The men were cooking in their mess tins, some were playing cards, and some were examining the seams of their shirts.

I told them I was going to have a service at one end of the cavern and I proceeded thither with a good number following.

Some of the card players seemed too interested in their game to care to attend, and so I called out to the men in a loud voice not to make too much noise, lest they should disturb the gamblers.

One of the men who was playing cards responded "If you will wait till we have finished this hand, Sir, we will all come too." I made the announcement therefor that we would not begin till the players were ready.

The result of this was that in a very little while all the men came and joined in the service.
The possession of the Ridge gave the Germans a great advantage, because it commanded a view of a very large piece of country and several main roads.