the enemy to use this fearful weapon against us, thinking the
neutral nations might intervene; but their interest in the cause of
humanity was largely a financial one, and we determined to adopt a
broader view, perhaps, of what justifiable weapons are, and make use of
the advances of science. France was already using the gas, but Britain
hesitated at setting her hall-mark on such a usage, necessary as it had
become.

The day, October 13th, was ideal for observation, beautifully clear,
with a gentle breeze from our trench towards the enemy's. Nothing finer
could be desired for our operations to the south.

About 2 o'clock our guns, along the whole British front, started to cut
wire as though preparing for an attack.

The Germans in return sprinkled our lines vigorously with shrapnel, the
fleecy white puffs of their shells showing up like clouds on the clear
blue sky.

From our trench on the hill top we could see the long line of trenches,
hidden here and there by trees, stretching southwards to Armentieres,
the tall chimneys of which were clearly discernible.

Anxiously we glanced from this view to our watches while the hands crept
slowly around to the appointed moment. In the distance there suddenly
appeared faint lines of whitish smoke among the trees; and we lit our
smoke bombs and hurled them over the parapet. There was a moment's
pause, and then they burst into clouds of yellow smoke, hiding the
German trench from view.

[Illustration: THE START OF THE SMOKE CLOUDS. The Little Demonstration,
October 13th, 1915.]

The tone of their bombardment changed immediately, and crashing salvoes
of high explosive fell around us.

Our guns paused for a moment, and the crisp rattle of musketry, the
droning of myriads of bees, and the bursts of machine-gun fire were
heard alone as they ran through whole belts of cartridges; then all
minor sounds were again drowned out by the clashes of our shells as they
burst all along the German front line.

Gradually the smoke cleared away as the bombs burnt themselves out and
showed that no attack was being attempted. The bombardment slackened,
though the Germans continued to shell us heavily till almost dusk, but
with little further effect except that they rendered the evacuation of
our wounded more dangerous.

Our casualties had, however, been slight, but it was simply marvellous
luck, for our parapets were ruined heaps and the trenches filled with
_debris_.

We gazed sadly a