THE DOUBLE CRASSIER. _In front of the two long spoil heaps which went by this name the opposing trenches were for a long time within a few yards of each other. The Double Crassier was taken by us in the Loos battle of September, 1915._] [Illustration: _PLATE XLI._ A COMMUNICATION TRENCH. _A British Communication Trench near Loos. The rising ground in the distance is a part of the Lorette Ridge._] [Illustration: _PLATE XLII._ "NO MAN'S LAND." _Between Hulloch and Lens, a fair example of the destroyed pasture land where the churned-up chalk was too near the surface for the growth of the weedy vegetation such as appears in Plates XVII and XVIII._] [Illustration: _PLATE XLIII._ ARRAS. _The central part of Arras seen from a height. The photograph shows what a town looks like even when it is, compared to others, not very badly destroyed!_] VI.--ARRAS, VIMY, AND LENS (PLATES 43 TO 50.) Arras was in the possession of the Germans for three days in September, 1914, but they evacuated it in their retreat after the first battle of the Marne. It was only by very plucky fighting, however, that the French were able to keep them even a mile or two away, and for a long time they remained at St. Laurent-Blangy, which is practically in the north-eastern suburbs of the town. In October, 1914, therefore, they were only a couple of miles away, and from this short distance the centre of the city was bombarded severely by heavy artillery. The beautiful Hôtel de Ville and the belfry were destroyed, and the centre of the city generally much injured, as the view from above (Plate 43, an official photograph) shows very painfully. In April, 1916, the British being then in this zone, Arras was practically "cleared," the enemy being forced backwards for six miles. In the offensive of March, 1918, the Germans succeeded in getting two miles closer in on the south, but to the north the 1916 positions were held, and the enemy was finally driven twelve miles away towards Cambrai in our August offensive in 1918.