These Mahsuds were on their first trial in our regular Corps, and in some respects showed aptitude for trench warfare. As soon as our roughly-made hand-grenades began to be issued they asked to be allowed to use them, and the gallant Robson, R.E., of whom I told in the attack by the 39th Garhwalis on November 23, gave them several lessons in their use. The men were quite delighted, and parties often went out and bombed German saps and entirely stopped the Huns working on that particular bit of front. I have one more story of the 129th Baluchis. The C.O., being in need of a change in his menu, one morning sent his Afridi orderly and a signaller to find a chicken; no special method of procuring it was prescribed, except that the men were to leave by the communication trench. Some hours later the signaller returned with the chicken and reported that the orderly had been arrested by the Provost-Marshal for looting an empty shop (mark the words). This was followed by another report from the Staff Captain. Next morning, to the C.O.’s surprise, the orderly turned up as usual. Asked by what means he had returned he quietly said, “I told the officer that I was taking the things for you”; and later a large bundle arrived from Brigade Headquarters addressed to the C.O. and on it a label, “Herewith your property.” The contents comprised a bedspread, two blankets, a box of china basins, knives, forks, a lady’s parasol, and a pair of stays. When asked what the stays were for he replied, “They make very good hockey pads.” Such were some of the lighter sides of trench warfare. However, stern events were now ahead of us, and the Corps was about to bear the brunt of a heavy German blow. On the 17th December, the operation orders from Chief of Staff, G.H.Q., stated that it was the intention of the Commander-in-Chief to “attack vigorously all along the front” on the 18th, with the Second, Third, Fourth, and Indian Corps, and a further paragraph directed that these Corps “will demonstrate and seize any favourable opportunity which may offer to capture any enemy trenches in their front.” It is hard to reconcile the two operations contained in the self-same order. To “attack vigorously” is clear enough; to “demonstrate” is to make only a show of doing so. How can you do both at the same time?