ed. The British pressed on, and after what was only a skirmish, re-y

captured the two dominating hills. Mediana was still No-Man’s-Land,

with the difference that it was now dominated by the British. So Was

the plain north of it.

The Fascist counter-attack began immediately. For three days and nights, the British Battalion —— and the Brigade to reinforce which it had come-—Were subjected to continuous artillery and aerial attacks. An idea of the intensity of the latter may be gauged from__the fact that on one day alone there Were no fewer than seven bombing and straffing attacks. Fortunately, the Battalion was now well-experienced in fort- ification work. A good defence-system was constructed, and as a result casualties were very slight, compared with the intensity of the fighting.

Twice, the Fascists attempted night—attacks but were repulsed. The- re was much skirmishing between the outp-osts in the broken ground between the Republican and the Fascist positions. At times, rival out- posts were only forty yards apart, and there were several encounters in which grenades were used.

There were few thrills except those night-encounters. The remaind- er of the days and nights was just one long grind. Two full Battalions would have had enough work in this sector; our depleted Battalion had to cover it all. There was no rest. Always tense watchfulness, with O’Daire, Ollerenshaw and Aughverinos always on the move, checking up our flanks, arranging how quickest to shift our forces to a threatened point. The repeated air-raids racked men’s nerves. At night added to

the bursting bombs were terrific electric storms which, every few mi»nu-

tes, illuminated the country for miles all around. Attack and counter- attack followed in almost monotonous succession. In the intervals we looked behind and saw Belchite still holding out.

After some days, the Fascist counter-attack eased off. When Bel- chite fell into Republican hands, the main theatre of war shifted else- where. The British Battalion rejoined the Brigade, now also going into reserve positions, and had the gratification of hearing from Divisional- General Walter that “in these operations the British Battalion fully ju- stified its role and maintained the traditions of worthy —— and often out- standing—— effort which it had established in Spain”.

H. M. A.

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