Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

COUNTER-STROKES IN THE WEST. 117

he was seriously wounded, but not before his magnificent courage and determination had enabled the second barrier to be completed.”

The fight for the Hohenzollern, which lasted for

three days, till the 2nd Guards Brigade relieved the

North Midland men, resulted in the gain of the main trench of the Redoubt and no more. The artillery preparation had been insufficient to make progress possible across that sinister ground. An observer has described the formidable German defence. « The slag heap had been pierced by timbered galleries, and from tiny loopholes, which had entirely escaped artillery observation, the storm of bullets swept the lines away as they emerged from the trenches. Beyond and about the Fosse the muzzles of machine guns were thrust out from openings in the cellars, only a foot or so above the ground, the houses having been pulled down over them to make a bombproof shelter which only the biggest shells could pierce. These, like a scythe of fire, literally mowed the men down and checked the attack.” In such circumstances the performance of the Midlanders must rank high among the records of British gallantry. For the next week there was no action of the first importance, but on 16th October the French in the Vosges won back the summit of the Oct. 16 Hartmannsweilerkopf, which had already Hp changed hands several times, and was to continue the performance. The situation on the spur was curious. Till the French won the eastern slopes they could not master the German communication along the 111 valley, and unless the Germans held the western slopes they could mot win security. Both sides