Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/30

26 Artillery Groups during the forming up on the night previous to the attack.

As usual in the case of an attack on prepared positions of considerable strength, which involved the concentration of a large force of artillery and other units not normally associated with a Division in the line, one of the chief problems to be overcome was the question of transportation to and from the line. In overcoming this difficulty the weather, which remained in the main dry and fine both immediately before and during the battle, was very helpful. In the sector of the attack the only main approaches to the front line were the two metalled roads which ran respectively through Le Verguier and through Vadencourt; the latter, which forked into two roads just west of the Tumulus, being the main divisional line of approach. These in themselves were not nearly sufficient to cope with the forward traffic, but the country between them was seamed with “dry-weather tracks,” which were passable for horse traffic under the weather conditions then prevailing, while, in addition, the open nature of the country made it unnecessary to keep to tracks at all in dry weather.

Preparation for an attack of any magnitude was much hampered by the sharp bend back of the line upon our right flank. A glance at the map showing the tactical situation on the 23rd September betrays at once this backward bend of the British line on the right of the front held on that date by the Division. The enemy held Pontruet in force, and even had strong posts well up in and about the group of farm buildings known as St. Helène and situated on the Vadencourt-Bellenglise Road. On the 24th September a minor operation was undertaken by the 1st and 6th Divisions on our right, having in view the capture of certain high ground in front