about 1 man to 1 1/2 yds with supports. During the night of 8th & 9th we made two support trenches to the left section into a profile as follows: - [pencil note: Drawing] These were easy to get out of whereas the front trenches were deep & very difficult to get out of - I should think that about 2,000 men were holding 11/2 miles trench with supports and reserves. The fire trenches were knee deep in mud and in spite of sand bags fascines & planks the men literally stuck in them & in some cases had to be lifted out. Every