The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1915-05-21
ALLIES MAJORTELLS
HIS EXPERIENCE IN
THE TRENCHES
Brother of n. 7. cuthbert Writes an
Interesting Account of Big Engage
ment With German Army Which
Occurred in March.

The following letter, giving a high
ly interesting account of one of the
big engagements in the European war
is reproduced in the Copper Err
through the courtesy of Mr.. H T
iCuthbert, at present in this city. The
letter was written by his brother, who
is a Major in the 4th Seaforth High
landers, one of the renowned regi
lments of the British army Major
Cuthbert wrote the letter while in the
field and is as follows:
| Copy of Letter from Major T. w.
ECuthbert, 4th Seaforth Highlanders
British Expeditionary Field Force, G e..
P. o.
March gath, 1915.
Here we are hung up about miles
from our trenches. We ought to have
been into them now, but the Germans
have started heavy Smelling half
way between us; so 1 have decided
not to proceed further until it is over
have had enough of that for a bit,
and want no more, if 1 can keep out
/ of it. AS 1 do not think can move
before dark, and 1 have nothing else
to do, I will try and write you a short
description of the great battle. 1t
will be very sketchy and only mar.
rates our little share in it, but hope
it will give you slight idea of what
we went through.
In the inky darkness just before
dawn on the morning of the 10th we
left our billets, where we were waiting
in reserve to go to the front line, and
marched under orders to take part in
what we all realized was going to be
a big show" We travelled light,
carrying nothing but our coats and
emergency ration, days ration and
our fighting equipment. Just as the
grey dawn crept in we reached our
destination and took up our position in
a fortified redoubt, and waited on de-
lvelopments. Shortly afterwards the
regular desultory firing of our guns
started, and nothing unusual happen
ed till about 1880 a. M, when there
burst forth a belching of guns such
as has never been heard in battle be-
fore, 400 of our guns all giving tongue
at once. The noise was deafening and
the continual ,wheeze of the huge
shells as they rushed on their way
to devastate the enemy was appalling
ly fearsome. What the other end
must have been like, it is impossible
to imagine-an inferno of infernos.
This lasted for 35 minutes; then the
infantry launched its attack, the
guns lifted their range and went on
rejoicing, death in their cruel but nee
] we realized what had happened, we
heard we had taken the first German
trench, and brought in many terrified
and completely dazed German prison
ers. Then a hitch occurred in the ad-
vance, owing to a strong German post
still holding out-they were brave
men and fought like tigers to the
death. Reinforcements were called
for and up went the supports, and
we were ordered to take the place
of these; and, keen for blood, we
gladly marched forth to war. Here
our first causalities occurred. We
were getting our men into the new
position, 1 was. standing with the
Colonel and Major Robertson get
ting further instructions, when
something went wrong with our
leading company, and had to go OF
down to the communication trench
to see what was wrong. At the end
there was q gap across the open
which had not been completed Up
till now there had been no reply to
our guns. Just as I emerged Into
the open a shell burst over me: be-
fore reached cover, another burst
beside me, spfuttering we with mud
and giving one or two nasty
scratches. How ! thanked my stars
when I was once more under cover.
1 was some little time settling the
men, a heavy shell fire going on all
the time. Then 1 worked my way
back to the Colonel to report, and
was Mortified to learn that a shell
had knocked seven of US out, amongst
them poor Robertson-he never re
gained. consciousness, and died that
|evening. L had left him shortly be-
fore, bright and CHEEKY as possible.
We were kept here till we'll on in
the afternoon, and then we were
given orders to help in the attack,
and off we started. We were now in
the thick of the bullets and shells,
and I fooIsh1y thought I'VE can
never have worse than this" and
heaven knows it was bad enough.
We did the advance magnificently,
and after a terrible time, but with
few casualties, we reached the edge
of the woods-our real objective.
Here I rested for a pause, and re-
formed prior to the final attack. Then
orders came to halt, as our left was
hung up. l went forward and dis
cussed the situation with my senior
officer, with whom 1 was cooperating,
and much against our will we came
to the conclusion it would be reck-
less to proceed until our left came
up. We got back communication to
our General, and at last word came
back to retire behind the burn we
had just crossed, and intrench our
selves until morning, by now it was
black dark night. Dead tired and aw-
fully disappointed, back we came
Then came the hardest task I have
had; soaking wet, cold and miserable
and dead beat had to walk up and
down our line kicking, cussing, damn
ing the fellows to make them dig IT
was like drawing teeth-they were
done to a turn, and did not care a
damn. Thank heaven, at this stage
a burst of rife fire and one or two