Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/200

170 frequent in modern warfare, fought as it is in three dimensions. While our troops were pressing onwards towards Semeries, leaving Sains on their left flank, French Infantry and Cavalry were pouring along the roads to the south of that town and into the country beyond. The streets of Sains were full of rejoicing civilians clustering round the few Signal and R.A.M.C. officers who had yet found their way into the town, and to whose presence they were not yet accustomed. A party of English officers guided by the Curé were making an examination of the wrecked railway-bridge lying across the main road and of the abandoned stores in and about the railway-station. Suddenly, the air seemed full of the drone of aeroplane engines and, looking up, the sky was seen dotted with British planes circling round the town and evidently trying to make out the identity of the crowd collected in the streets. The conclusion arrived at was soon pointed in a most unpleasant manner.

Bullets sprayed into the town from the machine guns of the planes, while a little farther to the south and east, dull crash after dull crash announced the fact that our planes were bombing the roads near by. For some minutes the bombardment continued, until one plane, sweeping nearer earthwards than the rest, must have picked up the message of the frantically-waving handkerchiefs and hands.

The firing ceased, but not before several casualties had been caused, almost the last cases treated by the medical officers of the Division being some of our French Allies wounded by splinters from the bombs, or by machine-gun fire.

No further fighting took place, though scouting-parties were pushed out through Ramousies and Liessies without gaining touch with the enemy. On the 10th November