Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

Graves spent eight weeks at the Harfleur 'Bull Ring' in the rear area conducting drills for new units in a field of model trenches. He delivered a few lectures and spent many hours chatting with other officers. They discussed the frequent stories of rampant atrocities purported to have been committed by this or that unit or nationality. Graves dismisses them all as improbable. They also discussed the morale and fighting capabilities of the various regiments with which they were familiar. They argued the merits of parade-ground drill. Graves then mentions that religious feeling among the soldiers was nearly non-existent; amidst the continued death and maiming, faith in God quickly waned. Furthermore, the Anglican chaplains proved entirely out of touch with the situation and spent their time far behind the lines in relative safety.