Some of them were lodged in empty houses, but most of them had only their little _tentes d'abri_ to shelter them.

The sentinels were stamping their feet in the almost vain endeavour to keep their blood in circulation.

There have been numerous frost-bitten cases.

When it is considered that almost all of these troops might, without either danger to the defence, or without compromising the offensive operations, have been marched back into Paris, and quartered in the barracks which have been erected along the outer line of Boulevards, it seems monstrous cruelty to keep them freezing outside.

The operations, however, on Wednesday are regarded as very far short of a success.