Fortunately, the first French reinforcements,--the famous "Grossetti" (42nd) Division which General Foch, at Fère-Champenoise, in the centre of the battle-line at the Marne, had thrown against the flank of the German columns, thereby turning the scales at the psychological moment _(See the Michelin Guide: The Marshes of St. Gond--part 2 of The First Battle of the Marne)_,--arrived at this juncture. The first units to arrive relieved the exhausted Belgians before Nieuport. Meanwhile, the bombardment of the town and bridgehead had reached an incredible degree of violence. In the centre, the situation was still more serious, the exhausted remnants of the Belgian 1st and 4th Divisions having reached the limit of endurance. The enemy threw ten battalions with machine-guns and artillery into the loop at Tervaete. The bridgehead of Schoorbakke, attacked from the rear was captured. On the 24th, the 83rd Brigade of Grossetti's Division was moved to the centre, to oppose the German thrust, at the time when the enemy had just carried the Union Bridge. Encouraged by the advantage which they had just secured, the Germans renewed their efforts against Dixmude, where their left wing was being held in check. They had already gained a footing on the left bank of the Yser, north of the town, and were threatening to outflank it from the west. [Illustration: +General Grossetti, commanding the 42nd Division.+] A supreme effort was made against the bridgehead, no less than fifteen assaults being delivered on the 24th. The fierceness and horror of the struggle were indescribable, the men grappling with one another in pitch darkness. However, the German _furor_ spent itself against the heroism of the Belgian Infantry and French Marines who, for more than a week, remained in the breach day and night. Dixmude remained inviolate. [Illustration: +Pontoon Bridge across the Yser.+] The Inundations. October 25 brought a pause in the German thrust, the enemy being visibly exhausted. But the Belgian Army also was exhausted; many of their 75's were out of action through intensive firing; scarcely a hundred shells per gun remained. Would they be able to hold out against another desperate assault? _The General Staff were considering a retreat on Dunkirk--which would have spelt disaster--when, informed of this by telephone, Foch hurried to the G. H. Q. where he arrived during a sitting of the War Council. In despair, the last dispositions for the retreat were being discussed, when in his simple unaffected way, Foch indicated a line of resistance and suggested inundating the country. "Inundation formerly saved Holland, and may well save Belgium. The men will hold out as best they can until the country is under water"._ (Commandant +Grasset's+, "Foch"). [Illustration]