.

"They expect us to move up to-night, sir," I told the colonel, handing
him the order brought by a motor-cyclist despatch-bearer about eight
o'clock.

"Oh!" said the colonel--and the "Oh!" was a _chef-d'oeuvre_ of irony.

Then he wrote a masterly little note, perfect in its correctness, and
yet instinct with the power and knowledge of a commander who had a mind
of his own. He wrote as follows, and told me to hand the message to the
returning despatch-rider:--

"Ref. your B.M. 85 dated 25th Sept., I regret that I shall not
be able to move one section per battery into action to-night.

"I was late in returning from my reconnaissance owing to delay
in fixing position for my Brigade Headquarters; did not get the
order until eight o'clock, and by that time batteries had
started moving ammunition up to the positions. All available
guides had gone up with the ammunition waggons.

"My batteries will be prepared to fire a barrage by dawn on 27th
Sept.

"In confirmation of my telephone conversation with B.M. to-day
positions selected are as follows:--"

The message closed with the map co-ordinates of the positions chosen
for our four batteries, and with a request for the map location of the
Divisional Artillery Headquarters, to which the note was sent.

Next day, the 26th, was a day of busy preparation. We learned that, for
the first time, we should be in active co-operation with an American
Division. The infantry of the British Division we were working under
had been told off to protect the left flank of the American Division.
The object of the attack was the capture of the last dominating
strong-posts that guarded a section of the Hindenburg Line, immediately
north of the section for which our own Divisional infantry had battled
since Sept. 19. The enemy was to be surprised. Our guns, when placed in
position, had to remain silent until they began the barrage on the
27th. That morning, therefore, topographical experts busied themselves
ascertaining exact map locations of the batteries' positions so as to
ensure accurate shooting by the map. The point was emphasised by the
colonel, who wrote to all batteries:--

"Battery Commanders are reminded that as barrages on morning of
27th will be fired without previous registration of guns.

"THE LINE LAID OUT MUST NOT BE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON COMPASS
BEARING. Check it by measuring angles to points which can be