but, by that time, the Teutons had received
reenforcements; and they rained such a shower of lead on the attacking
force that the attempt had to be abandoned; but not until many heroic
efforts had been made by the British to succeed in their purpose.

Many Germans were made prisoners at all stages of the fighting. The
British bayonet seemed to strike them with terror, and the bombs were
more potent in scattering them than were the orders of their
commanders to repel the attacking force. Between Richebourg l'Avoue
and Le Quinque Rue is the farm Cour de l'Avoue. In front of this farm
the remains of a battalion of Saxons attempted to surrender. They had
arrived on the line as reenforcements to the Westphalians, and had
been fighting valiantly until their numbers were so decreased that
they were unable to hold out against their foes longer. Whether their
commanding officer ordered them to surrender or a common impulse
dictated their action, they left their position and advanced toward
the British. Not understanding their action, the attacking force fired
upon the Saxons who were sufficiently numerous to give the impression
that they might be leading a counterattack. Thereupon the Saxons
dropped their guns and the firing from the British side ceased, only
to be taken up on the German side by the Westphalians. This was
followed by an attack on the would-be prisoners by the German
artillery until every soldier in the surrendering party was slain.
This action horrified the British, but the Germans considered it a
means of discipline which would have a salutary effect on any who
might prefer the comforts of a prison camp to dying for the
Fatherland.

The British Seventh Division at Festubert continued to work south
along the German trenches. Its bayonets and bombs cleared the way
before it. The plan was for them to continue toward Rue d'Ouvert,
Chapelle St. Roch, and Canteleux. In the meantime the Second Division,
on the left of the Seventh Division, was to fight its way to Rue du
Marais and Violaines. The Indian contingent had received orders to
keep in touch with the Third Division. The Fifty-first Division was
sent to Estaires to act as a support to the First Army. By the night
of May 17, 1915, the British held all of the first line of German
trenches from the south of Festubert to Richebourg l'Avoue. For a part
of that distance the second and third lines of trenches had been taken
and held; and still farther forward the B