General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 20, 15 August - 8 September 1918 - Part 6

Conference  26/8/18
1. Withdrawal of Tanks
1a 41^st Div at Cappy - ordered
to reinforce - doesn't look like withdrawal.
2. Alteration of Strategic policy
(a)  4th Army done its share
Reserves drawn in
(b) 3^rd Army now to take burden
& 4^th Army only to form flank
(c) Await results elsewhere
3. No object in hastening enemy's 
evacuation of
bad ground W. of Somme. - 
No object in our entering bad ground W. of Somme
Possible advance of French
4. Aim to further reduce Corps Front.
by French taking over to main road
therefore 3 Div. Front, - 3 in line, 3 resting.
Therefore Exploit
5. Advance N. of Somme to Maricourt?
Therefore Exploitation to line as chosen. - 
(a) by set piece attack
(b) by peaceful penetration.
but must keep touch
p.t.v. 

5^th Div. Gas. — 

AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances - Operations

A. G. Collins Major
for COLONEL,
D.D.M.S., Australian Corps.
Headquarters,
26/8/18.
Copies to:- A.C.C.
B.G., G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM*]

BGGS.
Policy for 3rd Div, for
immediate future:-
Except for dispositions ^for observation & local 
defence & to enable advance
to be continued within Corps Boundary, in
conformity with any further advance of 3^rd
Corps, 3^rd Div. will arrange for maximum
number of troops to rest and refit aaa
Artillery inder 3rd Div. must however remain
active and some of it well advanced.
JM

27/8/18
Please return.

[*Received from Army
Commander 27/8/18*]
36
SECRET. Ia/54473.
Weekly Summary of Information, 26th August, 1918.
Operations.—As a result of minor operations south of Outtersteene and the enemy's
withdrawal in the neighbourhood of Merville, our line now runs south from Outtersteene, east
of Neuf Berquin, east of Merville, west of the Lawe to le Touret. Our line has also been
advanced by means of successful local operations west of Dranoutre, east of Givenchy lez-La Bassé,
where the old British front line has now been reoccupied, north of Fampoux and
south of Neuville-Vitasse.
On the 21st August, an attack was launched between Moyenneville and Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, 

the villages of Courcelles and Achiet-le-Petit being captured, and an advance made to a
maximum depth of 3 miles. On the 22nd August, we attacked between Albert and Bray, and
advanced to an average depth of 3,000 yards. On the 23rd August, the attack north of the
Ancre was continued with success, and the villages of Boiry, Boyelles, Ervillers, Achiet le-Grand
and Bihucourt fell into our hands. Our troops crossed the Ancre and seized the heights
east of Albert, while south of the Somme the enemy was driven from Chuignes, Chuignolles
and Herleville. On the 24th August, further progress was made between the River Cojeul and
Albert, and our line advanced to Henin—western outskirts of Croisilles—east of Behagnies and
Sapignies—western outskirts of Avesnes-lez-Bapaume—Warlencourt—1 mile west of le Sars
—east of Courcelette—Contalmaison. Bray was also captured during the day. By the evening
of the 25th, le Barque, Costahmaison, Mametz and Carnoy were in our possession.
During these operations, 381 officers, over 18,000 other ranks and 68 guns have been
captured.
The French have made considerable progress along the whole front between Lassigny and
Soissons; they have reached the River Divette, which has been crossed at Evricourt, and hold
the line of the Oise as far east as Pont St. Mard; thence the line runs south to Soissons.
Distribution of the enemy's forces.– In the British attack between the Scarpe and
the Somme, 22 German divisions have been identified since the 21st August. Ten of these
were originally in line, and 6 fresh and 7 tired divisions from reserve have reinforced the front.
In addition to the above 22 divisions, 4 divisions, which were engaged in the Franco-British
attack south of the Somme on the 8th August, and between them lost 8,000 prisoners, have
again been thrown into the battle. 

Between the Somme and the Oise, a total of 41 divisions, and between the Oise and the
Aisne, a total of 15 divisions have been engaged since the 8th August.
Thus, a total of 78 divisions, 24 of which were fresh from reserve, have been engaged
between the Scarpe and the Aisne since the 8th August.
One more German divisionhas been disbanded, thus reducing the total number of German 
divisions on the Western front to 200 infantry and 4 dismounted cavalry divisions, of which
18 infantry divisions and 1 dismounted cavalry division in reserve are fit for offensive
operations.
There are indications, however, that 4 more German divisions have been, or are in the
course of being, disbanded, which would reduce the total number of German divisions in the
Western Theatre from 200 to 196, and the battalions from 1,856 to 1,820.
Two Austro-Hungarian divisions have now been identified in line in quiet sectors on the
Western front, at Verdun and in Woëvre. Besides these 2 divisIons, there are considered to
be 2 others in the Western Theatre.
Rear organizations.–Between the Ypres—Comines Canal and the La Bassée Canal,
considerable activity on defences is reported. In the Lys salient, no attempt has been made to
construct an organized trench system, but the enemy's apparent intention is to create a heavily
wired outpost zone covering the general line Lestrem—Estaires—Steenwerck—Neuve Eglise.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that prisoners have referred to the bringing up by
barge of concrete blocks and cement for the purpose of repairing old lines in the neighbourhood
of Armentières. Ammunition dumps south west of Lille show an increase, 2 more forward
hospitals have been withdrawn and have reopened on the Aubers Ridge, important bridges over the
Lawe have been blown up, while fires and explosions have been general along the whole front 
from Houthem to the La Bassée Canal. Railway improvements continue to be effected west of
Lille, and a new railhead is in process of forming at Pérenchies.
The big dump at Ytres appears to be in the process of removal.
South of the Somme, large numbers of new bridges have been thrown over the river
between Frise and Voyennes, and work has taken place on trenches east of the river. The
movement back of aerodromes and hospitals from west and south of the river is still very
pronounced. Aerodrome accommodation has considerably increased south-west and north-east
of St. Quentin.
Artillery.–Activity clearly indicates continued apprehension on the Kemmel front, and
to a lesser degree in the Scarpe Valley. There is a marked distribution in depth along the
whole front. Shelling of back areas has been practically confined to the Foret de Nieppe–Lens
area.
Locations in the Lys salient are approximately on the line la Crèche—Steenwerck—
Estaires, and thence east of and parallel to the Estaires— La Bassée road.
On the battle front, artillery is keeping well back and avoiding asfar as possible risk of
capture.
Wireless.—There is fairly definite evidence that the enemy is anxious to convey an
impression of strength north of Bailleul.
He is still apprehensive between La Bassée and the battle front south of the Scarpe.
The continued heavy registration south of the Somme indicates no immediate voluntary
withdrawal in that sector.
[P.T.O.

Conclusion. The enemy had made preparations to meet an offensive south of Arras and
had reinforced his reserves between Douai and the Somme, which had been dangerously reduced
as a result of our attack on the 8th August, by 7 divisions, of which 3 had been moved from
Flanders and 4 had been transferred from the Crown Prince's Group. Since the 21st August,
no further divisions have been withdrawn from the Crown Prince's Group, but 3 more divisions
from Flanders and 1division from Alsace have reinforced, while 4 divisions that were heavily
engaged on the 8th August and following days have been put into the battle again. The
re-engagement of the latter divisions proves that the enemy is endeavouring to build up a reserve
of good divisions, without which he cannot hope to regain the initiative, and is prepared to use
up tired divisions to the utmost in order to do this. Many of his divisions, however, between
the Scarpe and Soissons will have to be relieved if he stands on his present line. The enemy is
likely, therefore, to withdraw to an organized defensive position, such as the Drocourt—Quéant
Line and Hindenburg Line, or possibly to a water line such as the Canal du Nord, the Somme and
the Nesle—Noyon Canal, as soon as he can disengage his troops. Such a withdrawal cannot be
carried out under pressure, and our attack will undoubtedly meet with resistance, especially on
the northern flank where our advance begins to threaten the Drocourt—Quéant Line. The
enemy made only local counter-attacks against our advance on the 8th August, and as the state
of his reserves has not improved since then, It is unlikely that he will attempt a counter-attack
in strength to relieve the situation on the present battle front. The enemy is engaging his
reinforcing divisions as soon as they reach the battle front and he will probably continue his
local attacks with the object of bringing our advance to a standstill before beginning a
deliberate withdrawal.
The reduction of the enemy's reserves in Flanders has increased his nervousness in the
Kemmel sector; there are no signs of any further withdrawal in the Lys salient at present.
Between the La Bassée Canal and the Scarpe, the enemy's attitude is still defensive. He
apparently anticipates the extension of the left flank of our present attack to north of the Scarpe.
The arrival of Austrian divisions in the Western Theatre will not do more than compensate
for the disbanding of German divisions, of which 5 have been recently reported to have been
broken up. There are no indications of the transfer of any German divisions to either the
Russian or Italian Theatres.
General Staf (Intelligence),
General Headquarters.
26th August, 1918.

"A" Form
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO 3rd Australian Division.
Sender's Number
G.545
Day of Month
Aug. 27/18
AAA
Except for dispositions for observation and
local advance and to enable the advance to be
continued within the Corps boundary in
conformity with the advance of the 3rd Corps
3rd Australian Division will arrange for a
maximum number of troops to rest and refit aaa
Artillery under 3rd Aust. Divn. must remain
active and some of it well advanced aaa
Further advance may necessitate passing through
[[?]]d Corps territory aaa The actual battle
front of the Corps should not be extended beyond
the boundary already laid down aaa Acknowledge
[*GOC*]

From Aust.Corps
T A Blamey BBGS

Casualties 1 8/18 - 24 8/18

Nal

AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances - Operations

A. G. Collins Major
for COLONEL,
D.D.M.S., Australian Corps.
Headquarters,
27/8/18.
Copies to:- A.C.C.
B.G., G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM
 28/8/18*]

AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances - Operations

A. G. Collins Major
for COLONEL,
D.D.M.S., Australian Corps.
Headquarters,
27/8/18.
Copies to:- A.C.C.
B.G., G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM
 27/8/18*]