The extreme importance attached by the Germans to the positions
captured from the north of Pozieres, and the fury of their counter- attacks, are sufficiently explained by the following Order of the Day, issued by General Below, copies of which were found on prisoners taken on Sunday last :-
" It is necessary at whatever price that we re-enter into possession of the plateau of Pozieres, which, if it remains in the hands of the British, would give them a valuable advantage which it is necessary to snatch from them without delay. The attacks will be conducted by successive waves, with eighty metres between each line. The troops which first got a footing on the plateau must maintain themselves there while waiting for the necessary reinforcements, whatever be the losses suffered. Any officer or man of the detachment who does not resist oven to the dti.th on the ground gained will be immediately court-martialled."
No fewer than nine attacks were launched against these positions on Monday and Tuesday, eight of which were beaten off with heavy losses. In the last the Germans succeeded in winning back fifty yards of one trends..
