BE F ). ▁The ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Som me ▁( 1 ▁July ▁– ▁ 1 8 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 6 ) ▁had ▁caused ▁about ▁ ▁cas ual ties ▁and ▁the ▁Second ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁A is ne ▁( 1 6 ▁April ▁– ▁ 9 ▁May ▁ 1 9 1 7 ), ▁the ▁main ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁N iv elle ▁Off ensive ▁cost ▁ ▁The ▁Third ▁Battle ▁of ▁Y pres ▁( 3 1 ▁July ▁– ▁ 1 0 ▁November ) ▁caused ▁ ▁cas ual ties . ▁ ▁Cas ual ties ▁in ▁the ▁Third ▁Battle ▁of ▁Y pres ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁average ▁number ▁of ▁men ▁in ▁an ▁inf antry ▁batt alion ▁falling ▁from ▁ ▁men ▁and ▁in ▁October , ▁con g estion ▁on ▁the ▁railway ▁lines ▁behind ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Army ▁led ▁to ▁more ▁short ages . ▁The ▁ 4 th ▁Army ▁had ▁a ▁r ation ▁strength ▁of ▁ ▁and ▁ ▁which ▁needed ▁ ▁of ▁ ▁each ▁just ▁for ▁daily ▁maintenance ▁but ▁the ▁change ▁to ▁a ▁defence ▁based ▁on ▁fire power , ▁using ▁the ▁extra ▁weapons ▁and ▁m un itions ▁produced ▁by ▁the ▁H inden burg ▁Program me , ▁needed ▁more ▁trains ▁to ▁carry ▁am mun ition ▁to ▁the ▁front . ▁On ▁ 2 8 ▁July , ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Army ▁fired ▁ ▁trains ' ▁worth ▁of ▁am mun ition , ▁exceed ing ▁the ▁record ▁ ▁on ▁the ▁Som me . ▁On ▁ 9 ▁October , ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Army ▁was ▁firing ▁ ▁worth ▁per ▁day , ▁ ▁shell s