air at the
same time, in company with the village just behind; and when they come
down again it is more than likely their position will change to the
next row of damp and unpleasant holes.

That is the trouble: the whole ground is one huge hole. Holes are the
only features of the landscape: big holes, little holes, damp ones,
smelly ones; holes occupied and holes to let; holes you fall into and
holes you don't--but, holes. Everywhere holes. The cactus bush is a
hole; the asparagus bed is a hole; the trenches are holes. The whole
country looks like a disease. A large amount of the wandering must
perforce be done at night; and should the casual reader still doubt the
difficulty of finding one's way, let him imagine three voluntary
descents, and as many compulsory ones, into the wet brand of hole; let
him further imagine a steady downpour of rain, no sign of a star, and a
shrewd suspicion that if he's walked as far as he thinks he has in the
right direction he ought to be in the front line; and then let him
imagine--holes. Whenever he moves he either negotiates or fails to
negotiate--holes. Having, in scrambling out of holes turned round
twice he doesn't know which way he's facing; he only knows there
are--holes. Toc--toc--toc; the slow tapping of a German machine-gun
sounds from the direction he had fondly imagined Battalion
Head-quarters to be; the swish of bullets come nearer as the Hun sweeps
the ground; a flare goes up, showing--holes. Another compulsory
descent; a phut! as a bullet passes over his head, and the swishing
passes on. Shortly that swishing will come back, and in the meantime
are there not--holes? But as for the front trench, whither he is
bound, the contest is unequal. No man can fight--holes.

A further point which is worthy of remark _en passant_ may possibly
escape the notice of the uninitiated. It is a well-known fact, and
will be vouched for by all who have experienced the Somme, that that
part of the ground which is not hole is carried, like the unexpended
portion of the day's rations, on the person. Acres of soil have been
removed from their original abode and have been carried laboriously to
other acres. They have then been brought back again; not by boot only,
but by hand, and face, by hair and teeth. It is reported--though I
will not vouch for the accuracy of the statement--that on one occasion
a relieving battalion completely defeated a small German counter-attack
by standing