I visited the ruined Cathedral, and filmed various scenes of the interior and exterior, having to climb over huge mounds of fallen masonry to obtain my best view-points. In places all that was left standing was the bare walls. The huge columns, with their beautiful sculptures, no longer able to support the roof, still stood like grim sentinels watching over their sacred charge. And yet, despite the unholy bombardment to which the building had been subjected, three things remained unharmed and untouched in the midst of this scene of awful desolation. The three crucifixes, with the figures of Christ still upon them, gazed down upon this scene of horror. And high upon the topmost joint of the south wall stood the cross, the symbol of Christianity--unharmed. The united endeavours of the Powers of Evil could not dislodge that sacred emblem from its topmost pinnacle. I left the Cathedral and walked along the grass-covered streets, pock-marked by innumerable shell-holes, and every now and then I had to dive into some cellar for shelter from falling shells. At the Hôtel de Ville the same sight presented itself. The bombardment had reduced its walls to little more than a tottering shell, which fell to pieces at the merest touch. [Illustration: IN YPRES, WITH "BABY" BROOKS, THE OFFICIAL STILL PHOTOGRAPHER, MAY, 1916] CHAPTER VII THE BATTLE OF ST. ELOI Filming Within Forty-five Yards of the German Trenches--Watching for "Minnies"--Officers' Quarters--"Something" Begins to Happen--An Early Morning Bombardment--Develops Into the Battle of St. Eloi--Which I Film from Our First-Line Trench--And Obtain a Fine Picture. A bombardment was to take place. A rather vague statement, and a common enough occurrence; but not so this one. I had a dim idea--not without foundation, as it turned out--that there was more in this particular bombardment than appeared on the surface. Why this thought crossed my mind I do not know. But there it was, and I also felt that it would somehow turn out seriously for me before I had finished. I was to go to a certain spot to see a general--and obtain permission to choose a good view-point for my machine. My knowledge of the topography of this particular part of the line was none too good. Reaching the place I met the General, who said, in a jocular way, when I had explained my mission: "Have you come to me to-day by chance, or have you heard something?" This remark, "Had I heard something?" confirmed my opinion that something _was_ going to happen. Without more ado, the General told me the bombardment would take place on the morrow, somewhere about 5.30 a.m. "In that case," I said, "it will be quite impossible to obtain any photographs. Anyway," I added, "if you will permit me, sir, I will sleep in the front line trenches to-night, and so be ready for anything that may happen. I could choose a good spot for my machine this afternoon."