Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXIII. Farewell to Bapaume
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
366 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
Most bombs do no harm at all. Curiously enough, it seems to
be the horses who suffer most. A few days ago an airman
passed over a bivouac in the neighbourhood of Bapaume,
Five men thought it advisable to seek protection underneath
a heavily laden baggage wagon. But as luck would have it
the wagon was hit, and nothing but the lacerated remains of
the men remained when help arrived.
I have already spoken of the immensely important role
which aeroplanes are playing in this war, and how during
the few months the war has lasted they have been manoeuvred
with continuously increasing skill. My informant thought he
was justified in saying that the side possessing the best flying
machines and the best pilots would come out the winners in a
war of entrenched positions, a literal siege war, such as is now
proceeding on the western front. For it depends in a very large
measure on aerial observation whether the artillery fire can
find its target and score with decisive effect.
On our return to Bapaume we went to call on Divisional
Pastor Miinch, at whose house we were regaled with coffee,
together with quite a crowd of doctors. All the war hospitals
of the town together now contained barely five hundred
wounded, and the city was therefore more than amply provided
for with its 130 nurses.
We looked in at the chief hospital, in the chapel of which
some French wounded were being tended. One of them had
received a bullet through the base of the nose which had
lodged in the brain, where it still remained. He cried all day,
" de I’eau, de I’eau," and if one gave him water he drank, but
went on calling, " de I’eau, de I’eau." Another, who also had
a bullet stuck in his head, wandered about with quick, jerky
steps, and had to be watched so that he did not tumble on
to the beds. Two others had had a leg amputated, and were
now out of all danger. The Frenchmen spoke well of the
German nurses and doctors, and said they could not have
received kindlier treatment in their own country. One soldier
complained because he was separated from his people, but
added: "Nous sommes tres Men ici ; nos blessures sont tres
bien soignées." We also made a hasty round of the German
wards and spoke to the wounded warriors. They were all,
as usual, in cheerful spirits, and hoped soon to be put right
so that they could go back and fight again.
On the way home Pastor Miinch told us of a little episode
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
