ne-gun. The
prisoners were big fellows with new equipment and clothing. We had no
casualties in this little raid. A picquet was left in the captured
trench.

When morning broke we found that we were on our objective all right. In
front stretched a wonderful view of a plain studded with orange and
lemon groves with fresh green foliage, odd plantations, cactus hedges
and a village or two. Immediately below us on our right lay a big
orchard with some houses and hidden there were some snipers that worried
us a bit and killed a machine-gun officer and Corpl. Kelly of "A"
Company. Looking behind we saw the importance of having secured the hill
we were on. It made a perfect observation post for observing the shore,
which was now crowded with the remainder of our Division and others just
arriving. Unfortunately there was a similar hill on our left which was
not assaulted by the troops on our left until some hours after daybreak.
We could see Turks on it and soon well-directed shell-fire was sprinkled
along the shore. After this hill was taken the fire was indirect and
much less effective; our own portion had only one dose of the enemy's
shell-fire, but it was brisk while it lasted and there were a few
wounded casualties including Lieut. Tomeny.

In the forenoon it looked as if the Turk might develop a counter attack
from the orchard below us, as some 300 Turks were seen advancing in
extended order into a plantation about 2000 yards away, but an hour or
so later they were seen going back and all sniping stopped. The thick
cover afforded by the plantations made it almost impossible to detect
movement near us.

[Illustration: SAUSAGE RIDGE, DEIR SINEID.]

At 12.30 orders were received from the Brigade to have strong patrols
ready to push into Herbieh to cover the right flank of an attack to be
delivered by the 155th Brigade against the ridge about 4000 yards south
by east of Hesi Summit. This was not necessary, for at 14.45 Colonel
Morrison received instructions for an attack on the southern
continuation of the 155th Brigade's objective. Attacks of this sort are
of necessity quickly arranged, and this resulted in our going into
action without any machine-guns accompanying the infantry, as the
enemy's shell-fire had made it necessary to withdraw their mules to
cover and there was no time to get them back for the start, nor did
artillery fire on either sides play any important part in the coming
battle. There was desultory shel