Finally, there was a standing barrage of heavy howitzers and 60-pounder guns, which dwelt on avenues of approach or likely places for assembly of the enemy's reserves. As the infantry advanced the whole of these different barrages advanced also, so that by the time the infantry reached the Germans the latter had had during the morning a good sample of most of the types of shells employed by the British artillery. Altogether this one brigade of infantry was supported by (_a_) twenty-two 18-pounder batteries, which fired 67,000 rounds on the day of the attack and the same number on the following day; (_b_) six 4·5 howitzer batteries, which fired 14,000 rounds on the day of the attack and the same number on the following day; (_c_) twelve batteries of 6-inch howitzers, which fired 5551 rounds during the first four and a half hours of the attack; (_d_) the following batteries of heavy guns, which fired in the first four and a half hours the ammunition as stated:-- One battery 6-inch Mark VII. guns 114 rounds. One battery 8-inch howitzers 114 " One battery 9·2 guns 49 " Three batteries 9·2 howitzers 685 " One 15-inch howitzer 20 " In addition, the 2-inch trench-mortar batteries and Stokes mortar batteries all joined in the bombardment, the latter firing 2700 rounds in the initial stages of the attack. Before the attack barrage was opened the enemy's position was subjected to twenty-four hours intense bombardment. The infantry were also preceded by a barrage fired by thirty-two machine-guns, which engaged all strong posts, pill-boxes, &c. Twenty machine-guns went forward and assisted in the consolidation of the captured positions. Each of the three brigades had, previous to the attack, carried out a tour of duty in the line, while the 154th Brigade had also spent five days in practising the attack over a taped-out course representing the German trench system in full size. There had not been the same amount of time available for training as had been the case before the attack on 31st July; platoons had, however, been constantly practised in attacking small objectives under cover of their own weapons--the rifle, the Lewis gun, rifle grenades, and the bomb. In this respect they had reached a high standard of efficiency. Two objectives were selected, the first being the dotted Blue line, the line of the Stroombeek continued in a north-west direction to Delta Huts. The final objective, the Blue line, was a line through Quebec Farm, Bavaroise House, Church Trench, Delta House. The 58th Division on the right and the 20th Division on the left were allotted similar objectives.