left
wing of the German army, under the command of the Crown Prince of
Bavaria, in order to keep him from using his men against General
Foch, who was attempting to push his way between Arras and Lille.
Inasmuch as the British artillery had proved ineffective because
of its lack of enough and the proper kind of ammunition, Sir John
French planned another surprise for the Germans. This time he selected
the weapon which the Teutons seemed most to fear when it was in the
hands of the British--the bayonet. The salient on the German front
at Festubert, between La Bassee and Neuve Chapelle, was chosen for
the proposed military feat. The territory occupied by the Teutons
had the appearance, to the casual observer, of being lowlands on
which were wrecked homes, farms, and trees. The actual conditions
of this section of the country were much more serious for any body
of troops which planned to make an attack. The ground was moist
and muddy, in many places being crossed by treacherous ditches
filled with slimy water. Moreover the exact range of practically
every square foot of it was known to the German artillerymen, whose
guns were on the high ground to the west of the lowlands. The British
were in trenches from seventy to three hundred yards from those of
their enemy. If the men there could dash across the intervening
space and get into the German trenches before being annihilated
by the kaiser's cannon, they would use the bayonet with deadly
effect, and, from past experiences, have reasonable hope of gaining
a victory. It was decided to make such an attempt first on that
part of the line between Richebourg on the left and Festubert on
the right.

The British Seventh Division was sent south to support the attack
which was to have been made on May 12, 1915. On that day it was
too foggy for the aviators to see with any degree of accuracy; so
the movement was delayed. This gave time for the Canadian Division
to be sent south and add their strength to the support. The German
trenches, at this point where the attack was to be made, were occupied
by the Seventh Westphalian Army Corps. This corps had lost many of
its men at Neuve Chapelle; and their places had been taken by youths
who had not reached the development of manhood and whose immaturity
and lack of military training greatly lessened the efficiency of
this famous body of troops.

Finally, on Saturday night, May 15, 1915, all conditions for the
attack seemed favorable to t