EPISODES OF THE GREAT WAR [1915

and the place chosen was the sector between La
Bassee and Arras. Other subsidiary attacks were
necessary for the same purpose, and these were
entrusted to the British forces. They were strictly
holding battles, and it was enough if they distracted
and occupied the attention of the enemy.

Early in the month a general bombardment began
along the whole Allied front. Its purpose was to
serve as a screen behind which the preparations for
attack could be made, and to puzzle the enemy as to
which section of his line was chiefly threatened.
The Allied aircraft were busy, for it was important
that no German machines should reconnoitre over
our lines. As the 25th of the month approached our
airmen went farther afield, and bombed vital parts
of the German railways. On Thursday, 23rd Sep-
tember, the main bombardment began. From La
Bassee to Arras, and along the Champagne front,
hell was loosed from thousands of pieces. At a
quarter-past five on the 25th, on a fifteen-mile front,
the blue-grey waves surged from the trenches. At
the same moment, at lengthened ranges, the guns
flung their curtain, of fire between the enemy and his
supports. Machine guns took heavy toll of the attack
and the German artillery from far in the rear were
" watering " the path of the advance. The road was
marked by piles of blue-grey dead, but the impetus
did not slacken. By the end of the day, on a fifteen-
mile front, the advance had been carried forward
for an average of two and a half miles. Practically
the whole German first line had gone, and the French
held parts of the second line. But the enemy battle
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