Summary

Urbain’s first-hand narrative continues in this section. During October, the group marches all through Flanders, their morale low and their feet injured from the constant walking. Once at Ichtegem, the men protest but are forced to move again, making their way to Yser, where they are forced to dig ditches to protect from any Germans that might arrive along the snakelike body of the river. Upon arrival, they are attacked by German shells and sustain heavy damages. A raft of munitions arrives down the river, followed by a large group of various animals swimming down the river, seemingly escaping from the death, which no one kills for food. Low on food, the men are forced to stay in the muddy trenches, unable to cover up a pile of feces. A week later, the...