In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting it may be
said that along the greater part of our front the Germans have been
driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their
infantry are holding strong lines of trenches among and along the edge
of the numerous woods which crown the slopes. These trenches are
elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many places there are
wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing.
Both woods and open are carefully aligned, so that they can be swept by
rifle fire and machine guns, which are invisible from our side of the
valley. The ground in front of the infantry trenches is also, as a rule,
under crossfire from the field artillery placed on neighboring features
and under high-angle fire from pieces placed well back behind the woods
on top of the plateau.
A feature of this action, as of the previous fighting, is the use by the
enemy of their numerous heavy howitzers, with which they are able to
direct long-range fire all over the valley and right across it. Upon
these they evidently place great reliance.
Where our men are holding the forked edges of the high ground on the
north side they are now strongly intrenched. They are well fed, and in
spite of the wet weather of the last week are cheerful and confident.
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