72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

ance with judgment, and theto be a task of tremendous difficulty.THE LAST FIGHT.capture of the city promisedWith the first streaks of daylight on the 28th the 72ndcommenced their preparations for the pending assault. Atvarious commanding pointsthe scouts established theirobservation and sniping posts and began a systematicsearch of the enemy s front. From the Battalion 0. P.(observation post) under the eaves of -a factory roof, amost comprehensive view of the northern portion of theenemy front opposite the line held by the Battalion wasobtained. "A"Company s scouts established themselves inthe upper room of a house. "D"Company s scouts kepta keen eye on the southern section of the enemy s position from a house in front of the line, which it will beremembered fell back, on the right, from the canal. Underthe searching scrutiny of the scouts telescopes, importantdetails of the foe s defence were revealed. Let it here besaid that in the four days preceding the attack, the observers and scouts discovered every hostile post along theopposite bank, and it was by means of this informationthat competent measures could be taken to combat thesepoints of resistance.The general plan of the first phase of the operationagainst Valenciennes was to cross the canal, seize thebridge-heads and so obtain a footing for the operationagainst the city itself. If at all possible the attack was tobe pushed home and the town itself taken immediatelyafter the canal had been crossed.The great obstacle was the 60 feet of deep water whichhad to be crossed, not by one or two men, but by severalplatoons, in the face of an enemy holding the oppositeside. To effect this crossing, collapsible boats, rafts, and acork -float bridge were supplied by the engineers. Withmuch labour these were carried to the edge of the canaland hidden in readiness. On the left this was comparatively easy on account of the large amount of cover fur-K 161-