d running off at top and left of map leads to Ypres. The black
and white line immediately to the right of this army road is the
railroad from Ypres to Comines. The fine irregular lines
represent the perfect network of main and communication German
trenches. Various signs indicate supply dumps, dug-outs, mine
craters, observation posts, earthworks, mine craters fortified,
hedges, fences or ditches, churches, mills, roads, footpaths,
entanglements, ground cut up by artillery fire, etc., etc. The
British front-line trench is shown very faintly on this
reproduction but can be picked up as it passes through the first
"e" in Zwarteleen and traced up past the figure 30. At the left
of Zwarteleen it can be seen crossing the railroad and army road.
This map, as were the others, was carried by Captain McBride and
the section shown represents about one-sixth of the total size.
It was made from photographs taken by Allied aviators. The
blurred line bisecting the map just below figures 35 and 36 is
one of the well worn folds in the map_.

[Illustration: Hollebeke Trench Map]

As we had never been in the sector it was necessary for the
non-commissioned officers to go in a day ahead to locate the gun
positions and be able to guide the section in. We went in in daylight
(the non-coms.) and found it to be the longest trip we had ever
undertaken on such a mission. From Bedford House, on the reserve line,
it is at least two miles to the front line, all the way exposed to
observation and fire. There had been a little trench tramway but it
had been wrecked by shells. By breaking our party up into twos we
escaped any severe shelling and the rifle fire was at such long range
that we ignored it. Beyond three hundred yards the German's shooting
is a joke.

We went over the position which extends from what was known as the
Ravine, to a point exactly opposite Hill 60. At some places the lines
were less than forty yards apart and it was possible to throw hand
grenades back and forth. It required the entire day to familiarize
ourselves with the wonderful maze of communication and support
trenches at this place, as we had never seen anything like it before.
We had become so accustomed to doing without communication trenches
that they were a distinct novelty. They, together with the many
support trenches, made a perfect labyrinth: like a spider's web, only
not quite