At about eight there was a pause, and it seemed as if the attack was abandoned, but it began again at nine with greater violence.

The shell fire was terrific.

Every kind of shell, from the 45-pounder of the 4.7 in.

howitzer down to the 1-1/2-pounder of the automatic, was hurled against those little walls, while shrapnel burst almost incessantly overhead.
It is significant for our own use of artillery that not a single man 'was killed by shells, though the air buzzed with them.

The loose stone walls were cover enough.