ions were set on foot for the coming offensive,
which had already been decided upon.

A host of new O.P.'s were erected, new roads and light railways
constructed, while large working parties prepared fresh gun pits in
advanced positions, and all were carefully camouflaged where they were
exposed to enemy view. Every day new units arrived, and the country
appeared to be overrun with troops. Most of the forward work had to be
done during the night, and, as each position was completed, the guns
were silently concentrated. While this was in progress, the Divisional
Artillery only were maintained for the defence of the line, as it was
not advisable that the enemy should know until the last possible
moment that anything unusual was afoot. The scheme was a much more
ambitious one than that in which we had recently taken a part, and, if
everything went forward according to plan, it meant that we would be
on the go for a considerable time, and there even appeared to be a
chance of getting a taste of the long-talked-of open warfare.

About this time a most amusing episode was witnessed by one of our
Subalterns who was doing a liaison with the infantry at a battalion
headquarters. This place was situated most unpleasantly, and was well
known to the enemy, consequently accommodation had to be sought
underground as much as possible. While the F.O.O. and his companion,
the Intelligence Officer, were performing their ablutions early one
morning outside the mouth of the cellar, a Brigadier with his Staff
suddenly appeared on the scene to pay a visit to the Commander. The
two Staff Officers remained outside, and opened conversation with (p. 049)
them. The Intelligence Officer, being something of a wag, brandished
his shaving brush in one hand and with the other jocularly shoved the
Staff Captain down the steps into their retreat, and asked him what he
thought of the bedchamber. The other officer, although much amused,
stood aghast, and, after the visitors had departed, he asked his
companion to whom he had been speaking. He replied that he did not
know, for, although the Captain's features appeared familiar, he could
not "place" him, though he was a jolly sort of chap anyhow. On being
told that it was none other than the Prince of Wales that he had been
familiarly digging in the ribs for the past quarter of an hour, he was
incredulous, and exclaimed, "And to think I nearly killed the
youngster down these stairs!"

At length preparat