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i8o WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
morning. A battalion which for twenty-four hours has
occupied the area entrusted to the defence of its regiment,
may then return to the rear after a fresh battaUon has moved
up into the position in question.
But even at the point where the reserves are posted it is
necessary to dig oneself in, and above all to be well screened
from observation. These shelters usually take the form of
niches or " dug-outs " in the soil. The openings are covered
over with a slender roof of sticks, twigs and hay. We looked
into one or two of these " caves " and saw the soldiers fast
asleep and apparently not lacking anything. I noticed that
all the men were wrapped up in their canvas tent sections.
In this case we had happened to come across a detachment
which had arrived from the firing line in the morning and was
now to sleep till midday. Afterwards there was to be exercise
—drill. As darkness comes on, the kitchen wagons are brought
up with their comforting hot food. Such was the life in the
German reserve positions on the north side of the wooded
country north of Souain. Nobody cared to advise us to
continue from this point, as in that case we should certainly
have been visible from the French observation posts and should
have been exposed to a murderous fire. Even a kitchen wagon,
which does not travel far except under cover of darkness, was
hit the other day by a shell and had four men killed. Some
light or other had probably been seen by the enemy, and as he
had the range to a nicety, he fired a volley. But now it was
day-time and we had open ground before us. I was told on
this occasion—in connection with the advice not to proceed
further—a story of an attack made from the German side a
few days previously in order to capture an advanced French
position in the neighbourhood of Souain. The attack was
launched at dusk, but failed. Several Germans remained on
the ground. The lightly wounded were taken prisoners by
the French, but three men had been so badly hurt that they
were not considered worth taking, and were left on the ground.
The nearest French soldiers took pity on them and went out
each night in the dark to take them food and water, and even
cigarettes. One line day a plucky German doctor with a few
stretcher bearers came forward from the German line. They
had brought a Red Cross flag, carried high on its pole. At first
a few shots were heard from the French lines, but as soon as
the Frenchmen realised what was up, they ceased fire, as
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