[Illustration]
The German positions of Foureaux Wood, Hill 154 and Morval were the
objectives of the attack.
For the first time tanks accompanied the storming waves, giving the
enemy an unpleasant surprise, which contributed largely to the victory.
In the centre, the tanks entered Flers before noon; the troops advanced
beyond the village and established themselves. On the left, Foureaux
Wood, bristling with strong-points and redoubts, and on the right, Hill
154 were carried, and the Morval--Lesbœufs--Gueudecourt line reached.
In consequence of this brilliant success of the British right, the
attack was extended on the left; the tanks entered Martinpuich and
Courcelette. In a single day the British advanced 2 km. along a 10 km.
front, and captured 4,000 prisoners.
The enemy threw two more divisions into the battle, and fiercely
counter-attacked the salient formed by the French lines at the
Bapaume-Péronne road. After getting a footing in Bouchavesnes on
September 20, they were driven out at the point of the bayonet.