The German trenches were only fifty yards from the French lines at this point. For months, bombs, grenades and rockets made an inferno of the place. The proximity of the respective lines required the utmost precautions, constant watching and listening, with finger on the trigger of the rifle, absolute silence, no sleep and no smoking (smoking might give an objective to the bombers). The nervous tension was so great that the average stay of a battalion was only eight days. [Illustration] Brûlé Wood was the scene of the sublime rallying call “_Debout les Morts_” (Stand up, ye Dead!)—_see below_. While early in April, 1915, important attacks were taking place in Ailly Wood, the 95th Infantry Regiment was ordered to create a diversion in Brûlé Wood. On April 5, 6 and 8 bloody fights took place for the possession of a trench. On the morning of the 8th the captured trench was consolidated, and the attacking troops relieved and sent in reserve to the second line. [Illustration: GERMAN BLOCKHOUSE AT TÊTE-À-VACHE] Suddenly a strong German counter-attack was launched. The new occupants were thrown into confusion and, seized with panic, retreated through the trenches, when _Adjutant Jacques Péricard_, who had taken part in the action the day before but was now in reserve, called for volunteers from his company to face the enemy. The trench was retaken after a prolonged and terrible struggle, in the course of which Péricard, feeling his men wavering and seeing only dead and wounded around, cried “_Debouts les Morts_.” [Illustration: FRENCH FIRST LINES AT TÊTE-À-VACHE] _Continue up the road._ _Near the crest on the left, in a quarry, are_ several concrete defence works which communicate with one another. [Illustration: GERMAN POST OF COMMANDMENT ON THE ROAD TO ST. MIHIEL, AT THE FOOT OF HILL 362.] _The crossing of Strategic I.C. 3 is next reached. Here leave the car and take the road to the left towards_ =Marbotte.= _400 yards further on_ the German first line trenches, built entirely in concrete with numerous shelters and blockhouses, _are reached_. _This is the crest of the_ “=Tête-à-Vache=” position, which for so long formed a salient in the French lines. All the soldiers knew it because, when passing through the trenches on a level with this salient, it was necessary to stoop to avoid being seen by an observer at his loop-hole. Woe to the curious or the careless who risked walking upright past this point! The ever-ready automatic spoke at once. [Illustration: GERMAN BLOCKHOUSE ON THE ROAD TO ST. MIHIEL, _about 300 yds. from Hill 362_.] _A 100 yards beyond are the_ French first line trenches (equipments and soldiers’ graves). All the ground here is torn up, and the woods are completely destroyed. _Return to G.C.D. 1 bis, and follow it in the direction of St. Mihiel. All along the road are_ numerous military works of all kinds, _especially across Ailly Wood_. [Illustration: MILITARY KITCHEN IN AILLY WOOD, 1915] [Illustration] Ailly Wood