2. Heavy Artillery.
(a) In view of the nature of the enemy's defences, the fire of the majority of the heavy howitzers, employed for purposes other than counter-battery work, will be used during the barrage to engage special strong points or localities.
(b) Throughout the advance beyond the green line enemy centres of resistance will be kept under fire until such time as the progress of the Infantry renders this inadvisable. A map will be issued to show the times at which heavy artillery fire will cease on zones and special localities.
(c) At least two-thirds of the available Heavy Artillery will be employed for counter-battery purposes.
Heavy concentrations of fire will be directed on the different groups of enemy artillery.
3. G.O.C., R.A., will prepare plans for dealing with a heavy development of hostile fire on zero night. He will also prepare a plan to deal with any attempt at a deliberate gas bombardment of the Villers-Bretonneux area on zero night.
Battle Instructions No. 7
PROGRAMME OF ACTION
1. Capture of First Objective.
(a) Forming-up troops detailed to the capture of the first objective will be deployed on the Forming-up Line one hour before zero hour.
(b) Artillery Programme.
(i) The field artillery 18-pdr. barrage will open at zero 200 yards in advance of the forming-up line. At zero plus three minutes the barrage will commence to advance; lifts will be 100 yards at 2-minute intervals. There will be two lifts at this rate.
The rate will then decrease to lifts of 100 yards every 3 minutes. There will be eight lifts at this rate.
From the eleventh lift inclusive until the green line is reached lifts will be of 100 yards each at 4-minute intervals.
(ii) The 4.5" Howitzer barrage will move 200 yards in advance of the 18-pdr. barrage.
(iii) A protective barrage will be maintained in front of the green line until zero plus four hours. During this period approximately fifty per cent. (50%) of the guns remaining in the barrage will be employed in a protective line barrage; the remainder will be employed to search and sweep deeply into the enemy's position. At zero plus four hours all barrage fire will cease.
Barrage Maps will be issued later.
2. Capture of Second and Third Objectives.
(a) Assembly.—5th and 4th Australian Divisions will select and mark positions for the assembly of their troops.