The enemy's masses, attacking with great determination, over- whelmed our
outpost lines by sheer weight of numbers. They were mown down in thousands by our rifles and machine-guns, and our shellfire from batteries firing at point-blank range. But new divisions were continually pushed forward through the shattered formations, with a complete disregard of the losses, until at some points the enemy penetrated into our main positions. The northern part of our line held firm. The 3rd Division at Croisilles and the 51st Division on the Bapaume road specially distinguished themselves by repulsing incessant attacks. But further south we were less fortunate. The line was badly dented north and south of Epeliy, in the region where the Germans penetrated furthest in their counter-attack from Cambrai on November 30th. The 24th Division put up a magnificent fight at Le Verguier, between Epehy and St. Quentin, but all along the line our men were hopelessly outnumbered and could not resist indefinitely.
