BATTLES AT YPRES AND ARMENTIERES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 5

BATTLES AT YPRES AND ARMENTIERES

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S STORY . FROM THE AISNE TO EANDERS I : : '(Red. November 30, 11.10 p.m.) i London, November 30. Field-Marshal Sir John French, in a dispatch covering the battle at Ypres and Armentieres, describes the transference of the British from the Aisne to Flanders, for the purpose of strenuously supporting the Allied' northern flank, and so outflanking the enemy. The excellent Anglo-French feeling rendered this delicate operation so successful. The dispatch shows that about this time Major-General Sir H. S. llawlinson, with the cavalry, anfl infantry, was operating in support of the Belgian Army and assisting,its withdrawal from Antwerp. Consequently . the . battle-line in 'Flanders was formed by British Forces from the Aisne advancing northward, and Major-General Rawlinson, falling back on the line of Yser. "It ia noteworthy," the Field-Marshal says, "that the position of La Basses throughout defied all attempts at capture, either by the French or the British. Geueral Rawlinson's successful operations in the neighbourhood of Ghent and Antwerp had a great influence on.tho course of the subsequent operations. His forces fought with the utmost gallantry without supports.

Vital and Urgent Problem. -"A question of vital importance arose on October 19. Tie Belgians, after their hard fighting, were exhausted and needed .support to resist a threatened turning movement calculated to lay bare the Channel ports. Thereupon, even at" the risk of having to operate on an extended front elsewhere, I directed General Haig to move the First Army Corps northwards to tho Ypres, so .a# to . avoid such disastrous consequences as being outflanked towards Calais. General Haig's objeot was to advance throughout, for the eventual capture of Bruges, and subsequently, if possible, to drive the enemy tWards Ghent. General Haig advanced, but owing to tho largo and unexpected reinforcements of the enemy arriving and pressing, both the British and .Frohcli, took up a position ion tho outskirts of Ypres. Meanwhile tho remainder of the British line was successfully resisting the enemy's desperp.te attacks with marvellous fighting power and indomitable courage. No more arduous task was ever assighed to British soldiers; nover was a call answered more magnificently. I decided, after consultation with General Jofl're, to hold our lines against the enemy's attempts to outflank us or break through, General Jotfro promising reinforcements,"

The Battle at Gheluvelt. On October 31, at Gheluvelt. General Haig considered that his position was serious. Tho Germans were, suddenly reinforced, and General Haig's corps was facing three army, corps, under

General von der Limling, whose army order, on a prisoner, declared that the Kaiser considered that the breaking through of the' Germans to Ypres was of vital importance to the success of the war. The all-day attack which followed against Sir Douglas Haig was the, most impijrtant and decisive of these operations, except the attack by the Prussian Guards on November 15. The French supports failed to arrive, (vud the heavy attack broke the line of General . Haig's first division; the Royal Scots Fusiliers were cut off and surrounded, and, the Germans shelled the headquarters of the First and Second Divisions, killing six staff officers, and wounding both commanders. General Haig again ordered his army corps to resist at all costs. His first division rallied, but the other division's brigades were forced to yiold time after time, until the first and second division flanks made' combined counterattacks, which were completely successful. ' "We retook Gheluvelt with, a bayonet charge, in whioh the ' Second Woroes-t-ors shone out. Finally, tha Sixth Cavalry Brigade cleared the woods with great dash, killing large numbers. The British line was restored at ten o'clock that night." Sir John French was present with General Haig at the most oritical moment of the whole great battle when the first division were retiring to Houge. The-* division, however, rallied, and recaptured Gheluvelt. "This rally at such a time," the dispatch continues, "was fraught with momentous conseqvences. " If; one unit can be singled out for especial praise it is the' Worcester.

Cavalry Saved by Counter-attach. "In the meantime the enemy in the centre was heavily pressing the Third Division and the cavalry corps. As the position of tho cavalry at Saint Yves fras endangered, a counter-attack was planned by Colonel A. G. Hunter Weston, of the 11th Infantry Brigade, and Colonel H. A. Anloy who successfully beat the Germans, with great loss. The staunchness of the Royal Eancasters and' the Lancashire Fusiliers was commendable. They we:e well handled by Lieutenant-Colonel Butler." The Field-Marshal brings under special notico tho excellent, , work of Genoral Poulteney and his staff, the divisional regimental leaders, and the men, in holding a front of very undue length with invariable success, and with' courage, tenacity, and cheerfulness.

Rout of tha Prussian Cuards. 1 Referring to the attack of the Prussian Guard, which caine from Arras with great speed and secrecy, documents found proved that tho guard received the. Emperor's special command to break through whore- their comrades had failed. They were repulsed with onorraous loss. General Haig, assisted by the Divisional Brigado Commanders, held the lino with, marvellous courage. "Words fail me," wrote Sir John French, "to expross my admiration for the incalculable sorvices they, rendered. Tho first corps was brilliantly supported by General B.vng'-s cavalry." The names of Brigadier-General E. S. Bnlfin and Brigadier-General Kavanagh are nartioularly mentionod, also Brigadiers iFitzclarence and Cavan. Tho dispatch concludes: "Wo aro now possibly, at tha. test stages of tha

battle of Ypres and Armentieres. I regret the heavy casualties, but at least thrice as many, of tho enemy are hors de combat." .