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66 done than the feat performed by the officers and guides who were responsible for bringing the 138th and 139th Brigades into position on their forming-up line in time for the final assault from the Red objective. Both west and east of the Canal the roads were choked with the human flotsam and jetsam from the battle, and with transport and details moving towards the front line. The fog was as thick as at any time during the morning, and on occasion it was difficult to see one's hand before one's face, while a great portion of the march had to be made over ill-defined tracks, which were difficult enough to pick out even in moderately clear weather. The compass had to be relied on almost entirely, and the only help received was at the various bridges over the Canal. Here Engineer officers with compasses were able to take bearings and to assist such small companies of men as had been separated from the main column, by giving them the direction they would have to keep in order to reach their correct positions in the line. Here again, as in other phases of the battle, the fog afforded unlimited opportunities for the exercise of the qualities of leadership on the part of subordinate commanders, and seldom indeed did these fail to make the best of a difficult situation.

The new forward move entailed a certain rearrangement of the Artillery, those batteries in position at a distance from our old front line being now firing at extreme range. To adjust matters, the Brigades moved forward immediately the Red objective was reached to positions already selected, where lines of fire had been previously marked out. The forward move was carried out most expeditiously, and the Brigades came into action again and were able to take their part in the creeping barrage when the advance from the Red line was commenced after the three hours' halt. Finally when