Since those days typical old-fashioned trench warfare had prevailed.
There were wonderful ramifications of trenches, front line, duplicate
firing line, support trenches, reserve trenches, and numerous
communication saps, all built on the old style with numerous sandbags.
On the flat ground to the north it had been impossible to dig down for
defence, and both sides had built up earthworks on the somewhat marshy
ground, so that sandbags were again the most noticeable feature. Running
behind the breastworks in this portion was a convenient
trench-tramway--for rations, ammunition, etc. To the south of Givenchy
were the famous La Bassee Canal and the brickstacks.
When mankind started to fight each other under the earth, as well as on
it and above it, No Man's Land in front of Givenchy began to be really
churned up. Huge craters had been blown up by both sides in such numbers
that they formed the most distinctive feature of this part of the line.
The whole of the ground across the ridge between the lines presented the
appearance of a model of the Alps on a rather large scale. These craters
had to be carefully represented on all trench maps, and they bore
distinctive names such as Warlington Crater and Red Dragon Crater. Both
sides had pushed forward saps as far as possible through this difficult
ground both for observation and sniping purposes. Great mine shafts
extended under No Man's Land, and the curious could go down these and
listen to the Huns knocking about and digging above.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109