e, as at Neuve Chapelle, we found that the enemy front line, once
penetrated, brought us in front of a series of strong points bristling
with machine-guns, with dug-outs of almost incredible strength, some of
them twenty and thirty feet under ground and safe against anything but
the heaviest of field-guns, weapons that we were lamentably short of.

We could batter their front line to bits, for, like our own, it was
situated on lower ground, and consisted of breastwork parapets owing to
the water-soaked state of the whole plain; but their infantry would
retire to these deep dug-outs, only emerging when their sentries warned
them of the lifting of our fire to permit the attack.

We could, and did, drive the enemy from his front line, and once there
we held on, but that was as far as we could go, for each of these strong
points presented a new and entirely different problem to attack, and
required a separate bombardment.

Our offensive had started on May 9th and reached its height about the
16th, by which time we had won ground to an average depth of six hundred
yards on a front of four miles.

At daybreak on the 16th the 7th Division attacked in the direction of
the Rue D'Ouvert and Canteleux, and by 7 o'clock had entrenched
themselves in a line running roughly north and south, half-way between
their original trenches and La Quinque Rue. The remainder of the day and
the following night were spent in consolidating this position and trying
to drive the enemy from some short trenches and posts that prevented
this division from linking up with the 2nd Division on its left. This
was accomplished by noon of the 17th, and by nightfall further ground
had been gained to the right. Slight advances were also made on the
18th, but bad weather had greatly hindered the operation of our
artillery.

On the 19th, the 2nd and 7th Divisions, having suffered very severely,
were withdrawn, the latter being relieved by the Canadians.

Part of the 3rd Canadian Brigade had already become involved and had
taken part in an attack on La Quinque Rue, where they succeeded in
advancing the line some five hundred yards and linking up this ground
with the Wiltshires on their right and the Coldstreams on their left.

Further advance was held up by one of the enemy's strong points known as
the "Orchard." This position was naturally strengthened by a deep ditch
full of water on three sides, besides hedges and wire entanglements.

During the afterno