 The Battle of the Sambre , which was planned to begin on 4 November , was the next phase of the Allied advance . The battle was to consist of a series of engagements mounted by the British First , Third and Fourth Armies across a 30 @-@ mile ( 48 km ) front , extending from <unk> to Valenciennes , that were conceptualised to cut off the German line of retreat from the French Army front . IV Corps , with the New Zealand Division and the 37th Division , was to surround Le Quesnoy and its garrison of over 1 @,@ 500 soldiers . The 37th Division was on the southern flank of the New Zealand Division while to its north , 62nd Division , of VI Corps , moved south to shorten the New Zealand front . The New Zealand Division was to extend the front line to and around Le Quesnoy and into the Mormal Forest . 
