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- - DEEDS of the WELSH1 .REGIMENT.
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DEEDS of the WELSH1 REGIMENT. Being the Diary of a Soldier. Remarkable Record of Experiences -.Ii. at the Front. t* 'I> -_U_ By PRIVATE SAMUEL KNIGHT. The Herald of Wales has the good fortune The "Herald of Wa.les" has the good fortune to be able to publish what is really the first general narrative and analysis, on the human side, of the European Catas- trophe. This diary of a private soldier—a Swansea man— includes practjcally a 11 the big events of the war, written on the spot by one who took an active part in each, and can felicitiously describe them in chaste, dramatic and elegant prose. For our diarist is an "intellectual" never un-1 mindful of the deeper significance of the scenes through which he passes, the home life of the peoples, the tragedy to civilians of war's havoc. The map to which Private Knight makes frequent re- ference will be published with a. later instalment. The contents of a private diary, being the record of an individual's feelings and thoughts, are seldom submitted to the Press for publication. The writer's yw" are individual and particular in character, and are, thpretore, not suited to the tastes of the public reader. I had no intention of ever publishing my diary. hut upon reflection, I consider it my bounds duty to proclaim to the w&rid in my humb? way the deeds of the Welh Regiment, composed chiefly of the f'" bona of Swansea. ',0 Now and again a newspaper would stray into the trenches. There "ve would read of the gallantry of some British Regiment. In rain we. who had borne the brunt of the war from thft outset, sought for an account- of our efforts..Onr heroic cjeeds. the accomplishment of which meant the sacriifce of so many of my comrades, were feft unsung. It is therefore not so much to the honour of us few who have been spared. but to the everlasting an- gloriou!" ¡ memory of my comrade, who now lie beneath the cold soil of France and Bel- l gium. that I publish my diary no' not my diary alone, but their s. for my trials were their trials also. I was called up on August ith. Or rh e same day I proceeded to Cardiff, i thence to Bordon Camp, Hampshire. After a few days of anxious waiting I proceeded to Southampton. Wednesday, August 12th.—Embarked on the Bremar Castle." The Queen's Regiment occupied the lower, the Welsh Regiment the upper decks. It was a beautiful night. The moon'8 reflection danced on the ripples. The anchor, weighed, and as if at a given signal, a; thousand Welsh throats, to the wonder of their silent English comrades below, buret forth into song. Pelyn Aur," Beth Sydd i mi to y Byd," snd Hen Wlad fx -Nhadoii re-echoed again and again along the silent banks of the Southampton waters. Thus we said "good-bye" to the Motherland. To- ward", midnight it. became very cold. 1. with no covering, had been lying down on the deck I crawled about and .n found warm nook—one of the ven- tilators leading from the engine-room. I eetled down and was ooon asleep. Thursday, August 13th,-Awoko at 4.30 a.m. Saw the French coast. 8 a.m. antered T.e Havre. Ringing Welsh and Freoch National Anthems, It's a long way to Tipperary." Crowds of French people streaming along the quay, shouted Vive 1M Anglaiee and Vive L' Angletere." 10 a.m.. di-sembarked. Saw a ecmrnat--who wanted to buy rae brNrti-in difficulty with some French people. So armed with a French and English dictionary I went to his rescue. 2 p.m., marched through Le Havre to camp 15 miles away., En route we were •showered with gifts from the French in exchange for onr hadges. We were givell wine and decorated with flowers. The regiment on the march looked like an animated flower garden; zi-vat bloorut striking out of tho barrels of the rifles, in the cape and coats of men. Friday, August 14th.Undpr canvas at I<e .Ha\-rp. Colonel read a message from the Kin?. 15tii-P,oused at 2 a. m Saturday, August 15th—Roused at 2 8,m, Terrible storm raging. Never saw such a display of lightning. Moved off in a terribb downpour to station and en. trained for Reeroi. Sunday, August 16th.—My first train journey in France. Don't think much of it; 2S hours in a cattle truck. These trucks we labelled to carry eight h'oræs, We were 46 men in ea<?h truck- De- trained. marched 12 mile? in a downpour, and billeted in a village called Lesc hel1œ. Monday, August 17th.—Le&chelles: "Route march 8 miles. Tuesday, August Ifth.-Le,-chp route march 10 miles. Changed some English for French money; found a pear and apple tree; splendid meal of stewed fruit followed. Wednesday, August 19th.—Loschelles: Route march 10 miles—sweltering heat and pack painfully heavy. Thursday, August 20th.Marrhfd 12 r. i iles towards Belgium. Billeted in linage: Rne large bam full of hay. Farmer takes us into his orchard to a tin., plum tree covered with the ripe luscious fruit. Soon made short work of it. Made myself snug in the hay, then, sleep and dreams. Friday, August 21st.-MoH'd off at 4 30 a.m.. still in the direction of Belgium J'ains in the shmùders: I rciiing with Mich a weight ttot&l ?Ibs.?is very trT- ing. I agree with the remark current among my comrades, that we have another enemy to fight as well! as the Germans, viz.: the park on our backs. Have marched 15 miles. Men fall helpless on the rGad At (he last halt I experimented nitk the scraps and buckles to fix my I equipment so as to distribute the weight j on my body. I have succeeded, and ami now Reeling very fit. Billet in a French, village: plenty of hay in the barn. I do, a little shopping; pair of socks, bread, chocolate, and biscuits. Saturday, August 22nd.—Moved off «t three a.m. still towards Bel- gium. Reached Maubsuge (see map) the fortified town on the frontier. We I ting an we pass through the town, much to the astonishment of the native, who answer back vociferously. Vive I"Anglo.ferp- and Viw les Anglais:" Our regiment is complimented on its appearance by the General Staff. We halt outside the forts; Freneh soldiers come into our lines. Here the general atTBosphero goes to show that the Germans are not far off, I waJi out and examine the barbed wire entangle ments, the finest I have seen. I con- jecture that it will taks-SOM,LL stubborn fighting to break through this place. But like the rest of the world. I was unaware of th?t powerful GermAn gun—that masterpiece of sc ience and invention. It took the Germans about half an hour to raze this fort fo the ground., W< mwe oS agam lu t? aftauww. a-nA- at G p.m. billet in a Belgium village. I ester an allotted barn. take off my equip, ment and fall wearily upon some hay. as w, had just completed an 13 m Me march. T had not been resting one minute when the order to fall in come- along again. We are off. Very cautiously we trudge along in the gutters on each side of the roatj until we come to the outskirts of a village. We lie in the gutter, then crawl stealthily towards the village. Wr hear movements of cavalry in the villas* square. With bated breath and fingers on triggers one man chal- lenges them. Wo find they are Frenelt- raen, with their swords dripping with the gore of many Germans. We barri- cad., ih" roads leading into the village and mount our sentri^. I am fortunate enough to obtain a few hours' rest. The name of this village is Pessant. (See Map). Only A Company of my regiment is in occupation. Sunday, August 23.—Dawn breaks, and I see a heartrending sight. Kefugees. consisting of feeble old women and young c hildren, sit in little family groups in the roadway. The expression on their poor faces I shall never forget. Driven from their homes, they have been walk- ing alt night. If in the past few days we have been a little in the darkness as to the object of our presence in this country, we see it now. What man does not think of his home. mother, wife, or s ister! We have a cause now. Every man is infused with a new energy. The villagers are being warned to leave their homes for a place of safety, as the Germans are expected soon. I go on out- post duty on one of the roads just out- side the village. We make a barricade of ¡ carts across the road. and mount guard. We allow no one to pass out of the village towards the advancing Germans, and exami ne passports of all who come into the village. e move to a brick- yard, fortify this place with the un- baked bricks lying around, and make loopholes ior firing purposes. I take some photographs. Things are very slow. The officer suggests a game of cards. I deal, and we commence the rubber; but no aooner have wo begun when the order I comes along to move off. The South Wales Borderers relieve. U6 here, and we march off; a night march to a village on the right of Mons. (See map). We join the regiment here and go into billets. At I the moment. I settle down for a well- earned rest, I am told 06 for guard. I am third relief, and mount at 2 aaii- I remain on sentry until 4 a.m. I have orders to call the officer at the latter hour. I sleep, or endeavour to do so--my bed is a stone floor— from 11 until 2. 1 mount guard at, 2 a.m. At 2.30 I rouse the sergeant and report rifle tiring on our left. We lisipn for a while, but it is not near enough to rouse our men. The firing ceases, and the sergeant returns to sleep. About. ) a.m. I again rouse the sergeant mid report searchlights and firing on our left. We listen to tho aUack until it dies away. (This turned out later to be a night attack en Mons)- August 2tÍ1.-At. 1- a,m. I (an the officers and the men are roused. I come off guard. Enter a garden and fill my haversack with plums. The village priest gives us cigars. We fall in and march towards Mons. We commence digging trenches in a ploughed held. A clear held for fire lies before us. Here I get my first thrill. One of our aeroplanes is being shelled bv the Germans. The aviator ap- pears pretty safe, and is soon out of their range. We are half-way through our trenches when suddenly the order comes .n l 'the to fell in, and we march back towards th;j frontier. We have proceeded a few miles when Captain Haggard, who has been making good use ot his field glasses, shouts at; order to six men near him. They mount a little bank. I hear him give them the range; then, hall; bang' and a German patrol is wiped out—First blood to the Weight We continue march ing under cover of our guns, whose shells scream over our heads in their passage I towards the Germans. We come to a village and halt awhile. Our artillery ü;1 busily liring from on? portion, then is hurried madly to take up another. About 300 yards in front deafening explosions occur accompanied by huge volumes of black smoke. Nobody seems to know what these are. Some one suggests that they are our own guns firing high explo- sive shells, and that the smoKe 1-1 emitted from the gun when the shell is fired. But these, as I found later, were the ex- plosions of the now celebrated Jack. Johnsons," or Cqal boxes," as we call them. Again we are on the move, and still in the opposite direction to the enemy. I am thirsty and hungry. It was at 3 a.m. on the 22nd that I drew my ravinii- three biscuits and a tin of "bully" beef. I make good use of my plums. We halt, for half an hour in i. village, and I fill my water bottle from a well in the garden of a deserted housft A.t the same time I help myself to some pears from the orchard. I do not know what we would have done without this fruit. We are off again: marching, marching, marching. Nobody seems tc, know our destination, and as evex-y village comes into view hope springs in ever;, man's breast that we shall be billctted there. But night falls, and we are still marching. Now we join a main body Cavalry, artillery and infantry move en masse. There is a hurried appearand-, about everything. To allow for the movc-
!WHY THE 8MEWS WAS MOT PRINTED.
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WHY THE 8MEWS WAS MOT PRINTED. I -fPboto-l; Chapman. Our usual hatch of copy from C?wynfe, Har?adoc?. and district reached us in an extraordinary condition this WN'k. The mail ha? which contained our news par- cel caught fire, with the result that only charred sheets of notepaper reached us. Our photograph will give some idea of their appearance, and will explain why the news from these districts will not appear in the Herald this week.
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ED\YARE>S Noted Clearance Sale of SURPLUS WINTER STOCK is Now Proceeding. i In consequence of the War cor-,ing at a time when we had made extensive Autumn pur- chases, and in spite of the fact that the Season's trade has so far been successful, we find that our surplus stock is considerably larger than usual. This applies to all de- partments. We have decided to dispose of all these goods during the Sale period, partly because we need space for the New Spring Goods, but primarily because we feel sure that our Patrons will heartily welcome the opportunity of meeting their present and future Dress needs at such remarkable Bargain Prices-at a time, too, when the neces- sity 'for economy is felt by everyone; A Huge Collection of Wonderful Bargains IN COATS, TAILOR-MADE COSTUMES, GOWNS, MANTLES, MILLINERY AND MILLINERY TRIMMINGS, BLOUSES, NECKWEAR NOVELTIES, DAINTY UNDERWEAR, ————————— CHILDREN'S WEAR, &c., SALE commenced FRIDAY MORNING at 10 o'clock. DWARDAft R A PERY STORES Swansea  ? i]??1?f?<<?rJT!!u!tr?)!! ??????S5?<r?.1?L street ?M? C?AIl Pa w;.t, S& r, a "■ ? 
IENTERTAINMENT AT LLANDOVERY…
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IENTERTAINMENT AT LLANDOVERY I Under the .-luepii es of the Salem Congrv gafiona-l Band of Hope a euer-c^ful enter- tainment wat4 held nt, the Public Hall 11 Christmas night. The. Eev. Joseph Harry, -T-P.. presided. MTIfJ, Williams3, Olarikerri. fulfilled the duties of i=-ecret,arv. and ehennd aind Mies Jones, Upton House, who acted 86 accompanist as wjl as ylr Lloyd Wil- liams, gave valuable help in the fi-aining of the children- The dliferent items on th? programme were as follow:—" The Welcome Song," children of the Band of IJcpe- recita- tion, Nellie James; solo. Annie Wright; recitation, Lizzie Eiohards a,nd n, T. Efi- ■wards: atction song, "Wee Little Mothers"; hesitation, D. T. Davies; solo. Claudia Wil- liajns; recitation Emily Fichard6 ;md Horace James; action sons, party of boy: recitation, W. J. Daviee-, 6ttrmp speech, I Jane Thomas; action eonc, pajiy of girls: recitation, Byron Jvmo«; duel. Harold and OO Wiltiame; reoita.tion. Myfanwy Jones; eolo. Olivo Thomas; recitation, David Thomas; action song, party of girls; reeita- ^•OD. Jane Shams*; W196 LUy Thomas. J
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IiiiEW =Nan= jj Never again may such startling H2EZJ| money-saving offers in JeweOcry. 9 ? Watches, Plate, etc., be within 3 I. your reach as are now obtainat?e 9 £ >* at H. SamuI's. Thousands of EB ?j Amazing Bargains are offered at HI prices which put a I eienEi saving  than ever in the pockets of the m purchaser. Call to-day, and 9 ? seize this sensational opportu- H M<S ? nity before it is too late. Typical 3 S cffers piS-CT. HALF HOOP RINC. I -1f,)i ,iite(i 4 Diamond? and j5 bcautifuDy matched aPI)hiB25/ Knbies, in rwhly carved jj "H 6cUing, Am?xing Gffr ■ H. SAMUEL'S HANDSOME 9 FAMOUS PHOTO PENDANT. R Ik r "c B p i ii t. i fully de- B signed in jrold, set SILVER LEVER, w?h 8 Hne 9 ?V:t,h H. Strand's lustrori? gems. 1A /(jS exclusive improve- U,;tially 1'7,16.10/6 m?nts. Ov<-r  2,000, 000 wc?r?M. CASE OF -Kf-yiess or TEASPOONS.    six el?antly iwuaarrrraanntt. ZftO p emboosf sed sterling ? ?f? ni-'? Z?UR?/ ?I?r-p?d stcr,lmg  :-dwr.plat.(>f! rea- d '?M?? and S LVEP. ALBERT Tongs, in case. Q/O FREE. (?t? ?? U'O ^MILITARY HAIR BRUSHES. Pair of Military Hair Brushes — and iii 4ati?:6 £ in 9 iimr; leather C:15(', Men5tion1l U va.lu( LADIES' COLD CUARDS. All the t?t?st fashionable de-^— H msi!???. including the p')PUhr2 I ■ Belch(,r pattern, bpnutifuny?, ? ■ » 3 6nisbpd in Hall-marked P ■ Gold. Worth A ???"'??' ?t ?' ,at S swiU ???"_°? ?-—??*?*? MtHTARY  WRIST WATCH, gri ? High-grade jewpUed ?cylMa   H B S movement, perfect timekeeper. III/ klj in handsome St.prling il\r 12 ?l,Iap any shade M PATRIOTIC BROOCHES. 3 Hundreds of bpamifully dc- I 9 mp?J?d Patriotic Brch,?. But- T B toils, and Souvenirs, enamelled I — 3 with the Allies' Colours j? SILVER CI C A RETT E LlI C KY CASE. t-Ub?T NFu]l Biz? hacd WEDDING RINGS. someJy ongravpd La t?sf Court ?tv!? or plain. Hall- ? ?Sct. Solid Gold, H EQ?rkcd Sold by weight. m?irkccl ?-A) i d by weight. allv 1"6 </U -?3.rd?. with specie |w BRA?.E £ RB Weng FREE BRACELETS. c?ft B Elegant designs. m beautifully Sa- a ished, with padlock SPECIAL OFFER, Sand safety chain Wading King and Boamp?tc.Ex- ?.'epcr. tn/R Mtraordinary ID C the two, I U/U ?hargain lo « ?! CALL Now !? _I Fuot, S Fares Paid, as Usual. M?? S BEWARE OF tM)TATORS'a?? R S A M ut I H ( 11 atch maker to the .4dmiralty) 1 265, OXFORD ST. ( B (Undiep the Big Clock), H 1 SWANSEA. | jKi g Also at CARDIFF, NEWPORT, 3B H MERTHYR, Ac. ra H if unable to coll. write for Fret. Catalogue to 3 H, Samiiel. lio, ilarkel St., Manchester.
PROMISING PONTARDULAfl VOCALISTS.
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PROMISING PONTARDULAfl VOCALISTS. Misses Bloilwen Bonnell snH Trens Blodwpn Jones, hot hof Tynybnnau, Pontardulaio. Th(,v trr, v-)iiiig -nf! lii:zhly promising soprano vocalists, and hava already won numerous and iiapoit»at Lerizeg .t ejsteddfoda^
- - DEEDS of the WELSH1 .REGIMENT.
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ment of artillery, transport and motors we move to the side of the road, marching i sometimes in the gutters; other tixors on the road. It is very trying. At last we go into billets. I draw my much needed ;r1('lIS, and after & meal burrow myseli in some straw, and am soon as;?r?eep. Tuesday, August 25th.—Housed at 3 a.m. and move off. We are evidently retiring, but are fold it is a strategic movement. I hear that we are to advance right to the very nose of the enemy and then retire drawing the enemy after us, so that. the Belgians and French can close upon them from each side. We ha.ve evidently suc- ceeded. But. why this extraordinary liurry" Nothing but marching, marching. After covering a. distance of about 211 miles wo halt to go to billets; a meal and prospects of a rest. Will they be realised? Again the order "fall in" is given. Wearily we move off. We march about eight miles when a village is observed about a mile off. Word comes down the ranks that we billet there for the night. This cheers us up, and one of my comrades starts. War down yonder in the cornfields." We are in the middle of the song, when up gallops a staff ofifcer and shouts, We. are atta?kpd in the.rear!" We ;filT keep I singing as we Hue up the hedge TPady for the öUadc The (,fhen is still shouting orders. We do not stop singing till the chorus is finished—then—bang! bang! bang! ba.ng! We are in it. Night is I gradually lowering her sable mantle upon Us. I have my eyes glued to the front. Suddenly, amidst the incessant crack of the rille, a terrific explosion takes place near me. I, with a few others, collapse in a heap in the gutter. I pick myself up, and am surprised to find that I a.m all right. Above the din I hear a voice, It's all right. That was only the dis- charge of one of our own guns. I look to the side, and see one of our large guns that had comp, up quite near us. We remain in our positions. It looks as if we are here for the night, and it has now commenced to rain. After a few hours had elapsed we enter a, barn. The loft: is occupied by frightened peasants. We have a few hours' rest. I Wednesday, August 26th.-2 a.m. We have orders to remove our valises from our backs. What a relief" This means the removal of 30 lbs. from our sore and aching backs. We place them upon motor lorries. I began to think that they in authority had at last realised the limits of human endurance. I am mis- taken. I am handed two extra bandoliers of ammunition, containing a hundred rounds. We are hurried off again. Time I is not given even to draw rations, but I they are placed on the side of the road, and each man picks up what he can. We march about eight miles and halt. They are engaging the enemy oil our right. f see a clever bit of airmanship by one or our ariators. The Germaui. arc shelling him. I count 36 shell-bursts around him. Still he getd away safely. He lands, and as he passes through our lines witit his report we give him a cheer. We move off, and I aia unfortunate enough to be marching behind an ambulance wagon containing the wounded. One poor comrade's groans are terrible. They grow fainter and fainter, till they cease altogether. His wounds cause him no pain now. He has passed to the Great Beyond. It is raining. We arrive at Guiso. (see map). No snug barn to-night we have to bivouac in a field. Three comrades and myself make a crude tent with our water- proof sheets and crawl beneath- Thursday, August 27th.—Something is going t') happen to-day. General Langdon. who wears a perpetual smile, with a very serious face is giving orders to our C.O. Our regiment moves off alone. We advanced a mile then turned to the right. Our object is char now. We are doing a flank guard to the main body. We have not gone far. We are attacked. My company, which is in the rear to-day, is told off to line the roadway while the regiment moves on. This position is not very good, so we ad- vance to the nearest village and lie down in the village square. We command the approach of three roads, and wait. A terrible storm is raging. The rain is pouring down, and 1 am lying in a gutter, and the water rushes over my body. The heavy rain interrupts the German advance. Thus I attribute our safety to the storm. Order cornea to fall in and we march off, joining the regiment at a village a few miles off. We leave this village, but be- fore reaching its outskirts we are held up by a gesticulating Frenchman who riini into our hands. From his babble we can make out only the word Fhlan." With that up dashes a German patrol. They i see us and realise their danger. They turn about to retreat. We volley, and j every bullet finds its billet. The Germ-in Army is minus a patrol. We rush forward to search their bodies for any useful documents. I find in the officer's saddle pouch some much needed articles of clothing, viz. an underpants and vest of the finest silk, bearing the initials of its owner, and also the well-known mark of a German house. This officer's horse, a beautiful steed, is slightly wounded and is commandeered. We move off, and aftor hours of weary marching arrive at La Fere. (See map.) We halt here. But our hope for rest is as elusive as it has been for the last few days, for we move off immediately. Weary, we march for four long hours. At last we are. allotted to a welcomed and spac ious barn, It is in complete darkness. A meal is dished out. but we cannot settle down to it as wo have to grope for the food. I turn out with the hope of seeking the farmer. I find him. but alone, for his family has left. I endeavour with my elementary knowledge of French, to seek a lantern. He evidently understands me for, to our complete amazement the barn is flooded with electric, light. We now at- tempt to appease our hunger, but the latter increases with every mouthful. We lie down to sleep on the crude but wel- comed lwdtraw. Friday, August 28th.-I a.m. sees us sitting on the roadside waiting to move off. A cheery officer remarks: "Bovs; How do you feel after yesterday's march?" The reply, though hard to say, comes from many t. weary comrade. "Pretty fit, sir." The officer further remarks: "Do you feel like another 30 mile to-day ? The reply is, We'll stick it, sir." But what agonising thoughts overwhelm me Is it possible for us to march another 30 miles ? Our feet say No," but our hearts cry "On," and on we move. But what a march! Few words are spoken legs move mechanically: dust a.nd perspiration begrime our haggard and bearded faces. With an eifort now and again, Romeone commences a. chorus. We join, in lustily, relieving our weariness somewhat. Night falls, and we are still trudging along. We have been marching since the dawn. We reach our goal—a. C'.ornfield-at 11 p.m. No billets to-night. The corn stands in sheaves. We mate a crude bpd upon the ground, and lie worn and spent. Saturday, August 29th.-Dawn: A welcome order comes down the line. We have outmarched the enemy, and are to be given a day's rest. This day gives us the opportunity to assume a civilised aspect. I shave, wash- the first since the 22nd—and have time to cook and eat a meal. We arc mustered together. A communica- tion from the French President is read to uti. It states that owing to our invalu- able help, France owes us a debt which it can never repay. Sunday, August 30th-September 5th. —Marching, marching, marching. Pass through delightful country. Picturesque I villages resound to the tramp of our feet. Not an inhabitant do we see. All baye ned. Children's toys left in thel l middle of play here and there strew the gardens of their homes. Marching, marching, marching. We overtake a long lino of refugees—a pitiable sight. Oxen draw heavy-laden waggons. On one of the.se sits an old woman nursing a babe about a month old. On the same waggon are packs, boxes and a pig. Behind this same waggon trudges the young mother— presumably the daughter of the aged dame—with three children clinging to her skirt. Similar sights meet us as we pass along. All in the same direction. They look very hungry. We are in the same plight, but we band them a few tins of bully beef. They try to keep up with us. We leave them behind. March- ing, marching, marching. I have for- gotten the day; too weary to make further notes. Sunday, September 6th-September 12th. Daw r, leave C'haumes (Sef- map) not in a southerly, but* in a north-easterly direction. We are advancing. Can hear the booming of guns in Iiie distance. Do not encounter the enemy. Everyw here evidence is of a hurried departure in his encampments. Wine bottles and cigars strew many a bivouac. We pass deserted transports, motor "buses (bearing well-! known routes in Berlin) and dead horses, These sights are becoming more frequent as we advance. They are the results of engagements of our cavalry, who are pressing on at the heel of the retreatin- German line. i rThe. map referred to will appear in our next issjde, together with a lengthy instal- imciit of the diary.J