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46 enemy organization or a natural feature of the ground over which the attack was taking place.

Their positions would, of course, also be indicated by the halt of the artillery barrage behind which the troops would organize. The intermediate objectives were made use of to enable “leap-frog” tactics to be utilized within the attacking Brigades—one battalion passing through another to the attack, the tired battalion meanwhile remaining behind to mop up and consolidate a defensive line, while it was at the same time available to reinforce the fresh attacking battalion if necessary.

To the 137th Infantry Brigade, as already stated, was allotted the task of leading the Division across the Canal. This Brigade was detailed to overcome any enemy resistance west of the Canal, to cross the Canal itself, break through the main defences of the Hindenburg Line east of the Canal, capture Bellenglise, and advance to the Red objective, where a defensive position was to be consolidated and the other Brigades would pass through to continue the attack.

On this line the artillery barrage under which the troops advanced was scheduled to halt for three hours, a dense protective barrage being put down meanwhile to cover the work of consolidation, to conceal the movements of the advancing Brigades, and to prevent enemy counter-attacks.

During this interval of three hours the troops told off for the purpose were to complete the mopping-up of the area occupied by the 137th Infantry Brigade, and the remaining two Brigades, the 138th Infantry Brigade on the left and the 139th Infantry Brigade on the right, were to move up, deploy on the Red objective, and, when the barrage lifted, to move forward to the capture of the Green objective, where they in their turn were to