were to be pushed out in the direction of Mennevret, in order, if possible, to obtain touch with the French. These patrols encountered stiff resistance, however, and until 7 p.m., the company of 5th Leicesters detailed for this purpose were held up by machine-gun fire from the north of the village. Later on, touch was obtained with a French patrol at La Nation cross-roads, but the position could not be held. It was, indeed, not until 5.30 a.m. on the 18th that our line was definitely established in continuation with that of the French.
Throughout the action, the supporting artillery fire had been, as it was in all the battles and skirmishes of the advance, extraordinarily accurate, the initial programme being modified accurately and in good time as the situation developed. Especially good was the work of certain "forward guns," selected from different batteries and placed directly under the orders of battalion commanders. Kept well advanced and man-handled by their crews into good positions as close as possible behind the advancing Infantry, these guns were fought with great resolution, and were markedly successful in dealing with isolated machine-gun emplacements and strong-points where the enemy were making a successful stand against our riflemen, bombers and machine gunners. Firing over open sights and from behind hedges, brushwood, or any slight cover which could be made use of, the guns' crews necessarily took great risks and suffered comparatively severe casualties. These forward guns indeed proved invaluable and well repaid the audacity with which they were handled, while the moral of our own Infantry was by no means lessened by the realization that, as ever, their Artillery was close behind them and sharing both their triumphs and their dangers in the fullest degree.
