The village was about 700 yards in rear of the front line, and had three keeps surrounded with wire entanglements and independent of each other, but with an elaborate system of communication trenches. Water and four days’ rations were stored in each keep, and wells dug. Each of the keeps held about one company. The communication trenches were about 6 feet deep, used as far as possible as fire trenches, and well traversed. Firing platforms were revetted with brushwood, and shelters made all over the village. In addition to keeps, a series of lines existed in the rear of the front line, intercommunicating and provided with barbed wire. A small wood on one point of the front was defended by a network of low wire entanglements and a line of high wire netting. Every officer had to know all about his section and its communications with right and left. Telephone wires were laid low down in communication trenches and fastened a few inches from ground with wooden pickets. Machine guns were placed so as to flank salients. A 65-mm. field gun was placed in the front line to sweep the village, and an observation station placed in a tree. The observer wore a green mask and green sheet. Great use was made of brushwood and undergrowth to revet steps of firing platform. All work was carried out by regimental officers and men without help from the engineers, who were fully employed in mining. The garrison of the village and the front line trenches in the vicinity was about one battalion, but the fire trenches were sufficient for three battalions. CHAPTER V[1] [1]: This chapter reprinted from _Infantry Journal_. Use and Improvement of Natural Cover _A screen or mask_ consists of hedges, crops, underbrush, etc., which hide the rifleman without, however, protecting him from fire. _Cover or shelter_ consists of walls, earthworks, etc., which protect the rifleman from fire. On the battlefield, natural features that screen and shelter should be utilized as much as possible, as they possess the following advantages over artificial works: (_a_) Their organization demands less work. (_b_) Concealment is easier. (_c_) From their nature, it is difficult for the enemy to estimate, for a given length, the number of men sheltered. They possess, however, certain disadvantages: (_a_) The protection is sometimes so excellent that, morally as well as materially, it becomes difficult to leave the shelter. Example: quarries with obstructed exits. Therefore, good judgment must be exercised in the selection. (_b_) Some of them are too visible. Example: large hedges. In this case their range can be easily found. As a general rule, do not occupy them uniformly and do not change the appearance of the organized parts. Organization of the cover: