A little later it was again the turn of the Devons, who lost one officer killed and ten wounded.

Christmas set in amid misery, hunger, and disease, the more piteous for the grim attempts to amuse the children and live up to the joyous season, when the present of Santa Claus was too often a 96-pound shell.

On the top of all other troubles it was now known that the heavy ammunition was running short and must be husbanded for emergencies.

There was no surcease, however, in the constant hail which fell upon the town.

Two or three hundred shells were a not unusual daily allowance.