Very foggy morning; we are able to finish digging trench. 6 A.M. Astounding news. The battalion bombers have failed. A few survivors, after fighting all night, have been driven into the wood. The mystery trench over which I must cross is in the hands of the Boches. Could we hope to accomplish the double task? The men heard the news in silence. 7 A.M. Breakfast consists of some dirty bread and cheese, and a little water. 8 A.M. Fog lifted. Our position is correct. Can see objective plainly about four hundred yards off. We can also be seen plainly, and snipers are busy trying to pick us off. Have made a reconnaissance, and find intervening ground a mass of shell-holes. Looks like a rough sea. The advance will be difficult; the ground is so churned up. Not a square yard of unbroken ground. 2 P.M. Everything is now in readiness, with nearly three hours to spare. Have ordered men to eat their dinners, which consists of bread and cheese at 3 P.M., so that they will go into the fight on full stomachs. I have had no sleep or proper food for nearly two days. Will lie down and get an hour's rest before the attack. CHAPTER XV THE ADVANCE THROUGH LEUZE WOOD NEW OPERATION ORDERS. "AT ANY COST." LIKE RATS IN A TRAP I had hardly closed my eyes when a runner from headquarters came hurrying along the line, and was directed to where I was dozing at the bottom of a trench. "Message from the C.O., sir, very urgent." I signed the receipt and tore the envelope open. Good heavens! new operation orders! I was astounded. I looked again, hardly daring to believe my eyes. Sure enough, there was no mistake about it, three pages of closely written operation orders. The head-line seemed to be mocking me: "Fresh operation orders, cancelling those issued this morning." I read on: "You are to advance on through Leuze Wood, and attack from that part of the wood which forms the fourth side of the square-shaped trench, thus attacking the inside of the square; B Company taking the lower half, and C Company the upper half; A Company to be in support." A cold shiver ran down my back. What a calamity! and after all the pains I had taken to work out the details of the attack, and that dreadful night spent in digging these trenches to jump off from. Every man knew what to do, and now at the eleventh hour the whole plan was altered. I glanced again at the new orders: "You are to be at the new place of assembly by 3.30 P.M.; zero hour is 4.45." I looked at my watch--Great Scott! it was already 2.15; at 3 P.M. I must commence the advance through the wood. The men had not yet commenced their dinners. What time was there? and how was it possible to sit down quietly and digest those three pages of new orders and understand their meaning? What time had I to make new plans and explain to each man his new task? There was not a moment to be lost; I turned to my two runners: "Dinners to be eaten at once. Platoon commanders wanted at the double."