I saw wagons or troops on that road。 My dugout looked out on it。
I got a square hole； 8 by 8； dug in the side of the hill （west）；
roofed over with remnants to keep out the rain； and a little sandbag parapet
on the back to prevent pieces of 〃back…kick shells〃 from coming in；
or prematures from our own or the French guns for that matter。
Some straw on the floor completed it。 The ground was treacherous
and a slip the first night nearly buried 。 So we had to be content
with walls straight up and down； and trust to the height of the bank
for safety。 All places along the bank were more or less alike；
all squirrel holes。
This morning we supported a heavy French attack at 4。30；
there had been three German attacks in the night； and everyone was tired。
We got heavily shelled。 In all eight or ten of our trees were cut by shells
cut right off； the upper part of the tree subsiding heavily
and straight down； as a usual thing。 One would think a piece a foot long
was just instantly cut out； and these trees were about 18 inches in diameter。
The gas fumes came very heavily： some blew down from the infantry trenches；
some came from the shells： one's eyes smarted； and breathing
was very laboured。 Up to noon to…day we fired 2500 rounds。 Last night
Col。 Morrison and I slept at a French Colonel's headquarters near by；
and in the night our room was filled up with wounded。 I woke up
and shared my bed with a chap with 〃a wounded leg and a chill〃。
Probably thirty wounded were brought into the one little room。
Col。 ； R。A。； kept us in communication with the French General
in whose command we were。 I bunked down in the trench on the top
of the ridge： the sky was red with the glare of the city still burning；
and we could hear the almost constant procession of large shells sailing over
from our left front into the city： the crashes of their explosion
shook the ground where we were。 After a terribly hard day；
professionally and otherwise； I slept well； but it rained
and the trench was awfully muddy and wet。
Sunday； April 25th； 1915。
The weather brightened up； and we got at it again。 This day we had
several heavy attacks； prefaced by heavy artillery fire； these bursts of fire
would result in our getting 100 to 150 rounds right on us or nearby：
the heavier our fire （which was on the trenches entirely） the heavier theirs。
Our food supply came up at dusk in wagons； and the water was any we could get；
but of course treated with chloride of lime。 The ammunition had to be
brought down the roads at the gallop； and the more firing the more wagons。
The men would quickly carry the rounds to the guns； as the wagons had to halt
behind our hill。 The good old horses would swing around at the gallop；
pull up in an instant； and stand puffing and blowing； but with their heads up；
as if to say； 〃Wasn't that well done？〃 It makes you want to kiss
their dear old noses； and assure them of a peaceful pasture once more。
To…day we got our dressing station dugout complete； and slept there at night。
Three farms in succession burned on our front colour in the otherwise dark。
The flashes of shells over the front and rear in all directions。
The city still burning and the procession still going on。
I dressed a number of French wounded； one Turco prayed to Allah and Mohammed
all the time I was dressing his wound。 On the front field one can see
the dead lying here and there； and in places where an assault has been
they lie very thick on the front slopes of the German trenches。
Our telephone wagon team hit by a shell； two horses killed
and another wounded。 I did what I could for the wounded one；
and he subsequently got well。 This night； beginning after dark；
we got a terrible shelling； which kept up till 2 or 3 in the morning。
Finally I got to sleep； though it was still going on。 We must have got
a couple of hundred rounds； in single or pairs。 Every one burst over us；
would light up the dugout； and every hit in front would shake the ground
and bring down small bits of earth on us； or else the earth thrown
into the air by the explosion would come spattering down on our roof；
and into the front of the dugout。 Col。 Morrison tried the mess house；
but the shelling was too heavy； and he and the adjutant joined
Cosgrave and me； and we four spent an anxious night there in the dark。
One officer was on watch 〃on the bridge〃 （as we called the trench
at the top of the ridge） with the telephones。
Monday； April 26th； 1915。
Another day of heavy actions； but last night much French and British artillery
has come in； and the place is thick with Germans。 There are many prematures
（with so much firing） but the pieces are usually spread before they get to us。
It is disquieting； however； I must say。 And all the time the birds sing
in the trees over our heads。 Yesterday up to noon we fired 3000 rounds
for the twenty…four hours； to…day we have fired much less；
but we have registered fresh fronts； and burned some farms
behind the German trenches。 About six the fire died down；
and we had a peaceful evening and night； and Cosgrave and I in the dugout
made good use of it。 The Colonel has an individual dugout；
and Dodds sleeps 〃topside〃 in the trench。 To all this； put in a background
of anxiety lest the line break； for we are just where it broke before。
Tuesday； April 27th； 1915。
This morning again registering batteries on new points。
At 1。30 a heavy attack was prepared by the French and ourselves。
The fire was very heavy for half an hour and the enemy got busy too。
I had to cross over to the batteries during it； an unpleasant journey。
More gas attacks in the afternoon。 The French did not appear
to press the attack hard； but in the light of subsequent events
it probably was only a feint。 It seems likely that about this time
our people began to thin out the artillery again for use elsewhere；
but this did not at once become apparent。 At night usually
the heavies farther back take up the story； and there is a duel。
The Germans fire on our roads after dark to catch reliefs and transport。
I suppose ours do the same。
Wednesday； April 28th； 1915。
I have to confess to an excellent sleep last night。 At times anxiety says；
〃I don't want a meal；〃 but experience says 〃you need your food；〃
so I attend regularly to that。 The billet is not too safe either。
Much German air reconnaissance over us； and heavy firing from both sides
during the day。 At 6。45 we again prepared a heavy artillery attack；
but the infantry made little attempt to go on。 We are perhaps
the 〃chopping block〃； and our 〃preparations〃 may be chiefly designed
to prevent detachments of troops being sent from our front elsewhere。
I have said nothing of what goes on on our right and left；
but it is equally part and parcel of the whole game； this eight mile front
is constantly heavily engaged。 At intervals； too； they bombard Ypres。
Our back lines； too； have to be constantly shifted on account of shell fire；
and we have desultory but constant losses there。 In the evening
rifle fire gets more frequent； and bullets are constantly singing over us。
Some of them are probably ricochets； for we are 1800 yards； or nearly；
from the nearest German trench。
Thursday； April 29th； 1915。
This morning our billet was hit。 We fire less these days；
but still a good deal。 There was a heavy French attack on our left。
The 〃gas〃 attacks can be seen from here。 The yellow cloud rising up
is for us a signal to open； and we do。 The wind is from our side to…day；
and a good thing it is。 Several days ago during the firing
a big Oxford…grey dog； with beautiful brown eyes； came to us in a panic。
He ran to me； and pressed his head HARD against my leg。
So I got him a safe place and he sticks by us。 We call him Fleabag；
for he looks like it。
This night they shelled us again heavily for some hours
the same shorts； hits； overs on percussion； and great yellow…green air bursts。
One feels awfully irritated by the constant din a mixture of anger
and apprehension。
Friday； April 30th； 1915。
Thick mist this morning； and relative quietness； but before it cleared
the Germans started again to shell us。 At 10 it cleared；
and from 10 to 2 we fired constantly。 The French advanced；
and took some ground on our left front and a batch of prisoners。
This was at a place we call Twin Farms。 Our men looked curiously
at the Boches as they were marched through。 Some better activity
in the afternoon by the Allies' aeroplanes。 The German planes
have had it too much their way lately。 Many of to…day's shells
have been very large 10 or 12 inch； a lot of tremendous holes
dug in the fields just behind us。
Saturday； May 1st； 1915。
May day！ Heavy bombardment at intervals through the day。
Another heavy artillery preparation at 3。25； but no French advance。
We fail to understand why； but orders go。 We suffered somewhat
during the day。 Thr