The Germans, meanwhile, were well aware that an offensive was coming from the Ypres salient: the flatness of the plain prevented any concealment of Haig's preparations, and a fortnight's intensive bombardment (4,500,000 shells from 3,000 guns) served to underline the obvious without, however, destroying the German machine gunners' concrete pillboxes.
To add to the misery, for the last ten hours of bombardment, gas shells were added.
This facility proved useful when, in the midst of bombardment, exploding shells drowned out voice communication.
One couple in their late 60s, Anatoli and Svetlana, have refused to flee from the bombardment of shells and rocket attacks, so far defying the mortal danger that living in such a grim, frontline location presents.
The Syrian army said it controlled 98% of eastern Aleppo, where residents said they would face death if they stayed to face bombardment by artillery shells and fighter jets or torture and disappearance if they surrendered.
The wretchedness of the garrison's predicament is exquisitely evoked by the trumpet boys posted at each corner of the palace, "so small they had to stand on boxes to see over the parapet", who, under heavy bombardment from rebel shells, blow the determined message "we are strong" in code.
Mid-afternoon, a fire broke out in one of the farm buildings following a bombardment of incendiary shells.
"As soon as he closes the door, we hear a bombardment of egg shells on my door," Belle said Wednesday.
The attack was preceded by a four-day artillery bombardment of 250,000 shells and a release of 5,100 cylinders of chlorine gas.
Limited to a front of only 24 mile, the bombardment used 2,689,000 shells, over a million more than had been used on the Somme.
