At 8.30 p. m., as no noise came from the point of entry, or from the right of the same, while from a point some 65 yards to the left shots and reports of grenades could be heard, I ordered Vice-Sergeant Major Elb to advance with five men and reinforce Dumas’ patrol. Lieutenant Erb, the regimental adjutant, attached himself to this party. He was wearing an oxygen-breathing apparatus and had been waiting in the Hohlweg. Shortly after, the sounds of fighting ceased on the left, and the first batch of prisoners was brought back from the enemy’s trench. I had come to the conclusion that we had the upper hand everywhere, especially on the right, and with a view to exploiting fully our success, I ordered Lieutenant Freund to cross the enemy’s trench at the point of entry with 15 men of the supports, and to attack the Spion from the rear. At the same time, I sent forward Vice-Sergeant Major Wölfle with 4 men to reinforce Lieutenant Böhlefeld. In order to have a reserve in hand for meeting all eventualities, I ordered up the commanders of the two groups on the flank of the 12th Company, which was stationed immediately to the right of Sap No. 3. The groups had been warned in the afternoon and given the necessary instructions. Whilst Vice-Sergeant Majors Elb and Wölfle, with their men, went in search of Dumas’ and Böhlefeld’s patrols, Lieutenant Freund dashed across the enemy’s trench at the point of entry and followed it along to the right as far as the communication trench which leads into the front line trench near the Spion. Freund’s patrol leapt into the enemy’s front line trench on both sides of the communication trench, captured 10 men almost without a struggle, and secured several rifles and articles of equipment. A few Englishmen who offered resistance were bayoneted; Volunteer Herrmann, of the 7th Company, and Lance Corporal Haufler, of the 4th Company, particularly distinguished themselves. A few Englishmen attempted to get away, but were shot dead. Volunteer Herrmann further discovered an extemporized trench mortar. The latter could not be carried off, however, as it was securely built in. Vice-Sergeant Major Wölfle, who arrived on the scene shortly after, destroyed the trench mortar as well as he could with hand grenades and pistol shots. Böhlefeld’s reinforced patrol had accompanied the advance of Freund’s patrol along the trench, and came across three or four more wrecked dug-outs, which were filled with dead. Individuals standing about in the trench were killed by the patrol or made prisoner. During this affair, Under Officer Nössler, of the 11th Company, repeatedly distinguished himself.