Editing Battle of Passchendaele (section)

====Battle of Polygon Wood====

{{Main|Battle of Polygon Wood}}

[[File:Australian infantry small box respirators Ypres 1917.jpg|thumb|upright|{{centre|Australian infantry with [[small box respirator]] gas masks, Ypres, September 1917}}]]
The Second Army altered its Corps frontages soon after the attack of 20 September, for the next effort {{nowrap|(26 September – 3 October)}} so that each attacking division could be concentrated on a {{cvt|1000|yd}} front. Roads and light railways were extended to the new front line, to allow artillery and ammunition to be moved forward. The artillery of [[VIII Corps (United Kingdom)|VIII Corps]] and [[IX Corps (United Kingdom)|IX Corps]] on the southern flank, simulated preparations for attacks on Zandvoorde and Warneton. At {{nowrap|5.50&nbsp;a.m.}} on 26 September, five layers of barrage fired by British artillery and machine-guns began. Dust and smoke thickened the morning mist and the infantry advanced using compass bearings.{{sfn|Edmonds|1991|p=284}} Each of the three German ground-holding divisions attacked on 26 September had an {{lang|de|Eingreif}} division in support, twice the ratio of 20 September. No ground captured by the British was lost and German counter-attacks managed only to reach ground to which survivors of the front-line divisions had retired.{{sfn|Edmonds|1991|p=293}}