THE RETREAT FROM MONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—The following extract from my son's diary confirms the view expressed by Colonel Whitton in the Spectator of November 9th :— " My brigade was rearguard practically the whole time, so we had to be always on the alert. During the first four days most of us had hardly any sleep—I got four hours in four days and nights. We were none the worse for it, but during the night marches it was terribly hard to keep oneself and one's men awake. At halts we dare not dismount our men, as they would drop off to sleep and get run over. People slept on their horses. Sometimes there was hardly a man awake in the battery. The curious thing was that every one 'saw things' in the night, one passed all sorts of giant men, enormous arches, &c., &c. It was caused by our eyes being tired, I believe."
It is reasonable to suppose the Germans also "saw things" from
the same cause.—I am, Sir, &c., W. If. HUTTON. 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham.
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