nched themselves. The pickax and
spade were far more in use than the rifle, so that now cold weather
coming on, the soldiers on both sides of the front were able to make the
trenches quite comfortable. In many instances they laid down plank
floors and lined the walls with boards, put up stoves, constructed
sleeping bunks and tables, stools and benches, and even decorated the
rooms thus evolved with anything suitable for the purpose. Pictures and
photographs from home were the favorite decorations. All this was
impossible for their brethren in the north and in Flanders, where the
activities of the conflict subjected the soldiers to continual changes
and removals.

The main objective of the Germans was the French fortresses Belfort,
Epinal, Toul, and Verdun, for these obstructed the march to Paris. The
continual onslaughts and counterassaults made upon this line left it
practically unchanged during the month of October, 1914, in which time
no engagements worthy of the name "battle" occurred. The fighting in the
north had been so desperate that it completely obscured the activities
on the entire line to the south.

The net gains during the months of October and November, 1914, for
either belligerent were practically nil. From Belfort in the south to
Arras in the north the advance or retreat in any given section was but a
matter of yards; a ridge, a farm, a hill, or other choice gun position,
the farther bank of a rivulet or stream or canal occupied or
captured--here by the French, there by the Germans--generally proved to
be but temporary possessions and wasted efforts.

It was incidents such as these that made up the record of events along
this line. During all this time the military aeroplanes were busy
dropping explosives upon the enemy's lines, and extending their
operations far to the rear, circling above the larger towns and cities,
doing considerable damage in many places. But this was not the only
purpose of these daring sky pilots; for the principal object in flying
over the adversary's country was to make observations and report
movements of troops. In this respect the aeroplane had done immense
service throughout the campaign.

CHAPTER XXIX

GENERAL MOVEMENTS ON THE FRENCH AND FLANDERS FRONTS

We have seen that at the end of November, 1914, Ypres was still in the
Allies' hands, though the Germans were exerting a fierce pressure in
that region, and were gradually, even if very slowly, getting close