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balloons between Chatillon-Sous-les-Cotes and Pont-sur-Seille. When so ordered offensive missions against ground troops were to be carried out with small bombs and machine guns in combination with the Day Bombardment Group in or to the east of this area. The First Pursuit Group was to establish strong low patrol from Chatillon-Sous-les-Cotes, inclusive, to Melzicourt, inclusive, on the Aisne River, in order to stop hostile reconnaissance and enemy patrols.

Our bombardment was to hinder the arrival of enemy troops and supplies in the sector to the attacked or destroy enemy aviation on its airdromes and parts, but as absolute secrecy had to be observed no heavy concentration [[crossed out]] of bombardment [[/crossed out]] was to be allowed. Our [[inserted]] total [[/inserted]] force was limited to the First American Day Bombing Group of three squadrons, and two French night bombing groups. The former [[crossed out]] were [[/crossed out]] [[penciled correction]] was [[/penciled correction]] to be employed against the principal railroad centers, such as Longuyon, Stenay, Montmedy, Carignan, Mouzon, Vouziers, Lumes, and troop concentrations. The latter [[crossed out]] was [[/crossed out]] [[penciled correction]] were [[/penciled correction]] to attack the railway stations at Metz, Conflans, Longuyon, Montemedy, and airdromes and tracks such as Malmy and Mouzomme, and all large concentrations of troops.

The Independent Royal Air Force were [[inserted]] requested [[/inserted]] to employ their night bombardment against strategical points and railway centers, such as Metz, Sablon, Thionville and Auden la Roman.  These attacks were to take place on teh night before the day of the attack, and were thereafter to be continued against Metz and its surrounding cities, in order to draw the attention of the enemy in that direction.

The general plan to be followed from the beginning of the artillery preparation and during the first phases of the attack was the destruction of hostile air service at all altitudes, attack