The French had made this
front, and with typical French ingenuity they had connected all the
cellars of the houses and so constructed a perfectly safe communication
trench to the front line. This C.T. was continued backwards as a sort of
tunnel along the beach, but it was really a camouflaged trench, just
covered with a layer of sand. Flash lamps were thus greatly in demand on
this sector. As well as watching the Hun on land we were expected also
to keep a look out to sea for submarines and any other vicious craft,
and the two posts allotted this duty were armed with wonderful pom-pom
guns that no one had the courage to experiment with. Still "the man
behind the gun" had a comfortable feeling of importance so long as there
was nothing to shoot at. In that eventuality one trembles to think what
might have been the effect upon himself and the remainder of the crew.
Patrolling was also a queer business. In warmer weather it was
accomplished in bathing costume and tin hat, with revolver between the
teeth or behind the ear, but cold nights discouraged these efforts, and
we sneaked about on our side of the river wondering what we could do.
We were now at the seaside and there was the usual crop of mad holiday
projects. One of these was to experiment with a new gas to be projected
into the Boche front trench across the river. Then Lt. Morten was to
pilot a boat over, hop into the said trench, and return in possession of
a "gassee" from whom the results would be studied.
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