CHAPTER XIII
THE DAY'S WORK OF LIFE AND DEATH AT THE FRONT
FREQUENT traverses, of the same construction as the parapet, stretched at right angles to protect the men as far as possible from shell and grenade fragments and from the enfilading fire of machine guns. We were to learn the wisdom of that precaution before long.
A trench officer strolled around the end of a traverse He wore a uniform of the same quality as his men's, for the hard facts have been realised here, too, and officers no longer expose themselves contemptuously or in bursts of foolhardy bravery. The German sniper has a little difficulty now in distinguishing officers from men. This fellow with his round helmet had an oriental appearance. He came up, greeting us gratefully. We evidently broke the monotony of his watch. In his eyes was something of the universal strain, but he spoke easily, asking the question that had spoiled our walk and troubled us all.
What were the Huns strafing back there?"
The fact that we couldn't tell him pointed the
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