stile artillery fire,
which was very fierce, and our men continued to improve their own
intrenchments. The Germans bombarded our lines nearly all day, using
heavy guns, brought, no doubt, from before Maubeuge, as well as those
with the corps.

All their counter attacks, however, failed, although in some places they
were repeated six times. One made on the Fourth Guards Brigade was
repulsed with heavy slaughter.

An attempt to advance slightly, made by part of our line, was
unsuccessful as regards gain of ground, but led to the withdrawal of
part of the enemy's infantry and artillery.

Further counter attacks made during the night were beaten off. Rain came
on toward evening and continued intermittently until 9 A.M. on the 16th.
Besides adding to the discomfort of the soldiers holding the line, the
wet weather to some extent hampered the motor transport service, which
was also hindered by broken bridges.

On Wednesday, the 16th, there was little change in the situation
opposite the British. The efforts made by the enemy were less active
than on the previous day, although their bombardment continued
throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the
defenders off one of the salients of their position, but they returned
in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the Third Division.

On Thursday, the 17th, the situation, still remained unchanged in its
essentials. The German heavy artillery fire was more active than on the
previous day. The only infantry attacks made by the enemy were on the
extreme right of our position, and, as had happened before, were
repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly, on this occasion, by our field
artillery.

In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting it may be
said that along the greater part of our front the Germans have been
driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their
infantry are holding strong lines of trenches among and along the edge
of the numerous woods which crown the slopes. These trenches are
elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many places there are
wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing.

Both woods and open are carefully aligned, so that they can be swept by
rifle fire and machine guns, which are invisible from our side of the
valley. The ground in front of the infantry trenches is also, as a rule,
under crossfire from the field artillery placed on neighboring features
and under high-angle fire fr