October 31, 1914 
LAND AND WATER 
south of St. Peter's by night and succeeded in getting 
across the re-entrant angle or loop o£ the canal we 
have just been discussing. 
The estimate of the Germans Avho got over at 
various places, and particularly inside the bend of the 
loop, in the darkness of Saturday, is not more than 
5,000 men; of those 5,000 hardly any got back. 
They were either killed or taken wounded and un- 
wounded. But on the next day, the Sunday — at 
what hour we have not yet been told — the water was 
forced again, and a permanent footing established by 
the Grermans upon the western bank. Thirty-six 
hours passed, and the advantage produced no fruit. 
It is more probable that the effecfc was exhaustive and 
that the defensive holds it own in spite of this cross- 
ing, expecting to take the counter-offensive at 
any moment. Still it is wise, in judging any 
strategical problem in action, to consider all possible 
developments. 
Supposing that the line of the canal is forced, 
and that the Allies evacuate Dixmude and Nieuport, 
■nill the next defensible line bo one that covers 
Calais ? What does the nature of the ground 
offer for defence between the Yser and that line? 
What ciiance of retardation in a successful enemy's 
advance ? 
As to the first question, what line beyond the 
Yser Canal defends Calais ? There is between this 
frontier country and Calais one first rate line, and 
only one. It is the line of the Eiver Aa can-ied 
on by the Canal to St. Omer (and from St. 
Oni:?r, south-east again, out of the map, towards 
Bethune). This line between St. Omer and the sea is 
strong not only in one straight line of water running 
without re-entrants and fairly bi'oad for the whole 
20 miles between St. Omer and the coast, but it is 
further strong in being covered, through all the 
lower or sea coast and Calais part of it, by a network 
half dried marshes and draining ditches, which make a 
l)eit miles wide upon either side ; while immediately 
in its centre, where the River Aa leaves a gap before the 
line of the St. Omer canal begins, where the wet country 
is therefore at its narrowest, you have a conspicuous 
group of heights which afford excellent defensive 
positions all round the village of Wattcu. This 
position is fur stronger than anything which the 
Germans have had in force in Flanders. It thoroughly 
covers Calais ; but there is no corresponding position 
covering Dunku'k. 
7* 
