 The situation near the Blauwepoortbeek worsened , when German troops were seen assembling near <unk> Farm , close to the Warneton road . A British SOS barrage fell on the 12th Australian Brigade , which was inadvertently digging @-@ in 250 yards ( 230 m ) beyond its objective . The Australians stopped the German counter @-@ attack with small @-@ arms fire but many survivors began to withdraw spontaneously , until they stopped in relative safety on the ridge . As darkness fell and being under the impression that all the Australians had retired , New Zealand artillery observers called for the barrage to be brought closer to the observation line , when they feared a German counter @-@ attack . The bombardment fell on the rest of the Australians , who withdrew with many casualties , leaving the southern part of the Oosttaverne line unoccupied , as well as the gap around the Blauwepoortbeek . An SOS barrage on the IX Corps front stopped a German counter @-@ attack from the <unk> valley but many shells fell short , precipitating another informal withdrawal . Rumour led to the barrage being moved closer to the observation line , which added to British casualties until 10 : 00 p.m. , when the infantry managed to get the artillery stopped and were then able to re @-@ occupy the positions . Operations to re @-@ take the Oosttaverne line in the II Anzac Corps area started at 3 : 00 a.m. on 8 June . 
