A small party with a subaltern were withdrawn from the line to rehearse a raid on the German line. A replica of the German trenches had been made from aircraft photographs, and these, with our own trench and intervening wire, were faithfully reproduced, even to shell-holes. The rehearsal went off wonderfully. The wire was cut, the German trenches were entered, and dummy bombs thrown down the dug-outs. Back we came to our own trenches. "Everything was done excellently, men," said the subaltern, "but I should like to be sure that every difficulty has been allowed for. Can any man think of any point which we have overlooked?" "Yus," came the terse reply--"Jerry."--_Edward Nolan (15th London Regt.), 41 Dalmeny Avenue, S.W.16._ Poetry Before the Push During February and March 1918 the 1/13th Battalion London Regiment (the Kensingtons), who were at Vimy Ridge, had been standing-to in the mornings for much longer than the regulation hour because of the coming big German attack. One company commander--a very cheery officer--was tired of the general "wind up" and determined to pull the legs of the officers at Battalion H.Q. It was his duty to send in situation reports several times a day. To vary things he wrote a situation report in verse, sent it over the wire to B.H.Q., where, of course, it was taken down in prose and read with complete consternation by the C.O. and adjutant! It showed the gay spirit which meant so much in the front line at a time when everyone's nerves were on edge. It was written less than two days before the German offensive of March 21. Here are the verses: (_C Company Situation Report 19/3/18_) There is nothing I can tell you That you really do not know-- Except that we are on the Ridge And Fritz is down below. I'm tired of "situations" And of "wind" entirely "vane." The gas-guard yawns and tells me "It's blowing up for rain." He's a human little fellow. With a thoughtful point of view, And his report (uncensored) I pass, please, on to you. "When's old Fritzie coming over? Does the General really know? The Colonel seems to think so, The Captain tells us 'No.' "When's someone going to tell us We can 'Stand-to' as before? An hour at dawn and one at dusk, Lor' blimey, who wants more?" The word "vane" in the second verse refers, of course, to the weather-vane used in the trenches to indicate whether the wind was favourable or not for a gas attack.--_Frederick Heath (Major), 1/13th Batt. London Regt. (Kensingtons)._ 'Erb's Consolation Prize A narrow communication trench leading up to the front line; rain, mud, shells, and everything else to make life hideous. Enter the ration party, each man carrying something bulky besides his rifle and kit.