ROADS THAT LED NOWHERE
In the making of an emplacement for a gun it was of the utmost importance that no fresh upturned earth be disclosed to the aërial observers. Even foot-paths leading to it had to be concealed. Plans were carefully made to cover up all traces of the work before the work was begun. Where it was impossible to conceal the paths, they were purposely made to lead well beyond the point where the emplacement was building, and, still further to deceive the enemy, a show of work was sometimes undertaken at the end of the path. Wherever the sod had to be upturned, it was covered over with green canvas. The earth that was removed had to be concealed somewhere and the best place of concealment was found to be some old shell-hole which would hold a great deal of earth without any evidence that would be apparent to an observer in an aëroplane. If no shell-hole were handy, the excavated material had to be hauled for miles before a safe dumping-ground could be found. As far as possible everything was sunk below the earth level. Big pits were dug in which the mortars were placed, or if a shell-hole were empty, this was used instead.