ON JULY IST, 1 9 1 6 , THE TWO LARGEST ARMIES EVER TO FACE ONE I - ONE AND A HALF MILLION ARTILLERY ROUNDS HAD BEEN TRAINED ON THE GERMAN POSITIONS FOR A WEEK BEFORE THE ATTACK, THUS, ACCORDING TO PLAN, OBLITERATING MOST DEFENSES. ANOTHER COMMENCED FIGHTING. By Ross Evan West Illustrations by Carel Moiseiwitsch II BRITISH TROOPS WERE ORDERED OVER THE TOP AT 7 :3 0 A.M. IN A BAYONET-FIXED INFANTRY CHARGE. EACH SOLDIER CARRIED A SIXTY-SIX POUND PACK. AT 7 :3 1 GERMAN MACHINEGUNNERS OPENED FIRE FROM POSITIONS APPARENTLY UNTOUCHED BY THE SHELLING. BY DAY’S END 5 7 ,4 5 0 OF THE I 1 0 ,0 0 0 BRITISH ATTACKERS LAY DEAD OR SEVERELY WOUNDED, MANY BLEEDING TO DEATH AND MOANING IN N o MAN’ S LAND. IV THE BRAINCHILD OF ONE, SIR DOUGLAS HA IG, THE OFFENSIVE WAS SIX MONTHS IN THE PLANNING. V IT IS SAID HAIG HAD NOT THE MILITARY EQUIVALENT OF WIT NOR INVENTION, THOUGH HE POSSESSED A SURFEIT OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, BULL-HEADEDNESS, INFLEXIBILITY AND INTOLERANCE, ESPECIALLY OF HIS ALLIES THE FRENCH. VII VIII JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, HAIG WROTE HIS WIFE: “I FEEL THAT EVERY STEP IN MY PLAN HAS BEEN TAKEN WITH THE DIVINE HELP.” FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS LATER THE BATTLE WAS OVER: ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN DEAD. MILITARY HISTORIANS CALL THIS THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. 20 Clinton St. Quarterly—Summer, 1987
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