72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

"CHAPTER XV.A BEATEN FOE.Inspection by Maj.-Gen. Sir David Watson Advance to Aubencheul-au-Bac-"Booby-Traps" Liberation of AbsconVisit of the Prince of Wales Billeted at Fosse BligneresCarrying the line forward The enemy makes a stand at theCanal de 1 Escaut.A BSORBING the new drafts and general reorganiza-^A tion claimed first place in the days immediately following the Battalion s arrival in its new camp. Platoonstrengths were equalized, and intensive and special training commenced. On October 9th the Brigade was inspected by Maj.-Gen. Sir David Watson, K.C.B., C.M.G., and inclosing his address of thanks to the Brigade for theirstrenuous part in the Cambrai operation, he said:. .. . . It is with a feeling of great pride that I am ableto tell you that Cambrai fell to Canadian arms at dawnthismorning."to itsIt was an enthusiastic Battalion that repairedvarious abodes after the inspection. In the mess, a groupof officers stood about a large-scale map of the battlefront, and studied with even greater interest than before,the row of brass thumb-tacks which marked the enemy sdisorganized front. The German line of battle, so formidable two months ago, now hung in sagging curves fromthe Dutch frontier to south of the St. Mihel salient. Howmuch more could he stand? That was the question. One ofthe officers, as he turned from his study of the battle-map,said, "I ll give him another month." This was on the9th of October, 1918.153