 The formidable artillery bombardment began at daybreak, with gas shells fired mainly against the Romanian divisions.The Central Powers attacked with 4 German and 1 Austro-Hungarian divisions, against the Romanian 9th, 10th and 13th and Russian 14th and 103rd Divisions.The main blow was directed east of Mărășești, and the Germans advanced in the middle of the Romanian position, towards the Siret Valley, only to be pushed back with heavy losses by a converging counterattack.