In fact, it was to dislodge the Germans that the present intrenchments were being made; machine guns would be mounted as soon as positions had been prepared.
The German bullets had already taken their toll.

In the little valley a poor Belgian pressed his hand against a bad wound in his side, while another was nursing an arm roughly bandaged by his fellows in the trenches.

First aid made the two comfortable for the time being at least and the men were directed toward the ambulance.

As they left, the man with the wounded arm pointed down the narrow valley to where a deep ravine cut through.

"We were driven from there," he said.