72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

"
CHAPTER XV.
A BEATEN FOE.
Inspection by Maj.-Gen. Sir David Watson Advance to Aubencheul-au-Bac
-
"Booby-Traps" Liberation of Abscon
Visit of the Prince of Wales Billeted at Fosse Bligneres
Carrying the line forward The enemy makes a stand at the
Canal de 1 Escaut.
A BSORBING the new drafts and general reorganiza-
^A tion claimed first place in the days immediately fol
lowing the Battalion s arrival in its new camp. Platoon
strengths were equalized, and intensive and special train
ing commenced. On October 9th the Brigade was inspect
ed by Maj.-Gen. Sir David Watson, K.C.B., C.M.G., and in
closing his address of thanks to the Brigade for their
strenuous part in the Cambrai operation, he said:
. .
. . . It is with a feeling of great pride that I am able
to tell you that Cambrai fell to Canadian arms at dawn
this
morning."
to its
It was an enthusiastic Battalion that repaired
various abodes after the inspection. In the mess, a group
of officers stood about a large-scale map of the battle
front, and studied with even greater interest than before,
the row of brass thumb-tacks which marked the enemy s
disorganized front. The German line of battle, so formid
able two months ago, now hung in sagging curves from
the Dutch frontier to south of the St. Mihel salient. How
much more could he stand That was the question. One of
the officers, as he turned from his study of the battle-map,
said, "I ll give him another month." This was on the
9th of October, 1918.
153