Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/78/1 - May 1917 - Part 5

4    48
12p.m. our arty is
very active now.
At bit worried over
the fact tt the Bulletin
has gone against me
for writing the alleged
view of the troops on
the necessity of Hughes
coming to the Imperial
confce.
May 15^th About 3.30
this morning very
heavy firing. Said to
be a german attack -
what we wd hear - cod
be our artillery in
reply.
10 a.m. No attack
apparently on our
front - but on British
on our left, where
 

4   49
The Germans are sd
to have got in to a
position of trench.
Went out all day
with Shirley to Thilloy?
& Somme battlefield, getting
all the remaining record
photos which were needed.
- the old underground passage,
Thilloy, Knotty Point,
Till [shorthand], (and some Australians
making an Australian
football ground on the
battlefield of the Somme).
Thilloy & LeBarque from
Barley [shorthand], Fritz; Folly
from Barley [shorthand] & from N.end
of rd near Gunpits
[[sendicourt?]] (for
comparison with Pozieres)
and Factory Corner.
 

4   50
on getting back the
general told me tt the
germans did after all
attack us last night.
Hun, of 5th Divn, gave me
the details. At 4 am
they opened a very heavy
bombardment, with
artillery, T.H..& ig.
the beaviest the 5th Dwn
has known. It had bn
heavy all the neght
gas shells were poured
in behind lines (& 40
mea were more or less
cassed in sunken Roads
where they were pensed be
FE. bursting outside the
road. Mew wd go t help
I wounded put on then
Jasmasks, & wd either
not put on their own or
 

only
 

I serious case
 

51
ad only pat the
monthscec in thei
wonths - wh is safe
i you are accustonen
to do it but you muster
breake tio your
nose). He formans stacted
to bombard abt 8.10 p.m.
& kepbel up till 9. Then
they started again frm
10.30 tell midnight,
this time got a direct hit
a fas shelliab
W
the 14 Bde H.J. mess
from wh Sheney
the one of photoed
yeaty the pellside wh
ferman reached,
It ws a very teresome
night. Hu said, for
men - & very heavy
Esp- with gas shell- in
Noreuit
 

4
 

under cover of their
52
bombe. They gob into onr
treach for about 30yd
West of the 29 Road, & for
abt Boyds down it.
By 11.30 we had
them all out again.
There were no prioners
taken. The 56th attacked
with TM. bombs, &
bayonet, the heavies
sut down a barra
behind the Jermans
in Hindendg hime to right, &
behind it). 200 fermans
Heen says,
have be
actuatly
Counti dead
in and around trenches
we have found by papers
to attack ws made
 

53
storm troops ofte
7
Eud Jo Reserve Dwn
in rest ob
now
the Lehr infanti
Brr /d. Din) supportug
5t Den Estinate 250 Reler
News Abt Russians still
very anxious. If the
slders & workmons
delegates give up o make
peace, Koumania
servie will have to do so
too. Some here have by
word
whited be done
i
by us then - make an
in concluseve peace, Dr
Crespyny thinks. Our blocked
td be fatile them. Af
worst
fermany esnt
 

X
 

54
in a posily
to make
war on us afain
Surel
Since Pattack it has
bu 1 quietest doy
the
Den have had here
we lost att 100men
thro' I shelling last
as
night. It looks
if the Hun might rall
be going back
but
our
I rant yet hear
was on him
a good deal
colder. hast forlnight
phenonenally hot
rich
is
coustr
 

reen.
 

X
 

battlefuw
55
The Somie is cvered
with weeds - + self
Town wheat -&is
favity green
brus are sproatin
Except in places wh
DeWilly wood
as waterdries
agt number of
up
are brought to
dead
but alive
light
farmore fours, than
of Germans. A very
have
great number
lately burnd.
bu
May 16. No oulward
Sign of Droconz Retermn
yet. Only, acroplanes
reported Hashes from
yesty
 

batterics
w
56
wh
to have retirnd
no shells
fell
wh
the flasbes
looks as if
were dumniy
flashed
for the benefit of the
planed. Returnent
10
of course
tte several
de
Chancellon
The ferman
has promised the ferman
people te best news of
was in his next Splech
most people are a
bit anxious abit
most people than
is Russca
But I believe
the
Workmens Toldeers Dilegatis
are thinkin of reversi
they decesion not to you
a coaltion Joot.
what
reason
For some
 

te nt hi t nepe boe
te he te o ate
a ane oe
se e
aed e
Cies.
 

on the oth
for 12pnes
indefinite
 

w0
 

cer
 

57
t