and a pretty duck pond. Of the trees there are literally nothing but short stumps + of the buildings no trace except bricks + stones + occasional domestic implements which we find in the earth.

Every time the earth is disturbed there is a most unpleasant smell for many fine fellows lie all around.

It is two o'clock in the morning + quite quiet except for the perpetual popping of rifles + machine guns of which we take no notice. However at any moment the air may be full of bursting shells + combs + the earth vibrating with the force of explosions. Even under such conditions there may be no casualties at all, for the men though daring to the extreme +