Page:The North Carolina Historical Review - Volume 1, Number 1.pdf/64

62 target. The search lights picked out the German machine and the anti-air-craft gunners fired a good many shots at it. It was very exciting and annoying. The firing on the front line could be heard very plainly, and flashes from the guns and shells could be seen. From Cassel, which is on a hill, a splendid view can be obtained at night of the location of the enemy's and our trenches. The flares and rockets lit up the general location of the trenches. There are three anti-air-craft batteries near us and last night all three were firing at the air-craft. I had a conference of Battalion Commanders and Adjutants this morning at 10:30, and went over with them the work they are to do and the training we must keep up at the same time. In the afternoon I tried to borrow an auto to go out to the trenches but failed. I sent Captain Myers out in the motorcycle sidecar and then had it return for me. We made an inspection of trenches and wiring from the La Briarde road to the St. Sylvester-Cappel road. The wiring south of this road is completed and the Australians are putting in a strong point just north of the La Briarde road. There is one line of wire in front of the main line of defense trench. Our first work is to put in two more lines, making two bags of wire. We will then, if we have time, make the entanglement 25 yards wide. We also have some Observation Posts to build and machine gun emplacements to locate. There are a good many French and British troops on this line. The Germans were able to get an aerial photo of these trenches and have got their range at several points. At one place we counted eight shell holes in a very small radius. St. Sylvester-Cappel the church has a shell hole through it. The shell struck the roof, penetrated it, struck the side wall just over a window and went through that wall. The shell did not explode until it reached the ground. The cross-roads just east of St. Sylvester-Cappel have been shelled a good deal and a great many of the buildings have been destroyed. All are deserted. Took dinner with Major Harris of the British Army. He is in charge of anti-air-craft.