WAR- CHRONICLE

40
wehrmen were among the number. Probably the thoughts of their
wives and children may have stricken their courage and nervous
system. And yet there were only some few exceptions, who gave
way to this weakness. I saw at once clearly; the chaplain is
wanted here. The commander of the division said: "It would be
advisable if they could see you up there"—"But how is it possible
to get there?"—"Please come at once, this evening!"—"Very well!"
The kitchens were beginning to steam, that were going up in the
twilight. The corporal, who is bringing them, is my guide. A clear,
starlight night, in a slow trot we leave the village—through the
glen and up the hill. The white chalk road leads across little hills.
For about 100 yards in front of us, the long end of a forest towards
the hill. The moon sends down its cold rays illuminating the whole.
Every now and again on the rutty road the well-known "War
Craters," which are large and broad enough to hold the bodies of
dead horses lying around. At the last of the little mounds near
the forest, the enemies' hills can be seen. Their rifles are 600 yards
before us. To the right and left behind me, I see the fire of our
artillery, kept low and shaded towards the front. The wood in its
stillness and silence! Oh, what a scene of peaceful landscape lay
stretched before me under the bright starlit heavens, and what a
gruesome silence of cruel guns, which have only, been set at rest !
What can I say to the comrades over there? The way to the enemy
leads across the hill on each side lined with dark pine trees.
The scene before me stretches for miles, across the country,
occupied by the enemy. Just a hundred yards in front, a little
lower down on the slope, the German heroes are on the watch,
in frost, rain, and danger, watching to defend us. The rattling of
our cart has attracted the attention of the enemy. The first bullets
come buzzing along—we trot on towards our goal. "Befiehl du
deine Wege und was dein Herze krânkt der allertreusten Pflege,
des, der den Himmel lenkt. "
Dismount ! My orderly hands over the horses to another soldier.
We take tracts, greetings from home, some copies of the New
Testament and last not least, our packages of chocolate and
cigarettes. An officer brings me to the major's hut, where I wait
a few minutes, while he disappears into the ground. It appears
to be a layer of clay, protected by the bushes in front. I step in,
go down the 3 steps, at the end of which, entering a tent partly
open, I find myself in an arched building. In the middle, the trunk
of a pine tree, about 1,70 m. high, over this- a wooden ceiling, at
the sides, benches made of mud on one of which was placed a
mattress, on the other straw; the whole hut about 3 m. square.
The pillar in the middle has a board round it, which serves as a
table, on which a light is placed. At the and of one of the couches,
a kind of fire-place, in which a bright fire is burning, the flames,
skilfully arranged to burn towards the outside, while warming the
hut. In a few minutes I am told, which companies are to be