Contemptible""

ither side of the road, and soon the companies debouched f

as happening. He must enlarge his bit of trench, and be ready to meet the enemy when he himself is attacked. Therefore, if you ask a vete

; another Company to the right, the fourth in local reserve. The work of entrenchment began immediately. There was not time to construct a trench, as

or overturn them, or beat them down? No, sheaves were not bullet-proof. A man could be shot behind them just as easily as in the open. Moreover, they would serve to hide from the enemy artillery the exact lie of his lines. The position of his trenches, or rather holes, was about a hundred yards in front of the village, as i

y, breaking through one or two fences so that this could be effected in perfect order. As some of the houses were still occupied, he went to the owners, and not knowing the French for pick and shovel, said: "Monsieur, voulez vous me prêter des choses pour fa

her was carried through. The body on it was covered with a mackintosh sheet, but the man's face was visible, and if he had not been so busily occupied, the ashen face might

never dug before. Each spadeful was safety for another inch of his body. It was fighting against time for protection of life and limb. The work was engrossing, exh

ng a small hut as an advanced post. The enemy came within his range in some force, but having the presence of mind to r

s it was naturally expected that the battle would develop from the north-east. The regiment on the right had been occupying a small co

errific thunderstorm, rolled on till dusk. A few aeroplanes flew overhead, looking like huge birds in the blue sky. As yet the t

kmanlike aspect, although when one got down deeper than thr

ce of a huge force, above all strong in cavalry, appeared on the left of the English line, and rendered the whole strategic

lade broke out along the whole line. The groups had the greatest difficulty in crawling back to the trenches without being shot down in

A searchlight had been played continually on the lines, an

in their flight. The noise they made was very difficult to describe. They hurtled, they whizzed, they shrieked, they sang

tly launched on the left. Furious messages were passed up the line that the artillery were

ised him; for, knowing nothing of the general situation, he had felt that they would hang on, and fight the battle out then

you allow the enemy to advance without having inflicted sufficient loss, i.e. you allow him to succeed too cheaply, to say nothing of rendering the position of units on your flanks preca

nit delayed too long, for the rest of the line showed signs of envelopment. Eventually, however, the retirement to the village was effected quietly, and withou