_ST. ELOI MAP_

_The map on the opposite page is known as St. Eloi map. It is
particularly interesting as showing, very faintly, a great group
of mine craters within the British lines. No. 1 can be seen in
the lower left section just above the horizontal fold in the map
and to the left of the perpendicular. Here the British line comes
in at the lower left corner, where it almost immediately
branches, passing through figures 44 and 77, joining the main
line again at the left and below Shelley Farm. Within this loop
are the six enormous mine craters. No. 2 is immediately to the
right of figure 96, while 3, 4 and 5 are in a line with it just
to the right of the perpendicular fold. The faint dotted line
that comes to an apex just below St. Eloi is the British trench
known as Queen Victoria Street. This map is made from air
photographs dated March 5th, 1916._

[Illustration: St. Eloi Map]

We got all the guns up and in place during the night of the
twenty-sixth. In addition, our people brought up a great many trench
mortars of different calibers, with enormous quantities of ammunition.
We then sat down to wait for the "zero" hour, meaning the time for the
show to begin. I took my position at our extreme left, as I wanted to
be where I could see everything.

Promptly at the appointed time, the mines were fired and then ensued
the most appallingly magnificent sight I have ever witnessed. There
was little noise but the very earth appeared to writhe and tremble in
agony. Then, slowly, it seemed in the dim light, the ground heaved up
and up until, finally, bursting all bonds, earth, trees, buildings,
trenches and men went skyward. Immediately followed great clouds of
flaming gas, expanding and growing like gigantic red roses suddenly
bursting into full bloom. It was an earthquake, followed by a volcanic
eruption.

Before the flying debris had reached the ground the Fusiliers were
over the top, fighting their way through the jungles of wire and shell
craters. The occupation of the mine craters themselves was, of course,
unopposed as there was no one there to offer opposition. They kept on,
however, meeting the German reinforcements coming up from the rear,
fighting them to a standstill and establishing themselves beyond the
Mound.

Then all hell broke loose. From the beginning our artillery, machine
guns and trench mortars had been maintaining a conti