On August 21st the XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps engaged in operations before Dinant. The 2nd Battalion of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, together with a company of pioneers, undertook on the evening of this day a strong reconnaissance towards Dinant. As the first houses on the road coming from Sorinnes were reached, the sound of a signal shot was suddenly heard. The next moment there came a rattle of musketry from all sides. Shots were fired from all the houses, and the slopes were lighted up with the flashes. The houses were firmly barricaded, so that rifle-butts, hatchets, and hand-grenades had to be used to force an entrance. Trip-wires were drawn across the road. Numerous wounds were inflicted on our men by the discharge of small shot. They were even pelted with stones (Apps. 2-5). The battalion penetrated as far as the bridge, ascertained that this was occupied by enemy troops, and then returned, being continually fired upon from the houses. Under the necessity of haste it was impossible to clear the place thoroughly of francs-tireurs. To some extent attempts were made to master them by setting on fire the houses from which the firing took place. It was evident that this assault by the inhabitants on the reconnoitring detachment took place according to plan, that people known in Dinant were aware of the intended operation, and that for this purpose well-prepared measures had been adopted. Among other things indicating this preparation was the fact that numerous houses and walls had been provided with loopholes. In view of these experiences we naturally assumed that in any further operations the civilian population would also take part in the fighting. Nevertheless, all anticipations in this direction were far exceeded through the extent and obstinacy of the people's participation in the fight. On August the 23rd the left bank of the Meuse was to be taken by the XII. Corps. After preliminary artillery fire the infantry advanced in the direction of Dinant--the 32nd Infantry Division to the north, the 23rd Infantry Division to the south. On the left wing the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 forced its way into the town, on the right of them Infantry Regiment No. 180, and in close conjunction Rifle Regiment No. 108, whilst in the Leffe valley Infantry Regiment No. 178 reached Leffe.