"May 23: We were awakened at 4 am. Our artillery began firing at 4.32 am. Two divisions are ready for attack. We are caught under fire in the village of—. The first two battalions are engaged in atrocious fighting in the woods. Our third battalion is in reserve.
"The noise of the French shells exploding continues endlessly. Men with many different wounds are being removed to the rear. The Medical Corps is demanding reinforcements. Pistols are firing on all sides in the woods. The trees are full of riflemen.
We must mop up every inch of the forest.
"The forest is being cut to pieces! Everything is flying in the air. BEF. of—Company, returned from the advanced lines with a bullet in his abdomen.
"We are again under violent French artillery fire. The French have undoubtedly abandoned the forest. We have found only a few wounded and killed Frenchme
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.