[Illustration: ATTACK ON THE HINDENBURG LINE, SEPT. 27th, 1918.]
Space does not allow of a detailed description of the orders for attack,
but it can easily be imagined that they were pretty considerable in view
of the heavy work to be accomplished by the artillery. As this portion
of the German line was known to be powerfully defended by large numbers
of troops, extensive trench systems, dug-outs and wire, it was part of
the strategy of Foch to concentrate artillery here, and records showed
that on the two days September 27th and 28th shells were consumed at an
unprecedented rate. In our sector alone, the programme comprised the
capturing of 3,500 yards in depth of the most strongly defended ground
in France, including the vicinities of the famous Highland and Welsh
Ridges of terrible memory in the Battle of Cambrai. Every yard of this
ground was subjected to a continuous creeping shrapnel barrage lasting
for almost three hours, while moving steadily ahead of this was a
terrific bombardment by all calibres from 4.5 howitzers upwards upon the
enemy's main trenches and supposed defence points. The brigade frontage,
measured north to south, was 1,250 yards, and this was equally divided
between the 6th and 7th. As we were going over one company behind
another, each company was responsible for nearly 700 yards--a very large
front considering our depleted numbers. There is no doubt, as far as we
were concerned, the task looked formidably ambitious.
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