So finished 22 days straight in the line, a number of raids are to come off during the next week & we are warned not to leave camp. Wed Mar 28. Gas guard all day, warned to go back into the line, iron rations & field dressing issue. march to Ablain. stay there quite a while, then go to the tunnel on the ridge. Thro Kings Cross along Holloway trench to the Chalk quarries. Hot trip up the duck walk, mix up over dugouts, stick around, within speaking distance to Fritz. Stay half an hour in the tunnel & then the raid is called off. Have to do a lone trip to find Dent. Dent is no good on a raid. beat it home from the squad. march back to Grand Servins arrive at daybreak feel good & tired. Thurs Mar 29. Guard with Shorty Morris all day go to bed early. Friday Mar 30 Stand too until 6 PM. Sat Mar 30. Guard; warned for the line again first half leave in Sanitary lorry
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
America prepares for war
President Wilson will address Congress on April 2, asking for a declaration of war against Germany. The vote will pass on April 6. American entry transforms the strategic equation: the United States has vast industrial capacity and a population of 100 million. But American military strength is potential, not actual. The US Army numbers only 127,000 men. Building, training, and transporting an army to France will take over a year. The Allies must hold until American forces can make a difference.
