72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - Electric Scotland

CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE HINDBNBURG LINE.
"Can we smash him this year" Taking over under difficulties
Heavy local fighting Breaking through the boasted barrier
Bitter fighting on Mount Dury Brilliant exploit of Sergt.
K. A. Campbell, M.M. All objectives captured Impressive
burial service Lieut.-Col. J. A. Clark leaves the Battalion.
ON AUGUST 28, 1918, the Battalion, fresh from the
Amiens triumph, arrived at Anzin, north west of
Arras. Once more they were back in familiar surround
ings, while in the east the dull rumble of gun fire told
of a fresh drive. The 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions had
swept over the fortress of Monchy-le-Preux, and in con
junction with other troops were even now fighting their
way toward that formidable and to the Germans, im
pregnable Hindenburg Line a net of defenses. Orders
were received on the same day that the Battalion was to
take part in the assault on the latter position on an early
date. True to their matured strategy, the Allied Staff was
allowing no dangerous salients to grow in their line.
No sooner was the enemy driven back in one sector, than
the advance spread on either flank, carrying with it the
whole fabric of the enemy s defence.
Thus it was that the Canadian Corps, withdrawn from
the Amiens sector, was flung into the fight east of Arras;
miles to the north, in furtherance of this policy. Fired by
the successes of August, the question in everybody s mind
was, "Can we smash him this year" and even though un
answered, the quiet determination of all ranks to have a
try at it, strengthened immeasurably the already high
morale of all.
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