From the Vermelles—Hulluch road southward the advantage of height is on the enemy's side as far as the Bethune—Lens road. There the two lines of trenches cross a spur in which the rise culminates, and thence the command lies on the side of the British trenches.
Due east of the intersection of spur and trenches, and a short mile away, stands Loos. Less than a mile farther south-east is Hill 70, which is the summit of the gentle rise in the ground.
Other notable tactical points in our front were:
"Fosse 8" (a thousand yards south of Auchy), which is a coal-mine with a high and strongly defended slag heap.
"The Hohenzollern Redoubt."—A strong work thrust out nearly 500 yards in front of the German lines and close to our own. It is connected with their front line by three communication trenches abutting into the defences of Fosse 8.
Cité St. Elie.—A strongly defended mining village lying 1500 yards south of Haisnes.
"The Quarries."—Lying half-way to the German trenches west of Cité St. Elie.
Hulluch.—A village strung out along a small stream, lying less than half a mile south-east of Cité St. Elie and 3000 yards north-east of Loos.
Half a mile north of Hill 70 is "Puits 14 bis," another coal-mine, possessing great possibilities for defence when taken in conjunction with a strong redoubt situated on the north-east side of Hill 70.
Sept. 25.