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TRENCH LIFE 327
As I have already had occasion to remark, the fighting on
the western front with its interminable lines of trenches is
assuming more and more the character of a siege war. The
opposing sides have dug themselves into the ground all along
the front behind wire entanglements and trous-de-loup . These
field entrenchments become more formidable as time goes on.
They can really only be destroyed by heavy artillery. Hence
this arm is of cardinal importance. The infantry can only sap
ahead and stick to what it has gained. Every position must
be treated by attackers as if it were a fortress in itself. Every
metre of open country, every tree in the Argonne must be
captured by what might almost be described as a separate
engagement. The French are defending themselves with the
most brilliant courage, and even General von Winckler
characterised them as worthy opponents to the world’s finest
soldiers.
In some places ordinary wire entanglements on level ground
are not deemed to be sufficient, and they are placed in holes
or declivities, the bottom of which is covered by fire.
In conclusion I should like to say a few words about the
intelligence service in the field. The French are past masters
in the art of using civilian spies. The wounded in a field hos-
pital are safe as long as they have a couple of Frenchmen
amongst them, but as soon as they have been removed for
transport eastward, even this sanctuary comes under the
enemy’s fire. How is it that the enemy knows that these par-
ticular wounded have been removed ? In a village a soldier
had made the acquaintance of z. woman. One fine day she
told him that she was going away. Why ? he asked. Because
to-morrow this village was going to be bombarded. The
soldier did not pay much attention to the prophecy, but the
woman was right. How did she know it ? Of course because
she had been warned by a spy. Once a peasant came strolling
along from the French side into the German lines, where he
was immediately seized. He declared with the most innocent
face in the world that he had come to look after his cattle,
which unfortunately had been left behind on the German
side. Let the poor fellow look after his cows, they thought,
and so he was allowed to pass. Of course there could be no
question of letting him return to the French lines, for he might
be a spy sent out to gather information. An hour later he was
seen driving a little herd of cattle before him, but nobody took
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