Of course, as time went on and I advanced in military knowledge, I came to know the way in which my question ought to have been phrased.
Instead of saying, "Is this a general retreat ?", I ought to have said, "Are we straightening the line ?" or "Are we pinching the Salient ?" We went on till we came to a general who was standing by the road (p.

060) waiting to "straighten the line".

I got out of the car and asked him where I should go.

He seemed to be in a great hurry and said gruffly, "You had better go back to your lines." I did not know where they were, but I determined to go in their direction.

The general got into the car which turned round and made off towards Vlamertinghe, and I, after a long and envious look in his direction, continued my return to Ypres.
People were still pouring out of the City.