mination of old veterans,
and shortly after noon had triumphantly carried out the work assigned
to them. They had captured their part of the line and taken 662
unwounded men and 36 officers (among whom was a battalion commander),
while the booty included four howitzers, four field guns, and fourteen
machine guns and quantities of military stores.

By nightfall the British had captured the whole of the German second
line from Bazentin-le-Petit to Longueval, a front of over three miles,
and had netted over 2,000 prisoners. Many of these belonged to the
Third Division of the German Guard, and included the commander of a
regiment. The commander of the Ninety-first Bavarian Regiment was
discovered by the British at the bottom of his dugout.

One of the most striking incidents of the day occurred on the British
right flank in Trones Wood. On the night of July 13, 1916, an attack
had been delivered there when 170 men belonging to the Royal West
Kents were separated from their battalion. Having a few machine guns,
and being well supplied with ammunition, they fortified one or more
positions, and in spite of vigorous German attacks, were able to
maintain their posts all night until the British advance in the
morning gathered them in.

It was a bit of good luck that these men had strayed away from their
regiment, for the positions they had fortified now proved of great
value in clearing the Germans out of the wood.

One of the most picturesque episodes of the day's fighting was a
brilliant cavalry charge. This was the first time since the battle of
the Marne that the British had any opportunity to engage the enemy on
horseback. The French, however, had employed two squadrons in their
offensive in Champagne in September, 1915.

A British division, pushing their way northward against the Tenth
Bavarian Division, had penetrated the third German position at High
Wood supported by cavalry--a troop of the Dragoon Guard and a troop
of Deccan Horse. The mounted men proceeded to show their mettle and to
share in the fighting honors of the day. Beyond Bazentin-le-Grand on
the valley slopes they found cover for a time in the growing corn.
About eight in the evening the cavalry set out on their last advance
on foot and on horseback through the corn, riding down the enemy, or
cutting him down with lance and saber, and capturing a number of
prisoners. Their rapid success had a heartening effect on the whole
British line. Having reached t