looked as if they were going to remain there forever. Our Corps
Headquarters, too, were not far from Etrun, and the concentration of
Canadians in the neighbourhood gave us the impression that we had
found a more than temporary resting place. An American Chaplain was
sent up to stay with me for a visit in order to see what conditions
were like at the front. He was a Lutheran, although not of German
extraction. I took him up to Arras one night, where we had dinner with
the engineers, and afterwards saw the 10th Battalion start off for the
trenches. He was much impressed with the spirit and appearance of the
men. It was late when we got back to my quarters, and to my surprise
on the next morning an order came through that the American Chaplain
had to return immediately. Neither he nor I could understand it. I
began to think he must have got into some scrape, as no explanation
was given. The real reason came out afterwards.

On August 1st our Division suddenly packed up and started once more
for Le Cauroy. We knew now that big things were in store for us and
that the Canadian Corps were going to attack. We heard rumours of the
preparations the French and Americans had made in the South, and we
felt that at last the Allies were going to get the initiative into
their hands. Whither we were going, however, we did not know, but we
all devoutly hoped that it would not be the Salient. The secret of our
destination was kept most profoundly. We were told that everything (p. 271)
depended upon our holding our tongues and exciting as little curiosity
as possible among the inhabitants. Once again, as before Vimy, but to
even a greater extent, we felt the electric thrill which kindles the
imagination of an army going into battle. The rapid move which the
Canadian Corps now made was the most sporting thing we ever did, and
it appealed strongly to the hearts of young men who were keen on games
and had been inured to a hardy life in Canada. Swiftly and secretly
the battalions entrained at various points and left for parts unknown.
I went in my side-car to the machine-gun headquarters at Liencourt,
and on the next day to the Cure's house at Le Cauroy. I found out from
Headquarters that our Division was going south within a day or so, but
that I was not to tell the men. The brigades were billeted in the
neighbouring villages, but were soon to move. I was only one day at Le
Cauroy, and on the 3rd of August, after a rainy morning, started of