s a human document. Under date of Nov. 2 this German soldier wrote:

Previous to noon we were sent out in a regular storm of bullets on
the order of the Major. These gentlemen, the officers, send their
men forward in a most ridiculous way. They themselves remain far
behind, safely under cover. Our leadership is really scandalous.
Enormous losses on our side are partly from the fire of our own
people, for our leaders neither know where the enemy lies nor where
our own troops are, so that we often are fired on by our own men.
It is a marvel to me that we have got on as far as we have done.

Our Captain fell, as did also all our section leaders and a large
number of our men. Moreover, no purpose was served by this advance,
for we remained the rest of the day under cover; we could go
neither forward nor back, nor even shoot.

The trench we had taken was not occupied by us. The English
naturally took it back at night. That was the sole result. Then
when the enemy had intrenched themselves another attack was made,
costing us many lives and fifty prisoners. It is simply ridiculous,
this leadership. If only I had known it before! My opinion of
German officers has changed.

An Adjutant shouted to us from a trench far to the rear to cut down
a hedge in front of us. Bullets were whistling round from in front
and from behind. The gentleman himself, of course, remained behind.

The Fourth Company has now no leaders but a couple of non-coms.
When will my turn come! I hope to goodness I shall get home again.

In the trenches shells and shrapnel burst without ceasing. In the
evening we get a cup of rice and one-third of an apple per man. Let
us hope peace will soon come. Such a war is really too awful. The
English shoot like mad. If no reinforcements come up, especially
heavy artillery, we shall have a poor lookout and must retire.

The first day I went quietly into the fight with an indifference
which astonished me. Today, for the first time, in advancing, when
my comrades on the right and left were falling, I felt rather
nervous. But I lost that feeling again soon. One becomes horribly
indifferent.

I picked up a piece of bread by chance. Thank God! At least I have
something to eat.

There are about 70,000 English who must be attacked from all four