war and the future-第18章
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deceive the very elect at a distance of a few thousand feet。 The
camouflage of concealment aims either at invisibility or
imitation； I have seen a supply train look like a row of
cottages； its smoke…stack a chimney； with the tops of sham
palings running along the back of the engine and creepers painted
up its sides。 But that was a flight of the imagination； the
commonest camouflage is merely to conceal。 Trees are brought up
and planted near the object to be hidden； it is painted in the
same tones as its background； it is covered with an awning
painted to look like grass or earth。 I suppose it is only a
matter of development before a dummy cow or so is put up to chew
the cud on the awning。
But camouflage or no camouflage； the bulk of both the French and
British forces in the new won ground of the great offensive lay
necessarily in the open。 Only the big guns and the advanced Red
Cross stations had got into pits and subterranean hiding places。
The advance has been too rapid and continuous for the armies to
make much of a toilette as they halted； and the destruction and
the desolation of the country won afforded few facilities for
easy concealment。 Tents； transport； munitions； these all
indicated an army on the marchat the rate of half a mile in a
week or so； to Germany。 If the wet and mud of November and
December have for a time delayed that advance； the force behind
has but accumulated for the resumption of the thrust。
3
A journey up from the base to the front trenches shows an
interesting series of phases。 One leaves Amiens； in which the
normal life threads its way through crowds of resting men in
khaki and horizon blue； in which staff officers in automobiles
whisk hither and thither； in which there are nurses and even a
few inexplicable ladies in worldly costume； in which restaurants
and cafes are congested and busy； through which there is a
perpetual coming and going of processions of heavy vans to the
railway sidings。 One dodges past a monstrous blue…black gun
going up to the British front behind two resolute traction
enginesthe three sun…blistered young men in the cart that
trails behind lounge in attitudes of haughty pride that would
shame the ceiling gods of Hampton Court。 One passes through
arcades of waiting motor vans； through arcades of waiting motor
vans； through suburbs still more intensely khaki or horizon blue；
and so out upon the great straight poplar…edged roadto the
front。 Sometimes one laces through spates of heavy traffic；
sometimes the dusty road is clear ahead； now we pass a vast
aviation camp； now a park of waiting field guns； now an
encampment of cavalry。 One turns aside； and abruptly one is in
FranceFrance as one knew it before the war； on a shady
secondary road； past a delightful chateau behind its iron gates；
past a beautiful church； and then suddenly we are in a village
street full of stately Indian soldiers。
It betrays no military secret to say that commonly the rare
tourist to the British offensive passes through Albert； with its
great modern red cathedral smashed to pieces and the great gilt
Madonna and Child that once surmounted the tower now； as everyone
knows； hanging out horizontally in an attitude that irresistibly
suggests an imminent dive upon the passing traveller。 One looks
right up under it。
Presently we begin to see German prisoners。 The whole lot look
entirely contented； and are guarded by perhaps a couple of men in
khaki。 These German prisoners do not attempt to escape； they
have not the slightest desire for any more fighting； they have
done their bit； they say； honour is satisfied； they give
remarkably little trouble。 A little way further on perhaps we
pass their cage； a double barbed…wire enclosure with a few tents
and huts within。
A string of covered waggons passes by。 I turn and see a number
of men sitting inside and looking almost as cheerful as a
beanfeast in Epping Forest。 the make facetious gestures。 They
have a subdued sing…song going on。 But one of them looks a
little sick； and then I notice not very obtrusive bandages。
〃Sitting…up cases；〃 my guide explains。
These are part of the casualties of last night's fight。
The fields on either side are now more evidently in the war zone。
The array of carts； the patches of tents； the coming and going of
men increases。 But here are three women harvesting； and
presently in a cornfield are German prisoners working under one
old Frenchman。 Then the fields become trampled again。 Here is a
village； not so very much knocked about； and passing through it
we go slowly beside a long column of men going up to the front。
We scan their collars for signs of some familiar regiment。 These
are new men going up for the first time； there is a sort of
solemn elation in many of their faces。
The men coming down are usually smothered in mud or dust； and
unless there has been a fight they look pretty well done up。
They stoop under their equipment； and some of the youngsters
drag。 One pleasant thing about this coming down is the welcome
of the regimental band； which is usually at work as soon as the
men turn off from the high road。 I hear several bands on the
British front； they do much to enhance the general cheerfulness。
On one of these days of my tour I had the pleasure of seeing the
…th Blankshires coming down after a fight。 As we drew near I
saw that they combined an extreme muddiness with an unusual
elasticity。 They all seemed to be looking us in the face instead
of being too fagged to bother。 Then I noticed a nice grey helmet
dangling from one youngster's bayonet； in fact his eye directed
me to it。 A man behind him had a black German helmet of the type
best known in English illustrations； then two more grey appeared。
The catch of helmets was indeed quite considerable。 Then I
perceived on the road bank above and marching parallel with this
column； a double file of still muddier Germans。 Either they wore
caps or went bare…headed。 There were no helmets among them。 We
do not rob our prisoners buta helmet is a weapon。 Anyhow； it
is an irresistible souvenir。
Now and then one sees afar off an ammunition dump； many hundreds
of stacks of shellswithout their detonators as yetbeing
unloaded from railway trucks； transferred from the broad gauge to
the narrow gauge line； or loaded onto motor trolleys。 Now and
then one crosses a railway line。 The railway lines run
everywhere behind the British front； the construction follows the
advance day by day。 They go up as fast as the guns。 One's guide
remarks as the car bumps over the level crossing； 〃That is one of
Haig's railways。〃 It is an aspect of the Commander…in…Chief that
has much impressed and pleased the men。 And at last we begin to
enter the region of the former Allied trenches； we pass the old
German front line； we pass ruined houses； ruined fields； and
thick patches of clustering wooden crosses and boards where the
dead of the opening assaults lie。 There are no more reapers now；
there is no more green upon the fields； there is no green
anywhere； scarcely a tree survives by the roadside； but only
overthrown trunks and splintered stumps； the fields are
wildernesses of shell craters and coarse weeds； the very woods
are collections of blasted stems and stripped branches。 This
absolutely ravaged and ruined battlefield country extends now
along the front of the Somme offensive for a depth of many miles；
across it the French and British camps and batteries creep
forward； the stores； the dumps； the railways creep forward； in
their untiring； victorious thrust against the German lines。
Overhead hum and roar the aeroplanes； away towards the enemy the
humped； blue sausage…shaped kite balloons brood thoughtfully； and
from this point and that； guns； curiously invisible until they
speak； flash suddenly and strike their one short hammer…blow of
sound。
Then one sees an enemy shell drop among the little patch of trees
on the crest to the right； and kick up a great red…black mass of
smoke and dust。 We see it； and then we hear the whine of its
arrival and at last the bang。 The Germans are blind now； they
have lost the air； they are firing by
