"Chelmsford, Monday, Sept. 9.
"I sit down, after a sleepless1 night, to indite2 the account of our latest move. We hear that Sheffield has fallen, and our troops are in flight. As, by the time this appears in print, the enemy will of necessity be aware of our abandonment of Colchester, the censor3 will not, I imagine, prevent the despatch4 of my letter.
"For our move has been made one of a retrograde nature, and I do not doubt that the cavalry5 of the German IXth Corps6 are close behind us and in touch with our own. But I must not, in using the word 'retrograde,' be supposed to criticise7 in any way the strategy of our generals. For every one here is, I am sure, fully8 persuaded of the wisdom of the step. Colchester, with its plucky9 little garrison10, was altogether too much 'in the air,' and stood a great risk of being isolated11 by a converging12 advance of the IXth and Xth Corps of the German invaders13, to say nothing of the XIIth (Saxon) Corps at Maldon, which since the unfortunate battle of Purleigh has shown itself very active to the north and east.
"The Saxons have refrained from attacking our Vth Corps since its repulse14, and it has been left almost in peace to entrench15 its position from Danbury to the southward; but, on the other hand, while not neglecting to further strengthen their already formidable defences between the Blackwater and the Crouch16, their cavalry have scoured17 the country up to the very gates of Colchester. Yesterday morning the 16th Lancers and the 17th Hussars—who had fallen back from Norwich—together with some of the local Yeomanry, moved out by the Tolleshunt d'Arcy and Great Totham roads, and drove in their patrols with some loss. At Tiptree Heath there was a sharp cavalry engagement between our red Lancers and several squadrons of a sky-blue hussar regiment19. Our people routed them, but in the pursuit that followed would have fared badly, as they fell in with the four remaining squadrons supported by another[111] complete regiment, had it not been for the opportune20 arrival of the Household Cavalry Brigade, which had moved north-east from Danbury to co-operate. This completely changed the aspect of affairs. The Germans were soundly beaten, with the loss of a large number of prisoners, and galloped22 back to Maldon in confusion. In the meantime, the 2nd King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and the 5th Battery R.F. Artillery23 had been sent down to Witham by train, whence they marched up to the high ground near Wickham Bishops24. They and the Yeomanry were left there in a position to cover the main London Road and the Great Eastern Railway, and at the same time threaten any movement of the enemy by the Great Totham Road. When the news of our success reached Colchester, soon after midday, we were all very jubilant. In fact, I fear that a great many people spent the afternoon in a species of fool's paradise. And when towards the evening the announcement of our splendid victory at Royston was posted up on the red walls of the fine town hall, and outside the Cups, there was an incipient25 outbreak of that un-English excitement known as 'Mafficking.'
"But this exultation26 was fated to be but short-lived, even though the Mayor appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall and addressed the crowd, while the latest news was posted outside the offices of the 'Essex Telegraph,' opposite the post office. The wind was in the north, and about 5.45 in the afternoon the sound of a heavy explosion was heard from the direction of Manningtree. I was in the Cups Hotel at the time arranging for an early dinner, and ran out into the street. As I emerged from the archway of the hotel I distinctly heard a second detonation27 from the same direction. A sudden silence, ominous28 and unnatural29, seemed to fall on the yelping30 jingoes in the street, in the midst of which the rumble31 of yet another explosion rolled down on the wind, this time from a more westerly direction. Men asked their neighbours breathlessly as to what all this portended32. I myself knew no more than the most ignorant of the crowd, till in an officer who rushed hastily by me in Head Street, on his way into the hotel, I recognised my friend Captain Burton, of the Artillery.
"I buttonholed him at once.
"'Do I know what those explosions were?' repeated he in answer to my inquiry33. 'Well, I don't know, but[112] I'm open to bet you five to one that it's the sappers blowing up the bridges over the Stour at Manningtree and Stratford St. Mary.'
"'Then the Germans will have arrived there?' I queried34.
"'Most probably. And look here,' he continued, taking me aside by the arm, and lowering his voice, 'you take my tip. We shall be out of this to-night. So you'd best pack up your traps and get into marching order.'
"'Do you know this?' said I.
"'Not officially, or I shouldn't tell you anything about it. But I can put two and two together. We all knew that the General wouldn't be fool enough to try and defend an open town of this size with such a small garrison against a whole army corps, or perhaps more. It would serve no good purpose, and expose the place to destruction and bring all sorts of disaster on the civil population. You could have seen that for yourself, for no attempt whatever has been made to erect35 defences of any kind, neither have we received any reinforcements at all. If they had meant to defend it they could certainly have contrived36 to send us some Volunteers and guns at any rate. No, the few troops we have here have done their best in assisting the Danbury Force against the Saxons, and are much too valuable to be left here to be cut off without being able to do much to check the advance of the enemy. If we had been going to try anything of that kind, we should have now been holding the line of the river Stour; but I know we have only small detachments at the various bridges, sufficient only to drive off the enemy's cavalry patrols. By now, having blown up the bridges, I expect they are falling back as fast as they can get. Besides, look here,' he added, 'what do you think that battalion37 was sent to Wickham Bishops for this morning?'
"I told him my theories as set forth38 above.
"'Oh, yes, that's all right,' he answered. 'But you may bet your boots that there's more in it than that. In my opinion, the General has had orders to clear out as soon as the enemy are preparing to cross the Stour, and the Lancasters are planted there to protect our left flank from an attack from Maldon while we are retreating on Chelmsford.'
"'But we might fall back on Braintree?' I hazarded.
"'Don't you believe it. We're not wanted there—at[113] least, I mean, not so much as elsewhere. Where we shall come in is to help to fill the gap between Braintree and Danbury. I think, myself, we might just as well have done it before. We have been sending back stores by rail for the last two days. Well, good-bye,' he said, holding out his hand. 'Keep all this to yourself, and mark my words, we'll be off at dusk.'
"Away he went, and convinced that his prognostications were correct—as, indeed, in the main they proved—I hastened to eat my dinner, pay my bill, and get my portmanteau packed and stowed away in my motor. As soon as the evening began to close in I started and made for the barracks, going easy. The streets were still full of people, but they were very quiet, and mostly talking together in scattered39 groups. A shadow seemed to have fallen on the jubilant crowd of the afternoon, though, as far as I could ascertain40, there were no definite rumours41 of the departure of the troops and the close advent42 of the enemy.
"When I arrived at the barracks, I saw at once that there was something in the wind, and pulled up alongside the barrack railings, determined43 to watch the progress of events. I had not long to wait. In about ten minutes a bugle44 sounded, and the scattered assemblage of men on the barrack-square closed together and solidified45 into a series of quarter columns. At the same time the Volunteer battalion moved across from the other side of the road and joined the Regular troops. I heard a sharp clatter46 and jingling47 behind me, and, looking round, saw the General and his staff with a squad18 of cavalry canter up the road. They turned into the barrack gate, greeted by a sharp word of command and the rattle48 of arms from the assembled battalions49. As far as I could make out, the General made them some kind of address, after which I heard another word of command, upon which the regiment nearest to the gate formed fours and marched out.
"It was the 2nd Dorsetshire. I watched anxiously to see which way they turned. As I more than expected, they turned in the direction of the London Road. My friend had been right so far, but till the troops arrived at Mark's Tey, where the road forked, I could not be certain whether they were going towards Braintree or Chelmsford. The Volunteers followed; then the Leicestershires, then a long train of artillery, field batteries,[114] big 4·7 guns, and howitzers. The King's Own Scottish Borderers formed the rearguard. With them marched the General and his staff; I saw no cavalry. I discovered afterwards that the General, foreseeing that a retirement50 was imminent51, had ordered the 16th Lancers and the 7th Hussars, after their successful morning performance, to remain till further orders at Kelvedon and Tiptree respectively, so that their horses were resting during the afternoon.
"During the night march the former came back and formed a screen behind the retiring column, while the latter were in a position to observe and check any movement northwards that might be made by the Saxons, at the same time protecting its flank and rear from a possible advance by the cavalry of Von Kronhelm's Army, should they succeed in crossing the river Stour soon enough to be able to press after us in pursuit by either of the two eastern roads leading from Colchester to Maldon. After the last of the departing soldiers had tramped away into the gathering52 darkness through the mud, which after yesterday's downpour still lay thick upon the roads, I bethought me that I might as well run down to the railway station to see if anything was going on there. I was just in time.
"The electric light disclosed a bustling53 scene as the last of the ammunition54 and a certain proportion of stores were being hurried into a long train that stood with steam up ready to be off. The police allowed none of the general public to enter the station, but my correspondent's pass obtained me admission to the departure platform. There I saw several detachments of the Royal Engineers, the Mounted Infantry—minus their horses, which had been already sent on—and some of the Leicestershire Regiment. Many of the men had their arms, legs, or heads bandaged, and bore evident traces of having been in action. I got into conversation with a colour-sergeant55 of the Engineers, and learned these were the detachments who had been stationed at the bridges over the Stour. It appears there was some sharp skirmishing with the German advance troops before the officers in command had decided56 that they were in sufficient force to justify57 them in blowing up the bridges. In fact, at the one at which my informant was stationed, and that the most important one of all, over which the main road from Ipswich passed at Stratford St. Mary, the[115] officer in charge delayed just too long, so that a party of the enemy's cavalry actually secured the bridge, and succeeded in cutting the wires leading to the charges which had been placed in readiness to blow it up. Luckily, the various detachments present rose like one man to the occasion, and, despite a heavy fire, hurled58 themselves upon the intruders with the bayonet with such determination and impetus59, that the bridge was swept clear in a moment. The wires were reconnected, and the bridge cleared of our men just as the Germans, reinforced by several of their supporting squadrons, who had come up at a gallop21, dashed upon it in pursuit. The firing key was pressed at this critical moment, and, with a stunning60 report, a whole troop was blown into the air, the remaining horses, mad with fright, stampeding despite all that their riders could do. The road was cut, and the German advance temporarily checked, while the British detachment made off as fast as it could for Colchester.
"I asked the sergeant how long he thought it would be before the Germans succeeded in crossing it. 'Bless you, sir, I expect they're over by now,' he answered. 'They would be sure to have their bridging companies somewhere close up, and it would not take them more than an hour or two to throw a bridge over that place.' The bridges at Boxted Mill and Nayland had been destroyed previously61.
"The railway bridge and the other one at Manningtree were blown up before the Germans could get a footing, and their defenders62 had come in by rail. But my conversation was cut short, the whistle sounded, the men were hustled63 on board the train, and it moved slowly out of the station. As for me, I hurried out to my car, and, putting on speed, was soon clear of the town, and spinning along for Mark's Tey. It is about five miles, and shortly before I got there I overtook the marching column. The men were halted, and in the act of putting on their greatcoats. I was stopped here by the rearguard, who took charge of me, and would not let me proceed until permission was obtained from the General.
"Eventually this officer ordered me to be brought to him, I presented my pass; but he said, 'I am afraid that I shall have to ask you either to turn back or to slow down and keep pace with us. In fact, you had[116] better do the latter. I might, indeed, have to exercise my powers and impress your motor, should the exigencies64 of the Service require it.' I saw that it was best to make virtue65 of necessity, and replied that it was very much at his service, and that I was very well content to accompany the column. In point of fact, the latter was strictly66 true, for I wanted to see what was to be seen, and there were no points about going along with no definite idea of where I wanted to get to, with a possible chance of falling into the hands of the Saxons into the bargain. So a Staff officer, who was suffering from a slight wound, was placed alongside me, and the column, having muffled67 itself in its greatcoats, once more began to plug along through the thickening mire68. My position was just in front of the guns, which kept up a monotonous69 rumble behind me. My companion was talkative, and afforded me a good deal of incidental and welcome information. Thus, just after we started, and were turning to the left at Mark's Tey, a bright glare followed by a loudish report came from the right of the road. 'What's that?' I naturally ejaculated. 'Oh, that will be the sappers destroying the junction70 with the Sudbury line,' he replied. 'There's the train waiting for them just beyond.'
"So it was. The train that I had seen leaving had evidently stopped after passing the junction, while the line was broken behind it. 'They will do the same after passing the cross line at Witham,' volunteered he.
"A mile or two further on we passed between two lines of horsemen, their faces set northwards and muffled to the eyes in their long cloaks. 'That's some of the 16th,' he said, 'going to cover our rear.'
"So we moved on all night through the darkness and rain, and with the first glimmer71 of dawn halted at Witham. We had about nine miles still to go to reach Chelmsford, which I learned was our immediate72 destination, and it was decided to rest here for an hour, while the men made the best breakfast they could from the contents of their haversacks. But the villagers brought out hot tea and coffee, and did the best they could for us, so we did not fare so badly after all. As for me, I got permission to go on, taking with me my friend the Staff officer, who had despatches to forward from Chelmsford. I pushed on at full speed. We were there in a very short space of time, and during the morning I learned that the Braintree Army was falling back on Dunmow, and that the Colchester garrison was to assist in holding the line of the river Chelmer."
[117]
NOTICE.
CONCERNING WOUNDED BRITISH SOLDIERS.
In compliance73 with an order of the Commander-in-Chief of the German Imperial Army, the Governor-General of East Anglia decrees as follows:—
(1) Every inhabitant of the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Northampton, Rutland, Huntingdon, and Hertford, who gives asylum74 to or lodges75 one or more ill or wounded British soldier, is obliged to make a declaration to the mayor of the town or to the local police within 24 hours, stating name, grade, place of birth, and nature of illness or injury.
Every change of domicile of the wounded is also to be notified within 24 hours.
In absence of masters, servants are ordered to make the necessary declarations.
The same order applies to the directors of hospitals, surgeries, or ambulance stations, who receive the British wounded within our jurisdiction76.
(2) All mayors are ordered to prepare lists of the British wounded, showing the number, with their names, grade, and place of birth in each district.
(3) The mayor, or the superintendent77 of police, must send on the 1st and 15th of each month a copy of his lists to the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief. The first list must be sent on the 15th September.
(4) Any person failing to comply with this order will, in addition to being placed under arrest for harbouring British troops, be fined a sum not exceeding ￡20.
(5) This decree is to be published in all towns and villages in the Province of East Anglia.
Count VON SCHONBURG-WALDENBURG,
Lieutenant-General,
Governor of German East Anglia.
Ipswich, September 6, 1910.
COPY OF ONE OF THE ENEMY'S PROCLAMATIONS. COPY OF ONE OF THE ENEMY'S PROCLAMATIONS.
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1
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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indite
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作 | |
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censor
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| n./vt.审查，审查员；删改 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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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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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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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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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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entrench
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| v.使根深蒂固；n.壕沟；防御设施 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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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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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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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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incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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exultation
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detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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portended
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| v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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erect
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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solidified
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| （使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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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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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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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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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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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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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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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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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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exigencies
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| n.急切需要 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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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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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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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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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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