THE MARCH CONTINUED 125 



is a ford across it anywhere, it should be from where 

 those rails run down into it to these tall poplars ? 

 That would be a good place to force a passage 

 too, for that hill commands it, and the wood gives 

 cover right down to the bank, while the enemy's 

 side is as flat as a pancake. The banks would 

 hardly offer any obstacle, for they are shelving and 

 look hard. 



What about this defile we are coming to ? 



A nasty place to be attacked in, for the road is 

 bad, winding, and narrow, and the woods and rocks 

 on each side give any amount of cover. A rare 

 place to hold a fox though, if it is fairly quiet, for 

 there is plenty of warm lying, and whichever way 

 the wind is blowino- he can find a lee-side. We 

 should have to turn the sides before going into the 

 defile, there is no doubt, and only Infantry would do 

 for this job, for the ground is so broken. 



Ah ! this would be the place for the enemy to 

 hold it, he could almost stop us with stones from 

 those overhanging rocks, and three or four of those 

 big trees cut down would effectually block the road. 



The deboucJid is good, and if our advance-guard 

 could get through, and get hold of that rise beyond, 

 we should be all right. What a nice flying grass 

 country on the far side of the defile! It's down 

 wind, and there is Badger Holt in the far distance, 

 so, should we draw the defile woods, we may have 

 a run over it. 



What a position there looks to be on those hills 

 away to the west ! A clear field of fire. Right flank 



