The deck of a British hospital ship is one of the most cheerful places in the world. Every man is at rest after toil, is about to see friends after separation, can smoke when he likes, and has in every other man on board a companion with whom endless reminiscences can be exchanged, and perhaps the merits and demerits of the Ypres salient, or the most advantageous use of “tanks,” warmly debated, as is the custom of privates of the New Army. Silent or vocal, a great beatitude fills the vessel. [Illustration] XXVII (a and b) A MAIN APPROACH TO THE BRITISH FRONT The canvas screen on the left marks a place where the road had been under enemy observation. A “sausage,” or stationary observation balloon, is seen above the road. “Sausages” are not pretty. They exhibit, at various stages of inflation, the various shapes taken by a maggot partly uncurled. But the work done from them, besides being always disagreeable and often risky, is extremely valuable. [Illustration] “ROAD LIABLE TO BE SHELLED” A stretch of high-road which was under enemy observation when drawn. Such roads are, of course, only used with due caution. The whole drawing is remarkably instinct with the artist’s sense of a malign invisible presence--a “terror that walketh by noonday”--infesting the sunny vacant length of the forbidden road. [Illustration] XXVIII TROUBLE ON THE ROAD War has its tyre troubles, as peace has. In this case the lack of a spare wheel, and the consequent necessity for changing an inner tube, had the compensation of giving the artist time to make the drawing. [Illustration] XXIX BRITISH TROOPS ON THE MARCH TO THE SOMME A typical Picardy landscape behind the frontal zone of destruction. The crescent-shaped line of troops and transport on the road is a small fraction of a Division moving up to take its place in the front line. [Illustration] XXX A SKETCH AT CONTALMAISON The place is Contalmaison, but the drawing has caught the spirit of the whole of the shattered country-side recaptured this year. [Illustration] XXXI ON THE SOMME: SAUSAGE BALLOONS A typical winter scene on the Somme battlefield. The nearer “sausage,” or captive observation balloon, is being run out to its proper height for work, by unwinding its cable from a reel on the ground. The further balloon is already moored high enough and its observer, alone in the small hanging cage, is at work with his map, telescope and telephone. [Illustration] XXXII A WRECKED AEROPLANE NEAR ALBERT A casualty in the R.F.C. The smashed biplane and the retreating stretcher party on the right explain themselves. On the left, Albert church, to the right of a tall factory chimney, is seen in the distance. [Illustration] XXXIII A MESS OF THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS