Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/71

Rh in the Canal, this battalion also succeeded in keeping up with the barrage on the east bank of the Canal, and reorganized under the protective barrage, before advancing to the capture of the system of trenches beyond. Here the support company joined up with the advanced companies, and the whole moved forward to the Red objective, which was taken without further trouble. One of the companies of the battalion, at this time under Second Lieutenant C. Jones, who had taken over command of the company when his company commander was severely wounded, was detailed to assist the right battalion by clearing the northern portion of the village of Bellenglise. This he did so successfully and speedily that he was able to take it almost in his stride, and advanced with the remaining companies of the battalion to the final objective, after capturing eight machine guns and four field guns on his way. This enemy battery, like many others met with during the day, remained in action until the last moment, when they were surprised by our troops and captured. It is likely that the delay in limbering up and falling back was due in this case to a lack of knowledge of the exact situation owing to the fog, but it is noteworthy that, in this and in subsequent actions in which the Division took part, the enemy artillerymen, like his machine gunners, fought very well indeed. The former manned their guns until the last moment, firing over open sights at our advancing troops, and often fought bravely with their rifles when no longer able to use their guns with effect. Far different was their action from that of the Infantry, who, with a few exceptions, were demoralized from the first, and seldom put up a stiff resistance, surrendering freely, as they did on this occasion, as soon as there was any reasonable excuse for doing so. Had it not been for the machine gunners in