20. Bridge-head at kilom. 19.500 and “Presqu´île” wood (righthand bank) 54 21. Observation-post near the church of Clercken 58 22. “Grand-Père” concrete dug-out north of Kippe, kilom. 12.500 of the Dixmude-Yper road 60 23. “Castel Britannia” south of Kippe, kilom. 12.500 of the Dixmude-Ypres road 60 24. Hoekske (spot where three german guns stuck in the mud) 60 25. German gun of Leugenboom, at Couckelaere 65 NOTICES ON THE OUTLASTING WAR SITES 1.—German battery “Kaiser Wilhelm II” at Knocke on Sea. Before going into the description of the war sites along the Belgian sea-coast, it is important to cast a general glance on the defences established there by the Germans. Admiral Schröder was given the task of the organization of the sea-front. To do so he had at his disposal: the German Marine Army Corps, a coast artillery altogether powerful in number as well as in the caliber of the guns, a flotilla of patrolers, torpedo-boats, destroyers, submarines and a few squadrons of aeroplanes and seaplanes. In a few months time Belgian coast, thus strongly and thoroughly organized was to be looked upon as a real up to date fortress. The power of the defences was mainly concentrated round Zeebrugge and Ostend,—the two german war outlets of the naval basis Bruges,—also between Lombartzijde and Middelkerke,—where both territorial and seafronts were hinged,—and finally at Knocke and East of that locality, for the protection of the river Schelde’s estuary. The pivot of the coast defences was to be incumbent on the artillery acting in close cooperation with the land and sea-forces. The artillery was to engage at long range all the allied boats and to keep them under a constant crossfire, while they were endeavouring to proceed towards the coast. For that purpose, about sixty batteries, thirty five of which of the heaviest type were placed either along or at the rear of the sandhills. In fact, the guns of very high caliber were distributed behind the belt of dunes; their tactical duty was to keep off the coast all boats which would try to carry out long range bombardments. As those batteries could not from their emplacements use direct fire, being unable to see the targets, observation-posts with good field of view on the sea—for fire registering—were found necessary. Herein lies the reason of the construction of the numerous concrete ones, some of them still remaining hidden along the downs. As far as the smaller guns are concerned, these were dug in along the dunes and were performing direct fire to prevent against raids, attempts of landing or bottling the harbours.