There was unrest night and day. The banks, head offices, and branches, unable to withstand the run upon[63] them when every one demanded to be paid in gold, had, by mutual4 arrangement, shut their doors, leaving excited and furious crowds of customers outside unpaid5. Financial ruin stared every one in the face. Those who were fortunate enough to realise their securities on Monday were fleeing from London south and westward6. Day and night the most extraordinary scenes of frantic7 fear were witnessed at Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo, and London Bridge. The southern railways were badly disorganised by the cutting of the lines by the enemy, but the Great Western system was, up to the present, intact, and carried thousands upon thousands to Wales, to Devonshire, and to Cornwall.
In those three hot, breathless days the Red Hand of Ruin spread out upon London.
The starving East met the terrified West, but in those moments the bonds of terror united class with mass. Restaurants and theatres were closed; there was but little vehicular traffic in the streets, for of horses there were none, while the majority of the motor 'buses had been requisitioned, and the transit9 of goods had been abandoned. "The City," that great army of daily workers, both male and female, was out of employment, and swelled10 the idlers and gossips, whose temper and opinion were swayed each half-hour by the papers now constantly appearing night and day without cessation.
Cabinet Councils had been held every day, but their decisions, of course, never leaked out to the public. The King also held Privy11 Councils, and various measures were decided12 upon. Parliament, which had been hurriedly summoned, was due to meet, and every one speculated as to the political crisis that must now ensue.
In St. James's Park, in Hyde Park, in Victoria Park, on Hampstead Heath, in Greenwich Park—in fact, in each of the "lungs of London,"—great mass meetings were held, at which resolutions were passed condemning14 the Administration and eulogising those who, at the first alarm, had so gallantly15 died in defence of their country.
It was declared that by the culpable17 negligence18 of the War Office and the National Defence Committee we had laid ourselves open to complete ruin, both financially and as a nation.[64]
The man-in-the-street already felt the strain, for the lack of employment and the sudden rise in the price of everything had brought him up short. Wives and families were crying for food, and those without savings19 and with only a few pounds put by looked grimly into the future and at the mystery it presented.
Most of the papers published the continuation of the important story of Mr. Alexander, the Mayor of Maldon, which revealed the extent of the enemy's operations in Essex and the strong position they occupied.
It ran as below:
"Of the events of the early hours of the morning I have no very clear recollection. I was bewildered, staggered, dumbfounded by the sights and sounds which beset22 me. Of what modern war meant I had till then truly but a very faint idea. To witness its horrid23 realities enacted24 in this quiet, out-of-the-way spot where I had pitched my tent for so many years, brought them home to me literally25 as well as metaphorically26.
"I had run down Cromwell Hill, and seeing the flames of Heybridge, was impelled27 to get nearer, if possible, to discover more particularly the state of affairs in that direction. But I was reckoning without the Germans. When I got to the bridge over the river at the foot of the hill, the officer in charge there absolutely prevented my crossing. Beyond the soldiers standing28 or kneeling behind whatever cover was offered by the walls and buildings abutting29 on the riverside, and a couple of machine guns placed so as to command the bridge and the road beyond, there was nothing much to see. A number of Germans were, however, very busy in the big mill just across the river, but what they were doing I could not make out. As I turned to retrace30 my step the glare of the conflagration31 grew suddenly more and more intense. A mass of dark figures came running down the brightly illuminated32 road towards the bridge, while the rifle fire became louder, nearer, and heavier than ever. Every now and again the air became alive with, as it were, the hiss33 and buzz of flying insects. The English must have fought their way through Heybridge, and these must be the bullets from their rifles. It was dangerous to stay down there any longer, so I took to my heels. As I ran I heard a thundering explosion behind me, the shock of which nearly threw me to the ground. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that the[65] Germans had blown up the mill at the farther end of the bridge, and were now pushing carts from either side in order to barricade34 it. The two Maxims36, too, began to pump lead with their hammering reports, and the men near them commenced to fall in twos and threes. I made off to the left, and passed into High Street by the end of St. Peter's Church, now disused. At the corner I ran against Mr. Clydesdale, the optician, who looks after the library which now occupies the old building. He pointed37 to the tower, which stood darkly up against the blood-red sky.
"'Look at those infernal Germans!' he said. 'They can't even keep out of that old place. I wish we could have got the books out before they came.'
"I could not see any of our invaders38 where he was pointing, but presently I became aware of a little winking39, blinking light at the very summit of the tower.
"'That's them,' said Clydesdale. 'They're making signals, I think. My boy says he saw the same thing on Purleigh Church tower last night. I wish it would come down with them, that I do. It's pretty shaky, anyway.'
"The street was fairly full of people. The Germans, it is true, had ordered that no one should be out of doors between eight in the evening and six in the morning; but just now they appeared to have their hands pretty full elsewhere, and if any of the few soldiers that were about knew of or thought anything of the interdiction40, they said nothing.
"The crash of a salvo of heavy guns from the direction of my own house interrupted him.
"'That'll be the guns in my garden,' I said.
"'Yes, sir, and they've got three monstrous41 great ones in the opening between the houses just behind the church there,' said Clydesdale.
"As he spoke42, the guns in question bellowed43 out, one after the other.
"'Look—look at the tower!' I cried.
"The light at the top had disappeared and the lofty edifice44 was swaying slowly, slowly, over to the left.
"'She's gone at last!' exclaimed Clydesdale.
"It was true. Down came the old steeple that had pointed heavenward for so many generations, with a mighty45 crash and concussion46 that swallowed up even the noise of the battle, though cannon47 of all sorts and sizes[66] were now joining in the hellish concert, and shell from the English batteries began to roar over the town. The vibration48 and shock of the heavy guns had been too much for the old tower, which, for years in a tottery49 condition, had been patched up so often.
"As soon as the cloud of dust cleared off we ran towards the huge pile of débris that filled the little churchyard. Several other people followed. It was very dark down there, in the shadow of the trees and houses, despite the fire-light overhead, and we began striking matches as we looked about among the heaps of bricks and beams to see if there were any of the German signal party among them. Why we should have taken the trouble under the circumstances I do not quite know. It was an instinctive50 movement of humanity on my part, and that of most of the others, I suppose.
"I caught sight of an arm in a light blue sleeve protruding51 from the débris, and took hold of it in a futile52 attempt to remove some of the bricks and rubbish which I thought were covering the body of its owner. To my horror, it came away in my hand. The body to which it belonged might be buried yards away in the immense heap of ruins. I dropped it with a cry, and fled from the spot.
"Dawn was now breaking. I do not exactly remember where I wandered to after the fall of St. Peter's Tower, but it must have been between half-past five and six when I found myself on the high ground at the north-western corner of the town, overlooking the golf links, where I had spent so many pleasant hours in that recent past that now seemed so far away. All around me were batteries, trenches53, and gun-pits. But though the firing was still going on somewhere away to the right, where Heybridge poured black smoke skyward like a volcano, gun and howitzer were silent, and their attendant artillerymen, instead of being in cover behind their earthen parapets, were clustered on the top, watching intently something that was passing in the valley below them. So absorbed were they that I was able to creep up behind them, and also get a sight of what was taking place. And this is what I saw:
"Over the railway bridge which spanned the river a little to the left were hurrying battalion55 after battalion of green and blue clad German infantry56. They moved down the embankment after crossing, and continued[67] their march behind it. Where the railway curved to the right and left, about half a mile beyond the bridge, the top of the embankment was lined with dark figures lying down and apparently57 firing, while over the golf course from the direction of Beeleigh trotted59 squadron after squadron of sky-blue riders, their green and white lance pennons fluttering in the breeze. They crossed the Blackwater and Chelmer Canal, and cantered off in the direction of Langford Rectory.
"At the same time I saw line after line of the Germans massed behind the embankment spring over it and advance rapidly towards the lower portion of the town, just across the river. Hundreds fell under the fire from the houses, which must have been full of Englishmen, but one line after another reached the buildings. The firing was now heavier than ever—absolutely incessant60 and continuous—though, except for an occasional discharge from beyond Heybridge, the artillery54 was silent.
"I have but little knowledge of military matters, but it was abundantly evident, even to me, that what I had just seen was a very formidable counter-attack on the part of the Germans, who had brought up fresh troops either from the rear of the town or from farther inland, and launched them against the English under cover of the railway embankment. I was not able to see the end of the encounter, but bad news flies apace, and it soon became common knowledge in the town that our troops from Colchester had not only failed to cross the river at any point, but had been driven helter-skelter out of the lower town near the station and from the smoking ruins of Heybridge with great loss, and were now in full retreat.
"Indeed, some hundreds of our khaki-clad fellow-countrymen were marched through the town an hour or two later as prisoners, to say nothing of the numbers of wounded, who, together with those belonging to the Germans, soon began to crowd every available building suitable for use as an hospital. The wounded prisoners with their escort went off towards Mundon, and are reported to have gone in the direction of Steeple. It was altogether a disastrous61 day, and our hopes, which had begun to rise when the British had penetrated62 into the northern part of the town, now fell below zero.
"It was a black day for us, and for England. During[68] the morning the same officer who had captured me on the golf course came whirling into Maldon on a 24-h.p. Mercedes car. He drove straight up to my house, and informed me that he had orders to conduct me to Prince Henry, who was to be at Purleigh early in the afternoon.
"'Was it in connection with the skirmish with the Volunteers?' I asked.
"'I don't know,' was the reply. 'But I don't fancy so. In the meantime, could I write here for an hour or two?' he asked politely. 'I have much to write to my friends in Germany, and have not had a minute up to now.'
"I was very glad to be able to oblige the young man in such a small way, and left him in my study till midday, very busy with pens, ink, and paper.
"After a makeshift of a lunch, the car came round, and we got into the back seat. In front sat his orderly and the chauffeur63, a fierce-looking personage in a semi-military uniform. We ran swiftly down the High Street, and in a few minutes were spinning along the Purleigh Road, where I saw much that amazed me. I then for the first time realised how absolutely complete were the German plans."
"Tuesday, September 4.
"About six o'clock this morning I awoke rather suddenly. The wind had gone round to the northward64, and I was certain that heavy firing was going on somewhere in that direction. I opened the window and looked out. The 'thud' and rumble65 of a cannonade, with the accompaniment of an occasional burst of musketry, came clearly and loudly on the wind from the hills by Wickham Bishops66 village. The church spire67 was in plain view, and little faint puffs68 and rings of grey smoke were just visible in its vicinity every now and again, sometimes high up in the air, at others among the trees at its base. They were exploding shells; I had no doubt of that. What was going on it was impossible to say, but I conjectured69 that some of our troops from Colchester had come into collision with the Germans, who had gone out in that direction the day of their arrival. The firing continued for about an hour, and then died away.
"Soon after eight, Count von Ohrendorff, the general officer commanding the 32nd Division, who appeared to[69] be the supreme70 authority here, sent for me, and suggested that I should take steps to arrange for the manufacture of lint71 and bandages by the ladies living in the town. I could see no reason for objecting to this, and so promised to carry out his suggestion. I set about the matter at once, and, with the assistance of my wife, soon had a couple of score of more or less willing workers busily engaged in the National Schoolroom. In the meantime the roll of a terrible cannonade had burst forth72 again from Wickham Bishops. It seemed louder and more insistent73 than ever. As soon as I got away from the schools I hurried home and climbed out on the roof. The top of the Moot74 Hall and other coigns of vantage had all been occupied by the Germans. However, with the aid of a pair of field-glasses I was able to see a good bit. Black smoke was now pouring from Wickham Bishops in clouds, and every now and again I fancied I could see the forked tongues of flame shooting up above the surrounding trees. A series of scattered75 black dots now came out on the open ground to the south of the church. The trees of Eastland Wood soon hid them from my sight, but others followed, mingled76 with little moving black blocks which I took to be formed bodies of troops. After them came four or five guns, driven at breakneck pace towards the road that passes between Eastland and Captain's Woods, then more black dots, also in a desperate hurry. Several of these last tumbled, and lay still here and there all over the slope.
"Other dots followed at their heels. They were not quite so distinct. I looked harder. Hurrah77! They were men in khaki. We were hustling78 these Germans at last. They also disappeared behind the woods. Then from the fringe of trees about Wickham half a dozen big brilliant flashes, followed after an interval79 by the loud detonation80 of heavy cannon. I could not distinguish much more, though the rattle81 of battle went on for some time longer. Soon after eleven four German guns galloped82 in from Heybridge. These were followed by a procession of maimed and limping humanity. Some managed to get along unaided, though with considerable difficulty. Others were supported by a comrade, some carried between two men, and others borne along on stretchers. A couple of ambulance carts trotted out and picked up more wounded. Our bandages and lint had not long to[70] wait before being required. After this there was a cessation of firing.
"About one o'clock the German general sent word to me that he thought an attack quite possible during the afternoon, and that he strongly advised me to get all the women and children out of the town—for the time being at any rate. This was evidently well meant, but it was a pretty difficult matter to arrange for, to say nothing of raising a panic among the inhabitants. However, in an hour and a half's time I had contrived84 to marshal several hundred of them together, and to get them out on the road to Mundon. The weather was warm for the time of the year, and I thought, if the worst came to the worst, they could spend the night in the old church. I left the sad little column of exiles—old, bent85 women helped along by their daughters, tiny children dragged along through the dust, clutching their mothers' skirts; infants in arms; and other older and sturdier children staggering beneath the weight of the most precious home adornments—and made the best of my way back to arrange for the forwarding to them of their rations20.
"At every step on my homeward way I expected to hear the cannonade begin again. But beyond the twittering of the birds in the trees and hedgerows, the creak and rumble of a passing cart, and the rush of a train along the railway on my left—just the usual sounds of the countryside—nothing broke the stillness. As I stepped out on the familiar highway, I could almost bring myself to believe that the events of the past twenty-four hours were but the phantasmagoria of a dream. After interviewing some of the town councillors who were going to undertake the transport of provisions to the women and children at Mundon, I walked round to my own house.
"My wife and family had driven over to Purleigh on the first alarm, and had arranged to stay the night with some friends, on whatever shake-downs could be improvised86, since every house in the peninsula harboured some of the ubiquitous German officers and men. I wandered through the familiar rooms, and came out into the garden, or rather, what had been the garden. There I saw that the Saxon gunners were all standing to their pieces, and one of my none too welcome guests accosted87 me as I left the house.[71]
"'If you'll take my advice, sare, you'll get away out of this,' he said in broken English.
"'What! are you going to fire?' I asked.
"'I don't fancy so. It wouldn't hurt you if we were. But I think your English friends from Colchester are about to see if they can draw us.'
"As he spoke I became aware of a sharp, hissing88 noise like a train letting off steam. It grew louder and nearer, passed over our heads, and was almost instantly followed by a terrible crash somewhere behind the house. A deeper and more muffled89 report came up from the valley beyond Heybridge.
"'Well, they've begun now, and the best thing you can do is to get down into that gun epaulment there,' said the German officer.
"I thought his advice was good, and I lost no time in following it.
"'Here comes another!' cried he, as he jumped down into the pit beside me. 'We'll have plenty of them now.'
"So we did. Shell after shell came hissing and screaming at us over the tree-tops in the gardens lower down the hill. Each one of them sounded to me as if it were coming directly at my head, but one after another passed over us to burst beyond. The gunners all crouched90 close to the earthen parapet—and so did I. I am not ashamed to say so. My German officer, however, occasionally climbed to the top of the embankment and studied the prospect92 through his field-glasses. At length there was a loud detonation, and a column of dirt and smoke in the garden next below us. Then two shells struck the parapet of the gun-pit on our left almost simultaneously93. Their explosion was deafening94, and we were covered with the dust and stones they threw up.
"Immediately afterwards another shell passed so close over our heads that I felt my hair lift. It just cleared the parapet and plunged95 into the side of my house. A big hole appeared just to the right of the dining-room window, and through it came instantaneously the loud bang of the explosion. The glass was shattered in all the windows, and thick smoke, white and black, came curling from every one of them.
"'The house is on fire!' I shouted, and sprang madly from the pit. Heedless of the bombardment, I rushed[72] into the building. Another crash sounded overhead as I entered, and a blaze of light shone down the stairway for an instant. Another projectile96 had found a billet in my home. I tried to make my way to my study, but found the passage blocked with fallen beams and ceiling. What with the smoke and dust, and the blocking of some of the windows, it was very dark in the hall, and I got quite a shock when, as I looked about me to find my way, I saw two red, glittering specks97 shining over the top of a heap of débris. But the howl that followed told me that they were nothing but the eyes of miserable98 Tim, the cat, who, left behind, had been nearly frightened out of his senses by the noise and concussion of the bursting shell. As I gazed at him another projectile struck the house quite close to us. Tim was simply smashed by a flying fragment. I was thrown down, and half-buried under a shower of bricks and mortar99. I think that I must have lost consciousness for a time.
"The next thing I recollect21 was being dragged out into the garden by a couple of Saxons. I had a splitting headache, and was very glad of a glass of water that one of them handed to me. Their officer, who appeared to be quite a decent fellow, offered me his flask100.
"'The house is all right,' he said, with his strong accent. 'It caught fire once, but we managed to get it under. Your friends have cleared off—at any rate for the present. They got too bold at last, and pushed their guns down till they got taken in the flank by the warship101 in the river. They had two of their pieces knocked to bits, and then cleared out. Best thing you can do is to do the same.'
"I was in two minds. I could not save the house by staying, and might just as well join my people at Purleigh Rectory. On the other hand, I felt that it would better become me, as Mayor, to stick to the town. Duty triumphed, and I decided to remain where I was—at least for the present. All was now quiet, and after an early supper I turned in, and, despite the excitement of the day and my aching head, was asleep the moment I touched the pillow."
"Wednesday, September 5.
"It must have been about three in the morning when I awoke. My head was much better, and for a minute or[73] two I lay comfortably in the darkness, without any recollection of the events of the preceding day. Then I saw a bright reflection pass rapidly over the ceiling. I wondered vaguely102 what it was. Presently it came back again, paused a moment, and disappeared. By this time I was wide awake. I went to the window and looked out. It was quite dark, but from somewhere over beyond Heybridge a long white ray was sweeping103 all along this side of Maldon. Now the foliage104 of a tree in the garden below would stand out in pale green radiance against the blackness; now the wall of a house half a mile away would reflect back the moving beam, shining white as a sheet of notepaper.
"Presently another ray shone out, and the two of them, moving backwards105 and forwards, made the whole of our hillside caper106 in a dizzy dance. From somewhere far away to my right another stronger beam now streamed through the obscurity, directed apparently at the sources of the other two, and almost simultaneously came the crack of a rifle from the direction of Heybridge, sharp and ominous107 in the quiet darkness of the night. Half a dozen scattered shots followed; then a faint cheer. More and more rifles joined in, and presently the burring tap-tap-tap of a Maxim35. I hurried on my clothes. The firing increased in volume and rapidity; bugles108 rang out here, there, and everywhere through the sleeping town, and above the rolling, rattling109 clamour of the drums I could distinguish the hurried tramp of hundreds of feet.
"I cast one glance from the window as I quitted the room. The electric searchlights had increased to at least half a dozen. Some reached out long, steady fingers into the vague spaces of the night, while others wandered restlessly up and down, hither and thither110. Low down over the trees of the garden a dull red glare slowly increased in extent and intensity111. The rattle of musketry was now absolutely continuous. As I ran out of the house into the street, I was nearly carried off my feet by the rush of a battalion that was pouring down Cromwell Hill at the double. Hardly knowing what I did, I followed in their wake. The glare in front got brighter and brighter. A few steps, and I could see the cause of it. The whole of Heybridge appeared to be on fire, the flames roaring skywards from a dozen different conflagrations112."[74]
England halted breathless. Fighting had commenced in real earnest.
The greatest consternation113 was caused by the publication in the "Times" of the description of the operations in Essex, written by Mr. Henry Bentley, the distinguished114 war correspondent, who had served that journal in every campaign since Kitchener had entered Khartum.
All other papers, without exception, contained various accounts of the British defence at the point nearest London, but they were mostly of the scrappy and sensational115 order, based more on report than upon actual fact. The "Times" account, however, had been written with calm impartiality116 by one of the most experienced correspondents at the front. Whether he had been afforded any special facilities was not apparent, but, in any case, it was the most complete and truthful117 account of the gallant16 attempt on the part of our soldiers to check the advance from Essex westward.
During the whole of that hot, stifling118 day it was known that a battle was raging, and the excitement everywhere was intense.
The public were in anxious terror as the hours crept by, until the first authentic119 news of the result of the operations was printed in a special evening edition of the "Times," as follows:
"(From our War Correspondent.)
"Danbury, Essex, September 8.
"To-day has been a momentous120 one for England. The great battle has raged since dawn, and though just at present there seems to be a lull121, during which the opposing forces are, so to speak, regaining122 their breath, it can be by no means over.
"Dead and living alike will lie out on the battlefield the whole night through, for we must hold on to the positions so hardly won, and be ready to press forward at the first glimmer123 of daylight. Our gallant troops, Regular and Volunteers alike, have nobly vindicated124 the traditions of our race, and have fought as desperately125 as ever did their forebears at Agincourt, Albuera, or Waterloo. But while a considerable success—paid for, alas126! by the loss of thousands of gallant lives—has been achieved, it will take at least another day's hard fighting before victory is in our grasp. Nowadays a soldier need [75]not expect to be either victorious127 or finally defeated by nightfall, and although this battle, fought as it is between much smaller forces, and extending over a much more limited area, than the great engagement between the Russians and Japanese at Liaoyang, will not take quite so long a time to decide, the end is not yet in sight. I wrote this after a hard day's travelling backwards and forwards behind our advancing line of battle.
"I took my cycle with me in my motor-car, and whenever opportunity offered mounted it, and pushed forward as near to the fighting as I could get. Frequently I had to leave the cycle also, and crawl forward on hands and knees, sheltering in some depression in the ground, while the enemy's bullets whined128 and whistled overhead. As reported in a previous issue, the Army which had assembled at Brentwood moved forward on the 5th.
"During the afternoon the advanced troops succeeded in driving the enemy out of South Hanningfield, and before sundown they were also in full retreat from the positions they had held at East Hanningfield and Danbury. There was some stiff fighting at the latter place, but after a pounding from the artillery, who brought several batteries into action on the high ground north-west of East Hanningfield, the Germans were unable to withstand the attack of the Argyll and Sutherlands and the London Scottish, who worked their way through Danbury Park and Hall Wood right into their position, driving them from their entrenchments by a dashing bayonet charge. Everything north and east of the enemy's main position, which is now known to lie north and south, between Maldon and the river Crouch91, was now in our hands, but his troops still showed a stout131 front at Wickford, and were also reported to be at Rayleigh, Hockley, and Canewdon, several miles to the eastward132. All preparations were made to assault the German position at Wickford at daybreak to-day, but our scouts133 found that the place had been evacuated134. The news that Rayleigh and Hockley had also been abandoned by the enemy came in shortly afterwards. The German invaders had evidently completed their arrangements for the defence of their main position, and now said, in effect, 'Come on, and turn us out if you can.'
"It was no easy task that lay before our gallant defenders135. Maldon, perched on a high knoll136, with a network of river and canal protecting it from assault from [76]the northward, fairly bristles137 with guns, many of them heavy field howitzers, and has, as we know to our cost, already repulsed138 one attack by our troops. Farther south there are said to be many guns on the knolls139 about Purleigh. Great Canney Hill, standing boldly up like an immense redoubt, is reported to be seamed with entrenchments mounting many heavy guns. The railway embankment south of Maldon forms a perfect natural rampart along part of the enemy's position, while the woods and enclosures south-west of Great Canney conceal140 thousands of sharpshooters. A sort of advanced position was occupied by the enemy at Edwin Hall, a mile east of Woodham Ferrers, where a pair of high kopjes a quarter of a mile apart offered command and cover to some of their field batteries.
"Our scouts have discovered also that an elaborate system of wire entanglements141 and other military obstacles protects almost the whole front of the somewhat extensive German position. On its extreme left their line is said to be thrown back at an angle, so that any attempt to outflank it would not only entail142 crossing the river Crouch, but would come under the fire of batteries placed on the high ground overlooking it. Altogether, it is a very tough nut to crack, and the force at our disposal none too strong for the work that lies before it.
"Further detail regarding our strength would be inadvisable for obvious reasons, but when I point out that the Germans are supposed to be between thirty and forty thousand strong, and that it is laid down by competent military authorities that to attack troops in an entrenched143 position a superiority of six to one is advisable, my readers can draw their own conclusions.
"The repairs to the railway line between Brentwood and Chelmsford, that had been damaged by the enemy's cavalry144 on their first landing, were completed yesterday, and all night reinforcements had been coming in by way of Chelmsford and Billericay. The general headquarters had been established at Danbury, and, thither I made my way as fast as my car could get along the roads, blocked as they were by marching horse, foot, and artillery. I had spent the night at South Hanningfield, so as to be on the spot for the expected attack on Wickford; but as soon as I found it was not to come off, I considered that at Danbury would be the best chance of finding out what our next move was to be.
[77]
"Nor was I mistaken. As I ran up to the village I found the roads full of troops under arms, and everything denoted action of some kind. I was lucky enough to come across a friend of mine on the staff—Captain B——, I will call him—who spared a moment to give me the tip that a general move forward was commencing, and that a big battle was imminent145. Danbury is situated146 on the highest ground for many miles round, and as it bid fair to be a fine, clear day, I thought I could not do better than try and get a general look round from the summit of the church tower before proceeding147 farther. But I was informed that the General was up there with some of his staff and a signalling party, so that I could not ascend148.
"My pass, however, eventually procured149 me admission to the little platform, which, by the way, the General left a moment after my arrival. It was now eight o'clock, the sun was fairly high in the heavens, and the light mists that hung about the low ground in the vicinity of Maldon were fast fading into nothingness. The old town was plainly distinguishable as a dark silhouette150 against the morning light, which, while it illumined the panorama151 spread out before me, yet rendered observation somewhat difficult, since it shone almost directly into my eyes. However, by the aid of my glasses I was able to see something of the first moves on the fatal chess-board where so many thousands of lives are staked on the bloody152 game of war.
"I noticed among other things that the lessons of the recent war in the East had not passed unobserved, for in all the open spaces on the eastern slope of the hill, where the roads were not screened by trees or coppices, lofty erections of hurdles153 and greenery had been placed overnight to hide the preliminary movements of our troops from the glasses of the enemy. Under cover of these, regiment154 after regiment of khaki-clad soldiers, batteries of artillery and ammunition155 carts, were proceeding to their allotted156 posts down the network of roads and lanes leading to the lower ground towards the south-east. Two battalions157 stood in quarter column behind Thrift158 Wood. They were kilted corps159, probably the Argylls and the London Scottish. Several field batteries moved off to the left towards Woodham Walter. Other battalions took up their position behind Hyde Woods, farther away to the right, the last of them, the Grenadier [78]Guards, I fancy, passing behind them and marching still farther southward.
"Finally, two strong battalions, easily recognised as marines by their blue war-kit, marched rapidly down the main road and halted presently behind Woodham Mortimer Place. All this time there was neither sight nor sound of the enemy. The birds carolled gaily160 in the old elms round my eyrie, the sparrows and martins piped and twittered in the eaves of the old church, and the sun shone genially161 on hill and valley, field and wood. To all appearance, peace reigned162 over the countryside, though the dun masses of troops in the shadows of the woodlands were suggestive of the autumn man?uvres. But for all this the 'Real Thing' was upon us. As I looked, first one, then another long and widely scattered line of crouching163 men in khaki issued from the cover of Hyde Woods and began slowly to move away towards the east. Then, and not till then, a vivid violet-white flash blazed out on the dim grey upland five miles away to the south-east, which had been pointed out to me as Great Canney, and almost at once a spout164 of earth and smoke sprang up a little way ahead of the advancing British. A dull boom floated up on the breeze, but was drowned in an ear-splitting crash somewhere close to me. I felt the old tower rock under the concussion, which I presently discovered came from a battery of at least six big 4·7 guns established just outside the churchyard.
"They were manned by a party of bluejackets, who had brought them over from Chatham. The movement I saw developing below me was the first step towards what I eventually discovered was our main objective—Purleigh.
"Could we succeed in establishing ourselves there, we should be beyond effective range from Maldon, and should also take Great Canney in reverse, as well as the positions on the refused left flank of the enemy. Maldon, too, would be isolated165. Purleigh, therefore, was the key of the position. Our first move was in this direction. The scouts were picked men from the Line battalions, but the firing lines were composed of Volunteers and, in some cases, Militiamen. It was considered more politic13 to reserve the Regulars for the later stages of the attack. The firing from Canney, and afterwards from Purleigh, was at first at rather too long a range to be effective, even from the heavy guns that were in use, [79]and later on the heavy long-range fire from 'Bloody Mary' and her sisters at Danbury, and other heavy guns and howitzers in the neighbourhood of East Hanningfield, kept it down considerably166, although the big, high-explosive shells were now and again most terribly destructive to the advancing British.
"When, however, the firing line—which as yet had not been near enough to fire a shot in reply—arrived in the neighbourhood of Loddard's Hill, its left came under a terrible rifle fire from Hazeleigh Wood, while its right and centre were all but destroyed by a tornado167 of shrapnel from some German field batteries to the north of Purleigh. Though dazed and staggered under the appalling168 sleet169 of projectiles170, the Volunteers stuck doggedly171 to their ground, though unable to advance. Line after line was pushed forward, the men stumbling and falling over the thickly-scattered bodies of their fallen comrades.
"It was a perfect holocaust172. Some other card must be played at once, or the attack must fail."
The second of Mr. Henry Bentley's descriptive articles in the "Times" told a terrible truth, and was as follows:
"(From our War Correspondent.)
"Chelmsford, September 7.
"When I sent off my despatch173 by motor-car last night, it was with very different feelings to those with which I take my pen in hand this evening, in the Saracen's Head Hotel, which is the headquarters of my colleagues, the correspondents.
"Last night, despite the hard fighting and the heavy losses we had sustained, the promise of the morrow was distinctly a good one. But now I have little heart with which to commence the difficult and unpleasant task of chronicling the downfall of all our high hopes, the repulse—ay, and the defeat—it is no use mincing174 matters—of our heroic and sorely tried Army.
"Yes, our gallant soldiers have sustained a reverse which, but for their stubborn fighting qualities and a somewhat inexplicable175 holding back on the part of the Germans, might very easily have culminated176 in disaster. Defeat although it undoubtedly177 is, the darkness of the gloomy outlook is illuminated by the brilliancy of the conduct of our troops.
[80]
"From General down to the youngest Volunteer drummer boy, our brave soldiers did all, and more, than could be humanly expected of them, and on none of them can be laid the blame of our ill-success. The plan of attack is agreed on all hands to have been as good a one as could have been evolved; the officers led well, their men fought well, and there was no running short of ammunition at any period of the engagement.
"'Who, then, was responsible?' it may well be asked. The answer is simple. The British public, which, in its apathetic178 attitude towards military efficiency, aided and abetted179 by the soothing180 theories of the extremists of the 'Blue Water' school, had, as usual, neglected to provide an Army fitted to cope in numbers and efficiency with those of our Continental181 neighbours. Had we had a sufficiency of troops, more especially of regular troops, there is not the slightest doubt that the victory would have been ours. As it was, our General was obliged to attack the enemy's position with a force whose numbers, even if they had been all regular soldiers, were below those judged necessary by military experts for the task in hand.
"Having broken through the German lines, success was in his grasp had he had sufficient reinforcements to have established him in the position he had won, and to beat back the inevitable182 counter-attack. But it is best that I should continue my account of the fighting from the point at which I closed my letter of yesterday. I had arrived at the checking of our advance near Loddard's Hill by the blast of shrapnel from the German field batteries. It was plain that the Volunteer Brigade, though it held its ground, could not advance farther. But, unnoticed by them, the General had been preparing for this eventuality.
"On the left the two battalions of Marines that I noticed drawn183 up behind Woodham Mortimer Place suddenly debouched on Loddard's Hill, and, carrying forward with them the débris of the Volunteer firing line, hurled184 themselves into Hazeleigh Wood. There was a sanguinary hand-to-hand struggle on the wire-entangled border, but the newcomers were not to be denied, and, after a quarter of an hour's desperate mêlée, which filled the sylvan185 glades186 with moaning and writhing187 wounded and stark188 dead bodies, we remained masters of the [81]wood, and even obtained a footing on the railway line where it adjoins it.
"Simultaneously a long line of our field batteries came into action near Woodham Mortimer, some trying to beat down the fire of the German guns opposite, while others replied to a battery which had been established near West Maldon Station to flank the railway, and which was now beginning to open on Hazeleigh Wood. The latter were assisted by a battery of 4·7 guns manned by Volunteers, which took up a position behind Woodham Walter. The firing on Great Canney from our batteries at East Hanningfield redoubled, the whole summit of the hill being at times obscured by the clouds of smoke and débris from the explosions of the big, high-explosive projectiles.
"The main firing line, continually fed from the rear, now began slowly to gain ground, and when the Grenadiers and the Irish Guards, who had managed to work up through the series of plantations189 that run eastwards190 for nearly two miles from Woodham Hall without drawing any particular attention from the busily engaged enemy, came into action on the right, there was a distinct move forward. But the defence was too stubborn, and about midday the whole line again came to a standstill, its left still in Hazeleigh Wood, its right at Prentice Farm. Orders were passed that the men should try to entrench130 themselves as best they could, and spades and other tools were sent forward to those corps who were not provided with them already.
"Here we must leave the main attack to notice what was going on elsewhere. On the north the Colchester Garrison191 again brought their heavy artillery into action on the slopes south of Wickham Bishops, while others of our troops made a show of advancing against Maldon from the west. These movements were, however, merely intended to keep the German garrison occupied. But on the right a rather important flanking movement was in progress.
"We had a considerable body of troops at East Hanningfield, which lies in a hollow between two little ridges192, both running from south-west to north-east, and about a mile apart. The most easterly ridge8 is very narrow for the most part, and behind it were stationed several batteries of our field howitzers, which fired over it at Great Canney at a range of about 5,000 yards. A [82]number of 4·7-inch guns, scattered over the western hill, were also concentrated on the same target. Although the range was an extremely long one, there is no doubt that they made a certain number of effective hits, since Great Canney offered a conspicuous193 and considerable target. But beyond this the flashes of their discharges drew off all attention from the howitzer batteries in front of them, and served to conceal their presence from the enemy. Otherwise, although invisible, their presence would have been guessed at. As it was, not a single German projectile came anywhere near them.
"When the fighting began, those troops who were not intended to be held in reserve or to co-operate with the right of the main attack moved off in the direction of Woodham Ferrers, and made a feint of attacking the German position astride the two kopjes at Edwin's Hall, their field guns coming into action on the high ground north of Rettendon, and engaging those of the enemy at long range. But the real attack on this salient of the German position came from a very different quarter.
"The troops detailed194 for this movement were those who had advanced against Wickford at daybreak, and had found it abandoned by the enemy. They consisted of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, the Honourable196 Artillery Company, and the Inns of Court Volunteers, together with their own and three or four other machine-gun detachments, their Maxims being mounted on detachable legs instead of carriages. Co-operating with them were the Essex and the East Kent Yeomanry, who were scouting197 in the direction of Hockley.
"The troops had a long, wearisome march before them, the design being to take advantage of the time of low tide, and to move along out of sight of the enemy behind the northern bank of the river Crouch, as it had been discovered that the German line of defence turned back to the eastward at a mile or two north of the river at the point aimed at. Its guns still commanded it, and might be trusted to render abortive198 any attempt to throw a bridge across it. The Yeomanry had the task of occupying the attention of the enemy at Canewdon, and of preventing the passage of boats from the German warships199. This part of our operations succeeded admirably. The long creeping lines of the Oxfordshires and the machine-gun detachments in their khaki uniforms were almost indistinguishable against the steep mud [83]banks at any distance, and they escaped observation both from the German main lines and from their outpost at Canewdon until they had reached the entrances of the two branch creeks200 for which they were making.
"Then, and not till then, came the sound of artillery from the left rear of the German position. But it was too late. The Oxford195 companies pushed forward at the double. Five companies lined the embankments of Stow Creek201, the easternmost of the two, while the remainder, ensconced in Clementsgreen Creek, aligned202 the whole of their machine-guns on the southern of the two kopjes against which the man?uvre had been directed. Their fire, which, coming from a little to the rear of the left flank of the southern kopje, completely enfiladed it, created such slaughter203 and confusion that the Honourable Artillery Company and the Inns of Court, who had been working up the railway line from Battle Bridge, had little difficulty in establishing themselves at Woodham Ferrers Station and in an adjacent farm. Being almost immediately afterwards reinforced by the arrival of two regular battalions who had been pushed forward from Rettendon, a determined204 assault was made on the southern kopje. Its defenders, demoralised by the pelting205 shower of lead from the machine-gun battery, and threatened also by the advance from Woodham Ferrers village, gave way, and our people, forcing their way over every obstacle, seized the position amid frantic cheering.
"Meanwhile the Oxfordshires had been subjected to a determined counter-attack from North Frambridge. Preceded by a pounding from the guns on Kit's Hill, but aided by the fire of the Yeomanry on the south bank of the river, who galloped up and lined the embankment, thus flanking the defenders of Stow Creek, it was beaten back with considerable loss. The machine-guns were transferred to the neighbourhood of South Kopje, and used with such effect that its defenders, after repulsing206 several counter-attacks from the adjoining German entrenchment129, were able to make themselves masters of the North Kopje also.
"Elsewhere the fighting still continued strenuous207 and deadly. The main attack had contrived to make some little shelter for itself; but though three several attempts were made to advance from this, all ended in failure, one nearly in disaster. This was the last of the three, when the advancing line was charged by a mass of [84]cavalry which suddenly appeared from behind Great Canney Hill. I myself was a witness of this attack, the most picturesque208 incident of the day's fighting.
"I was watching the progress of the engagement through my glasses from the high ground about Wickham's Farm, when I saw line after line of the German horsemen in their sky-blue tunics209 and glittering helmets trot58 out into the open, canter, and one after another break into a mad gallop83, as they bore down upon the advancing lines of our citizen soldiers. Staunchly as these had withstood the murderous fire which for hours had been directed upon them, this whirlwind of lance and sabre, the thunder of thousands of hoofs210, and the hoarse211 cries of the riders, were rather more than such partially212 trained soldiers could stand. A scattering213 discharge from their rifles was followed by something very much approaching a sauve qui peut.
"A large number of Volunteers, however, sought shelter among the ruined houses of Cock Clarke's hamlet, from whence they opened a heavy fire on the adventurous214 horsemen. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who were by this time in Mosklyns Copse, and the Guards and other troops on the right, also opened a rapid and sustained fire on the German cavalry, which seconded by the shrapnel from our guns on Loddard's Hill, caused them to turn and ride back for their lives. There was a tremendous outburst of firing from both sides after this, followed by quite a lull. One could well imagine that all the combatants were exhausted215 by the prolonged effort of the day. It was now between five and six in the evening. It was at this time that the news of the capture of the two kopjes reached me, and I made for Danbury to write my despatches.
"Shortly after my arrival I heard of the capture of Spar Hill, a detached knoll about 1,200 yards to the north-west of Purleigh. The Marines from Hazeleigh Wood and the Highlanders from Mosklyns Copse had suddenly and simultaneously assaulted it from opposite sides, and were now entrenching216 themselves upon it. What wonder, then, that I reported satisfactory progress, and reckoned—too confidently, as it proved—on a victory for the morrow?
"I spent a great part of that night under the stars on the hilltop near East Hanningfield, watching the weird217 play of the searchlights which swept over the country [85]from a score of different positions, and listening to the crash of artillery and clatter218 of rifle fire which now and again told of some attempted movement under cover of the darkness. Just before daylight the continuous roar of battle began again, and when light dawned I found that our troops had cut right through the German lines, and had penetrated as far as Cop Kitchen's Farm, on the Maldon-Mundon road. Reinforcements were being hurried up, and an attack was being pushed towards the rear of Purleigh and Great Canney, which was being heavily bombarded by some of our large guns, which had been mounted during the night on the two kopjes.
"But the reinforcements were not enough. The Germans held fast to Purleigh and to some reserve positions they had established about Mundon. After two or three hours of desperate effort, costing the lives of thousands, our attack was at a standstill. At this critical moment a powerful counter-attack was made from Maldon, and, outnumbered and almost surrounded, our gallant warriors219 had to give ground. But they fell back as doggedly as they had advanced, the Argylls, Marines, and Grenadiers covering the retreat on Danbury.
"The guns at East Hanningfield and the two kopjes checked the pursuit to a great extent, and the Germans seemed unwilling220 to go far from their works. The kopjes had to be abandoned later in the day, and we now occupy our former line from Danbury to Billericay, and are busily engaged in entrenching ourselves."
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1
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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haranguing
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 ) | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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unpaid
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| adj.未付款的，无报酬的 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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negligence
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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beset
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horrid
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enacted
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literally
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metaphorically
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impelled
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standing
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abutting
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retrace
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conflagration
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illuminated
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hiss
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barricade
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maxim
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maxims
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pointed
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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interdiction
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| n.禁止；封锁 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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tottery
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| adj.蹒跚的，摇摇欲倒 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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59
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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60
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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61
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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62
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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63
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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64
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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65
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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66
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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67
spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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68
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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69
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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71
lint
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| n.线头；绷带用麻布，皮棉 | |
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72
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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73
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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74
moot
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| v.提出；adj.未决议的；n.大会；辩论会 | |
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75
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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76
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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77
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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78
hustling
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| 催促（hustle的现在分词形式） | |
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79
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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80
detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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81
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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82
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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83
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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84
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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85
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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86
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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87
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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88
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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89
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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90
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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92
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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93
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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94
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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95
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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96
projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
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97
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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98
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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99
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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100
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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101
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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102
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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103
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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104
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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105
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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106
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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107
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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108
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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109
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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110
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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111
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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112
conflagrations
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| n.大火（灾）( conflagration的名词复数 ) | |
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113
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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114
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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115
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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116
impartiality
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| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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117
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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118
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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119
authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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120
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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121
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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122
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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123
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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124
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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125
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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126
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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127
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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128
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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129
entrenchment
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| n.壕沟，防御设施 | |
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130
entrench
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| v.使根深蒂固；n.壕沟；防御设施 | |
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132
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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133
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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134
evacuated
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| 撤退者的 | |
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135
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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136
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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137
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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138
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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139
knolls
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| n.小圆丘，小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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140
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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141
entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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142
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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143
entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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144
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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145
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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146
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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147
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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148
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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149
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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150
silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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151
panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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152
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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153
hurdles
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| n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛 | |
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154
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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155
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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156
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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157
battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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158
thrift
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| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
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159
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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160
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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161
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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162
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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163
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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164
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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165
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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166
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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167
tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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168
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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169
sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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170
projectiles
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| n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器 | |
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171
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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172
holocaust
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| n.大破坏；大屠杀 | |
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173
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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174
mincing
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| adj.矫饰的；v.切碎；切碎 | |
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175
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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176
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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177
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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178
apathetic
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| adj.冷漠的，无动于衷的 | |
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179
abetted
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| v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持 | |
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180
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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187
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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189
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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190
eastwards
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| adj.向东方（的），朝东（的）；n.向东的方向 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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193
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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194
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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196
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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197
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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198
abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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199
warships
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| 军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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201
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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202
aligned
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| adj.对齐的，均衡的 | |
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203
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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repulsing
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| v.击退( repulse的现在分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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207
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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209
tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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210
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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211
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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212
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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213
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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214
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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entrenching
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| v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的现在分词 )；牢固地确立… | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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218
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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219
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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220
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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