Page:The North Carolina Historical Review - Volume 1, Number 1.pdf/54

52 had to go on through St. Omer. Here we struck the main road to the front and there were countless auto trucks, wagons, etc. We were constantly passing "army dumps" of shells, etc., all camouflaged. British troops were at work on the roads keeping them up. At Cassel we went up to the roof of a hotel where we had a most extensive view from the ocean away into Belgium. We could see the location of the German lines and all, where they were shelling our lines. At present a very quiet sector. I saw Mount Kemmel that was recently captured by the Germans. Could see about where Ypres was situated but it was too hazy to see it. The view was most beautiful in very direction. Beautiful villas and villages, splendidly cultivated fields, etc. We had dinner at a hotel in Cassel, very good, very expensive. The city is built on top of a limestone hill, rising out of the plain.

After dinner we took the machine and made an examination of the location of the second line trenches and headquarters of the various battalions, regiments, etc. The trench system is practically in a level plain, slightly rolling. We also followed as closely as possible the front line trench of this system. Went almost to Hazebrouck. This is the closest we got to the front line. If heavy shelling had started we would have been in the danger zone. I saw thirty-eight airplanes in the air at one time. Many of them were very high in the air and it looked as though they were attacking. Streaks of smoke were seen frequently, but it may have been simply signaling. We spent about three hours looking over this trench system. We came back to Cassel via St. Sylvester. This town has been bombarded very little. The largest church has a hole in one wall near the roof. We were within four miles of the Belgium line. Mount Kemmel is in Belgium. The ride home was very delightful, and very much enjoyed. Coming into Watten from the east we came out on a ridge from which we have a splendid view of the town and canals. I am more and more impressed with the completeness of what has been done, houses, streets, canals, roads, fields, farm houses.

At supper tonight, Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Taylor, told me the good work of the Third Division, on or near the line