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RETROSPECT 97
choking and blinding the defenders, and drawing
a thick opaque veil in front of the attackers,
screening them from the view of their enemies.
Sometimes men, each protected by one of their
big shields, would walk up in broad daylight and
quietly set to work in sight of the defenders to
cut the wire. The weight of each shield, made
up of two ^ in. iron plates welded together, is
about 8o lbs. The small
hole at the top enables
the wearer to see his
way. His task is done
through the slit at the
bottom of the shield.
The shield reaches below
the knees, and is slung
from the shoulders. He
can walk very slowly, and
would not have much
chance even in a race with
a tortoise. The first man
who was sent out was met
by a number of rifle shots,
which hit him right in the
chest ;
the bullets did not
penetrate the shield, but
the impact of the bullets,
which hit him with the
force of a sledge-hammer blow, toppled him clean
over. He was not hurt, but got on his feet
again, and though he was hit over and over
again, and the impact of the bullets made him
stop and stagger, he was prepared now and
reached the entanglements. Sometimes the man
would brace himself with two bamboo sticks,
the upper ends of which were firmly fixed to a
rope round his waist, while the lower ends were
II
STEEL SHIELD.
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