barrage.

The force of the explosions was terrific, and the vibration was felt
far and wide; even strong concrete "pill-boxes" were swung to and fro,
and the occupants were tossed from side to side as if they were on
board ship in a rough sea. Some indication of the colossal nature of
these upheavals may be gauged from the fact that the craters were, in
some cases, more than 200 ft. in diameter, and that the earth thrown
up obliterated every hostile trench in the vicinity, completely
burying the unfortunate garrisons who manned them.

At the same moment the sky was lit up by all manner of S.O.S. lights
and the innumerable flashes from our guns, which were now showing
their maximum strength for the first time. They belched forth
concentrated death, the roar reached such a deafening crescendo that
conversation was entirely out of the question--indeed it was
impossible to hear one's own voice. However, the scene was truly
impressive, and the grandeur was beyond anything hitherto seen.

As daylight crept in, the infantry were observed to be making rapid
progress, although, here and there, stiff opposition was encountered.
Soon the summit of the ridge was gained, and the men swept on and
disappeared over the crest, leaving the mopping-up parties to complete
their work. The Tanks bravely waddled up after them, in a vain effort
to keep up, for the attacking infantry went so fast, in the first
stages, that they easily outstripped those ponderous giants and left
them far behind.

Meanwhile the field batteries which had been in position farthest in
the rear, and so were already out of range, limbered up and dashed
into action in front of our Brigade. As soon as the next row was also
out of action, they too galloped past and took up their place (p. 044)
again in "No Man's Land," while the Engineers worked at their highest
pressure to pull down trenches and prepare the way for the gunners.
Thus we were able to give the fullest possible support to the infantry,
and the fire never ceased, while the men always found the creeping
barrage laid down in front of them.

Early on in the fray prisoners came dribbling back in a more or less
dazed condition, and, as they passed the array of guns, they paused
and gazed in evident wonder at the huge concentration--probably
realising how fortunate they were in escaping the fate of so many of
their comrades.

Now, the enemy, although he knew an attack was imminent, had failed to
anti