ion of which (the Lahore) detrained on the 19th and
the 20th at St. Omer, and was now concentrating at Wallon-Cappel, west
of Hazebrouck. A wire from Lord Kitchener on the 22nd offered me
another Territorial Battalion to replace the London Scottish on the
lines of communication, if I wished to use the latter at the front. I
had also available the Oxfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry, which had been
landed at Dunkirk.

These were all the British reserves which could possibly be available
for some time. Doubtless, if we could keep our positions for two or
three weeks, much larger reinforcements would be forthcoming. But,
even so, it did not appear that there was any prospect, in the near
future, of attaining definite results by an effective offensive.

Nevertheless, I remained hopeful and confident of the final
result.

On the 23rd I issued the following special Order of the Day to the
troops:--

The Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief wishes once more to make
known to the troops under his command how deeply he appreciates
the bravery and endurance which they have again displayed since
their arrival in the northern theatre. In circulating the
official information which records the splendid victories of our
Russian Allies, he would remind the troops that the enemy must
before long withdraw troops to the East and relieve the tension
on our front. He feels it is quite unnecessary to urge officers,
non-commissioned officers and men to make a determined effort and
drive the enemy over the frontier.

(Signed) "H. WILSON, Major-Gen.,
"7.30 p.m. Sub-Chief."

This, then, was my great hope. It was to Russia and to the East that
all eyes were turned at that time. Our Allies had scored a
considerable success in that theatre.

With the failure of the second attack of the Central Powers upon
Warsaw, we may take stock for a moment of Russia's achievement. Russia
made no secret preparation for war, and the outbreak of hostilities
had found her with her Army reorganisation incomplete and a serious
shortage of equipment. She had to bring her men by slender
communications many thousands of miles, but she was ready to strike a
fortnight before Germany believed she could move. Her invasion of East
Prussia had done much to relieve the strain in the West, and heavily
she paid for her quixotry.

But, after Tannenburg, she made no mistakes. V