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[Page 4]
[Continued from Page 2]
was required to gain both BROWN and GREEN Lines.
4. No information was available at 27th American Divisional Headquarters which remained in command of the attack sector and the Artillery. On the right, good progress had been made by 30th American and Fifth Australian Divisions, who were about to move on their RED Line by 10.0 a.m.
In view of the reserves still in hand of the 27th American Division and the role of exploitation allotted to Third Australian Division, the work of the latter was confined to securing the Trench Systems of the BROWN LINE with unsupported infantry. The tanks allotted to the brigade were speedily put out of action by hostile artillery fire or by an odd mine-field.
5. Owing to shelling around rear of Divisional Headquarters, telephone communication with Corp Headquarters was frequently broken and conversation impossible. Instructions were issued to the forward Brigades (11th and 10th) to use every means of pushing forward and assisting the American troops to reorganise and adjust to the situation. The 9th Brigade were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to move at short notice Southwards into the area that had been gained by the 30th American Division, to exploit Northwards and attack the HINDENBURG Line from the flank.
Throughout the morning endeavours were made to push on, but as the enemy's fire continued heavy and no artillery support was possible, very little progress could be made.
On the extreme right of the Division, the 44th Battalion had been enabled to advance and maintain touch with the 15th Brigade in the neighbourhood of MALAKOFF WOOD: the Divisional line then swinging West of QUENNEMONT FARM thence along SOUTH GILLEMONT TRENCH, West of GILLEMONT FARM towards the KNOLL. On the left in MAQUINCOURT VALLEY and near the KNOLL, much movement forward of the enemy was observed, and by repeated local counterattacks, the enemy endeavoured to push in on the left flank.
At 1.0 p.m. telephone communication with Corps Headquarters was regained and instructions received that every endeavour must be made to move forward and assist the advanced troops. Ground flares had been reported by contact 'planes as having been seen in GOUY: but no further knowledge of the situation was available. The 10th and 11th Brigades were therefore instructed to make a concerted attack with tanks at 3.0. p.m.; the 9th Brigade to move on a broad front in rear of the 10th Brigade to protect the flank of the 10th. Brigade from any attack from the North, and to immediately occupy and consolidate ground gained by the assaulting Brigades.
For this attack it was impossible to employ covering artillery or machine gun fire, and consequently at 3.0 p.m. when the infantry began to go forward, they were met by such machine gun and shell fire that the continuation of the advance was not possible during daylight. The result of this operation was that the line was pushed forward a few hundred yards and GILLEMONT FARM came into our possession.