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ON THE WAY TO THE FIFTH ARMY 71
know that they are in telephonic communication with the
batteries beneath. Neither is it very encouraging to see a
row of wooden crosses surmounting fresh graves by the road-
side. In the ditch hes a dead horse which had not been able
to struggle on any further. The shell craters are now so fre-
quent that we do not pay them the slightest attention.
Here by the roadside stands a transport convoy which ha
brought oats for the horses of a mortar section. We have not
far to go to the first batteries, each consisting of four of these
gigantic " growlers." We drive up between two battery
positions whilst they are firing. " Load !
" calls the head of
the battery, a Captain. " Fertig zum Feuer !
"^—and directly
after, " Feuer /"^ and all four guns are discharged simul-
taneously. Immediately a spout of fire issues from the
gun-muzzle, accompanied by a report which rends the air and
causes the ground to shake for some distance around. Then
is heard that peculiar, horrible whistle through the air, as
the projectile sweeps the space which separates us from the
French positions. Each mortar has a shield, and by the side
of the guns the gunners have dug a trench for " Deckung "
or protection in case the French fire should press the battery
too hard.
Presently we reach Septsarges, where all alleys, yards and
open spaces are filled with soldiers. The village is situated
in a shallow hollow, and the men here are fairly safe from the
French fire. But a fiat-topped rise in the ground immediately
south of the village is struck now and again by a shell.
Septsarges also accommodates a few field kitchens, which
stand ready with their smoking chimneys. The food is pre-
pared during the day, and as dusk sets in the vehicles are
driven up in proximity to the infantry positions, hugging the
dips in the ground as much as possible and sheltering behind
any cover there may be. The men in the trenches know where
the canteen is set up, and betake themselves thither under the
shelter of the darkness to get their tin bowls filled with boiling
hot broth.
We did not remain in the village longer than was necessary
to get information from a couple of officers. Thereupon we
continued on our way, leaving the car at a point beyond the
range of artillery. Then we went up the hill towards the
1 Ready to fire
!
" Fire !
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