http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/surprise-tactics-at-grandcourt-gj5hzkjsj
A German trench system defended it on the west side, along the Grandcourt-Thiepval road. We discovered that the front trench was unoccupied the day before yesterday and took it. Yesterday morning our patrols got out to explore towards the village, found things were much easier than used to be expected from the Boche, and signalled for troops. These felt their way amid the ruins of houses, farms, barns, and orchards, and with very little fighting got out of the village on the east side. There was some machine-gun work, but only enough to give it a name. Some prisoners were sent back, and our men established themselves along a line running south from Grandcourt on the east side.
An operation stealthily made from another direction had brought us further north, meeting our success through the village from the westward. Our lines were adjusted from two directions to put the village wholly and securely within our territory. Where the Germans’ new line may be this side of Miraumont can be only surmised from the fact that erratic convolutions of the Ancre, a deep ravine, and a steep hill protect that larger and practically intact village from the south.
With the occupation of Grandcourt another move was possible on the north bank of the river. Beyond the trenches we won there last Saturday midnight and opposite the east end of Grandcourt is Baillescourt Farm, an ancient and strongly-built quadrangle of home and barns, well fortified by the Germans. That also has fallen. Its garrison of Hamburgers (85th Regiment of Infantry) made some sharp opposition which did not last, and 80 men and one officer were made prisoners. Naturally we had some good guessing as to the German withdrawal from the position I have described, and, acting on well-grounded assumption, our batteries did not give the enemy an easy job. The Germans were heavily punished, though they did not stay.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-09/register/eton-boys-on-rations-7sqwp9d5k
Miss Margaret Dyer, head of the cookery section of King’s College for Women (Household Science Department), said yesterday that oatcakes have a special value in the saving of wheat. They can be easily cooked, and used to take the place of bread. They are excellent with cheese and good for children. At Queen Mary’s Hostel attached to King’s College the head cook suggested the use of very stale bread moistened with milk in the proportion of ¼lb to ¾lb of flour in making fig or date puddings. This, she said, not only saved a quarter of the usual quantity of flour, but made the puddings very light. She also suggested the use of more vegetarian dishes, such as Irish stew made of vegetables — dried peas, beans, fresh potatoes, &c, on a tomato puree basis and let simmer until thick. The disadvantage of vegetarian dishes is that it is difficult to make appetizing use of what is left over; meat, on the contrary, can be treated in different ways — with rice, potatoes, haricot beans, or some other vegetable. The best way to prevent waste is to see that nothing is left that cannot be recooked in some form.
The Headmaster of Eton has just notified the boys that they are to go on the war rations laid down by the Food Controller. Every house must keep within the specified limit of bread, meat, and sugar per head. The proprietors of the tuck-shops in Eton have been asked not to serve the boys with food which would add to these rations, such as cakes, biscuits, rolls, and scones. Only chocolates and fruit may be bought outside the war rations. The boys have also been asked to cut down their tailor’s bills to the lowest possible amount. To prevent unnecessary railway travelling it has been decided to dispense with long leave this half. Two extra days will be added to the holidays instead.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-08/register/frost-bound-french-battle-front-g2f07hnfc
At the front itself there are three degrees of exposure. There is the first line of trenches, where, of course, the life is especially arduous. Further back they pass, on leaving the trenches, a period in one of the extemporized villages, built, as a rule, of rough stones and logs, and from these they move back in rotation for a period of the same length to cantonments in the towns and villages of the district.
In this third class of quarters the great barns in which their sleeping quarters were placed were pierced by icy blasts. And yet, the men were well contented compared with what they were used to at the front. The beds were arranged in two long rows, one above the other. The foundation of each bunk was a framework of wire netting, on which was a straw palliasse and a couple of woollen rugs. Every dormitory was heated by one or two stoves. The recreation room was also heated but, for all that, the only place in which it was possible to feel approximately warm was in the shed where the travelling kitchen was housed. By an Army Order the men all wear a flannel body-belt, and over that warm underclothing and shirts of woollen waistcoats, besides their thick long capotes. At night they are also provided with sheepskins, which they wear poncho fashion, and there is a liberal supply of leather or sheepskin or goat-fur coats. Regular inspections take place to see that no one suffers from a scarcity.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-07/register/turning-the-tables-at-kut-3mvmhz7tg
We dwell on these gallant exploits, undertaken under the most adverse conditions of climate and weather, because amid the clash of greater events elsewhere there is some likelihood that the deeds of the Mesopotamian forces may receive less attention than they deserve. After their long grilling in tropical heat last year, they are at last being heartened by a series of successes. The ultimate value and object of their indomitable persistence may perhaps remain problematical, but at least they are engaging and holding large Turkish forces, and are punishing them mercilessly.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-06/register/vice-and-crime-on-the-film-7ks2lvv92
The examiners had been guided by the broad principle that nothing should be passed which in their honest opinion was calculated to demoralize an audience; that could be held to extenuate crime; teach the methods of criminals; bring the institution of marriage into contempt; or lower the sacredness of family ties. They had objected to subjects calculated to wound the susceptibilities of foreign peoples, of members of any religion, and they had rejected films calculated to foment social unrest.
In stories turning on the relation of the sexes, which, of course, comprised a large portion of those submitted, every incident had been judged by the standard of how it affected the average decent-minded person. They had objected to stories which portrayed women leading immoral lives, and all scenes showing vice in an attractive form, even though retribution might follow. In dealing with “crime” subjects, the examiners had had to discriminate between such stories as were calculated, in their judgment, to familiarize young people with theft, robberies, and crimes of violence, and stories which dealt with “costume” crime — that is, cowboy shootings, “feather and rapier” stabbings, bandits, and Mexican robberies, &c. The latter were regarded by the young simply as thrilling adventures, having no connexion with their own lives. When the same crimes were committed by people in ordinary dress, the examiners aimed at eliminating details which made them too realistic. As regarded indecorum of dress, the examiners had insisted on deletion when a dress appeared indecent or suggestive.
When the Censorship was instituted it was decided that two forms of certificate should be issued — one for such films as were considered suitable for universal exhibition, and one for exhibition before adults only.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-04/register/the-presidents-address-rprdfhrs2
The news that Mr Wilson would inform Congress that he had broken diplomatic relations with Germany was announced by the State Department yesterday morning. Everybody, therefore, had advance information of the President’s intentions, and there was an immense rush to secure admission to the galleries of the House of Representatives.
Even the Diplomatic Gallery was filled early. A number of women were present, including Mrs Wilson. Just before the President arrived the members of the Supreme Court walked into the House, taking places specially reserved for them. The appearance of the judicial body in the Legislative Chamber was unusual, and added to the extreme gravity of the scene, as if the Judges had come to pronounce sentence upon the World’s criminal.
Mr Wilson’s appearance was the signal for applause which, however, quickly subsided as he started hastily to speak. When after the preliminary citation of Germany’s broken promises he announced that Count Bernstorff had been given his passports and Mr Gerard recalled, Senator Lodge, whose recent criticisms of the President are known to have been thought unwarranted at the White House, led the applause.
The austere Justices of the Supreme Court gave their verdict by joining the handclapping. Those in the gallery obeyed the rule against demonstrations in the House by strangers by refraining from applauding, but waved handkerchiefs instead.
As, towards the close of his speech, the President announced that he would appear before Congress again to ask for full powers to safeguard American rights if Germany carried into effect her threat of ruthless submarining, his audience found it impossible to restrain their feelings. Senators and Congressmen and those in the galleries united in a demonstration of patriotic fervour such as Congress had not seen since the declaration of hostilities leading to the Spanish-American War. As the President left the House of Representatives everybody rose, and there was deep silence.
FEBRUARY 10, 1917
Surprise tactics at Grandcourt
Grandcourt is a straggling village of one street, running along the south bank of the Ancre. It has been badly knocked about, though, unlike Pozieres, you can still see it was once a pleasant place. None of its buildings has any roofs, but the walls still stand to some extent.A German trench system defended it on the west side, along the Grandcourt-Thiepval road. We discovered that the front trench was unoccupied the day before yesterday and took it. Yesterday morning our patrols got out to explore towards the village, found things were much easier than used to be expected from the Boche, and signalled for troops. These felt their way amid the ruins of houses, farms, barns, and orchards, and with very little fighting got out of the village on the east side. There was some machine-gun work, but only enough to give it a name. Some prisoners were sent back, and our men established themselves along a line running south from Grandcourt on the east side.
An operation stealthily made from another direction had brought us further north, meeting our success through the village from the westward. Our lines were adjusted from two directions to put the village wholly and securely within our territory. Where the Germans’ new line may be this side of Miraumont can be only surmised from the fact that erratic convolutions of the Ancre, a deep ravine, and a steep hill protect that larger and practically intact village from the south.
With the occupation of Grandcourt another move was possible on the north bank of the river. Beyond the trenches we won there last Saturday midnight and opposite the east end of Grandcourt is Baillescourt Farm, an ancient and strongly-built quadrangle of home and barns, well fortified by the Germans. That also has fallen. Its garrison of Hamburgers (85th Regiment of Infantry) made some sharp opposition which did not last, and 80 men and one officer were made prisoners. Naturally we had some good guessing as to the German withdrawal from the position I have described, and, acting on well-grounded assumption, our batteries did not give the enemy an easy job. The Germans were heavily punished, though they did not stay.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-09/register/eton-boys-on-rations-7sqwp9d5k
FEBRUARY 9, 1917
Eton boys on rations
Weekly allowance per head: bread 4lb (or 3lb flour), meat 2½lb, sugar ¾lb. The importance of bread-saving is occupying the attention of many economy experts since the announcement of voluntary rations, and it is regarded as likely to be the most difficult ration to save on, in view of the many forms in which wheat flour is used. People who use macaroni and forms of spaghetti to supplement meat lose sight of the fact that it is also a form of flour, and must be counted in the weekly limit.Miss Margaret Dyer, head of the cookery section of King’s College for Women (Household Science Department), said yesterday that oatcakes have a special value in the saving of wheat. They can be easily cooked, and used to take the place of bread. They are excellent with cheese and good for children. At Queen Mary’s Hostel attached to King’s College the head cook suggested the use of very stale bread moistened with milk in the proportion of ¼lb to ¾lb of flour in making fig or date puddings. This, she said, not only saved a quarter of the usual quantity of flour, but made the puddings very light. She also suggested the use of more vegetarian dishes, such as Irish stew made of vegetables — dried peas, beans, fresh potatoes, &c, on a tomato puree basis and let simmer until thick. The disadvantage of vegetarian dishes is that it is difficult to make appetizing use of what is left over; meat, on the contrary, can be treated in different ways — with rice, potatoes, haricot beans, or some other vegetable. The best way to prevent waste is to see that nothing is left that cannot be recooked in some form.
The Headmaster of Eton has just notified the boys that they are to go on the war rations laid down by the Food Controller. Every house must keep within the specified limit of bread, meat, and sugar per head. The proprietors of the tuck-shops in Eton have been asked not to serve the boys with food which would add to these rations, such as cakes, biscuits, rolls, and scones. Only chocolates and fruit may be bought outside the war rations. The boys have also been asked to cut down their tailor’s bills to the lowest possible amount. To prevent unnecessary railway travelling it has been decided to dispense with long leave this half. Two extra days will be added to the holidays instead.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-08/register/frost-bound-french-battle-front-g2f07hnfc
FEBRUARY 8, 1917
Frost-bound French battle front
When the weather is as arctic as it has now been for the last three weeks all over France, life in the trenches and the cantonments behind them is not an agreeable experience. And yet to the fighting men the cold apparently makes hardly any difference. At first sight it seems as though nothing could be more trying. But their attitude of philosophic resignation is not without reason. They have found by bitter experience that a few inches of water or liquid mud are much more harmful than many degrees of frost. Before the arctic period began, in spite of a liberal provision of high boots for the men in the front line, and the admirably efficient slats of wood with which nearly all trenches are now fitted, cases of trench-feet were still fairly common. Now they have practically ceased to exist, and in all other respects the percentage of sickness is remarkably low.At the front itself there are three degrees of exposure. There is the first line of trenches, where, of course, the life is especially arduous. Further back they pass, on leaving the trenches, a period in one of the extemporized villages, built, as a rule, of rough stones and logs, and from these they move back in rotation for a period of the same length to cantonments in the towns and villages of the district.
In this third class of quarters the great barns in which their sleeping quarters were placed were pierced by icy blasts. And yet, the men were well contented compared with what they were used to at the front. The beds were arranged in two long rows, one above the other. The foundation of each bunk was a framework of wire netting, on which was a straw palliasse and a couple of woollen rugs. Every dormitory was heated by one or two stoves. The recreation room was also heated but, for all that, the only place in which it was possible to feel approximately warm was in the shed where the travelling kitchen was housed. By an Army Order the men all wear a flannel body-belt, and over that warm underclothing and shirts of woollen waistcoats, besides their thick long capotes. At night they are also provided with sheepskins, which they wear poncho fashion, and there is a liberal supply of leather or sheepskin or goat-fur coats. Regular inspections take place to see that no one suffers from a scarcity.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-07/register/turning-the-tables-at-kut-3mvmhz7tg
FEBRUARY 7, 1917
Turning the tables at Kut
For nearly two months the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force has been steadily drawing closer to Kut, and the statement from the War Office which we publish today shows that General Maude has achieved a substantial measure of success. The present position is somewhat curious. On the left bank of the Tigris the Turks cling obstinately to the entrenchments at Sanna-i-Yat, fifteen miles below Kut. It was the repulse of General Gorringe’s forces at Sanna-i-Yat last March which compelled General Townshend to surrender, and the situation on the left bank appears to have remained practically unchanged ever since. On the right bank there has been a great transformation since mid-December. The British and Indian troops now hold the whole of the right bank as far as the liquorice factory, which at one time represented the limit of General Townshend’s defences across the river. General Maude has thus attained a semi-investment of Kut on the south and east, though the river still separates him from his immediate objective. Meanwhile his cavalry has raided as far as a point opposite the Turkish advanced base at Baghela, twenty-five miles nearer Baghdad. There seems reasonable ground for the hope that before very long the downfall of Kut will be fully avenged, and that the wretched little town will pass once more into British hands. General Maude’s progress has been marked by a great deal of hard fighting, in which considerable losses have been inflicted on the enemy. Successive attacks have enabled him to report, in the statement published today, that the enemy have evacuated the whole of the right bank. It appears probable that the Turkish force on the left bank will soon find its position untenable.We dwell on these gallant exploits, undertaken under the most adverse conditions of climate and weather, because amid the clash of greater events elsewhere there is some likelihood that the deeds of the Mesopotamian forces may receive less attention than they deserve. After their long grilling in tropical heat last year, they are at last being heartened by a series of successes. The ultimate value and object of their indomitable persistence may perhaps remain problematical, but at least they are engaging and holding large Turkish forces, and are punishing them mercilessly.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-06/register/vice-and-crime-on-the-film-7ks2lvv92
FEBRUARY 6, 1917
Vice and crime on the film
The Cinematograph Commission of Inquiry sat yesterday, Principal A E Galvie presiding, in the absence of the Bishop of Birmingham, who is indisposed. Evidence was given by one of the examiners in the Film Censors’ office indicating the broad principles on which the examination of films was conducted. When the censorship began the only two rules laid down were that the living figure of Christ should not be permitted, and that nudity should in no circumstances be passed.The examiners had been guided by the broad principle that nothing should be passed which in their honest opinion was calculated to demoralize an audience; that could be held to extenuate crime; teach the methods of criminals; bring the institution of marriage into contempt; or lower the sacredness of family ties. They had objected to subjects calculated to wound the susceptibilities of foreign peoples, of members of any religion, and they had rejected films calculated to foment social unrest.
In stories turning on the relation of the sexes, which, of course, comprised a large portion of those submitted, every incident had been judged by the standard of how it affected the average decent-minded person. They had objected to stories which portrayed women leading immoral lives, and all scenes showing vice in an attractive form, even though retribution might follow. In dealing with “crime” subjects, the examiners had had to discriminate between such stories as were calculated, in their judgment, to familiarize young people with theft, robberies, and crimes of violence, and stories which dealt with “costume” crime — that is, cowboy shootings, “feather and rapier” stabbings, bandits, and Mexican robberies, &c. The latter were regarded by the young simply as thrilling adventures, having no connexion with their own lives. When the same crimes were committed by people in ordinary dress, the examiners aimed at eliminating details which made them too realistic. As regarded indecorum of dress, the examiners had insisted on deletion when a dress appeared indecent or suggestive.
When the Censorship was instituted it was decided that two forms of certificate should be issued — one for such films as were considered suitable for universal exhibition, and one for exhibition before adults only.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-04/register/the-presidents-address-rprdfhrs2
FEBRUARY 4, 1917
The President’s address
President Wilson’s speech before Congress yesterday, which took but 16 minutes to deliver, will become historic.The news that Mr Wilson would inform Congress that he had broken diplomatic relations with Germany was announced by the State Department yesterday morning. Everybody, therefore, had advance information of the President’s intentions, and there was an immense rush to secure admission to the galleries of the House of Representatives.
Even the Diplomatic Gallery was filled early. A number of women were present, including Mrs Wilson. Just before the President arrived the members of the Supreme Court walked into the House, taking places specially reserved for them. The appearance of the judicial body in the Legislative Chamber was unusual, and added to the extreme gravity of the scene, as if the Judges had come to pronounce sentence upon the World’s criminal.
Mr Wilson’s appearance was the signal for applause which, however, quickly subsided as he started hastily to speak. When after the preliminary citation of Germany’s broken promises he announced that Count Bernstorff had been given his passports and Mr Gerard recalled, Senator Lodge, whose recent criticisms of the President are known to have been thought unwarranted at the White House, led the applause.
The austere Justices of the Supreme Court gave their verdict by joining the handclapping. Those in the gallery obeyed the rule against demonstrations in the House by strangers by refraining from applauding, but waved handkerchiefs instead.
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