Consequently, long-range artillery duels in the north had been all in
favor of British arms.
Terrific charges of the British troops, of whom there were now less than
half a million--Scotch, Irish, Canadians and Indians included--on the
continent, had driven the Germans from Dixmude, Ypres and Armentieres,
captured earlier in the war. Ostend had been shelled by the British
fleet, and a show of force had been made in that vicinity, causing the
Germans to believe that the Allies would attempt to reoccupy this
important seaport.
Farther south the French also had met with some success. From
within striking distance of Paris the invaders had been driven back
to the Marne, and from the Marne to the northern and eastern shores
of the Aisne.
But here the German line held.
The fighting along the Aisne, continuing without cessation, already had
been the bloodiest in the history of wars; and here, the French on one
side of the river, and the Germans on the other, the two great armies had
proceeded to intrench, making themselves as comfortable as possible, and
constructing huts and other substantial shelters against the icy hand of
King Winter, who had come to rule over the battlefield.
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