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VIA GHENT AND BRUGES TO OSTEND 273
hurling their messengers of death into the alhed positions.
At every shot we heard that pecuUar whining, whisthng
sound of the projectile, and presently a puff of smoke indicated
the point of impact at the other end. All life in the vicinity
of this target is destroyed. A hit can kill twenty men and
wound as many or more. Yesterday British shells had been
raining down from Nieuport and they had reached the
spot where we now stood. It is difficult to avoid a feeling
of excitement, and one’s attention is strained to the utmost
when witnessing an artillery duel over a large area and hearing
the incessant heavy dull booming of cannon.
With the map in his hand and with really impressive calm
Colonel Wittisch explained everything that was passing in
front of us ; now and again we stole a glance at the destroyers
outside, wondering whether they would soon begin to shoot.
In the south-west we noticed the little white puffs of smoke
which denote the bursting of shrapnel shells.
When everything had been fully explained to me, the Colonel
thought that it was not advisable to remain any longer. There
were four of us, and we were within range of all commanding
points in the vicinity. If we were noticed from the south side,
it would be assumed that we were directing the German
artillery and the enemy’s guns would be trained on us. It
is a peculiar sensation to know that one may at any moment
become a target.
So we walked down from the dunes and back to the car.
From the mouth of one of the little streets running down to
the sea we observed the two incredibly impudent destroyers,
which we were told had been stealing along the coast for the
last three days. They had gradually come nearer and nearer,
since they noticed no evil intentions from the coast at Middel-
kerke. Through our glasses we could see the officers on the
bridge and the crew moving about on deck. They on their
part could see us with equal clearness, but I suppose they did
not think us worth powder and shot from a revolving gun.
After a while they seemed to make a large sweep, one to the
south-west, west, north-west and north-north-west, and the
other to the north-east, north and north-north-west, gradually
approaching the remainder of the squadron, no doubt to re-
port what they had seen. Of the squadron itself only five
ships were discernible through the mist.
Now we could proceed without any risk on our return
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