General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 19, 7 July - 30 July 1918- Part 13









3Oth July, 1918.
CONFERENCE OF 31st JULY, 1918.
INTRODUCTION.Take full notes because only the bare minimum
of orders will be issued.
SECRECY. An essential condition for success.
Secrecy as to facts; as to dates and times.
MEASURES. (a) Normality of our procedures.
(b) Movement by night.
(c) Concealment by day.
(d) Dont tell anyone until his action is
essential
(i) Prisoners;
(ii) Talk by prisoners;
(iii) Spies.
(e) Camouflage stories.
GENERAL SITUATION.
German failure has seriously affected his strategy.
Maintenance of our initiative.
Moral effect of another defeat on a large scale.
Therefore, FOCH decides on a large offensive by Fourth
Army within 8 or 9 days.
Reasons; for our front.-
Minor offensives and their effect.
Enemy holds weakly.
Junction with French least suspected.
Absence of organised enemy defences.
Disengagement of AMIENS and ABBEVILLE
ARMY PLAN OF BATTLE. (Tell so far as essential for Divisions to
know).
Action by four Corps :- III, Australian, Canadian, French.
III Corps - one Division (18th) perhaps two (58th).
Australian- five Divisions.
Canadian - four Divisions.
1 Division (Foch insists)
French - II Divisions - and 1 Cavalry Division.
General objective - Map - blue line.
Describe boundaries on general map.
- 2 -
Australian Corps task - describe - boundaries - final objective
III Corps - left Defensive flank.
Canadian - right Defensive flank.
French - MOREUIL.
Cavalry - LE QUESNEL and behind MONTDIDIER.
CAMOUFLAGE STORY. - not active, - but acquiesce, - tell as Secret.
(a) French heavy losses on MARNE demand shortening of front,
therefore Australians right close.
(b) Canadians to relieve Australians in line.
(c) Canadians meanwhile to cover junction with French,
as per XXII Corps, which is known to have gone south.
ARMY MOVES.
Relief of 5th Division by 58th Division - to be complete by
1st August.
Relief of French Corps by 4th Div. to be complete by 2nd Aug.
1st Aust. Div. arrives complete by 7th August, three (3)
Artillery Brigades by 6th August.
CANADIANS. Object of 4th Div. entry is to conceal Canadians
till latest possible moment and to get French out of way.
1st Div. arrives too late for use except for Relief
after battle.
CORPS RESOURCES.
4 Battle Divisions.
1 Relieving Division.
18 Brigades Field Artillery.
9 Brigades Heavy Artillery.
TANKS. 108 Mark V; 36 Mark V (Star); 18 Whippets; 16 Store
Tanks; 24 Carrying Tanks.
1 Regiment Light Horse; 1 Battalion Cyclists.
Corps Squadron, A.F.C.
- 3 -
CORPS PLAN OF BATTLE.
1. Green line - includes ACCROCHE WOOD, WARFUSEE and enemy guns
2. Red line - describe.
3. Blue line - old Reserve System of 1916.
4. Corps Boundaries. - SOMME inclusive and Railway exclusive.
4a. Inter-Divisional Boundaries.
5. Two Divisions to capture Green line - in a set piece attack
under Barrage, with Tanks, g.v. HAMEL.
II Div. on right; III Division on left - each on a
two Brigade front - each 12 Tanks.
6. Two Divisions to leap-frog - and fight on principles of
open warfare - to red line.
V Division on right; IV Div. on left - each on a
two Brigade front, with one Brigade in Reserve.
Each Infantry Brigade to have 1 Brigade of Artillery,
and each first line Brigade to have 12 Tanks.
7. EXPLOITATION - by IV and V Divisions.
using
(a) Reserve Brigades - if necessary.
(b) Each 18 Mark V (Star) Tanks x 20 men =
64 M.G's. and Lewis Gun
(c) M.G. Battalion - (and Lewis Guns =
average 70 to 80 ^ yards per gun.
CORPS MOVES IN PREPARATION. - Provisional only.
1. 5th Division comes into Corps Reserve complete by 1st Aug.
2. 4th Division takes over French front, complete by 2nd Aug.
3. 4th Division takes over from 2nd Division, front as far
north as Railway (inclusive) - Complete by night 2/3rd Aug.
4. 2nd and 3rd Divs. rearrange frontages to junction at
P.21.b.central - complete by night 2nd/3rd August.
5. All three Divisions get on to a single Brigade front
(disposing these troops as a passive outpost line) by
night 4/5th August. The other two Brigades of each Divn.
are withdrawn to positions of readiness for commencement
- 4 -
of approach march as follows (to be done on nights 3rd/4th and
4/5th August) :-
IV Division - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Canadian Bdes.)
go to support of 3rd Division.
II Division - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Brigades of
5th Division) go W. of VILERS-BRETONNEUX.
III Division - 2 Brigades - (replaced by 2 Brigades of
4th Division) go to region of CORBIE.
V Division - 2 Brigades - go into support of 2nd Division
G.08s.C. II and III Divisions remain in control of Battle fronts
till green line passed.
Canadian Division takes over command of their line on 5th Aug.
All above must be complete by dawn on 5th August.
OBJECT - To save 4th and 5th Divs. a long march on Z day.
6. Last Brigade of 4th Division is relieved by Canadians on
5/6th August and moves to position of readiness.
Last Brigade of 5th Division moves up to position of
readiness.
----------------------------------------
POSITIONS OF REDINESS.
(a) Where troops can be instructed and
equipped.
(b) Whence they can get out to their approach
routes having regard to their tasks.
(c) Where they will be clear of routes of
other troops.
(d) In case of eth and 5th Divisions
Where they can act in support of
Outpos Brigades.
Necessity for careful inter-divisional co-ordination
and mutual conciliation.
Divisions to work in pairs - II and V; III and IV.
Commanders and Staffs to confer - Corps can give little
help.
Inter-divisional line not to be encroached upon except by
approval of Corps.
- 5 -
7. Actual battle programme - (order of events).
(a) Assault Brigades of II and III move through IV and V
and get to tapes.
(b) Time Table Barrage in time for Zero - to capture of
green line.
(c) IV and V Divs. prepare to move at Zero.
(d) Assault Brigades of IV and V, with their Tanks and
Artillery to have moved up to Green line - ^ ready to start, byzero X Zero + 4 hours, followed by Reserve Brigades with their Arty.
(f) Advance to red line.
(g) After Green line is passed line Brigades of II and III
concentrate.
(h) After red line is reached, Assault Brigades of II and
III concentrate, reorganize and move up to suitable
support positions - predetermined.
(i) Exploitation to blue line by IV and V.
(1) Garrisoning of blue line by IV and V - two Brigades
in line and one in reserve - disposed in depth.
(Army police re defences to be got later).
TIME TABLE. (Provisional).
Zero hour to be settled by Army.
- Assume 3.30 a.m.
100 yards lifts, Advance 3,500 yards; = ? lifts of 100 yards
in 2 minutes then 100 yards in 3 minutes for 1,000 yards.
Dalance = 100 yards in 4 minutes.
This will take about 2 hours
Reach Green Line Z plus 2 hours - say 5.30 a.m.()2 hours'
Leave Green Line Z plus 4 hours - 7.30 a.m. () halt.
Reach Red line Z plus 7 hours - 10.30 a.m.
Exploitation starts Z plus 8 hours - 11.30 a.m.
Exploitation complete Z plus 9 hours - 12.30 a.m.
G.O.C., R.A., commands all Artillery till green line is reached.
- 6 -
ARTILLERY. FIELD ARTILLERY. 18 Brigades - in time table Barrage.
Protective Barrages - 1/2 guns stand 1/2 hours; rest sweep and
search to extreme range.
6 Brigades - mobile - 1 to each Infantry Brigade of
IV and V.
6 Brigades to Divisions i.e. 3 each to IV and V for
Defensive.
6 Brigades as Corps Reserve, under G.O.C., R.A.
HEAVY ARTILLERY. In time table - Counter battery.
Back barrage.
After Green line - 1 mobile Brigade to
each Division, IV and V.
Remainder under G.O.C., R.A.
Counter-battery Map.
Action in case of gas bombardment.
N.B. Infantry Start Line. - must have it by 10 a.m. 2nd August.
II & III
MACHINE GUNS.
All left to Divisions - Green line - Barrages and consolidation.
Red line - For exploitation.
For consolidation.
Suggestion only. - Each Div. (IV and V) - 32 guns for consolidation
= 16 per Assault Bde.
32 guns for Mark V(Star)
Tanks.
16 Mark V (Star) Tanks to carry 2 Vickers and 2 Lewis Guns each
and Crews.
2/18 Mark V (Star) Tanks to carry Infantry and Officers.
- 7-
TANKS - Allocation.
II Division, Mark V - 27. i.e. 12 per Brigade and 3 in Reserv
12 Tanks in 1750 x = 1 Tank per 150
Store Tanks - 1 per Brigade = 2
Carrying Tanks - 1-per-Brigade = 3
III Division. do do do
IV Division, Mark V - 27, i.e. 12 per Bde. and 3 in Reserve
Mark V
(Star) - 18, 8 to each Bde., 2 in Support.
Whippets- 9 - 4 per Brigade and 1 in Reserve.
Store Tanks6 - 2 per Brigade.
Carrying Tanks 9 - 3 per Brigade.
V Division. do do do
TOTALS: Mark V .. .. .. 108
Mark v (Star). .. .. .. 36
Whippets. .. .. .. 18
Store Tanks. .. .. 16
Carrying Tanks. .. .. 24
Loading of Store Tanks - each carries 8 tons.
Time for their movements.
(Courage) Green Line Tanks - Some to join in advance to
Red line if available - in own Brigade Zones.
Balance to rally and act under orders of Divisions.
Divisional Commanders to decide (a) Distribution of Tanks to
their Infantry.
(b) Times of movements of
Whippets and Store Tanks.
(c) Withdrawal of Tanks.
Tank Commanders to be detailed forthwith and to Liaise.
- 8 -
ENGINEERS AND PIONEERS.
Need for pooling.
Corps Pool - 1 Field Coy. from IV Division.
1 Field Coy. from V Division.
2 Field Coys from II Division.
2 Field Coys from III Division.
6 Field Companies.
5th Pioneer Battalion.
3rd Pioneer Battalion.
2 Pioneer Battalions
2nd Pioneer Battalion will serve II and III Divs. 2 Cos. to
each.
4th Pioneer Battn. will serve IV and V Divs. 2 Coys. to each
Divisional C.R.E's. will control -
II Div. - 1 Field Coy. and 2 Companies Pioneers.
III Div. - 1 Field Coy. and 2 Companies Pioneers.
IV Div. - 2 Field Coys. and 2 Companies Pioneers.
v Div. - 2 Field Coys. and 2 Companies Pioneers.
C. E. will (a) Co-ordinate work as between himself and C.R.E's.
(b) Inform Divs. as to Works to be done by Corps.
(c) Draw up a Scheme of roads and tracks to be
opened, having regard to grades, visibility,
surface.
PREPARATORY MEASURES
Div. H.Q. - V Railway Dugouts, IV CORBIE, organize.
Cable buries - Divs. in line to do.
Stop leave, if desired.
Reduce present activities to a minimum, except patrols for
identifications.
Tank Training.
PREPARATORY MEASURES (CONTINUED).
Settle and advise me of Brigades to be used and order of
battle.
Use of Americans - postpone advance beyond platoon training
Cyclists.
Mounted Troops () - 1 troop to 2I and III. each
()
2 and Cyclists. () 2 troops to IV and v. each
6 troops for A.P.M.
Medical. - Question of Ambulances with Red line
Brigades.
FORWARD ROADS.
Routes for (a) Artillery and Ammunition.
(b) Mule Transport - Infantry.
(c) Evacuation of wounded.
(d) Infantry routes.
DETAILS OF DIVISIONS.
II - Alteration of front.
Leaving Brigade in line.
Battle dispositions - Tanks and Machine Guns.
Capture of WARFUSEE.
Digging in on Green line.
Dumps.
Tapes.
Approach March.
III Alteration of front.
Leaving Brigade in line.
Refuse CERISY flank.
Capture of guns.
ACCROCHE WOOD (Tanks).
Avoid SOMME Valley.
Be ready to mop up CERISY re-entrant.

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