The bombardments are very violent. The Germans are sending in large-calibre shells. They fall from all sides, sometimes as close as twenty meters from us. The shock of the explosions almost lifts us off our feet. The displacement of air gives us the sensation of a storm passing by at dizzying speed. It goes on for hours and hours. The fighting goes on with bombs, torpedoes and grenades, from trench to trench. It's heartbreaking to see our men charging forward, bayonets fixed. They run as fast as they can, bending to give the enemy machine-gun fire as little leverage as possible. They're going to dislodge the Huns from their lairs. In no time at all, the trenches are filled with dead and wounded.