FORGOTTEN 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. I l l 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. ANOTHER COMMENCED FIGHTING. By Ross Evan West Illustrations by Carel Moiseiwitsch THE BRAINCHILD OF ONE, SIR DOUGLAS HA IG, THE OFFENSIVE WAS SIX MONTHS IN THE PLANNING. I I BRITISH TROOPS WERE ORDERED OVER THE TOP AT 7 :30 A.M. IN A BAYONET-FIXED INFANTRY CHARGE. EACH SOLDIER CARRIED A SIXTY-SIX POUND PACK. 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. V I I I 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. 22 Clinton St. Quarterly—Summer, 1987
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz