THE WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 February 1915, Page 2

THE WAR.

{.EIiECIBIO TELBOUAPH —COFYBIOHT 1 I.FMI I'llliSS ASSOCIATION.I i>lll JOHN FRENCH'S 81-WEEKLY REPORT. Sir John French's despatch, dated 2nd February, alludes vo the encouragement the troops received from the King's visit. In consequence of heavy lighting in November, the Franco-Brit-ish forces, were somewhat mixed up, entailing difficulties of supply, but by t"he end of the month he was able to concentrate the army and by holding a shorter line established effective reserves.

Among a number of successful minor engagements part of the Fourteenth Army Corps on 23rd November captured 800 yards of the Indian renches. The commander of the Meerut Division organised a powerful night counter-attack and re-established the line by daybreak There were many casualties but the enemy suffered more heavily. The Meeruts capture 100 prisoners, three aiachine guns and two mortars. Early in December certain indications induced the French commanders and myself to believe that the enemy had withdrawn considerable forces from the western theatre and arrangements were made with the 'Eighth French Army Corps to commence an attack on the 14th. The Royal Soots in face oi terrible machine-gun fire and rifle fire by a great dash carried £he German trenches on the west edge- of Petit Boi.s capturing two machine guns. The Gordons with great gallantry advanced on Maedelskeed spur and forced the enemy to evacuate the front trench, but losing heavily were obliged to fall back in the evening. to thsii original positions. As the ThirtySecond French division on the left were unable to progress, the further advance »of the British infantry at Wytschaate was impracticable. The possession ol the western edge of Petit Bois was retained though the ground was devoid of cover and so water-logge'd that tinmen sank deep in the mud. The casualties for the day were 17 officers and iO7 of other ranks. The losses of the enemy were considerably larger. in front of the Gordons a patrol count ad 100 dead in one trench. The outstanding feature was the fighting at Givenchy where the commander of the Indians decided to take advantage of what appeared to be n favourable opportunity an<J founded attacks on the 18th and 19th December. The attack of the Meerut Division on the left in the morning of the 19th was made with ©very determination for initial success but they were driv-" en Uack by a German counter-attack. The attack of tho Lahore Division was completely successful. They cap tured two lines of trendies with little loss. Before ■ daylight they were filled with as many men as they could hold, hurt their front was restricted and communication with the rear was impossible. After daybreak the position was found practically untenable, liotli flanks supporting attack which were late in starting and conducted iu daylight but failed, though attempted with the greatest gallantry and resolution. Lieut-Colonel Konaldson held on until when all tho captured trenches were evacuated. The Germans at daybreak on the -'Oth attacked the whole Indian front, particularly ot Givenchy and by 10 o'clock had success, driving back tho

•Sirhind brigade and capturing a considera'Me part of Givoiichy.. But tho Fffty-Seventh Rifles and the Ninth

IJhopals north of the Canal and f .he Connaught Rangers on the south south stood firm. Two jegiments of Sikhs were sent to reinforce and General Hriinker with' the Firet Mancliasters, the Fourth .Suffolks and two battalions of French Territorials' was order-

ft! to launch a vigorous counter-attack

roin Pontfixe through Givencliy and •etakc the lost trenches by means ol

a flank attaok. By 5 o'clock the gallant attack of the First Manchester* j-ecaptuivd Givenehy and the Germans only held our trenches north of the village. General MacHean with the .Seeundeialnigh Brgiade and a. battalion of the Kight Gurkhas and the FortySeventh .Sikhs sent supports to General Biunker. There was some delay but the force attacked at 1 o'clock in the

morning. Detachmeuts under LieutC'olonel Leinprier reached tEe enemy's trenches but were driven out by enfilade fire and their gallant commander was killed. General Mcßean's mam attack con-

tinued till 4.30 but failed. The position on the 20th was precarious particularly that oT'tho Seaforth, whose flanks were expased by the retirement of the Sirhinds early Ri the afternoon.. General Haig therefore (ordered more of the First Division *lo support tlie Indians. They tooK over General James Willoock's command on tho 22nd and French troops also came w the Indians' assistance. The first brigade reached Givenohy via Poiitefixc On the 21st the Third Brigade re-ocou-pied the trenches ovacuatetl by the Sirhinds.

General Haigh directed the First Brigade to attack from the north-wwster-Iy direction and the Third Brigade from i'ostubert in the north-easterly with tho object of capturing the German trenches 400 yards east ot our positions. The First Brigade <established itself east of Givenohy, the Third concentrated at Letouret, but the Indian trenches were so destroyed that it was impossible to re-occupy them. Throughoiff the day the Indians rendered all assistance and support possible in view of their exhausted condition. In the evening of the 22nd the position was practically re-established and the Gor-

man activities ceased on the 23rd. The French and Indians fought with the utmost steadiness and gallantry whenever called upon.

The abnormal snow and floods precluded active operations for the first tlireo'weeks in January.

A FAVOURABLE DAY. Paris, February 17. Official—-Wβ had 'a favourable day along tho whole front. The British mastered numbers of trenches south of Ypres. where there has been serious fighting for several days. We captured three kilometres or trenches at Porthes-Beausejour taking prieoner several hundred. Wβ carried sove.al blockhouses north-west of Pont-amojs-aen.