ce of our foe, and a spell of
rain and wind made conditions extremely difficult for both infantry
and gunners. However, the battle was proceeded with, and the result
was an advance over the mud and slime of the river Broombeke as far as
the outskirts of Houthoulst Forest, a distance of about two miles; our
French allies, on the left, keeping in step with us throughout this
operation. Then the inevitable forward move of the batteries was
resumed, and this time we occupied positions down the further slope of
the hill immediately across the rivulet of the Steenbeke. In
consequence of torrents of rain, which continued daily, the low-lying
ground became flooded, and it was all we could do to prevent the guns
sinking in the sodden earth, and they frequently disappeared in the
mud up to their axles. Dry accommodation was nowhere to be found
except in a great pill-box, which we added to and strengthened, and it
was popularly called the "Rabbit Hutch," for the obvious reason that
it held the majority of the four batteries of the Brigade.

Now, our last attack had advanced us considerably further than the men
on the right, who throughout the past month had encountered very stiff
opposition, so we had perforce to remain stationary and mark time,
while the battle continued to the south. On several occasions we
rendered assistance by putting up what is commonly known as a "Chinese
barrage," _i.e._, the artillery carries out the ordinary programme
preceding an attack, but no action follows on the part of the
infantry. Conditions were equally disagreeable at the wagon lines,
which speedily developed into quagmires, and it was almost impossible
to walk about the lines unless attired in waders, and, even then,
there was always the possibility of completely disappearing in the
mud. Over and above that, the wagon lines were subjected every now and
then to the attentions of a high velocity gun, as well as frequent (p. 059)
visits from hostile night bombing machines, which were following the
example set by our airmen and were endeavouring to pay us back in our
own coin. Much damage was done in and around the neighbourhood, but
our lines escaped exceedingly lightly. The question of ammunition
supply became acute, and the use of pack saddles was again
necessitated, and, because of the great distance between wagon lines
and gun position, the round journey sometimes took eighteen hours to
accomplish, and naturally the strain eventually told gre