Compared with the enemy we were in a relatively happy position. The
ridge which contained the front line shielded all the immediate back
area from direct observation, so that even the garrisons of the support
trenches could wander about in the open, while if there was "nothing
doing," the men back in reserve could lie out in the long grass and bask
in the sunshine. This was all very comforting and relieved the strain of
war very considerably, but the advantages in the matter of organisation
were illimitable. Rations came up in the middle of the day, and the
limbers and water carts, in singles of course on account of balloon
observation, trundled up the road in the afternoon to a point within
four hundred yards of the front line! As the men put it "We were
laughing"--especially when the enemy once or twice attempted a relief
before darkness over their exposed ground, and were severely knocked
about for their pains.
But to return to Hebuterne and the days of our first acquaintance with
it. Many people were convinced that the Hun would attack again, and our
higher command had found support for this gloomy prospect amongst their
archives, so that we were enjoined to remain on the strictest qui vive.
The first day's work consisted in re-organisation of the line, based
upon the principle of defence "in depth." This meant that a battalion,
for instance, did not expose the whole of its personnel in the front
line to be obliterated in the first shock of attack, but they must be
disposed in the best tactical positions, with a slight garrison in front
and the remainder ranged along behind.
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