumped into another. "D---- and ---- who are
+you? Cawn't yer see, mate, I'm taking up company rations? Blimy, but 'ow
+the 'ell I am going to find the way--blowed if I know. Do you know where
+---- Company is? I'm taking up sandbags. Lost me ---- way. 'Ave yer
+passed a dead 'orse? I knowed I passed it coming up. Good night, mate."
+
+Both men went off into the darkness, swearing like troopers. Another man
+came up. He was whistling a homely song, but it came to an abrupt
+conclusion, for he evidently stumbled over some obstacle. Compliments
+began to fly, and he told the Bosche in plain language what he thought
+of him for leaving it there. His remarks were too pointed for expression
+in cold print.
+
+The next to come along was an engineering officer. He could faintly
+discern me in the darkness.
+
+"Hullo," he said. "Are you the ----?"
+
+"No," I replied. "I'm sorry I can't help you. I haven't the least idea
+where they are. What's wrong?"
+
+"I have to run out some wires to-night, but bothered if I know where
+they are. Missed my way near the wood. Some silly ass sent me wrong."
+
+"Well," I said, "most of the troops I have seen have gone in that
+direction," pointing the way. He disappeared.
+
+Apparently he was held up a minute or two later by some one else, for in
+the distance I heard a voice, "Do you know where ---- Company is, sir?"
+
+"No, I don't," in a rather irritated tone. "I can't find my own blooming
+way."
+
+This sort of thing went on for over an hour; first one then another.
+Whether all of them eventually found their various points Heaven only
+knows!
+
+I had wandered so far, owing to my interest in other people, that I had
+some difficulty in retracing my steps to the dug-out. Eventually I
+arrive there about one o'clock. I had been given up for lost.
+
+I told ---- of my experiences.
+
+"That kind of thing happens practically every night. They manage to find
+their way somehow. Come along; let's turn in. Look out for your head as
+you crawl through. Don't mind the rats. Cover your head well up. They
+won't touch your face then."
+
+I crawled in on to my bed. Then I noticed a peculiar and decidedly
+unpleasant smell.
+
+"Have you got any corpses here?" I asked him.
+
+"Yes, I believe so," he said. "You see the other entrance has been blown
+in. It's the other end of your bed, and I believe some Bosches were
+buried in the debris. Never mind, stick it; they won't bite."
+
+"Pleasant dreams," I mumbled as I drew my blanket well around my face;
+in a few minutes the presence of dead Bosche ceased to trouble me. I
+slept.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+FILMING AT POZIERES AND CONTALMAISON
+
+     Looking for "Thrills"--And How I Got Them--I Pass Through
+     "Sausage Valley," on the Way to Pozieres--You _May_ and you
+     _Might_--What a Tommy Found in a German Dug-out--How Fritz
+     Got "Some of His Own" Back--Taking Pictures in What Was Once
+     Pozieres--"Proofs Ready To-morrow."
+
+
+Things, from my point of view, were slackening down. Plenty of
+preparatory action was taking place, and here and there small local
+engagements, but the fact that they were local made it very difficult
+for me to get to hear of them. None of the Corps Commanders knew exactly
+when or where the nibble would develop, or, if they did know, they were
+naturally chary of giving me the information. On occasions too when I
+did know I had not sufficient time to make my arrangements, I had to be
+content with scenes which unfolded themselves after the action had taken
+place.
+
+This was getting rather monotonous. The aftermath of one attack was to
+all intents and purposes an exact replica of the previous one, except
+that the surroundings were different. There was the return of the
+attackers; the bringing in of prisoners, the wounded, the dead; and to
+vary these scenes to make my pictures generally interesting required a
+lot of thought and a careful choice of view point.
+
+In the course of the "push," which began in July, there were hundreds, I
+might almost say thousands, of incidents that to the eye were of
+enthralling interest, but to have filmed them with the idea of
+conveying that interest on the screen would have been so much wasted
+effort. Even the kinematograph has its limitations.
+
+Over my head all the time, like a huge sword, hung the thought of
+British public opinion, and the opinion of neutral countries. They would
+accept nothing unless there was great excitement in it; unless the
+pictures contained such "thrills" as they had never seen before, and had
+never dreamed possible. Once I had secured that thrill I could then--and
+only then--take the preparatory scenes, depicting the ordinary life and
+action of the men and the organisation which are necessary to run the
+war. Such scenes--interesting as they undoubtedly are--without that
+"thrill" would have fallen flat, would have been of no use, from the
+exhibition point of view, and I had always to bear that fact in mind.
+
+I have spent many sleepless nights wondering how and where I was to
+obtain that magnetic thrill, that minute incident, probably only ten per
+cent of which would carry the remaining ninety per cent to success. One
+that would positively satisfy the public.
+
+I had been filming a lot of stuff lately, but when I looked through my
+list, excellent as the scenes were--many of which I would probably never
+be able to get again--they struck me as lacking "thrill." That was what
+I required. So I set out to get it.
+
+The Australians had just captured Pozieres, and hearing that the Bosche
+were continually "strafing" it I decided to make for that quarter with
+the object of getting a good bombardment. If possible, I would also get
+into the village itself where there ought to be some very good pictures,
+for the capture had only taken place two days previously.
+
+Pozieres then it should be. Leaving my base early in the morning I made
+my way through Becourt Wood and beyond, up "Sausage Valley"--why that
+name I don't know. The whole area was crowded with men of the Australian
+division.
+
+As there was no road I took my car over the grass, or rather all that
+was left of it. The place was covered with shell-holes. Driving between,
+and more often than not into them, was rather a tiresome job, but it
+saved several miles of tramping with heavy stuff. "Sausage Valley"
+during this period was anything but healthy. I was warned about it as I
+left an Australian battery where I had stayed to make a few enquiries. A
+major told me the place was "strafed" every day, and I soon found that
+this was so when I arrived. Several "crumps" fell in the wood behind me,
+and two on the hill-side among some horses, killing several. If I saw
+one dead horse I must have seen dozens; they were all over the place.
+But everyone was much too busy to bury them at the moment. The stench
+was decidedly unpleasant, and the flies buzzed around in swarms. I soon
+had a couple of cigarettes alight. What a boon they were at times.
+
+After much dodging and twisting I halted the car close to a forward
+dressing station. While I was there several shells dropped unpleasantly
+near, and I could not restrain my admiration for the medical staff who
+tended the wounded, quite oblivious of the dangers by which they were
+surrounded in so exposed a position. I obtained several very interesting
+scenes of the wounded arriving.
+
+I waited awhile to watch the Bosche shelling before going over the ridge
+to Pozieres. I could then tell the sections he "strafed" most. I would
+be able to avoid them as much as possible. I watched for fully an hour;
+the variation in his target was barely perceptible. On one or two
+occasions he "swept" the ridge. I decided to make a start after the next
+dose.
+
+Strapping the camera on my back, my man taking the tripod, we started
+off. There was a light railway running towards Contalmaison. I followed
+this until I got near the spot brother Fritz was aiming at, hugging a
+trench at the side of a by-road. The bank was lined with funk-holes,
+which came in very useful during the journey, and I had to seek their
+shelter several times, but the nearest shell fell at a junction between
+that road and a communication trench. Just this side lay a very much
+dead horse. The shell came over. Down I went flat on my stomach. My man
+dived into a hole. The shell exploded, and the next thing I remember was
+a feeling as if a ton of bricks had fallen on top of me. I managed to
+struggle up and make quickly for the trench, my man following; and you
+may be quite sure I took care that I was well out of line of the next
+before I eased up. Beyond a few scratches on the camera-case and a torn
+coat, I was quite sound.
+
+I was told of a Hun battery of 77 mm. guns on the left-hand side of the
+valley leading to Pozieres, so I decided to make for that spot. I
+enquired of a man as to the whereabouts of them.
+
+"Well, sir," he said, "you may come to them if you keep straight on, but
+I shouldn't advise you to do so as you have to cross the open. Bosche
+has a pretty sharp eye on anyone there; he knows the lay of the battery
+and he just plasters it. You _might_ get round at 'Dead Man's Corner,'
+on the Contalmaison Road. It's pretty bad there, but I think it's the
+best place to try, and once you are round the corner you _may_ be all
+right."
+
+"Well, which way do I take?"
+
+"Down this way, then turn to your left at the corner; the battery is
+about two hundred yards along on the hill-side."
+
+"But, man alive," I said, "they're strafing it like blazes. Look!"
+
+They were, too, and 8-inch shells were dropping wholesale.
+
+"No, I think I will take the risk and run over the open. Are there any
+dug-outs at the battery?"
+
+"Yes, sir, jolly good ones; forty feet deep; regular beauties. Evidently
+made up their minds to stay the winter. Electric light, libraries, and
+beds with real spring mattresses. My, sir, but they were comfortable.
+And what do you think I found there, sir?"
+
+"Heaven knows," I replied.
+
+"Well, sir, several ladies' fringe nets and hair-pins."
+
+"The devil you did. Well, Fritz knows how to make himself cosy."
+
+With that remark we parted, Tommy having a broad grin on his face.
+
+"You will see the place where you get out of this ditch, sir," he called
+out; "a shell has blown it in; strike off on your left straight ahead.
+You'll see them in front of you."
+
+The shelling was getting very unpleasant, and I had to keep low in the
+trench the whole of the time. At length we reached the point where we
+had to get over the top.
+
+"Well, come on, let's chance it," I said to my man. I saw the battery in
+the distance before getting over.
+
+Up we went and bending low raced for the spot. On the way I passed
+several dead bodies, all Bosche, and numbers of pieces blown to bits by
+our shell fire. A whizz-bang came over whilst we were crossing. Down we
+went into a shell-hole. Another, and another came over. Murderous little
+brutes they were too. Seven of them. Then they ceased. We immediately
+jumped up again and reached our objective. Then getting under cover of
+some twisted ironwork, which once formed the roofing of the
+emplacement, I took breath. "Anyway," I thought, "here I am."
+
+In a few minutes I had a look round. What an excellent view of Pozieres,
+about eight hundred yards away on my left. On the right was
+Contalmaison, which had only been taken a short time previously. The
+Bosches were shelling the place pretty frequently. I set up the camera
+and waited. Away on the opposite hill shells were falling thickly. I
+started filming them and got some interesting bursts, both high
+explosive and H.E. shrapnel.
+
+Now for Pozieres. The enemy must have been putting 9-inch and 12-inch
+stuff in there, for they were sending up huge clouds of smoke and
+debris. I secured some excellent scenes. First Pozieres, then
+Contalmaison. My camera was first on one then on the other. For a change
+Bosche whizz-banged the battery. I could see now why he was so anxious
+to crump it, for lying all around me in their carriers, were hundreds of
+gas shells. I was in fact standing on them. They were all unused, and if
+Fritz got a good one home, well good-bye to everything.
+
+One time I thought I would seek the shelter of a dug-out, but the fire
+swept away in the opposite direction. By careful manoeuvring I managed
+to film the German guns there. Every one of the four was quite smashed
+up. An excellent example of artillery fire, and by the date upon them
+they were of the latest pattern.
+
+In all there were three batteries in that small area, making twelve
+guns. But out of the twelve sufficient parts were found intact to make
+one good one, so that Fritz would get "some of his own" back in a way
+that he least expected; for there were thousands of rounds of ammunition
+found in the dug-outs beneath the gun pits.
+
+How to get into Pozieres was the next problem. I had, while filming,
+been making mental notes as to the section which Fritz did not
+"strafe," and that place, by all that's wonderful, was the actual thing
+he was undoubtedly trying for--the road.
+
+By hugging the bank-side, along which here and there I could spot a few
+funk-holes, I managed to get into the chalk-pit. Here I filmed various
+scenes, but Bosche, as usual, kept me on the jump with his shrapnel,
+forcing me to take hurried shelter from time to time.
+
+There is one thing I shall always thank Fritz for, and that is his
+dug-outs. If he only knew how useful they had been to me on many
+occasions I am sure he would feel flattered.
+
+From the chalk-pit to Pozieres was no great distance. The ground was
+littered with every description of equipment, just as it had been left
+by the flying Huns, and dead bodies were everywhere. The place looked a
+veritable shambles. Believe me, I went along that road very gingerly,
+picking my way between the shell bursts. Just before I reached the place
+the firing suddenly ceased. The deadly silence was uncanny in the
+extreme; in fact I seemed to fear it more than the bombardment. It
+seemed to me too quiet to be healthy. What was Bosche up to? There must
+be some reason for it. I took cover in a shallow trench at the roadside.
+Along the bottom were lying several dead Bosches, and a short distance
+away fragments of human remains were strewn around.
+
+The place was desolate in the extreme. The village was absolutely
+non-existent. There was not a vestige of buildings remaining, with one
+exception, and that was a place called by the Germans "Gibraltar," a
+reinforced concrete emplacement he had used for machine-guns. The few
+trees that had survived the terrible blasting were just stumps, no more.
+
+Fritz's sudden silence seemed uncanny, but taking advantage of his
+spell of inactivity I hastily rigged up the camera and began exposing.
+In a few minutes I had taken sufficient, and packing up I hurried down
+the road as fast as I could.
+
+I reached the chalk-pit safely and then, cutting across direct to the
+gun pits, I took up my original position and awaited Fritz's good
+pleasure to send a few more crump to provide me with scenes. But not a
+shell came over.
+
+Before leaving this section I thought I would film Contalmaison, a name
+immortalised by such fighting as has rarely been equalled even in this
+great war. To get there it was necessary to go to "Dead Man's Corner."
+The road was pitted with shell-holes, and dead horses lay about on both
+sides. Bosche was still uncannily quiet. I was beginning to think I
+should just manage to get my scenes before he interfered with me. But
+no! Either he had finished his lunch or had some more ammunition, for he
+started again. One came over and burst in the village in front of me,
+with a noise like the crashing of ten thousand bottles. I took shelter
+behind a smashed-up limber, and waited to see where the next would fall.
+It burst a little further away. Good enough, I thought. Here goes before
+he alters his range.
+
+Jumping up I ran and scrambled on to the ruins of a house, and took some
+fine panoramic views of the village, first from one position then from
+another. Some of the scenes included a few of our men in possession.
+Altogether a most interesting series, including as it did both Pozieres
+and Contalmaison. It was the first time they had been filmed since their
+capture.
+
+At that moment I heard another crump coming over. It seemed to be
+unpleasantly near, so I made a running dive for a dug-out entrance, from
+which poked the grinning face of an officer.
+
+"Look out," I yelled.
+
+Crash came the crump.
+
+"Near enough anyhow," I said, as a piece flew shrieking past close
+overhead.
+
+"Are you the 'movie' man? I'm pleased to meet you," he said. "Did you
+get me in that last scene?"
+
+"Yes," I said. "Proofs ready to-morrow." And with a laugh I hurried down
+the road.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT WITH THE KING
+
+     His Majesty's Arrival at Boulogne--At G.H.Q.--General ----'s
+     Appreciation--The King on the Battlefield of
+     Fricourt--Within Range of the Enemy's Guns--His Majesty's
+     Joke Outside a German Dug-out--His Memento from a Hero's
+     Grave--His Visit to a Casualty Clearing Station--The King
+     and the Puppy--Once in Disgrace--Now a Hospital Mascot.
+
+
+That evening I reported at headquarters. "Well, Malins," said Colonel
+----, "I have a special job for you. Will you be on the quay at Boulogne
+to-morrow morning by twelve o'clock? Captain ---- is going down; he will
+make all arrangements for you there; he will also tell you who it is
+that's coming. Start at eight o'clock to-morrow morning. It is very
+important; so don't fail to be there."
+
+Leaving the Colonel I met Captain ---- outside. "Who's coming?" I asked.
+
+"Don't know," he said. "Tell you to-morrow."
+
+"Is it the King?" I asked.
+
+"Well," he said, "as a matter of fact it is. He arrives to-morrow. I
+shall have the full programme in the morning, and will give you a copy."
+
+What a film! My first thought was whether he would visit the
+battlefield. What scenes I conjured up in my imagination. To see
+Britain's King on the battlefield with his troops; to see him inspecting
+the ground; to see him in trenches lately captured from the Germans. My
+imagination began to run away with me. No, I thought, it will be just
+the ordinary reviews and reception.
+
+But I was wrong. The scenes that I had pictured to myself I was soon to
+witness.
+
+On the morrow the Captain, the still picture man and myself, left G.H.Q.
+for Boulogne. Arriving at the quay I looked around for any signs of
+preparation, but the whole place was as usual. The Captain called at the
+A.M.L.O.
+
+"Do you know what time the King is due?" he asked.
+
+The A.M.L.O. in tones of amazement ejaculated a long-drawn-out "What;
+never heard of his coming."
+
+"Well, he is," said the officer. "He's arriving at midday."
+
+"I was never informed," said the other. "I will ring up the M.L.O." He
+did so, and after a short time the information came through. "The King
+will not arrive to-day; he will be here to-morrow at 9 a.m. His sailing
+was altered at the last moment."
+
+That night I turned in at the Hotel Folkestone, making arrangements for
+my car to take me and my apparatus to the quay at 8.30 in the morning.
+
+The morning fortunately was beautifully bright. I sincerely hoped it
+would continue. What excellent quality it promised in the films. I
+compared it with the weather during the last visit to France of the late
+Lord Kitchener; unfortunately it rained all the time.
+
+I arrived at the quay. The French officials were gathered there, and
+lined up was a guard of honour, formed by the North Staffordshire
+Regiment. Every man had been through many engagements during the war.
+
+I fixed up the camera. The boat had already drawn up by the quay-side.
+There was a hushed whisper from several officials standing by: "There he
+is." I looked and saw the King gaily chatting to the Naval Officer in
+charge.
+
+[Illustration: HIS MAJESTY THE KING, WITH PRESIDENT POINCARE, IN FRANCE,
+1916. HIS MAJESTY GRACIOUSLY CONSENTED TO POSE FOR ME]
+
+I wondered whether His Majesty would like being photographed, therefore
+I carefully kept my camera under cover of a shelter close by. At that
+moment the King's equerry came ashore. I asked him what time His Majesty
+was due to land.
+
+"Another half an hour yet," he said, "the Governor of Boulogne and other
+French officials are just going aboard to be introduced."
+
+I arranged some wheeled railings in such a manner that the opening was
+close by my camera, thereby making sure that the King would pass very
+near me.
+
+The moment arrived. My camera was in position. At that moment the King
+came down the gangway--he was in Field-Marshal's uniform--followed by
+his suite, including Lord Stamfordham, Sir Derek Keppel,
+Lieutenant-Colonel Clive Wigram, and Major Thompson. I started turning
+as he stepped on the shores of France. He gravely saluted.
+
+Passing close by he reviewed the guard of honour, giving them a word of
+praise as he went. I filmed him the whole of the time, until he reached
+his car, bade adieux to the many officers present, and drove away to
+G.H.Q.
+
+I had made an excellent start. The landing was splendid. Now to follow.
+The King was going to G.H.Q., breaking his journey to lunch with Sir
+Douglas Haig on the way. I knew I should have ample time therefore to
+get well ahead and film the arrival at General Headquarters.
+
+Arriving at G.H.Q. I took up my stand near the entrance to the building.
+The Prince of Wales and other officers were there. I noticed that the
+Prince, as soon as he saw me, turned and said something to a friend near
+by. He evidently remembered my two previous attempts to film him.
+
+His Majesty arrived. The Prince of Wales came to the salute, then His
+Majesty--not as a king, but as a father--embraced his son. I should
+have obtained a better view of that incident, but unluckily an officer
+side-stepped and partly covered the figures from my camera.
+
+I obtained many scenes during the day of His Majesty visiting, in
+company with General Sir Douglas Haig, various headquarter offices,
+where he studied in detail the general position of the armies. I noticed
+that Sir Douglas did not look upon my camera very kindly. He was rather
+shy of the machine, though latterly he has looked with a more
+sympathetic eye upon it.
+
+On the second day of the King's visit I started out and proceeded to an
+appointed place on the main road, where the King's car would join us.
+
+The weather was very dull. It was causing me much concern, for to-day of
+all days I wanted to obtain an excellent film.
+
+The cars pulled up. We had about fifteen minutes to wait. I fixed up my
+camera ready to film the meeting with General Sir Henry Rawlinson. While
+waiting, the General came over to me and began chatting about my work.
+
+"I hear," he said, "that you filmed the attack of the 29th Division at
+Beaumont Hamel on the 1st July, and have been told of the excellence of
+the result."
+
+He seemed much impressed by what I told him of the possibilities of the
+camera.
+
+A patrol signalled the King's arrival. His car drew up; His Majesty
+alighted and heartily greeted the General. I filmed the scenes as they
+presented themselves.
+
+All aboard once more--the King leading--we started on our journey for
+the battlefield of Fricourt.
+
+Having hung about until the last second turning the handle, it was a
+rush for me to pack, and pick them up again. My car not being one of the
+best, I had great difficulty in keeping up with the party.
+
+The news of the King's arrival and journey to Fricourt seemed to have
+spread well ahead, for everywhere numbers of troops were strewn along
+the roadside, and even far behind as I was, I could hear the echoing
+cheers which resounded over hills and valleys for miles around.
+
+Finally the cars came to a halt at an appointed place near the ruins of
+the village and once beautiful woods of Fricourt, well within range of
+the enemies' guns.
+
+The spot where the King alighted was known as the Citadel, a German
+sandbag fortification of immense strength.
+
+It was arranged in the form of a circle, with underground tunnels and
+dug-outs of great depth. In various sections of the walls were
+machine-gun emplacements, and the whole being on the top of the hill,
+formed a most formidable obstacle to the advance of our troops. I may
+add that the hill is now known as "King George's Hill."
+
+The King and his party had already alighted when I arrived to set up my
+camera, and hurrying forward was very difficult work, especially as I
+had to negotiate twisted masses of enemy barbed wire entanglements. But
+eventually, after much rushing, and being very nearly breathless, I got
+ahead, and planted my machine on the parapet of an old German trench and
+filmed the party as they passed. To keep ahead after filming each
+incident was very hard work. It meant waiting here and there, jumping
+trenches, scrambling through entanglements, stumbling into shell-holes,
+and at times fairly hanging by my eyebrows to the edge of trenches,
+balancing my camera in a way that one would have deemed almost
+impossible. But I am gratified to think that I managed to keep up with
+the King, and I succeeded in recording every incident of interest.
+
+At a point on the hill-top the King halted, and General ---- described
+the various movements and details of the attack and capture of the
+village, the King taking a very keen interest in the whole procedure.
+
+I continued turning the handle. I did not allow a single scene to pass.
+Such a thing had never been known before. Throughout it all the guns,
+large and small, were crashing out, and the King could see the shells
+bursting over the German lines quite distinctly.
+
+The guide, who was a lieutenant in the Engineers, suddenly called
+attention to an old German trench. The Prince of Wales first entered and
+examined from above the depths of an old dug-out.
+
+With a jump I landed on the other side of the trench and sticking the
+tripod legs in the mud I filmed the scene in which His Majesty and the
+Prince of Wales inspected the captured German trenches.
+
+The party halted at the entrance to another dug-out. The guide entered
+and for some moments did not reappear, the King and the General
+meanwhile standing and gazing down. Suddenly a voice echoed from the
+depths:
+
+"Will you come down, sir?"--this remark to the King.
+
+His Majesty laughed, but did not avail himself of the invitation.
+
+All the party joined in the laughter, and all those who have seen that
+picture on the screen of His Majesty's visit to his troops, will recall
+the incident to which I refer. Many of the London papers in their
+articles, referring to the film, wondered what the joke was that the
+King so thoroughly enjoyed outside a German dug-out.
+
+The party passed on, but some difficulty was experienced when they tried
+to get out of the trench again. The King was pulled out by the Prince
+of Wales, and another officer, but some members of the party
+experienced a difficulty which provided quite an amusing episode.
+
+At times I had to stop and change spools. Then the party got well ahead,
+and on several occasions His Majesty, with his usual thoughtfulness and
+courtesy, hung back and debated on various things in the trenches, in
+order to allow me time to catch them up again.
+
+His Majesty passed over old mine craters, and stood with his
+deer-stalking glasses, resting against a tree which had been withered
+during the fighting, watching the bombardment of Pozieres. He made
+sympathetic enquiries by the side of a lonely grave surmounted by a
+rough wooden cross, on which the name and number of this hero were
+roughly inscribed. A shrapnel helmet, with a hole clean through the top,
+evidently caused by a piece of high-explosive shell, rested upon the
+mound.
+
+The King stooped and picked up a piece of shell and put it in his
+pocket.
+
+It was now time for His Majesty's departure. Gathered near his car was a
+crowd of Tommies, ready to give their King a rousing cheer as he drove
+away. I filmed the scene, and as the car vanished over the brow of the
+hill, three more were called for the Prince of Wales.
+
+Hurriedly picking up my kit I chased away after them. On the way masses
+of Anzacs lined both sides of the road, and the cheers which greeted His
+Majesty must have been heard miles away. The scene made a most
+impressive picture for me. At that moment a battalion of Anzacs just out
+of the trenches at Pozieres were passing. The sight was very wonderful,
+and the King saw with his own eyes some of his brave Colonials returning
+from their triumph, covered with clay, looking dog-tired but happy.
+
+His Majesty was now going to view some ruins near the front, but
+unfortunately, owing to burst tyres, I could not keep up with the party,
+and by the time I got on the move again it would have been impossible
+for me to reach the place in time to film this scene. Therefore, knowing
+that he was due at No. 18 C.C.S. or "Casualty Clearing Station," I made
+hurried tracks for it. A most interesting picture promised to result.
+
+I arrived at the C.C.S. and was met by the C.O. in charge.
+
+"Hullo, Malins," he said, "still about? Always on the go, eh? The last
+scenes you took here came out well. I saw them in London on the R.A.M.C.
+film. What do you want now?"
+
+"Well, sir," I said, "I am chasing the King, and some chase too, my
+word. I lost him this morning when my old bus broke down. But up to the
+present I have obtained a most excellent record. Topping day yesterday
+on the battlefield of Fricourt. I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
+
+Half an hour later the royal car drew up. The King and the Prince of
+Wales alighted, and were conducted around the hospital by the C.O.
+
+I did not miss a single opportunity of filming, from His Majesty's talk
+to some wounded officers, to his strolling through the long lines of
+hospital tents and entering them each in turn. At one point my camera
+was so close to the path along which the King passed, that the Prince of
+Wales, evidently determined not to run into my range again, quickly
+slipped away and crossed higher up between the other tents. An officer
+standing by me remarked with a laugh, "The Prince doesn't seem to like
+you."
+
+A touching incident took place when the King was on the point of
+leaving. He stooped down and tenderly picked up a small puppy, and
+gently caressed and kissed it, then handed it back to the Colonel. This
+scene appears in the film, and illustrates His Majesty's affection for
+dumb animals.
+
+I had just finished turning, when an officer came up to me and said in a
+low tone: "That's funny."
+
+"What's funny?" I asked.
+
+"Why that incident. Do you know that dog only came in here yesterday,
+and he has done so much mischief through playing about, that at last the
+C.O. determined to get rid of him. But we won't now. I shall put a red,
+white, and blue ribbon round his neck and call him George. He shall be
+the hospital's mascot."
+
+Before I had time to reply His Majesty prepared to leave, so running
+with my camera I planted it in the middle of the road and filmed his
+departure, amid the cheers of the officers and men of the hospital.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+KING AND PRESIDENT MEET
+
+     An Historic Gathering--In which King and President, Joffre
+     and Haig Take Part--His Majesty and the Little French
+     Girl--I Am Permitted to Film the King and His Distinguished
+     Guests--A Visit to the King of the Belgians--A Cross-Channel
+     Journey--And Home.
+
+
+I heard that night that the King was going to meet M. Poincare, the
+French President, at the house of Sir Douglas Haig, and very possibly
+General Joffre might be there, as well.
+
+In the morning there was an excellent light, the sun was blazing; and at
+9 a.m. sharp we started off, the royal car leading. By cutting across
+country I was able to save a considerable distance as I wished to get
+there first, in order to film the arrival.
+
+The chateau was a typical French one, not very large, but situated in a
+charming spot, seemingly miles away from such a thing as war. Everything
+was as peaceful indeed as if we were at home in the midst of the
+beautiful Surrey Hills.
+
+Yet in this scene of profound peace the rulers of England and France,
+with the leading Generals, were meeting to discuss the future policy of
+the greatest and most bloody war of all time.
+
+I took my stand on a grass patch in a position that commanded views of
+both the main gates and the entrance to the house. Lining the drive from
+the main gates were men of Sir Douglas Haig's regiment, the 17th
+Lancers, standing to attention, their lance points glistening in the
+sun.
+
+The sentries at the gates came smartly to the salute as the royal car,
+in which were the King and Sir Douglas Haig, drew up. I started turning
+as he entered the gates. At that moment a little French girl ran out
+with a bunch of flowers and presented them to the King, who, smiling,
+stopped and patted her cheek, passed a remark to Sir Douglas, and then
+proceeded down the lines of troops, and entered the house, the Prince of
+Wales following close behind.
+
+Shortly afterwards a signal was given. His Majesty and Sir Douglas came
+down the steps and reached the gates as the car, bringing M. Poincare,
+the French President, and General Joffre, drew up. What a scene it would
+make.
+
+M. Poincare came first, and was warmly greeted by the King. He was
+immediately followed by General Joffre, and an incident then occurred
+which took "Papa" Joffre unawares. For the moment he was perplexed. The
+same little French maid ran out with another bunch of flowers and
+offered them to the General.
+
+"No, no," he said, "not for me, give them to the President."
+
+But the child thought otherwise. She intended that Papa Joffre, the idol
+of France, should have them. He must have them. But no; the General,
+taking the child gently by the arm, led her to where M. Poincare was
+speaking to the King and Sir Douglas Haig, and drew their attention to
+the child. They all smiled, and were greatly amused by the incident.
+Then the little one gave her flowers to the President, who taking them,
+stooped and kissed her forehead, and the little one satisfied with her
+success ran away.
+
+The President, not knowing what to do with the flowers, looked around
+for an officer to take them to his car, but General Joffre, anticipating
+the desire, called up his A.D.C. who took them away. The party then
+moved into the house. General Foch also entered with the Prince of
+Wales.
+
+After the lunch and conference, word was sent in to Colonel Wigram who
+endeavoured to persuade the King and M. Poincare to pose for a short
+scene on the balcony. Word came back that they would do so.
+
+To fix my camera up on the balcony was the work of only a few seconds.
+
+The King came out through the French window, followed by M. Poincare.
+They were both smiling and seemed to be very interested in the coming
+experience.
+
+"Where do we go?" said the King.
+
+"Would your Majesty stand over there?" I said, pointing to one end of
+the terrace. They stood there side by side, King and President laughing
+and chatting. While I turned on them, General Joffre came out.
+
+"Come along, Joffre, you stand here," said His Majesty, "and you there,"
+he said laughingly to General Foch. Sir Douglas Haig then came out and
+stood at the end of the line.
+
+For fully a minute they stood there, making a scene, the like of which I
+had never dreamed.
+
+King, and President, and Generals, who held in their hands the destiny
+of the world. I continued turning, until His Majesty, thinking I had
+enough, withdrew, laughing and chatting by the camera, followed by
+General Joffre, Sir Douglas Haig, and General Foch.
+
+By this time my spool had run out, so quickly changing I got round to
+the front of the house to film the royal party leaving.
+
+After they had all gone, I heard that Mr. Lloyd George was on his way up
+from Paris. How late he was, one officer was saying: "We expected him
+before this." Hearing that I decided to wait. About half an hour later,
+up he came in a great hurry, and I just managed to film him as he left
+his car and entered the building.
+
+To-day was Sunday. His Majesty attended Divine Service with some of the
+troops stationed near by, in a small country church perched high up on
+the hill-side. Quiet and contentment pervaded everything; not even the
+sound of a gun was heard.
+
+A visit to His Majesty, King Albert of Belgium, was the next item on the
+programme.
+
+The King and Prince of Wales and their suite entered their respective
+cars and, amidst the cheers of the civilian populace, we left the
+village on the hill. The red and gold of the little Royal Standard on
+the King's car glittered bright in the morning sun.
+
+Away we went. How my old "bus" did go; every ounce was being obtained
+from it; she fairly rocked and roared on the tails of the high-power
+machines ahead. I knew the road only too well; many a time in the early
+part of the war had I traversed it, and passed through these self-same
+gates.
+
+On we tore to where, in an unostentatious little villa, lived the King
+and Queen of the Belgians.
+
+By the time I arrived King George had alighted, and the Belgian Guard of
+Honour was playing the national hymn. I hurried through the villa gates,
+ignoring the guards stationed there who tried to hinder me. I wanted to
+film the meeting. But I was too late, for by the time I had my machine
+on the stand the two Kings had passed along the line of troops, crossed
+the sand-dunes and entered the villa. I had unfortunately missed the
+meeting by a few minutes, but I vowed I wouldn't move far away from them
+during the afternoon. I heard that after lunch King George, assisted by
+Prince Alexander of Teck, was going to award decorations and medals to
+Belgian officers, and during the afternoon I obtained many good scenes.
+The Queen was there, and with her the two Princes and little Princess
+Josephine. They were all most interested in the proceedings.
+
+I filmed the King visiting a 6-inch Howitzer Battery. I noticed
+specially how keen he was in enquiring about every little detail. Not a
+single thing seemed to miss his eye, from the close examination of the
+gun's breech, to inspecting the dug-outs of the men. He then left, and
+knowing he was going to inspect the Canadians I hurried off in order to
+get there ahead.
+
+When I arrived the Canadian Generals and staff were there waiting. Here
+I met many old friends of the St. Eloi battle and, curiously enough, it
+was at this very spot that I filmed the scene of the Northumberland
+Fusiliers, or Fighting Fifth, returning from battle, fagged out, but
+happy.
+
+General Burstall was there, and as soon as he saw me he came up and
+said:
+
+"Hullo, Malins, you here? Why I thought you would have been killed long
+ago."
+
+"No, sir," I said, "I don't think I am much of a corpse, though really
+Brother Fritz has tried very hard to send me West."
+
+"You must have a charmed life," he said. "Have you come to film our
+show?"
+
+"Yes," I replied. "The King will be along shortly. Ah! here he comes
+now."
+
+And down the road, stretching away in the distance, a line of cars came
+tearing along in our direction. Everybody came to attention. I got ready
+my camera. The King drew up, and from that moment, until he passed
+through the camp, lined with thousands of cheering Canadians, I filmed
+his every movement.
+
+[Illustration: HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS, TAKING A SNAP OF
+ME AT WORK WHILE FILMING THE KING]
+
+[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF WALES SPEAKING WITH BELGIAN OFFICERS AT LA
+PANNE, BELGIUM]
+
+The five days' continuous rush and tear was beginning to tell on me. I
+was feeling fagged out. But to-morrow His Majesty was sailing again
+for England. That night, through a member of the Headquarter Staff, I
+enquired of Colonel Wigram if it was at all possible for me to accompany
+the King on his boat across the Channel. It would make a most excellent
+finish to my film, I pleaded, and it would show the people at home and
+neutrals that the British Navy still held the seas secure, and that our
+King could go on the seas where and when he liked, and to film His
+Majesty on board, among his naval officers, what a splendid record to
+hand down to posterity.
+
+Colonel Wigram immediately saw the possibilities of such a finish, and
+agreed to allow me to accompany them.
+
+Very jubilant, I thanked him and promised to be at the boat by midday.
+
+In my hurry and anxiety to obtain permission I had entirely forgotten to
+enquire at which port the boat was sailing from--Calais or Boulogne. I
+rushed back to find Colonel Wigram, but unluckily he had gone. I
+enquired of the Intelligence officers present, but they did not know.
+
+I therefore decided that the only thing to do was to start off early in
+the morning and go to Boulogne, and then on to Calais, if the boat was
+leaving from there.
+
+Early next morning, with my kit, I rushed away to Boulogne, but on my
+arrival I found out that the King was not leaving from there, but from
+Calais. Off to Calais I went. How the time was going. Ill luck seemed to
+dog me on the journey, for with a loud noise the back tyre burst. To
+take it off and replace it with a new one was done in record time. Then
+on again. How the old "bus" seemed to limp along.
+
+"How many miles is she doing?" I asked the chauffeur.
+
+"Nearly fifty to the hour, sir, can't get another ounce out of her. I
+shouldn't be surprised if the engine fell out."
+
+"Never mind, let her have it," I yelled.
+
+Down the hills she rocked and swayed like a drunken thing. If there had
+happened to be anything in the way--well, I don't know what would have
+happened; but there would have been "some" mess! Anyway, nothing did
+happen, and I arrived at the dock in due course. No, the boat had not
+gone, but by the appearance of every one there, it was just on the point
+of moving off. To get on to the quay I had to pass over a swing bridge;
+a barrier was across it, and soldiers on duty were posted in order to
+send all cars round, some distance down, over the next bridge. Knowing
+that if I went there I should be too late, I yelled out to the man to
+allow me to pass.
+
+"No, sir," he said. "You must go the other way."
+
+Well, what I said I don't know, but I certainly swore, and this
+evidently impressed the fellow so much that he removed the barrier and
+allowed me to pass. I literally tumbled out of the old "bus," and
+shouting to L---- to bring along my tripod, I rushed to where the boat
+was lying against the quay.
+
+All the French, British, and Belgian officials were lined up, and the
+King was shaking hands as a parting adieu. Whether it was right or not I
+did not stop to think. I swept by and rushed up the gangway as the King
+turned with a final salute.
+
+So close a shave was it that I barely had time to screw my camera on the
+stand ere the Prince of Wales saluted the King and went ashore. The
+gangway was drawn away and, amid salutes from the officers and allied
+representatives, the boat left the quay. I had filmed it all. Not an
+incident had passed me.
+
+The King with the Admiral in charge of the ship, entered the cabin, and
+only then did I have a moment's respite to realise what a narrow squeak
+I had had.
+
+We were just leaving the harbour. The sea looked very choppy, and just
+ahead were seven torpedo boats waiting to escort us across.
+
+I went up on to the top deck, and obtained some very interesting scenes
+of these boats taking up their positions around. Then the King came up
+and mounted the bridge. How happy he looked! A King in every sense of
+the word. Who, if they could see him now, could ever have any doubts as
+to the issue of the war? I filmed him as he stood on the bridge. In
+mid-channel the sea was getting rather rough, and to keep my feet, and
+at the same time prevent the camera from being bowled overboard, was
+rather a task, and this compelled me at times to call in the help of
+some blue-jackets standing near by.
+
+At last the white cliffs of old England hove in sight, and to make my
+film-story complete I filmed the cliffs, with Dover Castle perched high
+above like the grim watch-dog it is.
+
+And then, as the boat drew into the harbour, I got near the gangway in
+order to land first and film His Majesty as he came ashore. I managed to
+do this, and entering the royal special (by which I was permitted to
+travel) I reached Victoria in due course with what, in my humble
+judgment, was one of the finest kinematograph records that could
+possibly be obtained of an altogether memorable and historic journey.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE HUSH! HUSH!--A WEIRD AND FEARFUL CREATURE
+
+     Something in the Wind--An Urgent Message to Report at
+     Headquarters--And What Came Of It--I Hear for the First Time
+     of the "Hush! Hush!"--And Try to Discover What It Is--A
+     Wonderful Night Scene--Dawn Breaks and Reveals a Marvellous
+     Monster--What Is It?
+
+
+I had been busy in London preparing the film of the King's visit to his
+troops in France, when I received an urgent message to report
+immediately at General Headquarters--most important. I reported to
+Captain ----.
+
+"Can you get away in the morning, Malins? The boat train leaves early."
+
+"If there is something doing I wouldn't miss it for worlds!" I replied.
+
+"It's quite evident there is," he said, "or they wouldn't want you so
+urgently."
+
+"I've only got to get my supply of film stock," I said; "I'll manage it
+during the night somehow, and meet you at Charing Cross in the morning."
+
+No, I certainly was not going to miss a fight, for undoubtedly another
+offensive was about to take place.
+
+That night I managed to get sufficient film stock together. In the
+morning we proceeded to France. The following morning at General
+Headquarters I got the news. Reporting to Colonel ----, he told me of
+the coming attack. "Do you want to get it?" he said.
+
+[Illustration: THE FIRST "TANK" THAT WENT INTO ACTION, H.M.L.S.
+"DAPHNE." SEPT. 15, 1916]
+
+"Yes, sir, I do; and from the first line if possible. I want to
+improve on the Battle of the Somme film. What time does it come off?"
+
+"I don't know; but if you will call on--mentioning a captain at the
+Headquarters of one of the corps--he will be able to put you right on
+the section of the attack." With that information I left, and packing my
+apparatus left for Headquarters. The captain was there.
+
+"You are the 'movie' man, eh? Come in. Now tell me what you want."
+
+"Where is the attack taking place, and at what time?" I asked.
+
+"Look here," he said, unfolding a map, "this is our objective," pointing
+to a certain place. "We are going to get up to the yellow line, and I
+suggest that you go to ---- Brigade Headquarters. They are in a wood
+just below ---- Redoubt. I will ring up the General and tell him you are
+coming. He will give you all the information and assistance you require.
+They know the ground more intimately than we do back here. You are
+prepared to stay up there, of course?"
+
+"Of course," I said. "I always carry my blanket with me."
+
+"Well it comes off on the fifteenth, rather early in the morning. The
+General will give you zero hour."
+
+"Do you know the exact time?" I said. "Do you think it will be too early
+for me--so far as the light is concerned?" I added hurriedly, with a
+laugh.
+
+"Well no. I think you will just manage it," he said.
+
+Thanking him I hurried off to Brigade Headquarters. They were in an old
+German dug-out of huge dimensions. There were three distinct floors or
+rather corridors, one above the other. The galleries wound in and around
+the hill-side, and the bottom one must have been at the depth of eighty
+feet. Scottish troops were in the trenches, which were being held as
+support lines. I entered the dug-out, and around a long table was seated
+the General and his staff.
+
+"General ----, sir?" I enquired.
+
+"Yes," he said; "come in, will you? You are 'Movies,' aren't you? They
+have just rung me up. Have some lunch and tell me what you want."
+
+During lunch I explained my mission.
+
+"Well," he said, "I am glad you are giving us a show. There is no need
+to tell you what the Scottish battalion have accomplished."
+
+Lunch finished, the General with the Brigadier-Major went into details
+as to the best position from which I could see the show.
+
+"I want, if possible, to get an unobstructed view of the Brigade front."
+
+"'---- Trench,' is the place," he said. "What do you say? you know it."
+
+"I think, sir, that's as good as anywhere, but it's strafed rather
+badly."
+
+"How far is that from the Bosche front line?"
+
+We measured it on the map. It was eight hundred yards.
+
+"Too far off; I must get much closer," I said. "Isn't there a place in
+our front trench?"
+
+"There's a machine-gun position in a sap head," said an officer. "I am
+sure that would suit you, but you'll get strafed. Bosche cannot fail to
+see you."
+
+"What time is zero hour?" I asked the General.
+
+"At 6.20," he said.
+
+Great Scott, I thought, 6.20 summer time--real time 5.20, and in
+September only one chance in a million that the sky would be clear
+enough to get an exposure. Certainly if the mornings were anything like
+they had been during the last week it would be an absolute
+impossibility.
+
+[Illustration: THE BATTLEFIELD OF "GINCHY." I WAS HURLED INTO THE TRENCH
+IN THE FOREGROUND BY THE BURSTING OF A GERMAN SHELL, AND AWOKE MANY
+HOURS LATER WITH SHELL SHOCK AND REALISED I HAD BEEN LYING BESIDE A DEAD
+GERMAN ALL NIGHT. HE HAD BEEN THERE I SHOULD SAY ABOUT THREE WEEKS]
+
+[Illustration: RESERVES WATCHING THE ATTACK AT MARTINPUICH. SEPT. 15TH,
+1916]
+
+Anyway there was just a chance, and I decided to take it.
+
+Therefore I suggested that I should go up very early in the morning to
+our front line, getting there about four o'clock. There would just be
+sufficient light for me to have a look round, that is if Brother Fritz
+wasn't too inquisitive. I could then fix up the camera and wait.
+
+"What time does the barrage start?" I asked.
+
+"Ten minutes to zero. It's going to be very intense, I can tell you
+that."
+
+"Well, sir, there is one special point I would like you to clear up for
+me if possible. What the deuce is the 'Hush! Hush!'?"
+
+At that question everyone in the place laughed. "Hush! hush! not so
+loud," one said, with mock gravity. "You mean the Tanks."
+
+"I am just as wise as ever. Anyway, whether they are called the 'Hush
+Hushers' or 'Tanks,' what the dickens are they? Everyone has been asking
+me if I have seen the 'Hush! hush!' until I have felt compelled to
+advise them to take more water with it in future. At first I thought
+they were suffering from a unique form of shell-shock."
+
+"I haven't seen them," he said. "All I know is that we have two of them
+going over with our boys. This is their line; they will make straight
+for the left-hand corner of the village, and cross the trenches on your
+left about two hundred yards from the point suggested. They are a sort
+of armoured car arrangement and shells literally glance off them. They
+will cross trenches, no matter how wide, crawl in and out shell-holes,
+and through barbed wire, push down trees and...."
+
+I turned to the General. "I certainly suggest, sir, that ---- should go
+to hospital; the war is getting on his nerves. He will tell me next that
+they can fly as well."
+
+The General laughed. But quite seriously he told me it was all true.
+
+"Then I hope I shall be able to get a good film of them," I said,
+"especially as this will be the first time they have been used."
+
+Finally it was agreed that ----, who was going up to the front line to
+observe for the division, should act as my guide, and take me up in the
+morning at three o'clock.
+
+"We shall have to start about that time," he said; "it will be possible
+to go there for quite a good distance over the top of the ridge. It will
+save trudging through '---- Trench,' and there's sure to be a lot of
+troops packed in it. In any case it will take us about three-quarters of
+an hour."
+
+"And I want at least an hour to look round and find a suitable spot; so
+three o'clock will suit me very well."
+
+"Hullo!" I said, as I heard the crack of a 5.9 crump burst just outside
+the dug-out. "Can't Bosche let you alone here?"
+
+"No," he said, "he strafes us sometimes. He put quite a lot in here the
+other day, and one went clean through our cook-house, but no damage was
+done, beyond spoiling our lunch. If he anticipates our show in the
+morning, he will be sure to plaster us."
+
+At night I watched the effect of the flashes from our guns. They were
+rattling off at quite a good pace. What a gorgeous night! Dotted all
+round this skeleton of what was once a wood, but now merely a few sticks
+of charred tree trunks, and in and out as far as the eye could see, were
+scores of tiny fires. The flames danced up and down like elves, and
+crowded round the fires were groups of our boys, laughing and chatting
+as if there was no such thing as war. Now and then the flash of the big
+howitzers momentarily lighted up the whole landscape. What a scene!
+
+Having seen as much of the war as I have done, and having been
+practically through the campaign from the very outset, it may surprise
+you that I had not used myself to such sights. Possibly I ought to have
+done, but the fact remains that I cannot. These night scenes always
+appeal to me. Every scene is so different, and looking at everything
+from the pictorial point of view I wished with all my heart I could have
+filmed such a wonderful scene. But even had I been able to do so I could
+not have reproduced the atmosphere, the sound of the guns, the burst of
+the shells, the glare of the star-shells, the laughter of the men--and
+some of them were swearing. The impenetrable blackness was accentuated
+by the dancing flames from the fires. It was a sight to dream about; and
+almost involuntarily reminded one of a scene from the _Arabian Nights_.
+
+It was now midnight. My guide told me to follow him. "We'll go down
+below and find a place in which to snatch a little sleep." Down a long
+flight of stairs we went, along corridors, then down another flight and
+round more corridors. The passages seemed endless, until at last we came
+to a halt beside the bunk-like beds fastened on the wall.
+
+"What an extraordinary place; how deep is it?"
+
+"About sixty feet," said my companion. "The place is like a rabbit
+warren."
+
+"Well, I'm glad you are with me, for I should never find my way out
+alone." And I rolled my blanket round me and went to sleep.
+
+I was awakened by my guide. "Come on," he said; "time we moved off."
+
+I quickly got out of my blanket. Jove, how cold it was! My teeth
+chattered like castanets.
+
+"It's like an ice-house down here; let's go out and see if any of the
+men have any fire left. Might be able to have a little hot tea before we
+go. I have some biscuits and odds and ends in my satchel."
+
+"Will you let me have a man to help me with my tripod?"
+
+"Certainly, as a matter of fact I arranged for one last night."
+
+Up we went. Along the corridors men were lying about in their blankets,
+fast asleep. Holding a piece of guttering candle in my hand, and shaking
+like a leaf with cold, I stepped between the sleeping men; but it was
+anything but an easy task.
+
+During the journey I missed my companion. By a lucky accident I managed
+to find an exit, but it was nowhere near the one I entered last night.
+Ah, here's a fire, and quickly getting the water on the boil, made some
+tea; then shouldering the camera, and ---- helping me, by taking one of
+the cases, we started off.
+
+It was still very dark, but the sky was quite free from clouds. If only
+it would keep like that I might just get an exposure.
+
+We proceeded as fast as the innumerable shell-holes and old barbed wire
+would allow, and made straight for the ruins of ----, then crossing the
+road we followed the communication trenches along the top.
+
+It was still pitch dark. I looked at my watch. It was 4.30.
+
+The trenches were full of life. Men were pouring in to take up their
+positions. Bosche put a few shells over near by, but fortunately nobody
+was touched. He was evidently nervous about something, for on several
+occasions he sent up star-shells, in batches of six, which lighted up
+the whole ridge like day, and until they were down again I stood stock
+still.
+
+[Illustration: OVER THE TOP AT MARTINPUICH, SEPT. 15, 1916. I
+PHOTOGRAPHED THIS SCENE AT 5.20 IN THE MORNING]
+
+[Illustration: TWO MINUTES TO ZERO HOUR AT MARTINPUICH, SEPT. 15, 1916,
+THEN "OVER THE TOP"]
+
+Day was breaking in the east. A low-lying mist hung over the village.
+I hoped it would not affect my taking.
+
+We were now in the trenches, and daylight was gradually beginning to
+appear.
+
+"It's got to light up a lot more if I'm going to be able to film," I
+said. "But thank heaven the sky is cloudless. That's the one chance."
+
+All at once it seemed as though the sky lightened. Actinic conditions
+improved considerably, and I was just congratulating myself on my good
+fortune when----
+
+"What's that, sir?" said the man at my side, who had been peering
+through a periscope.
+
+Gingerly I raised myself above the parapet and peered in the direction
+in which his finger pointed.
+
+For a moment I could discern nothing. Then, gradually out of the early
+morning mist a huge, dark, shapeless object evolved. It was apparently
+about three hundred yards away. It moved, and judging by the subdued hum
+and a slight smoke which it emitted--like the breath of an animal--it
+lived!
+
+I had never seen anything like it before. What was it?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE JUGGERNAUT CAR OF BATTLE
+
+     A Weird-looking Object Makes Its First Appearance Upon the
+     Battlefield--And Surprises Us Almost as Much as It Surprised
+     Fritz--A Death-dealing Monster that Did the Most Marvellous
+     Things--And Left the Ground Strewn with Corpses--Realism of
+     the Tank Pictures.
+
+
+What in the world was it?
+
+As we stood there peering at the thing, we forgot for the moment that
+our heads were well above the parapet. We were too fascinated by the
+movements of the weird-looking object to bother about such a trifle as
+that! And the Bosche trenches were only two hundred yards away! For the
+life of me I could not take my eyes off it. The thing--I really don't
+know how else to describe it--ambled forward, with slow, jerky,
+uncertain movements. The sight of it was weird enough in all conscience.
+At one moment its nose disappeared, then with a slide and an upward
+glide it climbed to the other side of a deep shell crater which lay in
+its path. I stood amazed and watched its antics. I forgot all about my
+camera, and my desire to obtain a picture of this weird and terrifying
+engine of destruction. Like everyone else, its unexpected appearance on
+the scene first surprised and then held me under its strange influence.
+
+So that was the "Hush! hush!"--the Juggernaut Car of Battle. One of the
+Tanks, the secret of whose appearance, and indeed of whose very
+existence, had been guarded more carefully than all the treasures of the
+Indies.
+
+Truly Bosche was in for a big surprise.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+All this time I had scarce taken my eyes off the ugly-looking monster.
+It waddled, it ambled, it jolted, it rolled, it--well it did everything
+in turn and nothing long--or wrong. And most remarkable of all, this
+weird-looking creature with a metal hide performed tricks which almost
+made one doubt the evidence of one's senses. Big, and ugly, and awkward
+as it was, clumsy as its movements appeared to be, the thing seemed
+imbued with life, and possessed of the most uncanny sort of intelligence
+and understanding. It came to a crater. Down went its nose; a slight
+dip, and a clinging, crawling motion, and it came up merrily on the
+other side. And all the time as it slowly advanced, it breathed and
+belched forth tongues of flame; its nostrils seemed to breathe death
+and destruction, and the Huns, terrified by its appearance, were mown
+down like corn falling to the reaper's sickle.
+
+Presently it stopped. The humming ceased. The spell was broken. We
+looked at one another, and then we laughed. How we laughed! Officers and
+men were doubled up with mirth as they watched the acrobatic antics of
+this mechanical marvel--this Wellsian wonder.
+
+Now the metal monster was on the move again. It was advancing on the
+German position. The Bosche machine-guns got busy and poured a very hail
+of shells and bullets upon the oncoming death-dealer. It made no
+difference. The Tank pursued its way, unperturbed by all the racket of
+the exploding metal on its sides. Shells seemed to glide off it quite
+harmlessly. Bullets had no effect upon this extraordinary apparition.
+
+Fritz must have thought the devil himself had broken loose from hell and
+was advancing to devour him. The Huns scurried to their funk-holes and
+craters, their hiding-places, and their trenches like so many rabbits.
+Still the Tank advanced, pausing now and then, astride a particularly
+wide crater, and sweeping the surrounding pit-scarred ground with its
+machine-guns. Up popped a German head. Zip went a bullet; and down went
+the head for the last time. How many Germans were crushed in their holes
+in that first advance goodness only knows.
+
+Presently the monster stopped again. There was a pause. Nothing
+happened. A minute--two minutes went by. Still nothing happened. The
+Germans began to regain their courage. Heads popped up all over the
+place. Enemy troops began to edge nearer and nearer to it, in spite of
+the hail of bullets from our trenches. Then they began to swarm round
+the strange creature the like of which they had never seen before. To
+do them justice, these Germans showed exceptional courage in the face of
+unknown and altogether exceptional danger.
+
+Mr. Tank meanwhile was not a bit disconcerted by their attentions, and
+continued to breathe forth flames of fire, which did great havoc in the
+ranks of the sightseers. But once their curiosity was satisfied the Huns
+did their level best to damage the brute. They fired at it; they
+bombarded it; they shelled it; they clambered over it. All to no
+purpose. Presently that ominous humming, snorting sound reached us
+again, and the monster began to move away. Where it had stood the ground
+was strewn with the dead bodies of German soldiers, and I was told
+afterwards that over three hundred corpses were counted to the credit of
+the first Tank that ever crossed "No Man's Land."
+
+Meanwhile our boys had been busy. Following in the wake of the Tank,
+they had cleaned up quite a lot of ground, and all the time, with my
+camera on them, I had secured a series of fine pictures.
+
+I don't think I ever laughed so heartily at anything as I did on the
+first day that I saw the Tanks in action, and officers and men all agree
+that they never saw a funnier sight in all their lives. But whilst they
+amused us they put the fear of the devil into Fritz, and whole parties
+of men ran forward, hands up, waving their handkerchiefs, and shouting
+"Kamerad," and gave themselves up as willing prisoners in our hands.
+
+The Tanks have been one of the big surprises and big successes of the
+war.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+WHERE THE VILLAGE OF GUILLEMONT WAS
+
+     An Awful Specimen of War Devastation--Preparing for an
+     Advance--Giving the Bosche "Jumps"--Breakfast Under Fire--My
+     Camera Fails Me Just Before the Opening of the Attack--But I
+     Manage to Set it Right and Get Some Fine Pictures--Our Guns
+     "Talk" Like the Crack of a Thousand Thunders--A Wonderful
+     Doctor.
+
+
+After the battle of Martinpuich the nature of my work brought me in
+contact with many stirring incidents, which, if put on record here,
+would be merely repeating to a certain degree many of my previous
+experiences, therefore I do not intend to bore my readers by doing so.
+
+From one section of our front to the other I was kept continually on the
+move. On the 25th September an attack was timed for twelve o'clock noon
+for Morval and Lesboeufs, and the Guards, London Scottish, Norfolks,
+Suffolks and many other regiments were to take part. The day before I
+visited our front in that section to obtain preliminary scenes. The
+London Scottish were preparing to leave to take up their battle
+positions. From one front to the other I hurried, obtaining scenes of
+the other regiments on the way up. I stayed during the night with an
+officer of an 18-pounder battling on the left of Guillemont. The Bosche
+was "strafing" the place pretty badly. I will not say I slept
+comfortably, for shells came crashing over much too closely to do so; in
+fact, I was up all night.
+
+[Illustration: THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE GOING OVER THE TOP AT MARTINPUICH.
+SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1916]
+
+On several occasions I really thought my last minute had come. The noise
+was deafening, the glare and flash although beautiful was sickening.
+Our guns were pouring out a withering fire, and the ground quivered and
+shook, threatening to tumble the temporary shelter about my ears. One
+shell, which came very near, burst and the concussion slightly blew in
+the side of the shelter; it also seemed to momentarily stun me; I
+crouched down as close to earth as possible. I will admit that I felt a
+bit "windy," my body was shaking as if with ague; a horrible buzzing
+sensation was in my head, dizziness was coming over me. I dare not lose
+control of myself, I thought; with an effort I staggered up and out of
+the shelter, clutching my head as the pain was terrible. I dropped down
+into an old German trench and sat in the bottom. In a few minutes my
+head pains eased down slightly, but my nerves were still shaky. At that
+moment one of the battery officers came along.
+
+"Hullo! you got clear then?" he said.
+
+"Yes, only just, by the appearance of things."
+
+"I saw it drop near by where we left you and felt quite certain it had
+done you in. Feel all right?"
+
+"Yes," I said, "with the exception of a thick head. I will get my camera
+stuff down here. Lend me your torch, will you?"
+
+I took it out and found my way back to the shelter.
+
+Fritz was now jumping over shrapnel, so, believe me, I did not hang
+about on my journey. Our guns continued their thundering and fire was
+literally pouring from their mouths. I got down in the trench, as close
+as possible, sat on my camera-case and so passed the remainder of the
+night, thinking--well, many things.
+
+Towards dawn the firing gradually died down until, comparing it with the
+night, it was quite peaceful. I got out of my trench and sat up on the
+parapet. My head was still throbbing from the concussion of the night,
+and having no sleep made me feel in rather a rotten state.
+
+"How's the head, old chap?" asked an officer I knew who came up to me at
+that moment.
+
+"Better," I replied, "but needs improvement."
+
+"We are just making some tea; come and join us."
+
+"Jove, rather! It may stop this jumping."
+
+A slight mist was hanging over the shell-pocked ground, it was gradually
+rising, as I had seen it on previous occasions, and the horrible stench
+from the putrifying dead seemed to rise with it. As far as the eye could
+see in every direction the ground had been churned up by the fearful
+shell-fire. The shell-holes met each other like the holes in a sponge.
+Not a blade of grass or green stuff existed; the place which once marked
+a wood was now a space with a twisted, tangled mass of barbed wire and,
+here and there, short wooden stumps, slashed, split, and torn into
+shreds--the remains of once beautiful trees.
+
+The village of Guillemont literally does not exist, in fact, it is _an
+absolute impossibility to tell where the fields ended and the village
+began_. It is one of the most awful specimens of the devastating track
+of war that exists on the Western Front. The village had been turned by
+the Bosche into a veritable fortress; trenches and strong points,
+bristling with machine-guns, commanded every point which gave vantage to
+the enemy. But, after much bloody fighting, our troops stormed and
+captured the place and the German losses must have been appalling. Many
+had been buried, but the work of consolidating the ground won and
+pressing on the attack does not permit our men thoroughly to cleanse the
+square miles of ground and bury the bodies and fragments that cover it.
+
+Unknowingly, when I had hurried for cover in the trench, the night
+before I had been within twelve feet of a party of five dead Bosches,
+and the atmosphere in the early morning was more than I could tolerate,
+so picking up my camera, etc., I took up fresh quarters.
+
+A snorting, crunching sound struck my ears and looking on my left I
+observed a Tank ambling forward to take up its position for the coming
+show. It was emitting clouds of bluish-grey smoke from its exhaust which
+gave it a rather ghostly appearance in the mist.... Now and again as it
+came to a very deep shell-hole it stopped to poise itself on the rim and
+then gently tipped its nose downwards, disappearing, to rise like a huge
+toad on the other side, and then continue its journey.
+
+More troops were coming up in platoon to take up their position in
+supports, ammunition carriers were taking up fresh supplies of bombs,
+Red Cross men were making their way forward--not a sound was to be heard
+from them and the whole place was now a line of silent movement. All the
+main work and preparation was to finish before the last shadow of night
+had been chased away by the light of the rising sun, before the setting
+of which many of the boys would lay down their lives that justice and
+civilisation might triumph over the false doctrine of blood and iron and
+barbarism--_German Kultur_.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Come along, Malins, your cup of tea is ready," shouted an officer.
+
+I left my camera under cover of a fallen tree trunk and crossed to a
+covered shell-hole which answered to the name of dug-out. Anyway, apart
+from shrapnel or a direct hit from an H.E., we were comparatively safe,
+being below ground level. Along the centre was a rough plank on two
+boxes and grouped either side were several other officers of the
+battery. We all of us soon forgot about the previous night's efforts of
+Fritz in a gorgeous repast of _bacon_, fried bread, and tea.
+
+Bosche was now fairly quiet; he was "strafing" the ridge in front with
+an occasional H.E.; some of our batteries on my right were still at it.
+It was now quite daylight; our aeroplanes were flitting across the sky,
+diving low to obtain better observation of the enemy, and incidentally
+getting "strafed" by his anti-aircraft guns which did not interest them
+in the least.
+
+"What time is zero-hour?" I asked.
+
+"Twelve-thirty," was the reply. "We start our intense at twelve o'clock,
+every gun we have in this section is going to fairly give Bosche jumps;
+in fact he will have to find a 'better 'ole.'"
+
+This remark caused considerable laughter.
+
+"I am going to get my scenes from 'Ginchy Telegraph'; it seems a very
+likely spot by the map. Shall I get there about eleven o'clock and fix
+up?"
+
+"Good," said one. "I will lend you an orderly to act as guide if it's
+any benefit to you."
+
+Thanking him, I gladly accepted the offer.
+
+Breakfast over, I collected my apparatus and stood to watch the sections
+which Fritz "strafed" the most. By practising this method it has made it
+possible for me to do my work in comfort on previous occasions. I
+noticed there were one or two points which he "strafed" methodically,
+therefore I judged it safe to make direct for my point over the top,
+then enter a communication trench just on this side of the ridge.
+
+By this time my guide came up, so sharing my apparatus, we started off.
+The distance to Ginchy Telegraph was about one kilometre. Shrapnel was
+playing upon both roads leading from Guillemont, H.E. was bursting on my
+right in Lueze Wood, or "Lousy Wood," as it is called here, also in
+Delville Wood on my left. After a very tiring tramp over shell-holes
+and rubble I eventually reached my post. From this point I could see
+practically the whole of our section between Lesboeufs and Morval, but I
+immediately found out to my annoyance that the slight breeze would bring
+all the smoke back towards our lines. The resulting effect would not be
+serious enough to in any way hinder our operations, but photographically
+it was disastrous, and even if photographed the effect would not be
+impressive in the slightest degree, merely a wall of smoke which to the
+public would appear unintelligible. But in that seemingly useless cloud
+were falling thousands of shells of all calibres, tearing the earth into
+dust, the German line into fragments, forming a living and death-dealing
+curtain of blazing steel behind which our men were advancing.
+
+But adverse wind conditions were not all, for when I had taken the
+camera out of its case I found that by some means or other the lens
+mounts had received such a knock as to throw it out of alignment. How it
+happened I cannot think, for the case was intact, the only possible
+explanation being that I must have dropped it the night before when I
+took shelter in the trench and in my dazed condition did not remember
+doing so.
+
+It was quite impossible to repair it even temporarily in time to obtain
+the opening attack, so I hurried away and took shelter behind some ruins
+on the south-west side of the village. It was now close on twelve; our
+intense bombardment would shortly begin, and I worked feverishly at the
+repair to the camera, perspiring at every pore.
+
+Suddenly, like the terrific crack of a thousand thunders, our fire on
+the German position began. Bursting from the mouths of hundreds of
+British guns it came, the most astonishing, astounding, brain-splitting
+roar that I had ever heard. In a few moments it reached a crescendo;
+everyone near by was transfixed with awe. Hundreds of shells went
+shrieking overhead. The air was literally alive with blazing metal.
+
+Imagine, if you can, being in the midst of five hundred drums. At a
+given moment every drummer beats his drum with ever-increasing force
+without a fraction of a moment's respite. Add to this the most
+soul-splitting crash you have ever heard and the sound as of a gale of
+wind shrieking through the telegraph wires. It will give you a little
+idea of what it was like under this bombardment. It seemed to numb one's
+very brain. What it must have been like in the German position is beyond
+me to conceive. We were certainly giving Fritz a jump.
+
+At last my camera was finished. Looking in the direction of Bouleaux
+Wood I could see our men still pouring forward over the open. I raced
+towards them as hard as possible and filmed them going across first one
+section then the other; Bosche shells were falling near them, knocking a
+few out but missing most, first one line then the other.
+
+Bosche was dropping large "coal boxes" all along our supports. Two Tanks
+coming up provided me with several interesting scenes as Fritz was
+pestering them with his attentions but without injury. I obtained a
+scene of two heavy "crumps" bursting just behind one of them, but the
+old Tank still snorted on its way, the infantry advancing close behind
+in extended formation.
+
+Throughout the remainder of the day I was kept well on the move, filming
+the many-varying scenes of battle, either whilst they were in progress
+or immediately afterwards. Prisoners came pouring in from all
+directions, first a batch of two hundred and then odd stragglers, then
+further batches. The Guards seemed to have had a rather good bag, as I
+noticed that most of the Bosches were brought in under care of
+guardsmen. One Tommy came in the proud possessor of six.
+
+From the immediate fighting ground I made my way towards Trones Wood,
+upon the outskirts of which the Guards had their dressing station. Many
+of our men were there, lying about in all directions on stretchers,
+waiting to be taken away to the Casualty Clearing Station. I filmed many
+scenes here of our wonderful men suffering their physical torments like
+the heroes they were. One, in particular, sitting on a box making a
+cigarette, had a broad smile on his face, though the _whole of his elbow
+was shot completely away_. Another came in, helped along by two other
+men; he was a raving lunatic, his eyes ghastly and horrible to look
+upon, and he was foaming at the mouth, and gibbering wildly.
+
+"Shell-shock," said the doctor, close beside me; "bad case too, poor
+chap! Here, put him into this ambulance; three men had better go with
+him to look after him."
+
+"Do you get many cases like that?" I asked the doctor.
+
+"Yes," he said, "quite a few, but not all so bad as that."
+
+Wounded were still pouring in, both ours and German. The Bosche was
+shelling the ground only a short distance away and I managed to film
+several of our wounded men being dressed whilst shells were bursting in
+the near background.
+
+Another man was brought in on a stretcher. I looked closely at him when
+he was set on the ground. He had been knocked out by shell-fire. A piece
+of shrapnel was buried in his jaw, another large piece in his head, and,
+by the bloodstains on his tunic, about his body also.
+
+He was groaning pitiably. The doctor bending down had a look at him,
+then stood up.
+
+"It's no use," he said, "he's beyond human aid; he cannot last many
+minutes. Place him over there," he said to the stretcher-bearers. The
+men gently lifted the poor fellow up, and less than three minutes
+afterwards one came up to the doctor.
+
+"He's dead, sir."
+
+"Just tell the padre then, will you, and get his disc and name and have
+his belongings packed up and sent home."
+
+And so the day drifted on. The sun was blazing hot; every man there was
+working like a demon. Perspiring at every pore, each doctor was doing
+the work of four; the padre was here, there and everywhere, giving the
+wounded tea and coffee, and cheering them up by word and deed.
+
+Towards evening there came a lull in the attack. It had been a great
+success; all our objectives had been gained; the wounded drifted in in
+lessening numbers.
+
+An elderly doctor in his shirt sleeves had just finished binding up the
+stump of a man's leg, the lower part of which had been torn away by a
+piece of shell. He stood up, mopped his forehead, and, after bidding the
+carriers take the man away, he lay on the ground practically exhausted,
+dried blood still upon his hands and arms and scissors held loosely in
+his fingers; he closed his eyes to try and doze.
+
+"That doctor is a marvel," said an officer to me. "He snatches a few
+moments sleep between his cases. Now watch!"
+
+Another stretcher-party was coming in, and it was set down. An orderly
+went up to the doctor and lightly touched him on the shoulder.
+
+"Another case, sir," he said.
+
+The doctor opened his eyes and quickly rose to his feet.
+
+The wounded man's head was bound round with an old handkerchief, matted
+with blood which had dried hard. Warm disinfectant was quickly brought
+and the doctor proceeded to gently loosen the rough bandage from the
+head, revealing a nasty head wound, a gash about three inches long and
+very swollen.
+
+"What do you think of that?" he said, holding out something in his hand
+to me, "that's from this lad's head."
+
+I looked and saw that it was a piece of his shrapnel helmet about two
+inches square, it had been driven into the flesh on his head,
+fortunately without breaking the skull. The wound was quickly dressed
+and the doctor again lay down to snatch a few more moments' respite.
+
+"This will go on all night," said the padre, "and all day to-morrow.
+Have a cup of tea at my canteen, will you?"
+
+Having had nothing to eat or drink all day I accepted the invitation. On
+the opposite side of the wood was a small shack built of old lumber, and
+every man before he left by ambulance received a cup of tea or coffee
+and biscuits.
+
+"I find the boys greatly appreciate it," he said.
+
+I joined him in a cup of tea.
+
+"Don't you think it's a good idea?"
+
+"Excellent," I replied, "like heaven to a lost soul."
+
+"Look round here," he said, pointing away in the distance. "Did you ever
+see such a ghastly travesty of nature, the whole country-side swept
+clean of every green and living thing, beautiful woods and charming
+villages blown to the four winds of heaven, and _this_ might have been
+our own beautiful sunny downs, our own charming villages. The British
+public should go down on its knees every day of the week and thank God
+for their deliverance."
+
+The sun was now setting, and having obtained all the scenes I required,
+I decided to make my way back. We were still shelling the German lines
+very hard, and the Bosche was putting over a few of his H.E. and high
+shrapnel, but fortunately none came within a hundred yards of us.
+
+I bade adieu to the doctors and the padre.
+
+"I hope we shall see the films in town," they said. "It's a pity you
+can't introduce the sounds and general atmosphere of a battle like this.
+Good-bye, best of luck!" they shouted.
+
+I left them and made my way across to the battery to thank the Captain.
+When I arrived I met one of the subalterns.
+
+"Where's ----?" I asked.
+
+"I am afraid you won't see him," he replied.
+
+"Why?" half suspecting some bad news.
+
+"Well, he and four others were killed shortly after you left."
+
+I turned slowly away and walked off in the direction of Guillemont.
+
+A hundred yards further on I came upon a scene which afforded some
+relief to the tragedies of the day. A short bantam-like British Tommy
+was cursing and swearing volubly at a burly German sitting on the ground
+rubbing his head and groaning like a bull. Tommy, with a souvenir cigar
+in his mouth, was telling him in his best cockney English to get a move
+on.
+
+"What's the matter?" I said.
+
+"Well, sir, it's like this. This 'ere cove is my own prisoner and 'e's
+been giving me no end of trouble, tried to pinch my gun, sir, 'e did, so
+I 'it 'im on 'is head, but 'e ain't 'urt, sir, not a bit, are yer,
+Fritz? Come on." And Fritz, thinking discretion the better part of
+valour, got up, and Tommy strutted off with his big charge as happy as a
+peacock.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+FIGHTING IN A SEA OF MUD
+
+     Inspecting a Tank that was _Hors de Combat_--All that was
+     Left of Mouquet Farm--A German Underground Fortress--A Trip
+     in the Bowels of the Earth--A Weird and Wonderful
+     Experience.
+
+
+After our successful attack and capture of Lesboeufs and Morval on
+September 25th, 1916, beyond consolidating our gains there was
+comparatively little done in the way of big offensives until the capture
+of Mouquet Farm and Thiepval and the capture of Beaumont Hamel--that
+fortress of fortresses--on November 13th, and I devoted the interval to
+recording the ground won.
+
+One interesting incident occurred when I filmed Mouquet Farm situate
+between Pozieres and Thiepval. Looking at the Farm from the strategical
+point of view, I feel quite confident in saying that only British troops
+could have taken it. It was one of the most wonderful defensive points
+that could possibly be conceived, and chosen by men who made a special
+study of such positions. The whole place was thickly planted with
+machine-guns, so cunningly concealed that it was impossible to observe
+them until one was practically at the gun's mouth.
+
+To get here it was necessary to go down a long steep glacis, then up
+another to the farm. The Germans, with their network of underground
+passages and dug-outs, were able to concentrate at any threatened point
+with their machine-guns in such a manner that they would have our troops
+under a continual stream of lead for quite one thousand yards without a
+vestige of cover. The farm had been shelled by our artillery time after
+time, until the whole ground for miles round was one huge mass of
+shell-craters, but the Germans, in their dug-outs forty and fifty feet
+underground, could not be reached by shell-fire. I will not go into
+details of how the place was eventually taken by the Midlanders--it will
+remain an epic of the war.
+
+The weather was now breaking up. Cold winds and rain continually swept
+over the whole Somme district, invariably accompanied by thick mists. I
+wanted to obtain a film showing the fearful mud conditions, which we
+were working hard and fighting in and under. And such mud! You could not
+put the depth in inches. Nothing so ordinary; it was feet deep. I have
+known relief battalions take six hours to reach their allotted position
+in the front line, when, in the dry season, the same journey could be
+accomplished in an hour; and the energy expended in wading through such
+a morass can be imagined. Many times I have got stuck in the clayey
+slime well above my knees and have required the assistance of two, and
+sometimes three men to help me out. To turn oneself into a lump of mud,
+all one had to do was to walk down to the front line; you would
+undoubtedly be taken for a part of the parapet by the time you arrived.
+I asked a Tommy once what he thought of it.
+
+"Sir," he replied, "there ain't no blooming word to describe it!" And I
+think he was right.
+
+On one journey, when filming the carrying of munitions by mule-back--as
+that was the only method by which our advanced field-guns could be
+supplied--while they were being loaded at a dump near ---- Wood, the mud
+was well above the mules' knees, and, in another instance, it was
+actually touching their bellies. In such conditions our men were
+fighting and winning battles, and not once did I hear of a single
+instance where it affected the morale of the men. We cursed and swore
+about it; who wouldn't? It retarded our progress; we wallowed in it, we
+had to struggle through miles of it nearly up to our knees; we slept in
+it or tried to; we ate in it, it even got unavoidably mixed up with our
+food; and sometimes we drank it. And we tolerated it all, month after
+month. If it was bad for us, we knew it was far worse for the Bosche,
+for not only had he to live under these conditions, but he was subjected
+to our hellish bombardment continually without rest or respite.
+
+Thus it was I filmed Mouquet Farm and other scenes in the neighbourhood.
+I went to Pozieres and then struck across country. On my way I passed a
+Tank which, for the time being, was _hors de combat_. It naturally
+aroused my interest. I closely inspected it, both inside and out, and,
+while I stood regarding it, two whizz-bangs came over in quick
+succession, bursting about thirty feet away. The fact immediately
+occurred to me that the Tank was under observation by the Bosche and he,
+knowing the attraction it would have for enquiring natures, kept a gun
+continually trained upon it. I had just got behind the body of the thing
+when another shell dropped close by. I did not stop to judge the exact
+distance. I cursed the mud because it did not allow me to run fast
+enough, but really I ought to have blessed it. The fact that it was so
+muddy caused the shell to sink more deeply into the ground before
+exploding, its effective radius being also more confined.
+
+When I got clear of the Tank, the firing ceased. I mentally vowed that,
+for the future, temporarily disabled Tanks near the firing-line would
+not interest me, unless I was sure they were under good cover.
+
+I continued my journey to the farm, but kept well below the top of the
+ridge. At one section, to save my dying a sailor's death, duck-boards
+had been placed over the mud to facilitate easier travelling. It made me
+feel like going on for ever, after ploughing for hours through mud the
+consistency of treacle.
+
+Eventually I arrived on the high ground near Mouquet. Many of our
+field-gun batteries had taken up their position near by: they had turned
+old shell-holes into gun-pits--occasionally a burst of firing rang out,
+and Bosche was doing his level best to find them with his 5.9 crump.
+Here I managed to obtain several very interesting scenes.
+
+The farm, as a farm, did not exist; a mass of jumbled-up brickwork here
+and there suggested that once upon a time, say 100 B.C., it might have
+been. In due time I reached the place. A machine-gun company were in
+possession, and I found an officer, who offered to show me over the
+Bosche's underground fortress. I entered a dug-out entrance, the usual
+type, and switching on my electric torch, proceeded with uncertain steps
+down into the bowels of the earth. The steps were thick with mud and
+water; water also was dripping through all the crevices in the roof, and
+the offensive smell of dead bodies reached me.
+
+"Have you cleaned this place out?" I called to my friend in front.
+
+"Yes," he said. His voice sounded very hollow in this noisome, cavernous
+shaft. And it was cold--heavens how cold! Ugh!
+
+"There was one gallery section; where it leads to we cannot find out,
+but it was blown in by us and evidently quite a few Bosches with it;
+anyway, we are not going to disturb it. There is a possibility of the
+whole gallery collapsing about our ears."
+
+"We are at the bottom now; be careful, turn sharp to the left."
+
+"Why this place must be at least forty feet deep."
+
+"Yes, about that. This gallery runs along to more exits and a veritable
+rabbit warren of living compartments. See these bullet-holes in the side
+here," pointing to the wooden planks lining the gallery. "When our men
+entered the other end the Bosche here had a machine-gun fixed up and so
+they played it upon anybody who came near; lit up only by the gun
+flashes it must have been a ghastly sight. It must have been the scene
+of devilish fighting judging by the number of bullet-holes all over the
+place. There are plenty of bloodstains about, somebody caught it pretty
+badly."
+
+I followed my guide until eventually we came to a recessed compartment;
+it was illuminated by two German candles stuck in bottles, and a rough
+wooden table with two chairs, evidently looted from the farm when the
+Bosche arrived.
+
+We made our exit from another shaft and came out at a spot about one
+hundred yards from the place we had entered.
+
+This will give you some idea of the way the ground was interlaced with
+subterranean passages, and this, mind you, was only one tunnel of many.
+
+It was quite pleasant to breathe comparatively fresh air again after the
+foul atmosphere down below.
+
+Bosche was more lively with his shell-fire and they were coming much too
+near to be pleasant. I fixed up my machine and filmed several very good
+bursts near some guns. He was evidently shooting blind, or by the map,
+for they dropped anywhere but near their objectives. Anyway it was his
+shoot and it was not up to us to correct him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE EVE OF GREAT EVENTS
+
+     A Choppy Cross-Channel Trip--I Indulge in a Reverie--And Try
+     to Peer Into the Future--At Headquarters Again--Trying to
+     Cross the River Somme on an Improvised Raft--In Peronne
+     After the German Evacuation--A Specimen of Hunnish "Kultur."
+
+
+Since I left France in December many changes had taken place; tremendous
+preparations for the next great offensive were in progress. We shall now
+see the results of all our hard and bloody work, which began on the
+Somme on July 1st, 1916. I think I can safely say that we have never
+relaxed our offensive for a single day. Granted the great pressure has
+not been kept up, but in proportion to the weather conditions the push
+has been driven home relentlessly and ground won foot by foot, yard by
+yard, until, in February, 1917, the Germans retired behind their Bapaume
+defences.
+
+Just how far they are going back one cannot decide. The fact remains
+that the enemy is falling back, not for strategical reasons, as he is so
+anxious for his people and neutrals to believe, but because he is forced
+to by the superiority of our troops and our dominating gun-power. The
+beginning of the end is at hand, the eve of great events is here; the
+results of this year's fighting will decide the future peace of the
+world, the triumph of Christianity over barbarity, of God over the
+devil.
+
+I received instructions to proceed again to France. "The capture of
+Bapaume is imminent, you must certainly obtain that," I was told, "and
+add another to your list of successes." So I left by the midday
+boat-train; the usual crowds were there to see their friends off. A
+descriptive writer could fill a volume with impressions gathered on the
+station platform an hour before the train starts. Scenes of pathos and
+assumed joy; of strong men and women stifling their emotions with a
+stubbornness that would do justice to the martyrdom of the Early
+Christians in the arenas of Rome.
+
+I arrived at Folkestone; the weather was very cold and a mist hung over
+the sea, blotting everything out of view beyond the end of the
+breakwater. The train drew up alongside and it emptied itself of its
+human khaki freight, who, with one accord, made their way to the waiting
+steamboats, painted a dull green-grey. All aboard: quickly and
+methodically we passed up the gangway, giving up our embarkation tickets
+at the end and receiving another card to fill up, with personal
+particulars, as we stepped on board. This card was to be given up upon
+one's arrival at Boulogne.
+
+Gradually the boat filled with officers and men; kits and cars were
+hoisted aboard, life-belts were served out; everybody was compelled to
+put them on in case of an accident.
+
+Everything was aboard; the three boats were ready to leave; the two in
+front, one an old cross-Channel paddle boat, the other one of the later
+turbine class--but still no sign of leaving.
+
+"What are we waiting for?" I asked a seaman near by.
+
+"We must wait until we get permission; the mist is very thick,
+sir--going to be a cold journey." With that he left. I buttoned my warm
+great-coat well round my throat, pulled my cap firmly down over my ears
+and went to the upper deck and peered out into the thickening sea-mist
+towards the harbour entrance.
+
+I went to the deck-rail and leaned over. Crowds of sea-gulls cawed and
+wheeled round, seemingly hung suspended in the air by an invisible wire.
+The gulls fascinated me; one second they were in the air motionless on
+their huge outstretched wings, then suddenly, seeing either the shape of
+a fish coming to the surface, or a crumb of bread floating, one of the
+birds would dart down, make a grab with its beak at the object, skim the
+surface of the water, then gracefully wing its way upwards and join its
+fellows.
+
+I turned my gaze again seawards: the mist was drawing nearer,
+threatening to envelop our boats in its embrace. How cold it was! The
+upper deck was now full of officers, busily putting on their
+life-belts--I had secured mine to my kit-bag, ready to put it on when
+required. At that moment an officer came up to me.
+
+"Have you a life-belt?" he said, "if so would you mind putting it on? I
+have to go all round the boat and see that everybody has one."
+
+"Right," I said, and so I donned my life-belt, and passing along the
+deck stood underneath the Captain's bridge and gazed around. The men in
+the two boats ahead of us were singing lustily, singing because they
+were going back to the land of bursting shells and flying death,
+laughing and singing because they were going again out to fight for the
+Empire.
+
+As I stood there, gazing into the mist and hearing the continuous roar
+of the sea beating upon the rocks behind me, a review of the events
+passed through my mind which have happened to me, and the countless
+scenes of tragedy and bloodshed, of defeat and victory that I had
+witnessed since I first crossed over to France in October, 1914. I
+recalled my arrival in Belgium; the wonderful rearguard actions of the
+Belgian troops; the holding up of the then most perfect (and devilish)
+fighting machine the world had ever known, by a handful of volunteers.
+The frightful scenes in the great retreat through Belgium lived again;
+the final stand along the banks of the Ypres canal; the opening of the
+dykes, which saved the northern corner of France; the countless
+incidents of fighting I had filmed. Then my three months with the French
+in the Vosges mountains, the great strain and hardships encountered to
+obtain the films, and now, after eighteen months with the British army
+on the Western Front, I was again going back--to what?
+
+How many had asked themselves that question! How many had tried as I was
+doing to peer into the future. They had laid down their lives fighting
+for the cause of freedom. "But, although buried on an alien soil, that
+spot shall be for ever called England."
+
+I was quickly recalled to the present by the flashing of a light on the
+end of the harbour jetty. It was answered by a dull glare seawards;
+everybody was looking in that direction; and then....
+
+A sudden clanging of bells, a slipping of ropes from the first boat, a
+final cheer from the men on the crowded decks, and, with its bow turned
+outwards from the quay, it nosed its way into the open sea beyond. The
+second boat quickly followed, and then, with more clanging of bells and
+curt orders to the helmsman, she slid through the water like a
+greyhound, and, with shouts of "good luck!" from the people on the quay,
+we were quickly swallowed up in the mist ahead.
+
+The boats kept abreast for a considerable time and then, our vessel
+taking the lead, with a torpedo boat on either side and one ahead, the
+convoy headed for France.
+
+The journey across was uneventful. It was quite dark when we backed into
+harbour at Boulogne; flares were lit and, as the boat drew alongside the
+quay, the old familiar A.M.O. with his huge megaphone shouted in
+stentorian tones that all officers and men returning on duty must report
+to him at his offices, fifty yards down the quay, etc., etc., etc. His
+oration finished, the gangway was pushed aboard and everybody landed as
+quickly as possible. _I_ had wired from the War Office earlier in the
+day to G.H.Q., asking them to send a car to meet the boat. Whether
+_they_ had received _my_ message in time I did not know--anyway I could
+not find it, so, that night, I stayed at Boulogne, and the following
+evening proceeded to G.H.Q. to receive instructions.
+
+Here I collected my apparatus and stood by for instructions. News of our
+continued pressure on the German line of retreat was penetrating
+through. First one village, then another fell into our hands. The fall
+of Peronne was imminent. My instructions were to proceed to Peronne, or
+rather the nearest point that it was possible to operate from.
+
+I journeyed that night as far as Amiens, and arriving there about
+midnight, dog tired, went to my previous billet in the Rue l'Amiral
+Cambet, and turned in. Early next morning I reported to a major of the
+Intelligence Department, who told me our troops had entered Peronne the
+previous night. Rather disappointed that I had not been there to obtain
+the entry, I made tracks for that town.
+
+I took by-roads, thinking that they would be more negotiable than the
+main ones, and, reaching the outskirts of the village of Biaches, I left
+the car there and prepared to walk into Peronne. I could see in the
+distance that the place was still burning; columns of smoke were pouring
+upwards and splashing the sky with patches of villainous-looking black
+clouds.
+
+Strapping my camera upon my back, and bidding my man follow with my
+tripod, I started off down the hill into Biaches. Then the signs of the
+German retreat began to fully reveal themselves. The ground was
+absolutely littered with the horrible wastage of war; roads were torn
+open, leaving great yawning gaps that looked for all the world like
+huge jagged wounds. On my right lay the Chateau of La Maisonnette. The
+ground there was a shambles, for numerous bodies in various stages of
+putrefaction lay about as they had fallen.
+
+I left this section of blood-soaked earth, and, turning to my left,
+entered the village, or rather the site of what had once been Biaches. I
+will not attempt to describe it; my pen is not equal to the task of
+conveying even the merest idea of the state of the place. It was as if a
+human skeleton had been torn asunder, bone by bone, and then flung in
+all directions. Then, look around and say--this was once a man. You
+could say the same thing of Biaches--this was once a village. I stayed
+awhile and filmed various scenes, including the huge engineers' dump
+left by the Germans, but, as the light was getting rather bad, I hurried
+as fast as possible in the direction of Peronne.
+
+I wandered down the path of duck-boards, over the swamp of the Somme,
+filthy in appearance, reeking in its stench, and littered with thousands
+of empty bottles, that showed the character of the drunken orgies to
+which the Huns had devoted themselves.
+
+I reached the canal bank. Lying alongside was the blackened ribs of a
+barge. Only the stern was above water and it was still smouldering; even
+the ladders and foot-bridges were all destroyed; not a single thing that
+could be of any use whatsoever had been left. I trudged along the canal
+bank; bridge after bridge I tried, but it was no use, for each one in
+the centre for about ten or twelve feet was destroyed--and, stretched
+between the gap, I found a length of wire netting covered over with
+straw--a cunning trap set for the first one across. Not a bridge was
+passable--they were all down!
+
+Peronne lay on the other side and there I must get before the light
+failed and while the place was still burning; if I had to make a raft of
+old timber I made up my mind to get there.
+
+Returning to the bank I placed my camera upon the ground and with the
+help of three men gathered up some rusty tin cylinders, which, earlier
+in the campaign, had been utilised as floats for rafts.
+
+I had fished out of the river three planks, and laying them at equal
+distance upon the cylinders, I lashed them together and so made a raft
+of sorts. With care I might be able to balance myself upon it and so
+reach the other section of the bridge and then a rope at either end
+would enable my man and tripod to be pulled across.
+
+The idea was excellent, but I found that my amateur lashing together
+with the strong current that was running made the whole plan quite
+impossible, so, after being nearly thrown into the river several times,
+and one of the floats coming adrift and washing away, and then doing a
+flying leap to save myself being hurled into the water upon a trestle
+which collapsed with my weight, I decided to give up the experiment and
+explore the river bank further down in the hope of getting across.
+Eventually, after going for about two kilometres, I reached the ruins of
+the main bridge leading into the town. This, also, was blown up by the
+retreating Huns, but, by using the blocks of stone and twisted iron
+girders as "stepping-stones," I reached the other side.
+
+The old gateway and drawbridge across the moat were destroyed; the huge
+blocks of masonry were tossed about, were playthings in the hands of the
+mighty force of high explosives which flung them there. These scenes I
+carefully filmed, together with several others in the vicinity of the
+ramparts.
+
+[Illustration: LORD KITCHENER'S LAST VISIT TO FRANCE. HE IS VERY
+INTERESTED IN THE CARE OF THE WOUNDED]
+
+The town was the same as every other I had filmed--burnt and
+shell-riven. The place as a habitable town simply did not exist.
+German names were everywhere; the names of the streets were altered,
+even a French washerwoman had put up a notice that "washing was done
+here," in German.
+
+Street after street I passed through and filmed. Many of the buildings
+were still burning and at one corner of the Grande Place flames were
+shooting out of the windows of the three remaining houses in Peronne. I
+hastily fitted up my camera and filmed the scene. When I had finished it
+was necessary to run the gauntlet, and pass directly under the burning
+buildings to get into the square.
+
+Showers of sparks were flying about, pieces of the burning building were
+being blown in all directions by the strong wind. But I had to get by,
+so, buttoning up my collar tightly, fastening my steel shrapnel helmet
+on my head, and tucking the camera under my arm, I made a rush, yelling
+out to my man to follow with the tripod. As I passed I felt several
+heavy pieces of something hit my helmet and another blazing piece hit my
+shoulder and stuck there, making me set up an unearthly yell as the
+flames caught my ear and singed my hair. But, quickly shooting past, I
+reached a place of safety, and setting up the camera I obtained some
+excellent views of the burning buildings.
+
+Standing upon a heap of rubble, which once formed a branch of one of the
+largest banking concerns in France, I took a panoramic scene of the
+great square. The smoke clouds curling in and around the skeleton walls
+appeared for all the world like some loathsome reptile seeming to gloat
+upon its prey, loath to leave it, until it had made absolutely certain
+that not a single thing was left to be devoured.
+
+With the exception of the crackling flames and the distant boom of the
+guns, it was like a city of the dead. The once beautiful church was
+totally destroyed. In the square was the base of a monument upon which,
+before the war, stood a memorial to France's glorious dead in the war of
+1870. The "kultured" Germans had destroyed the figure and, in its place,
+had stuck up a dummy stuffed with straw in the uniform of a French
+Zouave. Could ever a greater insult be shown to France!
+
+Not content with burning the whole town, the Huns had gone to the
+trouble of displaying a huge signboard on the side of a building in the
+square on which were these words: "Don't be vexed--just admire!"
+
+Think of it! The devils!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+AN UNCANNY ADVENTURE
+
+     Exploring the Unknown--A Silence That Could be Felt--In the
+     Village of Villers-Carbonel--A Cat and Its Kittens in an Odd
+     Retreat--Brooks' Penchant for "Souvenirs"--The First Troops
+     to Cross the Somme.
+
+
+Lieutenant B----, the official "still" photographer, and I have been
+companions in a few strange enterprises in the war, but I doubt whether
+any have equalled in strangeness, and I might say almost uncanny,
+adventure that which I am about to record. In cold type it would be
+pardonable for anyone to disbelieve some of the facts set forth, but, as
+I have proved for myself the perfect application of the well-known
+saying that "truth is stranger than fiction," I merely relate the facts
+in simple language exactly as they happened, and leave them to speak for
+themselves.
+
+It was early morning on March 17th, 1917, when the Germans began their
+headlong flight towards their Cambrai, St. Quentin, or "Hindenburg"
+Line. When B---- and I hastened along the main St. Quentin Road, troops
+and transports were as usual everywhere. We passed through the ruined
+villages of Foscaucourt and Estrees and brought our car to a standstill
+about two kilometres from the village of Villers-Carbonel, it being
+impossible owing to the fearful road conditions to proceed further.
+
+We left the car and started off to explore the unknown. On either side
+of the road I noticed many troops in their trenches; they were looking
+down at us as if we were something out of the ordinary, until I turned
+to him and said:
+
+"Is there anything funny about us? These chaps seem to be highly
+interested in our appearance, or something. What is it?"
+
+"I don't know," he said, "let's enquire."
+
+So, going up to an R.A.M.C. officer, who was standing outside his
+dug-out, I asked him if there was any news--in fact I enquired whether
+there was a war on up there, everything seemed to be so absolutely
+quiet.
+
+"Well," he said, "there was up to about three hours ago; Bosche has
+fairly plastered us with 5.9 and whizz-bangs. These suddenly ceased,
+and, as a matter of fact, I began to wonder whether peace had been
+declared when your car came bounding up the road. How the devil did you
+manage it? Yesterday evening the act of putting one's head over the
+parapet was enough to draw a few shells; but you come sailing up here in
+a car."
+
+"This is about the most charming joy-ride I have had for many a day," I
+replied, "but let me introduce myself. I am Malins, the Official
+Kinematographer, and my friend here is the Official 'still' picture man.
+We are here to get scenes of the German retreat, but it seems to me that
+one cannot see Bosche for dust. That is Villers-Carbonel, is it not?" I
+said, pointing up the road in the distance.
+
+"Yes," he replied.
+
+"Right," I said, "we are going there and on our way back we'll tell you
+all the news."
+
+With a cheery wave of the hand he bade us adieu, and we started on our
+journey.
+
+The once beautiful trees which lined the sides of the road were torn to
+shreds and, in some instances, were completely cut in half by shell-fire
+and the trunks were strewn across the road. These and the enormous
+shell-holes made it difficult to proceed at all, but, by clambering
+over the huge tree trunks, in and out of filthy slime-filled
+shell-holes, and nearly tearing oneself to pieces on the barbed wire
+intermingled with the broken branches, we managed at last to reach the
+village. Not a sound was to be heard. I turned to my companion.
+
+"This is an extraordinary state of affairs, isn't it? In case there are
+any Bosche rearguard patrols, we'll keep this side of the ruins as much
+as possible."
+
+The village was practically on the top of a ridge of hills. I stood
+under the shadow of some tree-stumps and gazed around. What a scene of
+desolation it was. I got my camera into action and took some excellent
+scenes, showing what was once a beautiful main road: broken trees flung
+over it in all directions like so many wisps of straw, and an
+unimaginable mass of barbed wire entanglements. Then, swinging my camera
+round, I obtained a panoramic view of the destroyed village. Dotted here
+and there were the dead bodies of horses and men: how long they had lain
+there Heaven knows!
+
+While examining the ruins of a building which used to be a bakehouse I
+received a startling surprise. I was bending down and looking into an
+empty oven when, with a rush and a clatter, a fine black cat sprang at
+my legs with a frightened, piteous look in its eyes, and mewed in a
+strange manner. For a moment I was startled, for the animal clung to my
+breeches. The poor creature looked half-starved. In its frenzy, it might
+bite or scratch my leg or hand. Blood-poisoning would be likely to
+follow. I gently lowered my gloved hand and caressed its head. With a
+soft purr it relaxed its hold of my leg and dropped to the ground.
+Feeling more comfortable I unfastened my satchel and, taking out some
+biscuits, gave them to the poor brute. It ravenously ate them up. My
+second surprise was to come. A faint scratching and mewing sound came
+from behind some bread bins in a corner and, as I looked, the black cat
+sprang forward with a biscuit in its mouth in the direction of the
+sound. I followed and gently moved the bin aside. The sight there almost
+brought tears into my eyes. Lying upon some old rags and straw were
+three tiny kittens. Two were struggling around the mother cat, mewing
+piteously and trying to nibble at the biscuit she had brought. The other
+was dead.
+
+The mother cat looked up at me with eyes which were almost human in
+their expression of thanks. I took out some more biscuits, and breaking
+them up in an empty tin I picked up from the floor, I poured some water
+from my bottle on to them, placed it beside the starving group and,
+leaving a handful near the mother cat, I made their retreat as snug as
+possible.
+
+Making our way again to the main road I stood by some ruins and looked
+away in the distance where the Germans had disappeared. What a
+difference. Here were green fields, gorgeous woods, hills, and dales
+with winding roads sweeping away out of sight. It reminded me of the
+feeling Moses must have experienced when he looked upon the Promised
+Land. Here were no shell-torn fields, no woods beaten out of all
+semblance to anything, no earth upon which thousands of men had poured
+out their blood; but, here in front of us, a veritable heaven.
+
+"Come along," I said, "let's explore. If there are any Bosches about
+they'll soon let us know of their presence. Let's get on to that other
+ridge; the Somme river should be there somewhere."
+
+We left the village and cautiously followed the road down one hill and
+up the next. The Germans had disappeared as completely as if the earth
+had swallowed them up. Not a soul was to be seen; we might have been
+strolling on the Surrey hills!
+
+I gradually reached the brow of the next ridge. The sight which met my
+eyes was the most stimulating one I had ever seen from a picture point
+of view. There, in front of us, at a distance of six hundred yards, was
+the river Somme--the name which will go down to history as the most
+momentous in this the bloodiest war the world has ever known.
+
+There it glistened, winding its way north and south like a silver snake.
+
+"Come along," I said, "I shall get the first picture of the Somme," and
+we raced away down the road.
+
+In calmer moments at home I have admitted that we were mad. Nobody in
+their right senses would have done such a thing as to rush headlong into
+country which might have been thick with enemy snipers and machine-guns.
+But the quietness of the grave reigned--not a rifle-shot disturbed the
+silence.
+
+Evidence of the German retreat met our gaze as we ran down the road. On
+either side were discarded material and, in a quarry on the left, a
+German Red Cross sign was stuck up on a post, and several dug-outs were
+burning--smoke was pouring up from below, showing that the Hun was
+destroying everything.
+
+I was brought to a standstill at the sight of a mass of wreckage near
+the river. Smoke was issuing from it. I looked on my map and saw that it
+was the village of Brie; a small section was this side of the river, but
+the main part was on the other side. The whole place had been completely
+destroyed, partly, I ultimately found out, by our gun-fire, and the
+remainder burnt or blown up by the Germans.
+
+The river had developed into a swampy marsh; in fact it was very
+difficult to say precisely where the river and canal finished and the
+marshes began.
+
+I again got my camera into action and filmed, for the first time, the
+Somme river which was directly in our line of advance.
+
+The bridges were blown up; huge masses of stone and iron, twisted and
+torn and flung into the morass of weeds and mud and water, forming small
+dams, thus diverting the river in all directions. Several scenes on this
+historic spot I filmed, then, wishing to push forward, I attempted to
+cross the broken bridges. By careful manoeuvring I managed to cross
+the first, then the second, but a large gap blown in the roadway about
+forty feet across, through which the water rushed in a torrent, brought
+me to a standstill, so reluctantly I had to retrace my steps.
+
+Except for the sound of rushing water the quietness was almost
+uncanny--the excitement of the chase was over. Then I began to realise
+our position.
+
+We were in a section of ground which the enemy had occupied only a few
+hours before and had apparently abandoned--vanished into thin air! We
+were at least two kilometres in _front_ of our infantry, in fact we had,
+of our own accord--keen on obtaining live scenes for the people at
+home--constituted ourselves an advance patrol, armed, not with
+machine-guns, swords, or lances, but with cameras. There was every
+possibility of our being taken for Germans ourselves by our men from a
+distance; the real advance guard coming up would undoubtedly open fire
+and enquire into credentials afterwards. The ruins across the bridge
+might hide enemy rifles; they might open fire any moment. I explained
+the situation to my companion, who had also presumably reached a
+decision very similar to my own, which was to return to the village of
+Villers-Carbonel as quickly and as carefully as possible.
+
+Keeping to the side of the road we trudged back, and half-way up the
+hill we ran into one of the things I expected--an advance party. An
+officer came forward and said in astonished tones:
+
+"Where the devil have you fellows come from?"
+
+"We've been getting photographs of the German retreat," I replied.
+"We're the official photographers and have been half-way across the
+Somme, but owing to the bridge being blown up we have come back. The
+Germans seem to have vanished entirely, not a sign of one about
+anywhere."
+
+"Well, I'm ----," he said, "this is the funniest thing I've ever known.
+Will our advance patrols constitute the official photographers for the
+future? If so, it will save us any amount of trouble."
+
+"Well?" I said, "you can go on--devil a Bosche is over there anyway."
+
+"Well," he said, "these troops I am taking down will be the first across
+the Somme."
+
+"Right," I said, seeing immediately the scoop it would be for my film.
+"I will come back and film your men going over; it will make a unique
+picture."
+
+With that we retraced our steps, and laughing and chatting about our
+adventure, we once again reached the Somme river.
+
+I fixed up my camera, and, when all was ready, a rough bridge was
+hastily made of several planks lashed together to bridge gaps in the
+fallen stonework, and I filmed the first troops to cross the Somme
+during the great German retreat.
+
+The light was now failing, so, packing up my apparatus, and waving
+farewells to the C.O., I turned back again. B---- joined me; the day had
+been a great one for us, and we mutually agreed that it was a fitting
+sequel to the first British battle that had ever been filmed which I
+took at Beaumont Hamel on July 1st, 1916.
+
+Weary in body, but very much alive mentally, we returned via
+Villers-Carbonel to our car.
+
+On my way back I wondered how the cat and her kittens were getting on.
+
+The black cat had certainly brought me luck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE GERMANS IN RETREAT
+
+     The Enemy Destroy Everything as They Go--Clearing Away the
+     Debris of the Battlefield--And Repairing the Damage Done by
+     the Huns--An Enormous Mine Crater--A Reception by French
+     Peasants--"Les Anglais! Les Anglais!" Stuck on the Road to
+     Bovincourt.
+
+
+To keep in touch with all the happenings on that section of the front
+for which I was responsible, and to obtain a comprehensive record of
+events, it was necessary to keep very wide awake. Movements, definite
+and indefinite, were taking place in scores of different places at the
+same moment. To keep in touch with the enemy, to work with our forward
+patrols, to enter upon the heels of our advance guard into the evacuated
+villages--and, if possible, to get there first and film their triumphal
+entry, film our advance infantry and guns taking up new positions, the
+engineers at work remaking the roads, building new bridges over the
+Somme, laying down new railways and repairing old ones--the hundred and
+one different organisations that were working and straining every muscle
+and nerve for the common cause. Only the favoured few have the remotest
+idea of the enormous amount of work to be done under such conditions.
+
+The road (which was No Man's Land yesterday morning) to the village of
+Villers-Carbonel was now swarming with men clearing away the accumulated
+debris of the battlefield. Tree trunks were moved off the road,
+shell-holes were being filled up with bricks and branches, trenches,
+which crossed the road, were being filled in, a Tank trap at the
+entrance to the village, the shape of a broad, deep ditch, about thirty
+by twenty feet wide by fifteen feet deep, was being loaded with tree
+trunks and earth. I filmed these scenes; then hurried as fast as
+possible in the direction of Brie to cover the advanced work on the
+Somme, and then to cross to the other side and get in touch with our
+cavalry patrols.
+
+What an extraordinary change in the place! Yesterday a ghostly silence
+reigned; now men and material and transport were swarming everywhere. I
+reached the river. The engineers had thrown up light, temporary
+bridges--six in all. Huge iron girders had arrived from back behind;
+they had been made in readiness for "The Day." Our H.Q. had known that
+the Germans in their inevitable retreat would destroy the bridges, so,
+to save time, duplicates were built in sections, ready to throw across
+the gap.
+
+I managed to arrive in time to film several squadrons of the Duke of
+Lancaster's cavalry hurrying forward to harass the enemy. Cyclist
+patrols were making their way over. I hurried as fast as possible
+through the ruins of Brie and on to the ridge beyond. In the distance I
+watched our cavalry deploying in extended order and advance towards a
+wood to clear it of the enemy rearguards. Motor-cyclists, with their
+machine-guns, were dashing up the hill anxious to get into contact with
+the flying enemy. I filmed many scenes in this section.
+
+I looked along the road which was the main one into St. Quentin; it
+stretched away as far as the eye could see. The condition is certainly
+excellent, I thought. There would be a greater possibility of obtaining
+exciting scenes if it were possible to proceed in my car; the only
+question was whether the temporary bridges across the Somme were
+capable of sustaining the weight. The possibility of getting into
+villages just evacuated by the Germans spurred me on, so retracing my
+steps, I reached the river again.
+
+"Do you think the bridge will take the weight of my car?" I asked an
+officer in charge of engineers.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Daimler," I replied.
+
+"Well," he said, "there is a risk, of course, but our G.S. wagons have
+been across and also the artillery, so they may take your bus--if you
+don't bounce her in crossing."
+
+"Right-o!" I said. "I will get it down." Hurrying across I had just
+reached the last bridge when, with a sudden snap, one of the main beams
+gave way. All traffic was, of course, stopped, and engineers quickly got
+to work replacing the broken girder.
+
+"It will be at least another hour, sir," said a sergeant in answer to my
+enquiry. So there was nothing for it but to curb my impatience and wait,
+and I stood my apparatus down and watched the proceedings.
+
+At that moment a car came to a standstill alongside me.
+
+"What's wrong?" called out one of the occupants.
+
+"Broken bridge," I said. "I'm waiting to cross with my car to get films
+of the villages and the occupants."
+
+"That's good," said the speaker, a captain. "I am going up to them as
+well. Intelligence I heard from our airmen this morning that they saw
+civilians in one or two villages a few miles out--so I'm off to
+investigate. Would you care to come? We shall be the first there."
+
+"Yes, rather," I replied. "It will be a fine scoop for me to film the
+first meeting of British troops in the liberated villages. I will follow
+in my car."
+
+[Illustration: FILMING OUR GUNS IN ACTION DURING THE GREAT GERMAN
+RETREAT TO ST. QUENTIN. MARCH, 1917]
+
+The bridge was again complete, so, dumping my camera aboard, I followed
+in the wake of the captain. Up the hill we dashed and spun along the
+road at the top, passing beyond the outskirts of Brie. We were now
+beyond the extreme limit of the shelling which we had subjected the
+Germans to during their months of occupation.
+
+I was now beginning to see the sights and view the atrocious system and
+regularity of wilful destruction which had obviously been planned months
+before by the Huns to carry out Hindenburg's orders and make the whole
+land a desert. Not a tree was standing; whole orchards were hewn down;
+every fruit tree and bush was destroyed; hedges were cut at the base as
+if with a razor; even those surrounding cemeteries were treated in the
+same way. Agricultural implements were smashed. Mons en Chaussee was the
+first village we entered; every house was a blackened smoking ruin, and
+where the fiends had not done their work with fire they had brought
+dynamite to their aid; whole blocks of buildings had been blown into the
+air; there was not sufficient cover for a dog.
+
+The car suddenly came to a standstill; my driver jammed on his brake and
+I hurried forward. There, at the middle of the village cross-roads was
+another enormous mine-crater--one hundred feet across by about sixty
+feet deep. It was quite impassable, but the sight which astounded me was
+to see about twenty old women and children running up the road the other
+side of the crater shouting and waving their arms with joy. "Les
+Anglais! Les Anglais!" they yelled. I got my camera into position and
+filmed the captain and his companions as they clambered round the jagged
+lip of the crater and were embraced by the excited people. For the first
+time since their captivity by the Germans they had seen "les Anglais."
+Liberators and captives met!
+
+Several scenes I filmed of the enormous crater and of the cut-down fruit
+trees. Not a single tree, old or young, was left standing. To blow up
+roads, and hew down telegraph poles was war, and such measures are
+justified; but to destroy every tree or bush that could possibly bear
+fruit, wilfully to smash up agricultural implements; to shoot a dog and
+tie a label to its poor body written in English:
+
+     "Tommies, don't forget to put this in your next
+     communique--that we killed one dog.
+
+     (Signed) THE HUNS."
+
+To crucify a cat upon a door and stick a cigar in its mouth, to blow up
+and poison wells, to desecrate graves, to smash open vaults and rob the
+corpses which lay there, and then to kick the bones in all directions
+and use the coffins as cess-pools--these things I have seen with my own
+eyes. Is this war? It is the work of savages, ghouls, fiends.
+
+I wondered where these people had come from and where they had been as
+the whole village was burnt out. I enquired and found that the Germans,
+two days before, had cleared the village of its population and
+distributed them in villages further back, and had then set fire to the
+place, leaving nothing but a desert behind, and taking with them all the
+men who could work and many girls in their teens to what fate one may
+guess.
+
+These few villagers had wandered back during the day to gaze upon the
+wreckage of their homes and arrived just in time to meet us at the
+crater.
+
+"We will get along," said my companion. "I want to visit Bovincourt and
+Vraignes before nightfall, though I am afraid we shall not do it. By
+making a detour round these ruins I believe we shall strike the main
+road further down."
+
+I followed him through the ruins and, after bouncing over innumerable
+bricks and beams, we reached the main road. We passed through
+Estrees-en-Chaussee. One large barn was only standing; everything was as
+quiet as the grave; columns of smoke were still rising from the ruins.
+
+Another jamming on of brakes brought us to a standstill at a
+cross-roads; another huge mine-crater was in front of us and it was most
+difficult to see until we were well upon it. There was nothing to do but
+to take to the fields--our road was at right angles to the one we were
+traversing.
+
+I examined the ground, it was very soft, and the newly scattered earth
+and clay from the mine made it much worse.
+
+"If we get stuck," I thought, "there is nobody about to help us out."
+The captain tried and got over.
+
+I yelled out that I would follow; they disappeared in the direction of
+Bovincourt. Backing my car to get a good start I let it go over the edge
+of the road into the field. It was like going through pudding. The near
+wheels roared round without gripping. Then it happened! We were stuck! A
+fine predicament, I thought, with prowling enemy patrols about and no
+rifle.
+
+"All shoulders to the wheel," I said. By digging, and jamming wood,
+sacking and straw under the wheels we managed, after three-quarters of
+an hour, to get it out. Jove! what a time it was! And so on the road
+again.
+
+"We will get into Bovincourt," I said. "Let her go; I may meet the
+others."
+
+The feeling was uncanny and my position strange, for all I knew Bosches
+were all around me (and later on this proved to be the case).
+
+Night was falling, and ere I reached the village it was quite impossible
+to take any scenes.
+
+At the entrance to the village I ran into several people who crowded
+round the car, crying and laughing in their relief at seeing the British
+arrive. Old men and women who could barely move hobbled forward to shake
+hands, with tears in their eyes. They clambered in and around the car,
+and it was only by making them understand that I would return on the
+following day that they allowed the car to proceed. The sight was
+wonderful and I wish I were able to describe it better.
+
+I could not find the other car, so, assuming it had gone back, I decided
+to return as far as Brie and stay the night. As I was leaving the
+village a burst of machine-gun fire rang out close by followed by
+violent rifle-shots.
+
+"Let her go," I said to my chauffeur. "I am not at all anxious to get
+pipped out here. My films must not fall into enemy hands."
+
+The car shot up the road like a streak; the mine-crater was ahead and
+the possibility of getting stuck again whilst crossing made me feel
+anything but easy. Full tilt, I told my driver, we must trust to speed
+to get across. On went the lower gear; a right-hand twist of the wheel
+and we were on the field; the speed gradually grew less, the back wheels
+buzzed round but still gripped a little.
+
+"Keep her going at all costs," I yelled, "if the car sticks here it will
+have to be left." To lighten her a little I jumped out and pushed up
+behind for all I was worth. Mud was flying in all directions; we were
+nearly across; another twenty yards. With a final roll and screech she
+bounded off on to the road. I jumped aboard again and up the road we
+shot towards Mons. If the Hun patrols had been anywhere near they must
+have thought a battalion of Tanks were on their track, for the noise my
+old "bus" made getting across that field was positively deafening. On I
+went through Mons, into the ruins of its houses, still glowing red and,
+in some places, flames were licking around the poor skeletons of its
+once prosperous farms.
+
+One more mine-crater to negotiate; then all would be plain sailing. It
+was now quite dark. I dared not use lights, not, even side lamps, and
+going was decidedly slow and risky in consequence. I sat in the bonnet
+of the car and, peering ahead, called out the direction. Shortly a
+lightish mass loomed up only a few yards distant.
+
+"Stop!" I yelled.
+
+On went the brakes, and only just in time. We came to a standstill on
+the outer lip of a huge crater. Another two yards and I should have been
+trying to emulate the antics of a "tank" in sliding down a crater and
+crawling up the other side. In my case the sliding down would have been
+all right, but coming up the other side would have been on the lap of
+the gods. A hundred men with ropes and myself--well, but that's another
+story.
+
+"Back the car to give it a good run," I said, "and let us lighten it as
+much as possible," and soon all was ready.
+
+"I will go ahead and put my handkerchief over my electric light; we must
+risk being seen--you head direct for the glow."
+
+I went into the muddy fields.
+
+"Let her go," I shouted. With a whir and a grind I could tell it had
+started. I stood still. It was coming nearer. Ye gods! what a row. Then,
+suddenly, the engines stopped and dead silence reigned.
+
+"It's stuck, sir," came a voice from the darkness.
+
+I went to the car and switched my lamp on to the near wheels. The car
+was stuck right up to the axle.
+
+"We shall never get out of this unaided," I said. "Put all the stuff
+back inside and get the hood up; we shall have to sleep here to-night."
+
+Then, to add to the discomfiture of the situation, it began to rain, and
+rain like fury, and in a few minutes I was wet through to the skin. The
+hood leaked badly and had convenient holes in alignment to one's body,
+whether you were sitting lengthways or otherwise inside. I had resigned
+myself for a dismal night out. Two hours had passed when I heard the
+clatter of hoofs coming towards me in the distance and, by the direction
+of the sound, I could tell they were our men. I tumbled out and ran as
+fast as possible to the other side of the crater and reached there just
+as the horsemen arrived.
+
+"Hullo!" I shouted.
+
+"Hulloa!" came the reply, "who is it?"
+
+"I am badly stuck, or rather my car is--in the mud in the field here.
+Can you hitch two or three of your horses on and help me out on to the
+road?"
+
+"Certainly, if we can, sir."
+
+"I will guide you with my lamp--by the way, where are you going?" I
+said.
+
+"We are trying to get into touch with the Bosche."
+
+"I have been in Bovincourt," I said, "but there are none there, though I
+heard a lot of rifle-fire just outside the village."
+
+We arrived at the car and, quickly hitching on a rope, the engine was
+started up and, with a heave and a screech, it moved forward and was
+eventually dragged on to the road.
+
+"Thank Heaven," I thought. Then, thanking the men, and warning them of
+the other delightful mine crater further down, I started off again,
+sitting on the bonnet.
+
+As I neared Brie I switched on my lamp as a headlight and got held up by
+two sentries with their bayonets at the ready. They did not understand
+why a motor-car should be coming back apparently from the German lines,
+and their attitude was decidedly unfriendly till I assured them I was
+not a German, but only the Official Kinematographer out for pictures.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE STORY OF AN "ARMOURED CAR" ABOUT WHICH I COULD A TALE UNFOLD
+
+     Possibilities--Food for Famished Villagers--Meeting the
+     Mayoress of Bovincourt--Who Presides at a Wonderful
+     Impromptu Ceremony--A Scrap Outside Vraignes--A Church Full
+     of Refugees--A True Pal--A Meal with the Mayor of Bierne.
+
+
+To keep hard upon the heels of the retreating Germans and so obtain
+scenes, the character of which had never been presented before to the
+British public, was my chief aim. I had no time for sleep. I arrived at
+my base wet through, the rain had continued throughout the whole of my
+return journey. Changing into dry underwear, I refilled my exposed
+spool-boxes and packed up a good surplus supply, sufficient to last for
+several days, then packing my knapsack with the usual rations, bully and
+bread, condensed milk and slabs of chocolate, I was ready to start out
+once more. My clothes had by this time dried. Daylight was breaking, the
+car arrived and, with all kit aboard, I started out again for the Somme,
+wondering what the day would bring forth.
+
+I stopped on the way to pick up the "still" photographer.
+
+"Where for to-day?" he asked.
+
+"Bovincourt and Vraignes," I replied, "and, if possible, one or two of
+the villages near by. I must get into them before our troops, so as to
+be able to film their entry. Does that suggest possibilities to you?" I
+said, with a smile, knowing that he, like myself, would go through
+anything to obtain pictures.
+
+"Possibilities," he said, "don't, you make my mouth water. How about
+food? Shall we take some to the villages?"
+
+"Excellent idea," I said.
+
+We stopped on the way and purchased a good supply of white bread and
+French sausages, thinking that these two commodities would be most
+useful.
+
+Through Foucacourt Estrees and Villers-Carbonel the roads were lined
+with troops, guns, and transport of every description, all making their
+way forward. Engineers were hard at work on the roads; shell-holes were
+filled in and road trenches bridged. Work was being pushed forward with
+an energy and skill which reflected great credit upon those in charge;
+traffic controls were at cross roads which forty-eight hours before had
+been "No Man's Land." Hun signboards were taken down and familiar
+British names took their place. The sight was wonderful. En route I
+stopped and filmed various scenes. Arriving again at Brie on the Somme
+the change in affairs was astounding. The place was alive with men; it
+was a veritable hive of industry; new lines were being laid to replace
+the torn and twisted rails left by the Germans; bridges were being
+strengthened, roads on both sides were widened, and, to make it possible
+to continue the work throughout the night, a searchlight was being
+mounted upon a platform.
+
+Crossing the bridges of Brie we mounted the hill and were once again
+upon the ridge. Great gaps had been made by our men in the huge line of
+barbed wire entanglements which the Huns had spent months of laborious
+work to construct. It stretched away over hill and dale on both sides as
+far as the eye could see.
+
+To pick up further information I stopped a cyclist officer coming from
+the direction of Mons.
+
+"Any news?" I enquired. "Where is Bosche?"
+
+"We were in touch with his rearguards all last night," he said. "They
+have made several strong points round the villages of Vraignes,
+Haucourt, and Bierne. They were scouting around Vraignes, but we quickly
+put the wind up them," he said, with a smile. "Several villages were
+seen burning during the night and the enemy put a little shrapnel around
+some patrols near Pouilly, but no damage was done."
+
+"Vraignes, of course, is quite clear?"
+
+"Yes, as far as we know. Our patrols reported it clear late last
+evening, but possibly Bosche returned during the night. We captured
+three Bosches and they have an extraordinary tale of seeing two armoured
+cars yesterday evening near Bovincourt, and they insist upon it although
+I am quite aware there were none at all near there. They say that about
+six o'clock they were on the outskirts of Bovincourt when two armoured
+cars came in sight. Not having a machine-gun with them they decided to
+hide and so took cover in the ruins of a house. Later on they say they
+saw only one car leave in the direction of the main road. That's their
+tale and they seem quite serious about it."
+
+"Well," I said, with a grin, "do you think this car of mine would look
+like an armoured car at a distance?"
+
+"Well, yes, possibly, in a failing light. Why?"
+
+"Well, this must be one of your excellent prisoner's so-called armoured
+cars, because I was in Bovincourt with ---- of the Corps Intelligence,
+hence the two cars. I missed him through getting stuck in the mud, and
+entered Bovincourt about six o'clock and left by myself later as a
+skirmish was taking place somewhere near by, and not being armed with
+anything more dangerous than a camera, I decided to quit. I am much
+obliged to the Bosche for taking this bus of mine for an armoured car."
+
+With a laugh and a cheery adieu the officer bade me good luck and
+pedalled off.
+
+I could not help thinking that I had had a lucky escape.
+
+On again, and reaching the first mine, the scene of the previous night's
+adventure, I put the car to the field at a rush and by some
+extraordinary means got her round.
+
+I was just entering the village when, with a shriek and a crash, a shell
+burst near the church. I stopped the car and, under cover of the ruins,
+reached a distance of about three hundred yards from where it fell. If
+any more were coming over I intended, if possible, to film them
+bursting.
+
+Carefully taking cover behind a wall, I fitted up my camera. Another
+shell came hurtling over and dropped and burst quite near the previous
+spot. Showers of bricks flew in all directions, liberally splattering
+the wall behind which I was concealed. The debris cleared, up went my
+camera, and, standing by the handle, I awaited the next.
+
+It came soon enough, I heard the shriek nearer and nearer. I turned the
+handle and put my head close behind the camera with my eye to the
+view-finder. Crash came the shell, and, with a terrific report, it
+exploded. The whole side of a house disappeared, and bricks, wood, and
+metal flew in all directions. I continued to turn when, with an ugly
+little whistle, a small piece of something struck my view-finder and
+another my tripod. Luckily nothing touched the lens. I awaited the next.
+It was longer this time, but it came, and nearer to me than the previous
+one. I was satisfied. I thought if they elevated another fifty yards I
+might get a much too close view of a shell-burst, so scrambled aboard
+the car, and made a detour round the mine on to the road beyond.
+
+"Those scenes ought to be very fine," I said. "It's one of those lucky
+chances where one has to take the risk of obtaining a thrilling scene."
+
+By the balls of white smoke I could see that shrapnel was bursting in
+the near distance.
+
+"That's near Pouilly," I said. "We are turning up on the left, let's
+hope the Huns don't plaster us there."
+
+Reaching the village of Bovincourt, the villagers were there eagerly
+awaiting our arrival. They again crowded around the car, and it was with
+difficulty that I persuaded them to let us pass into the village.
+Cheering, shouting, and laughing they followed close behind. I stopped
+the car and asked an old man who, by his ribbons, had been through the
+1870 war:
+
+"Where is the Mayor?"
+
+"There is no Mayor, monsieur, but a mayoress, and she is there,"
+pointing to a buxom French peasant woman about fifty years of age.
+
+I went up to her and explained in my best French that I had brought
+bread and sausages for the people, would she share them out?
+
+"Oui, oui, monsieur."
+
+"I would like you to do it here, I will then take a kinematograph film
+of the proceeding, so that the people in England can see it."
+
+"Ah, monsieur, it is the first white bread and good French sausage we
+have seen since the Bosches came. They took everything from us,
+everything, and if it had not been for the American relief we should
+have starved. They are brutes, pig-brutes, monsieur, they kill
+everything." And, with tears in her eyes, she told me how the Huns shot
+her beautiful dog because, in its joyfulness, it used to play with and
+bark at the children. "They did not like being disturbed, monsieur, so
+they shot him--poor Jacques! They have not left one single animal;
+everything has gone. Mon Dieu, but they shall suffer!"
+
+I changed the painful subject by saying that now the British had driven
+back the Bosche everything would be quite all right. With a wan smile
+she agreed.
+
+I set up my camera, and telling my man to hand over the food, the
+Mayoress shared it out. One sausage and a piece of white bread to each
+person, men, women, and children. The joy on their faces was wonderful
+to behold. As they received their share they ran off to the shelter of
+some ruins, or up into the church, to cook their wonderful gifts. I
+filmed the scene, and I shall never forget it.
+
+The last of the batch had disappeared when up the road came hobbling a
+woman whose age I should say was somewhere about forty-five. I could see
+she was on the point of exhaustion. She had a huge bundle upon her back
+and a child in her arms, another about seven years clinging to her
+skirts. They halted outside the ruins of a cottage, the woman dropped
+her bundle, and crouching down upon it clung convulsively to the babe in
+her arms and burst into tears.
+
+I went up to her and gently asked her the cause.
+
+"This, monsieur, was my house. Two days past the Germans drove me away
+with my children. My husband has already been killed at the front. They
+drove me away, and I come back to-day and now my home, all that I had in
+the world, monsieur, is gone. They have burnt it. What can I do,
+monsieur? And we are starving."
+
+The babe in her arms began to send forth a thin lifeless wail. I helped
+the poor woman to her feet and told her to go to the church, and that I
+would bring her bundle and some food for her.
+
+God above, what despair! The grim track of war in all its damnable
+nakedness was epitomised in this little French hamlet. Houses burnt,
+horses taken away, agricultural implements wilfully smashed, fruit trees
+and bushes cut down, even the hedges around their little gardens, their
+cemetery violated and the remains of their dead strewn to the four winds
+of heaven. Their wells polluted with garbage and filth; in some cases
+deliberately poisoned, in others totally destroyed by dynamite. Their
+churches used as stables for horses and for drunken orgies. All the
+younger men deported, and the prettiest of the girls. In some cases
+their clothes had been forcibly taken away from them and sacks had been
+given in exchange to clothe themselves with. They were robbed of every
+penny they possessed.
+
+But when the wonderful sound of the British guns and the tramp of our
+soldiers crept nearer and nearer, terrifying, relentless, and
+irresistible, the Germans left, fleeing with their ill-gotten spoil like
+demons of darkness before the angels of light, leaving in their trail
+the picture I have unfolded to you.
+
+Wishing to push on further I scouted round the outskirts of the village.
+In a wood a short distance away it was evident that our patrols were in
+contact with the Huns. Volley after volley of rifle-fire rang out, and
+now and then a burst from the machine-guns. A horseman was heading
+straight for me. Was he British or Hun? In a few minutes I could see he
+was one of our men--evidently a dispatch-rider. He swept down into a
+hollow, then up the road into the village. He was riding hard; his horse
+stumbled, but by a great effort the rider recovered himself. He dashed
+past me and, clattering over the fallen masonry, disappeared from sight.
+
+I looked around. Not a sign of life anywhere, so I decided to make for
+Vraignes about a kilometre distant south-east of Bovincourt. I had
+previously heard from one of the villagers that there were about one
+thousand people left there.
+
+Strapping my camera on my back I tramped away, my man following in the
+rear. The "still" man, who had left me after feeding the villagers, had
+been prowling around getting pictures. Accidentally he ran into me, so
+together we trekked off.
+
+Taking advantage of every bit of cover possible, as German snipers were
+none too careful as to where they put their bullets, we eventually
+reached the outskirts of Vraignes. Not a sign of Germans, but crowds of
+civilians. Things here were the same as at Bovincourt, but a few more
+houses were left standing owing to the fire not completely doing its
+work. The people were in the same state. We had just got into the
+village, and near the Mairie, when a commotion round the corner by the
+church attracted my attention. The men and women who had crowded around
+us shouting with joy, turned and rushed up the road.
+
+"Vive les Anglais! Vive les Anglais!" The cry was taken up by every one.
+Hands and handkerchiefs were waving in all directions. "Vive les
+Anglais! Vive les Anglais!"
+
+"Our boys are there," I said.
+
+My camera was up and turned on to the corner where the crowd stood and,
+at that moment, a troop of our cyclists entered, riding very slowly
+through the exultant people--the first British troops to enter the
+village. I turned the handle. The scene was inspiring. Cheer after cheer
+rent the air. Old men and women were crying with joy. Others were
+holding their babies up to kiss our boys. Children were clinging and
+hugging around their legs, until it was impossible for them to proceed
+further. The order was given by the officer in charge to halt. The men
+tumbled off their machines, the people surged round them. To say the
+men were embarrassed would be to put it mildly. They were absolutely
+overcome. I filmed them with the crowd around. And then an order was
+given to take up billets. Patrols were thrown out, sentries posted, the
+men parked their cycles and rested.
+
+On a large double door of a barn the Huns had gone to the trouble of
+painting in huge letters the hackneyed phrase "Gott strafe England," and
+immediately our men saw it one of them, with a piece of chalk, improved
+upon it.
+
+They gathered the children round them and formed a group beneath the
+letters with German trophies upon their heads; I filmed them there, one
+of the happiest groups possible to conceive.
+
+I left them and went to find the officer in charge, and asked him for
+the latest news from other sections.
+
+"I couldn't say," he replied, "but my men were well in touch with them
+early this morning, but you seem to know more about it here than anyone
+else. When on earth did you arrive in the village?"
+
+"Just before you," I replied. "I came from Bovincourt."
+
+"Well, you have got some job. I certainly didn't expect to find anyone
+so harmless as a photographer awaiting our arrival."
+
+The conversation was abruptly stopped by a warning shout from one of the
+observers on a house-top close by.
+
+"Germans, sir."
+
+The officer and I rushed to a gap in the buildings and looked through
+our glasses, and there, on a small ridge a thousand yards off, a body of
+horsemen were seen approaching, riding hard, as if their very lives
+depended upon it.
+
+An order was immediately given to the machine-gun company who had taken
+up a most advantageous position and one that commanded most of the
+country near by.
+
+I placed my camera in such a position by the side of a wall that I could
+see all that was taking place and if seen myself I could easily pull it
+under cover.
+
+Nearer and nearer they came. They were too far away to photograph.
+Excitement was intense. Were they coming into the village? If they did,
+I thought, in all conscience they would get a warm reception, knowing as
+I did the arrangements for its defence. My eyes were fixed upon them.
+
+The officer close by was on the point of giving the order to fire when a
+burst of machine-gun fire rang out in the distance.
+
+"Our cavalry have got them," said the officer. "We have some strong
+posts just here, Bosche has fairly run into them. Look! They have their
+tails up."
+
+And they had, for they were running back for all they were worth in the
+direction of Bierne.
+
+Our men were positively disappointed, and I can honestly say I was
+myself, for the possibilities of a wonderful scene had disappeared.
+
+The tension relaxed; most of the men returned to their billets and
+quickly made themselves at home with the people.
+
+Noticing people going into church, I went up the hill to investigate. As
+I entered the outer gate an officer clattered up on horseback, swung
+himself off and walked up to me.
+
+"Hullo," he said, "I am the doctor. Anything doing here?"
+
+"Well," I said, "there might have been just now."
+
+I related the happenings of the last ten minutes.
+
+"Have you been to Bovincourt?"
+
+"Yes, but the poor devils are too ill for me. I haven't sufficient stuff
+with me to go round."
+
+Another officer ran up, "I say, Doctor, for Heaven's sake look in the
+church here. The place is packed and half of them are ill, God knows
+what with, and one or two are dead."
+
+"Well, I will look, but I can do nothing until this evening. I have no
+stuff with me."
+
+We went into the church. Heavens! what a sight met our eyes; the
+atmosphere was choking. It was like a charnel-house. Crowds of old men,
+women, and children of all ages were crowded together with their
+belongings. They had been evacuated from dozens of other villages by the
+Huns. Women were hugging their children to them. In one corner an old
+woman was bathing the head of a child with an old stocking dipped in
+water. The child, I could see, was in a high fever. There must have been
+at least three hundred people lying about in all directions, wheezing
+and coughing, moaning and crying.
+
+The doctor spoke to one old woman, who had hobbled forward and sank down
+near a pillar. The doctor bent down and told her that he would bring
+medicine in the evening. Everybody there seemed to hear that magic word,
+and scrambled forward begging for medicine for themselves, but mostly
+for the children. The scene was pitiable in the extreme.
+
+I asked one women where they had come from. She told me from many
+villages. The Bosche had turned them all out of their homes, then burnt
+their houses and their belongings. They had walked miles exposed to the
+freezing cold rains and winds, they had been packed into this church
+like a lot of sheep without covering, without fires. She was begging for
+medicine for her three-months-old babe.
+
+"She will die, monsieur, she will die!" And the poor woman burst into a
+flood of tears.
+
+I calmed her as much as possible by telling her that everything would be
+done for them without delay, and that medicine, food, and comfort would
+be given them.
+
+I turned and left the building, for the air was nearly choking me.
+Outside I met the doctor, who was arranging to send a cyclist back for
+an ambulance.
+
+"They cannot be treated here, it's impossible. I've never seen such a
+sight."
+
+I left him and went into the house where the cyclist C.O. had made his
+temporary headquarters.
+
+"I want to get on further, is there any other village near by?"
+
+"Yes," he said, "there is Haucourt, but I believe Bosche is in part of
+it, or he was this morning. It's about two kilos from here. I shouldn't
+go if I were you unless you get further information; I am expecting
+another patrol in from there. If you care to wait a few minutes you may
+learn something."
+
+I agreed to wait, the "still" man came in just then, and he agreed to
+come with me.
+
+"We may as well risk it," I said. "I will take my old bus into the
+place. If Bosche sees it he may mistake it again for an armoured car."
+
+So, packing the cameras aboard, I waited for the expected patrol to turn
+up. Half an hour passed; no sign. Daylight was waning.
+
+"I am going on," I said to the "still" man, "we cannot wait for the
+patrol, there's not time. Will you come?"
+
+"Yes," he said.
+
+I told the C.O. of my intention.
+
+"It's thundering risky," he said. "You're going into new ground again."
+
+I left Vraignes and advanced at a cautious pace in the direction of
+Haucourt. Rifle-fire was proceeding in the distance, which I judged was
+the other side of the village. A destroyed sugar refinery on the left
+was still smoking. It had been blown up by the Huns and the mass of
+machinery was flung and twisted about in all directions.
+
+In the village I stopped the car close by a crucifix, which was still
+standing.
+
+"Turn the car round," I said to my driver, "and keep the engine going,
+we may have to bolt for it."
+
+Then, shouldering the camera, I made my way up the main street. The
+place was a mass of smoking ruins; absolutely nothing was left. A huge
+mine had been blown up at a cross-road; all trees and bushes had been
+cut down. A piano, curiously enough, was lying in the roadway; the front
+had been smashed, and no doubt all the wires were hacked through by some
+sharp instrument, and the keys had all been broken. The Huns had
+evidently tried to take it away with their other loot, but finding it
+too heavy for quick transport had abandoned, then wilfully destroyed it
+to prevent its being used by others.
+
+The place was as silent as the grave. I filmed a few scenes which
+appealed to me, and was on the move towards the further end of the road
+when two of our cyclists suddenly came into view. I hurried up to them.
+
+"Any news?" I asked. "Where's Bosche?"
+
+The men were half dead with fatigue. Their legs were caked inches thick
+in mud, and it was only by a tremendous effort that they were able to
+lift their feet as they walked. They were pushing their cycles; the mud
+was caked thick between the wheels and the mudguards forming in itself a
+brake on the tyres. Fagged out as they obviously were they tried to
+smile at the reply one made.
+
+"Yes, the Bosche is about here outside the village," said one. "We had a
+small strong point last night over there," pointing in the distance,
+"myself and two pals. We were sitting in the hole smoking when nine
+Bosches jumped in on us. Well, sir, they managed to send my pal West,
+but that's all. Then we started and six Fritzes are lying out there now.
+The other three escaped. It made my blood boil, sir, when they did in my
+pal. I'm going to make a wooden cross, and then bury him. We had been
+together for a long time, sir, and--well--I miss my pal, but we got six
+for him and more to come, sir, more to come before we've finished."
+
+I thanked the man and sympathised with him over his loss and
+complimented him on his fight.
+
+"But it's not enough yet, sir, not enough."
+
+The two then struggled away, bent on their errand of making a cross for
+a pal. And as they disappeared among the ruins I wondered how many men
+in the world could boast of such a true friend. Very few, worse luck!
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The sharp crack of a rifle quickly brought me back to earth. A bullet
+struck the wall close by. I dived under cover of some bricks dragging my
+camera after me. Another came over seeming to strike the spot I had just
+vacated. I decided to keep the ruins between myself and the gentle
+Bosche. Scenes were very scarce, no matter where one looked it was just
+ruins, ruins, ruins.
+
+I wandered on until I came to a long black building, evidently put up by
+the Huns. It was quite intact, which to me seemed suspicious. It might
+hide a German sniper. I put my camera behind a wall then quietly edged
+near the building. Not a sound was audible. In case anyone was there I
+thought of a little ruse. The door was close to me and it opened
+outwards, so picking up a stone I flung it over the roof, intending it
+to fall the other end and so create a diversion. With a sudden pull I
+opened the door alongside me, but with no result. I peered round the
+door; nobody there. I entered and found the building had been used as a
+stable. Straw was lying all over the place; feed-bags had been hastily
+thrown down, halters were dotted here and there, and a Uhlan lance was
+lying on the ground, which, needless to say, I retained as a souvenir.
+The rearguard of the enemy had evidently taken shelter there during the
+previous night and had made a hasty exit owing to the close proximity of
+our boys.
+
+Evening was drawing on apace, so I decided to make my way back to the
+car. The "still" man was awaiting my return.
+
+At Bovincourt I met an Intelligence Officer and told him of my
+experiences. He seemed highly amused and thanked me for the information
+brought. I told him that wishing to be on the spot if anything
+interesting happened during the night or early next morning I had
+decided to sleep in my car in the village. I was going to hunt up a
+place to cook some food.
+
+"I will take you somewhere," he said. "There is the old Mayor of Bierne
+here. He has been evacuated by the Bosche. He's an interesting old
+fellow and you might have a chat with him. He is in a house close by
+with his wife. Come along."
+
+We found the old man in one of the half-dozen remaining houses left
+intact by the Huns.
+
+We entered the kitchen and my friend introduced us to Paul Andrew, a
+tall stately French farmer of a type one rarely sees. He had dark curly
+hair, a shaggy moustache and beard, blue eyes and sunken cheeks, sallow
+complexion and a look of despair upon his face, which seemed to brighten
+up on our entrance.
+
+I asked him if his good wife would cook a little food for us, as we
+wished to stay the night in the village.
+
+"Monsieur," he said, "what we have is yours. God knows it's little
+enough--the Bosche has taken it all. But whatever monsieur wishes he
+has only to ask. Will monsieur sit down?"
+
+I bade adieu to the officer who had brought us there, had the car run
+into the yard, and then returned to the cosy kitchen, and sat by the
+fire whilst the old lady prepared some hot coffee.
+
+"These are more comfortable quarters than we expected to-night," I said.
+"I must make a note of all my scenes taken to-day. Have you a light,
+Monsieur Andrew?"
+
+"Oui, Monsieur, I have only one lamp left and I hid that as the Bosche
+took everything that was made of brass or copper, even the door
+handles."
+
+He brought in the lamp, a small brass one with a candle stuck in it. I
+proceeded with my record, then we supped on bread, sardines, and bully,
+sharing our white bread with Andrew and his wife. They had not seen or
+tasted such wonderful stuff since the Bosche occupation, and their eyes
+sparkled with pleasure on tasting it again. I had brought copies of the
+_Echo de Paris_, _Journal_, _Matin_ and other French papers, and these
+were the first they had seen for two years. The farmer declared it was
+like a man awakening from a long sleep.
+
+"We'll turn in," I said.
+
+Gathering up my coat I opened the door. The freezing cold seemed to
+chill me to the bone, and it was snowing hard. I flashed on my torch and
+we found our way to the car. Quickly getting inside, I unfolded the
+seats which formed two bunks, and struggling inside our sleeping-bags we
+were soon asleep.
+
+[Illustration: THE QUARRY FROM WHICH I CRAWLED TO FILM THE GERMAN
+TRENCHES IN FRONT OF ST. QUENTIN, 1917. IT WAS ALSO THE POINT OF LIAISON
+BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND FRENCH ARMIES]
+
+I awoke with a start. It was pitch dark. I rubbed the steam from the
+door window and looked out; it was still snowing. I had an extraordinary
+feeling that something was happening, that some danger was near. If
+anybody had been there near the car I should have seen them; the snow
+made that possible. But there was not a sign of movement. I got out
+of my sleeping-bag, thinking that if any prowling Bosche patrol ventured
+near I should be able to do something. Nothing happened, and for quite
+half an hour I was on the alert. Several rifle-shots rang out quite
+near, then quietness reigned again, and, as nothing else happened, I
+wriggled into my bag again and dozed.
+
+In the morning I told one of our patrol officers of my experience.
+
+"You were right," he said. "Uhlan rearguard patrols sneaked in near the
+village, and must have passed quite close to your place. My men had some
+shots at them and gave chase, but owing to the confounded snow they got
+away."
+
+I decided that if I slept there again that night it would be with a
+rifle by my side.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+BEFORE ST. QUENTIN
+
+     The "Hindenburg" Line--A Diabolical Piece of
+     Vandalism--Brigadier H.Q. in a Cellar--A Fight in
+     Mid-air--Waiting for the Taking of St. Quentin--_L'Envoi_.
+
+
+Still the great German retreat continued. Village after village fell
+into our hands; mile after mile the enemy was relentlessly pursued by
+our cavalry and cyclist corps. Still the Germans burnt and devastated
+everything in their path although, in some instances, there was evidence
+that they were shifted from their lines of defence with far more force
+and promptitude than they imagined we would put up against them in this
+particular section. The enemy had arranged his operations, as usual, by
+timetable, but he had failed to take into consideration the character of
+the British soldier, with the result his schemes had "gone agley." To
+save men the German high command gave orders for a further retirement to
+their Hindenburg defences, a fortified line of such strength as had
+never been equalled.
+
+If this line was not impregnable, nothing could be. It was the last word
+in defence system and it had taken something like two years to perfect.
+
+The barbed wire, of a special kind, was formidable in its mass; three
+belts fifty feet deep wound about it in an inextricable mass in the form
+of a series of triangles and other geometric designs. The trenches
+themselves were constructional works of art; switch lines were thrown
+out as an extra precaution; in front of the most important strategical
+positions, machine-gun posts and strong points abounded in unlimited
+quantities. It was the Hun's last and most powerful line of defence this
+side of the Franco-German frontier. This "Hindenburg" line stretched
+from a point between Lens and Arras where it joined the northern trench
+system, which had been occupied for the past two years, down to St.
+Quentin, passing behind the town at a distance of about five kilos, with
+a switch line in front to take the first shock of the Allies' blow when
+it came.
+
+Behind this trench the Huns thought they could safely rest and hold up
+the Allies' advance. But, with their wonderful and elaborate system of
+barbed-wire defence which they anticipated would keep us out, they
+probably forgot one point--it would certainly keep them in--tightly
+bolted and barred. Therefore, under such conditions, it was the side
+which had the predominance in guns and munitions that could smash their
+way through by sheer weight of metal, and force a passage through which
+to pour their troops, taking section by section by a series of flanking
+and encircling movements, threaten their line of communication, finally
+cracking up the whole line and compel a further extensive falling back
+to save their armies.
+
+Against the front portion of this line we thrust ourselves early in
+March, 1917, and our massed guns poured in the most terrible fire the
+world had ever known. Lens was practically encircled--the Vimy ridge was
+taken by assault, and dozens of villages captured, resulting in the
+capture of eighteen thousand prisoners and over two hundred guns.
+Hindenburg threw in his divisions with reckless extravagance; he knew
+that if this section gave way all hope of holding on to Northern France
+was gone. Time and again he sent forward his "cannon fodder" in massed
+formation--targets which our guns could not possibly miss--and they
+were mown down in countless numbers; his losses were appalling. In
+certain places his attacking forces succeeded for a time in retaking
+small sections of ground we had gained, only to be driven out by a
+strong counter-attack. His losses were terribly disproportionate to his
+temporary advantage.
+
+I moved down to the extreme right of the British line; St. Quentin was
+the goal upon which I had set my mind. In my opinion the taking of that
+place by a combined Franco-British offensive with the triumphant entry
+of the troops would make a film second to none. In the first place the
+preliminary operations pictorially would differ from all previous issues
+of war films, and in the second place it would be the first film
+actually showing the point of "liaison" with the French and their
+subsequent advance--making it, from an historical, public, and
+sentimental point of view, a film _par excellence_. Therefore in this
+section of the British line I made my stand.
+
+I left my H.Q. early in April, 1917. I intended to live at the line in
+one of the cellars of a small village situated near the Bois de Holnon,
+which had been totally destroyed.
+
+I proceeded by the main St. Quentin road, through Pouilly into
+Caulaincourt. The same desolation and wanton destruction was everywhere
+in evidence; but the most diabolical piece of vandalism was typified by
+the once beautiful Chateau of Caulaincourt, which was an awful heap of
+ruins. The Chateau had been blown into the Somme, with the object of
+damming the river, and so flooding the country-side; partially it
+succeeded, but our engineers were quickly upon the scene and, soon, the
+river was again running its normal course. The flooded park made an
+excellent watering-place for horses. The wonderful paintings and
+tapestries in the library on the Chateau had been destroyed. As I
+wandered among the ruins, filming various scenes of our engineers at
+work sorting out the debris, I noticed many things which must have been
+of inestimable value. Every statue and ornamentation about the grounds
+was wilfully smashed to atoms; the flower-pots which lined the edges of
+the once beautiful floral walks had been deliberately crushed--in fact a
+more complete specimen of purposeless, wanton destruction it would be
+impossible to find.
+
+I filmed the most interesting sections; then continued my way through
+Bouvais on to see the General of a Division. This Division was working
+near the French left. After a very interesting conversation this officer
+recommended me to call on a Brigadier-General.
+
+"He is stationed at ----," he said. "I will ring him up and tell him you
+are on the way. He will give you all the map references of the O.P.'s in
+the neighbourhood. Anyway, you can make your own arrangements, I
+suppose, about views?"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir, certainly, so long as I can get very near to the place."
+
+"Right. You go into all these details with General ----."
+
+Thanking him I hurried away. I found the mines which Bosche had exploded
+at all cross-roads very troublesome, and on one occasion, in
+endeavouring to cross by way of the field alongside, I got badly stuck;
+so I had to borrow a couple of horses to get me out on to the road
+again.
+
+I duly arrived and reported to Brigadier H.Q. It was the cellar of a
+once decent house by the appearance of the garden. I went down six steps
+into a chamber reeking with dampness about six feet high by ten feet
+square; a candle was burning in a bottle on a roughly made table, and,
+sitting at it, was the General closely studying details on a map.
+
+He looked up as I entered.
+
+"Are you the Kinema man?" he enquired. "General ---- told me you were
+coming; what do you want?"
+
+"Well, sir," I said, "I want to obtain films of all the operations in
+connection with the taking of St. Quentin; if you have an
+observation-post from which I can obtain a good view it will suit me
+admirably."
+
+"I am sure we can fix you up all right. But we are just going to have a
+meal; sit down and join us. We can then go into details."
+
+Lunch was served in primitive fashion, which was unavoidable under such
+conditions--but we fared sumptuously, although on a rough plain table
+with odds and ends for platters, and boxes and other makeshifts for
+chairs.
+
+During the meal I went into details with the General about my
+requirements. He quite understood my position and thoroughly appreciated
+my keen desire to obtain something unique in the way of film story.
+
+"The taking of St. Quentin by the Allied troops, sir, would be one of my
+finest films."
+
+"Well," he said, "the French are bombarding the suburbs and other
+places, so far as damage is concerned, to-day; our batteries are also
+giving a hand. I should advise you to go to this spot"--indicating a
+position on the map. "What do you think?" he turned to the Brigade
+Major. "Will this do for him?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I should think so."
+
+"Anyway, I can soon see, if you can put me on the road to find it. But a
+guide would save time."
+
+"You had better take him," said the General to the Brigade Major; "you
+know the place quite well."
+
+"Right, sir," he said.
+
+So, getting hold of an extra orderly to help carry my kit, we started
+off, up through a wood and then for the first time I viewed St. Quentin.
+
+"We had better spread out here," said my guide. "Bosche can observe all
+movements from the Cathedral tower, and he doesn't forget to 'strafe' us
+although no harm is ever done."
+
+"He is crumping now by all appearances," I replied, noticing some crumps
+bursting about three hundred yards away.
+
+"Yes, they are 'strafing' the place we are going to! That's cheerful,
+anyway. We will make a wide detour; he's putting shrapnel over now. Look
+out! Keep well to the side of the wood."
+
+We kept under cover until it was necessary to cross a field to a distant
+copse.
+
+"That's our O.P. We have some guns there, worse luck."
+
+"Hullo, keep down," I said; "that's a burst of four."
+Crash--crash--crash--crash! in quick succession, the fearful bursts
+making the ground tremble.
+
+"Very pretty," I remarked. "I will get my camera ready for the next
+lot."
+
+They came--and I started turning one after the other; it was an
+excellent scene; but, as the enemy seemed to swing his range round
+slightly, the pieces were coming much too near to be healthy. So,
+hastily packing up, we made straight for the copse on the quarry top.
+
+High shrapnel was now bursting, several pieces whistling very
+unpleasantly near.
+
+"Let's get under shelter of the trees," said the Brigade Major, "the
+trunks will give us a lot of cover."
+
+We made a run for it, and reached them safely, and, gently drawing near
+the outer edge, I was in full view of St. Quentin.
+
+The Cathedral loomed up with great prominence--and shrapnel was
+exploding near the tower.
+
+"That's to keep the Hun observers down," he said. "We are not, of
+course, shelling the place to damage it at all. Those fires you can see
+there are of Bosche making; he is systematically burning the place as a
+prelude to retreat. My Intelligence officer says that the Palace of
+Justice and the theatre are well alight, and airmen declare the town
+quite empty; they flew over it yesterday only about two hundred feet
+above the house-tops and they were not fired at once. Seems to me
+they've evacuated the populace entirely."
+
+"Jove," I said, "the French are letting them have it over there,"
+pointing in the distance.
+
+"That is, of course, south of the town, very nearly running due east and
+west--it's an excellent barrage--and all H.E., too."
+
+I soon got my camera into action and, carefully concealing the tripod
+behind a tree trunk or rather a little to one side, I began exposing.
+
+The firing was very heavy. I continued exposing on various sections
+which gave me the most comprehensive idea of barrage fire.
+
+"The French are bang up against the 'Hindenburg' line there, and it's
+pretty deep in wire--as you know," said my guide, "but I think they will
+manage it all right; it's only a matter of time. Hullo! they are
+'strafing' their confounded guns again with H.E. Look out! keep down!"
+And keep down we did. "Those 5.9 of brother Fritz's are not very kind to
+one; we had better stay for a few minutes; he may catch us crossing the
+field."
+
+Ten minutes went by; things were a bit quieter, so, hastily packing up,
+we doubled back to the road.
+
+"I never did like getting near forward gun position," I said, "but,
+curiously enough, my best view-points compel me on many occasions to fix
+up in their vicinity."
+
+We got on to the road without casualties and in time to see the H.L.I.
+forming up to leave at dusk for the front line, or the series of strong
+points which comprised it in this section.
+
+They were having the operation orders read out to them by their officer
+in charge. The scenes made very interesting ones for me--the men, alert
+and keen to the last degree, stood there in line, listening intently to
+the words until the end.
+
+The next morning I had a wire from H.Q. asking me to take charge of two
+French journalists for a day or two; they were most anxious to see the
+British troops in action before St. Quentin. Towards midday they
+arrived--M. Gustave Babin, of _L'Illustration_, Paris--and M. Eugene
+Tardeau, of the _Echo de Paris_. I presented these gentlemen to the
+General, who kindly extended every facility to them.
+
+I took them up to the observation post from which they could look down
+on St. Quentin.
+
+"It will be a great moment for me," said M. Babin, "to obtain the first
+impression of the Allied entry in the town."
+
+For myself the day was quite uneventful, beyond obtaining extra scenes
+of the preparatory work of our artillery. The heavy bombardment was
+continuing with unabated fury, the horizon was black with the smoke of
+bursting high explosives, huge masses of shrapnel were showering their
+leaden messengers of death upon the enemy. Towards evening the weather
+changed for the worse. It began with a biting cold sleet, which quickly
+turned into snow.
+
+That night we slept in an old greenhouse which was open to the four
+winds of heaven. The cold was intense. I rolled myself up tight in my
+bag and drew my waterproof ground-sheet well over my body. It was a
+good job I did so for the snow was blowing in through the many fissures
+and cracks and settling upon me like fallen leaves in autumn.
+
+The heavy shelling continued throughout the night. Several Bosche shells
+came unpleasantly near, shaking my rickety shelter in an alarming
+manner.
+
+The next day the weather continued vile and the operations were
+indefinitely postponed. Therefore there was nothing further to do but to
+return to H.Q.
+
+St. Quentin, for the present, was to me a blank, although I had
+continued for some time preparing all the scenes leading up to its
+capture.
+
+The weather was changing, the ground was drying. Our line, just north of
+the town, was being pushed further forward. Holon-Selency,
+Francilly-Selency, Fayet and Villerete had fallen to our victorious
+troops, but the main attack was not yet.
+
+To obtain scenes of our men actually in the front line trenches facing
+the town, I made my way through Savy and Savy Wood, in which not a
+single tree was left standing by the Bosche. Through the wood I
+carefully worked forward by keeping well under cover of a slight rise in
+the ground. I met a battalion commander on the way who kindly directed
+me to the best path to take.
+
+"But be careful and keep your head down. Hun snipers are very active and
+he is putting shrapnel over pretty frequently. Although it doesn't hurt
+us--it evidently amuses him," he said, with a smile. "There is one
+section where you will have to run the gauntlet--for you are in full
+view of the lines. Keep down as low as possible."
+
+I thanked the C.O. and went ahead. The weather was now perfect--a
+cloudless blue sky flecked here and there by the furry white balls of
+our bursting shrapnel around Hun aeroplanes, keeping them well above
+observation range.
+
+I noticed a flight of our men winging their way over enemy lines. I
+could hear the rapid fire of the Bosche anti-aircraft guns, and see
+their black balls of shrapnel burst. But our birdmen went on their way
+without a moment's hesitation. I recalled the time when I was up among
+the clouds, filming the Bosche lines thirteen thousand feet above mother
+earth.
+
+Suddenly a sharp crack, crack and whir of a machine-gun rang out. A
+fight was going on up there; our anti-aircraft guns ceased, being afraid
+of hitting our own men, but the Bosche still kept on.
+
+It was impossible to see the progress of the fight; the whole flock was
+now directly overhead. Watching the "strafe" with such keen interest,
+this point quite escaped me until pieces of shrapnel began to fall
+around in alarming proportions, causing me to beat a hasty retreat out
+of range, though I still hung about in the hope of a Bosche machine
+being brought down, thereby providing me with a thrilling scene. But it
+did not happen. The airmen disappeared in a southerly direction, still
+fighting until the sharp cracks of the guns droned away in the distance.
+
+In a few minutes I came in full view of one of our strong points in the
+shape of a disused quarry. Around the inner lip our Tommies had made a
+series of funk-holes, which looked quite picturesque in the bright
+sunlight.
+
+Machine-gun parties were there ready for anything that might turn up; in
+the far corner a group of Frenchmen were chattering volubly to a knot of
+our men.
+
+This certainly was a most interesting scene--the point of "liaison"
+between the two great armies, France and Britain. I noticed by fresh
+shell-holes that Bosche had a rather bad habit of annoying the place
+with his pip-squeaks, but generally they only resulted in scoring a
+Blighty for more or one of the occupants--and, for others, they were a
+source of amusement in the shape of gambling on the spot the next one
+would fall.
+
+I filmed various sections here, then, having partaken of a little tea, I
+wended my way to the trenches. I kept low, as the tower of the Cathedral
+was in full view. I had previously covered the aluminium head of my
+tripod with a sandbag to prevent it glistening in the sun. As I drew
+nearer to the trench, which I could now see quite distinctly, more and
+more of St. Quentin came into view. Such a picture gives one rather a
+queerish feeling. If a keen-eyed Hun observer spotted me, with my load,
+he would take me for a machine-gunner or something equally dangerous.
+But, fortunately, nothing happened.
+
+I dropped into the trench of the ---- Worcesters who were amazed and
+amused to see me there, as one of them said:
+
+"Well, sir, I always thought all the War pictures were fakes, but now I
+know they're not.
+
+"Will you take us, sir? We expect to go over to-night. Please do, sir;
+our people at home will then in all probability see us. Don't suppose I
+shall. I have an idea I shan't--but," he said, pulling himself together,
+"I hope so, yer know, sir."
+
+I liked the man's spirit. It caused all the others to smile. I carefully
+fixed up my machine and filmed them, holding our front line.
+
+"How close is this to the town?" I asked.
+
+"About nine hundred yards, sir."
+
+[Illustration: OUR OUTPOST LINE WITHIN 800 YARDS OF ST. QUENTIN. IT WAS
+TO THIS OUTPOST THAT I CRAWLED IN DAYLIGHT TO OBTAIN THIS SCENE]
+
+Whether or not Bosche had seen movement I don't know, but suddenly a
+group of four 5.9 came crashing over. Everybody ducked--wise plan,
+rather, out here--they fell and burst about fifty yards behind us. I
+awaited the next lot; they came very shortly and fell in almost the same
+place.
+
+"Before he shortens the range," I thought, "I'll move," and suiting the
+action to the word I moved out towards the Bois de Savy and was half-way
+there when another lot burst in my direction. This time I made for the
+Bois de Holnon, and fortunately the shells ceased.
+
+As I reached the furthest side of the Bois de Savy several tear shells
+came whistling over and burst just behind me. Needless to say I had
+fallen flat, and, as I arose, the sweet smell of tear gas made itself
+evident. Not intending to risk a repetition of my previous experience at
+Beaumont Hamel, I closed my eyes and ran like--well, you couldn't see me
+for dust.
+
+Yard by yard we continued to press back the enemy. For me the film story
+of the taking of St. Quentin is an obsession. It holds me as a needle to
+a magnet. And in this section, at the present, I remain--waiting and
+watching.
+
+My leave is fast running out, and I am nearing the end of my story. In
+all the pictures that it has been my good fortune to take during the two
+and a half years that I have been kept at work on the great European
+battlefield, I have always tried to remember that it was through the eye
+of the camera, directed by my own sense of observation, that the
+millions of people at home would gain their only first-hand knowledge of
+what was happening at the front.
+
+I have tried to make my pictures actual and reliable, above all I have
+striven to catch the atmosphere of the battlefield, and whilst I have
+dwelt as little as possible upon its horrors, I have aimed at showing
+the magnificent spirit which imbues our fighting men, from the highest
+in command to the humblest unit in the ranks.
+
+I am proud to think that the task of doing this has been mine, and in
+doing it, I have tried "to do my bit" for the land that gave me birth.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+A
+
+Albert, 172
+
+Albert, King of the Belgians, 217
+
+Alexander of Teck, Prince, 217
+
+Amiens, 254
+
+Andrew Paul, Mayor of Bierne, 289, 290
+
+Anzacs, the, 211
+
+Armentieres, 108
+
+Arras, 83, 108, 293
+
+Aubers Ridge, 114
+
+Australians, the, 197, 198
+
+
+B
+
+Babin, M. Gustave, of _L'Illustration_, 299
+
+Bailleul, 52
+
+Bapaume, 250
+
+Basle, 41
+
+Beaumont Hamel, 124, 129, 165, 208, 245, 265, 303
+
+Becourt Wood, 172, 176, 197
+
+Belfort, 42
+
+Belgians, Queen of, 217, 218
+
+Bernafay Wood, 186, 188
+
+Besancon, 42, 47
+
+Biaches, 254
+
+Biel, 41
+
+Bierne, 277, 284, 289
+
+Bizantin-le-Grand, 190
+
+Bois de Holnon, 294, 303
+
+Bois de Savy, 300, 303
+
+Boulogne, 205-7, 253, 254
+
+Bouleaux Wood, 240
+
+Bouvais, 295
+
+Bovincourt, 270, 271, 274, 275, 277, 279-84, 289
+
+Brie, 263, 267, 269, 272, 274, 276
+
+Brooks, Lieut., Official "Still" Photographer, 259-65, 275
+
+Burstall, General, 218
+
+
+C
+
+Calais, 219-221
+
+Cambrai, 259
+
+Canadians, the, 52-60, 218
+
+Camoy Valley, 184
+
+Caulaincourt, 294
+
+Cavan, Earl of, 63, 76, 77
+
+Clarendon Film Co., the, 5
+
+Contalmaison, 199, 201-203
+
+
+D
+
+Delemont, 41
+
+Delville Wood, 238
+
+Dieppe, 48
+
+Dijon, 47
+
+_Dinorah_, S.S., the, 48
+
+Dixmude, 31
+
+Dunkirk, 111
+
+
+E
+
+Estrees, 259, 271, 276
+
+
+F
+
+Fayet, 300
+
+Festubert, 108, 114
+
+Foch, Gen., 215
+
+Folkestone, 251
+
+Foscaucourt, 259
+
+Foucacourt, 276
+
+Francilly-Selency, 300
+
+Fricourt, 171, 208, 209, 212
+
+Fromelles, 114
+
+Furnes, 6, 8, 13, 15, 21, 29, 30, 38
+
+
+G
+
+Gaumont Co., the, 5
+
+George V--
+  his approval of Somme film, 177
+  arrival at Boulogne, 206, 207
+  attends Divine Service, 217
+  on Battlefield of Fricourt, 208-211
+  being filmed, 216
+  his departure from France, 220, 221
+  greets Sir H. Rawlinson, 208
+  at hospitals, 212
+  inspects Canadians, 218
+  meets M. Poincare and Gen. Joffre, 215, 216
+  and puppy, 212, 213
+  visits King of the Belgians, 217, 218
+
+George, David Lloyd, Prime Minister, 177, 216, 217
+
+Givenchy, 108
+
+Gommecourt, 123
+
+Gouerment, 122
+
+Goumiers, the (Algerian Arabs), 15-17, 21
+
+Guards' Division, the, 61, 63, 65-71, 76-79, 234, 241
+
+Guillemont, 135, 234, 236, 238
+
+Gully Ravine, 136
+
+
+H
+
+Haig, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas, 207, 208, 214-16
+
+Haucourt, 277
+
+Hawthorn Redoubt, the, 141, 159
+
+Hill 60, 113
+
+Hill 63, 56-58
+
+Hindenburg, General, 293
+
+"Hindenburg Line," the, 259, 292, 293, 298
+
+Hohenzollern Redoubt, the, 108
+
+Holon-Selency, 300
+
+
+J
+
+Joffre, General, 214-216
+
+Josephine, Princess, 218
+
+Jury, Mr. Will, 176
+
+
+K
+
+Keppel, Sir Derek, 207
+
+Kinematograph Trade Topical Committee, the, 51
+
+"King George's Hill," 209
+
+Kitchener, Earl of, 206
+
+
+L
+
+La Bassee, 65, 72, 114, 115
+
+La Boisselle, 171
+
+La Gorgue, 61
+
+La Maisonnette, Chateau of, 255
+
+Lancashire Fusiliers, the, 127, 152, 157
+
+Lancers, 17th, the, 214
+
+Lens, 293
+
+Lesboeufs, 234, 239, 245
+
+London Scottish, the, 122, 234
+
+Loos, 104, 108, 114
+
+Lueze Wood, 238
+
+
+M
+
+Malins, Lieut. Geoffrey H., O.B.E.--
+  appointed Official War Office Kinematographer, 51
+  arrested in Switzerland, 41
+  at Battle of St. Eloi, 85-92
+  on battlefield of Neuve Chapelle, 72-79
+  with Belgian Army, 6-13, 30-39
+  in bombardment of Furnes, 31
+  with Canadians, 52-60
+  his description of preparation of film, 178-182
+  experiences in aeroplane, 107-120
+  films Battle of the Somme, 121-177
+  with Goumiers, near Nieuport, 15-21
+  with Guards' Division, 65-71
+  his life before the War, 5
+  narrow escapes of, 93-106, 142-146
+  at Pozieres and Contalmaison, 196-204
+  and Prince of Wales, 77, 207, 212
+  at Ramscapelle, 32-34
+  reported dead, 38
+  spends Christmas at the Front, 62-64
+  and Tanks, 222
+  on tracks of retreating Huns, 254-303
+  in Trones Wood, 183-195
+  views battle of sand-dunes, 22-29
+  visits ruins of Guillemont and Mouquet Farm, 234-250
+  on Vosges Mountains, 40-48
+  on Western Front with the King, 205-221
+  at Ypres and Arras, 80-84
+
+Mametz, 171
+
+Martinpuich, battle of, 234
+
+Messines, 52, 54, 113
+
+Middlesex Regt., the, 152
+
+Mons, 136
+
+Mons en Chaussee, 269, 272
+
+Montaubon, 186
+
+Morval, 234, 239, 245
+
+Mouquet Farm, 245, 247, 248
+
+
+N
+
+Neuve Chapelle, 72, 73, 108, 114
+
+Nieuport, 15, 31
+
+Nieuport Bain, 22, 23
+
+Norfolks, the, 234
+
+North Staffordshire Regt., the, 206
+
+Northumberland Fusiliers, the, 218
+
+
+O
+
+Oost-Dunkerque, 22
+
+Ostend, 111
+
+
+P
+
+Peronne, 254-258
+
+Perrontruy, 41
+
+Petite Douve, 56, 58, 60
+
+Ploegsteert, 108, 114
+
+Ploegsteert Wood, 53, 56
+
+Ploegstrathe, 52
+
+Poincare, President, 214-216
+
+Pouilly, 279, 294
+
+Pozieres, 197, 198, 201-203, 211, 245
+
+
+R
+
+Ramscapelle, 6, 12, 31-33
+
+Rawlinson, General Sir H. S., 136, 208
+
+Remiremont, 42
+
+Richebourg, 108
+
+Richebourg St. Vaaste, 55
+
+Royal Engineers, West Riding Field Co., 136
+
+Royal Fusiliers, the, 136, 137, 152
+
+Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the, 65
+
+
+S
+
+St. Die, 40, 42, 43, 47
+
+St. Eloi, 108, 113
+
+St. Eloi, Battle of, 89-92, 218
+
+St. Quentin, 259, 267, 293, 294, 296-303
+
+Savy, 300
+
+Somme, River, 255, 263, 265-267, 275, 294
+
+Somme Battle, film of, 176-178, 183, 223
+
+Stamfordham, Lord, 207
+
+Suffolks, the, 234
+
+
+T
+
+Tanks, the, 225, 229-233, 237, 240
+
+Tardeau, M. Eugene, of _Echo de Paris_, 299
+
+Thiepval, 245
+
+Thompson, Major, 207
+
+Tong, Mr., 51, 52, 64
+
+Trones Wood, 184, 186, 190, 192, 241
+
+
+U
+
+Uhlans, the, 32
+
+
+V
+
+Vernilles, 132
+
+Villerete, 300
+
+Villers-Carbonel, 259-266, 276
+
+Vimy Ridge, 293
+
+Vosges, the, 40, 47, 51
+
+Vraignes, 270, 275, 277, 281
+
+
+W
+
+Wales, Edward, Prince of--
+  his anxiety to avoid camera, 77, 212
+  attends service on Christmas Day, 63
+  cheered by Tommies, 211
+  and General Foch, 216
+  in German trench, 210, 211
+  inspects gun-pits, 77
+  meets King George at Boulogne, 207
+  takes leave of King George, 220
+
+Wigram, Lieut.-Col. Clive, 207, 216, 219
+
+
+Y
+
+Ypres, 55, 75, 80-83, 111, 112, 253
+
+
+
+PRINTED BY WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD.
+PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND
+
+  +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+  | Transcriber's Notes                                          |
+  |                                                              |
+  | Page 59: "Wall, sir..." _sic_                                |
+  | Page 68: afther _sic_                                        |
+  | Page 203: Boche amended to Bosche                            |
+  | Page 268: Closing quotes added ("I will get it down.")       |
+  | Page 269: Chausse amended to Chaussee                        |
+  | Page 273: axel amended to axle                               |
+  | Page 277: was amended to saw ("Later on they say they        |
+  | saw....")                                                    |
+  | Page 279: if amended to it ("To take it off....")            |
+  | Page 281: evidently amended to evident                       |
+  | Page 285: moniseur amended to monsieur                       |
+  | Page 293: kilos _sic_                                        |
+  | Page 295: beeen amended to been                              |
+  | Page 305: Becourt amended to Becourt                         |
+  | Page 206: Les Boeufs amended to Lesboeufs                    |
+  | Page 306: Reboubt amended to Redoubt                         |
+  | Page 307: Vaast amended to Vaaste                            |
+  |                                                              |
+  | Illustration facing page 12: skies amended to skis           |
+  | Illustration facing page 184: Poincarie amended to Poincare  |
+  | Illustration facing page 206: Poincarie amended to Poincare  |
+  | Illustration facing page 290: liason amended to liaison      |
+  |                                                              |
+  | Hyphenation has generally been standardized. However, when a |
+  | word appears hyphenated and unhyphenated an equal number of  |
+  | times, both versions have been retained                      |
+  | (earsplitting/ear-splitting; everyday/every-day;             |
+  | selfsame/self-same).                                         |
+  +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's How I Filmed the War, by Lieut. Geoffrey H. Malins
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