Arras heavily bombarded. French positions hold against heavy attacks. French positions near Vimy attacked, using grenades for the first time. German defence results in nearly French casualties for minimal gain. First German trench mortar units formed, with six light mortars per pioneer company.
Deep mud delays any possible French advance; French Tenth Army attack postponed as a result. Ten battalions of French Chasseurs Alpins capture yards of trenches at La Targette, from Bavarian troops after a two hour artillery preparation. Safe behind the lines, wounded soldiers rest in the hospital garden in Croisilles. Troops attending the burial of their company commander in the church cemetery at Douchy les Ayette. Each village had a sentry to check papers and direct traffic; this soldier was guarding Hendecourt.
Watchtower built into a tree at Ficheux; on level terrain such positions were invaluable for the view they gave of French positions. Like mail from home, religion played an important part in the soldiers life β a padre preaches to his congregation in a cave, safe from enemy shelling. Prince Leopold of Bavaria, with the commander of 3 Bavarian Armeekorps visits the troops at the front.
Keeping the front provisioned required thousands of horses, wagons and men: a provisions column moving to the front. Some trenches taken a month earlier by the French, on Notre Dame de Lorette ridge and at Carency, are re-taken. French positions at Bellacourt, southwest of Arras, attacked, but with no major result. French attack on positions at Ecurie, north of Arras, is successful, and front line is taken.
Newly taken positions near Notre Dame de Lorette lost to French counter-attack. Control of Notre Dame Ridge lost to French, who repulse counter-attack. Preliminary French bombardment of positions around Arras commences with an offensive expected. French bombardment around Arras intensifies, using guns and 92 mortars firing , shells. French artillery concentrates on specific targets to the north of Arras but, without highground observation, are unsure of effect on German positions.
