In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 40, 18 February 1915, Page 5

In the West

Sir John French's Report

81-WEEKLY INSTALMENT.

The Press Bureau continues the publication of Sir. John French's first bi-weekly report as follows: , Since Xovember 150 operations have been liihiteilby the weather conditions. The recent developments of armaments and the latest methods of warfare have imposed'great drawbacks on a vigorous winter campaign. The mists anil fogs meant unnecessary waste of long range artillery ammunition and also militated against aircraft reconnaissance, but many aerial combats have been fought and raids carried out. The enemy's detainments have been harassed, petrol depots bombed, and the enemy's aircraft and material destroyed. The preseent accuracy of range of quickliring rifles and machine-guns requires fire-swept zones to be crossed rapidly. This is impossible over ground kneedeep in i mud, without entailing unnecessary loss. At the Beginning of December

reconnaisance showed that much of the enemy's artillery had been withdrawn, but there was no great diminution in efficiency. Although there was almost continuous artillery and rifle fire there were comparatively few operations calling for special comment. The men were subjected to the severest trials, frost and snow with rain, and were compelled to stand waist deep in the trenches for many hours in bitterly cold water, within two hundred yards of a viligant enemy. Unfortunately circumstances prevent any account of many splendid instances of courage and endurance in face of unparalleled hardship reaching the public.

The Territorials have more than justified the most sanguine hopes.

Reinforcement's have arrived with remarkable promptitude and rapidity. The despatch alludes to the encouragement the troops received at the King's visit. It states that in consequence of the heavy fighting in November the Franco-British forces were somewhat mixed up, entailing difficulties of supply, but by the end of the month they were able to concentrate the army by holding a shorter line, and they established effective reserves. Among a number of successful minor engagements on the part of the Fourteenth Army Corps was that of November 26th, when they captured eight hundred yards of the Indian trenches. The' commander of the Meerut division organised a powerful night counter-attack and re-established his line at daybreak. There were many casualties, but the enemy suffered more heavily. The Meeruts captured a hundred prisoners, three machineguns, and two mortars. I Early in December certain indica-

tions 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 l<Yam-h Army Corps to commence an attack on the Mtb. The Royal Scots had to lace a terrible machine-gun and j rifle fire, but with great dash they carried the German trendies on the west edge of the Petit Hois, capturing two machine-guns.

1 The Cordons with Creat Callantry ! I ....

advanced to the .Maedelskeed spur, and forced the enemy to evacuate tlie front ,trench, hut, losing heavily, were obliged to fall hack in the evening to their original positions.

I As the captain of the Thirty-second French on the left was unable 'to progress, the further advance - of British infantry at Wytschaate was impracticable. Possession of the westjern edge of Petit Bois was retained, though the ground was devoid of cover and so waterlogged that the men sank deep in the mud. The casualties for j the day were seventeen officers and 407 of other ranks, the losses of the enemy being considerably larger. In .front of the Gordons the patrol counted a hundred dead in one trench.

The outstanding feature of the fighting at Civenchy

was where the Commander of the Indians decided to take advantage of what appeared to be a favorable opportunity, and launched attacks on the 18th and 19th December. An_ attack by the Meerut division on the left, on the morning of the 19th, was made against the enemy with determination and initial success, but the troops were driven back by a German counter-at-tack. The attack by the Lahore division was completely successful. They captured two lines of trenches with little loss. Before daylight they filled the trenches with as many men as they would hold, hut the front having restricted communication with the rear, it was impossible after daybreak to hold the position, which was found to be practically untenable. Both flanks made supporting attacks, which, while late in starting, were conducted in daylight. They failed, though the attempts were characterised by the greatest gallantry and resolution. Lieutenant-Colonel Ronaldson held on until dusk, when all the captured trenches were evacuated. \

The Germans at daybreak on the 20th

attacked the whole Indian front, particularly at Givenchy, and by 10 o'clock succeeded in driving back the Serhind brigade, capturing a considerable part of Givenchy, but the 52nd Rifles and the 9th Shopsals on the" north of. the Canal, with the Connaught Rangers on the south, stood firm. Two regiments of Sikhs were sent to reinforce Gen. Brunker. The Ist Manchesters,4th Suffolks, and two battalions of French Territorials were ordered to launch a vigorous counter-attack from Point Fixe, through Givenchy, and retake the lost trenches by means of a flank attack. By 5 o'clock after a gallant attack, the Ist Manchesters recaptured Givenchy. The Germans only held our trenches north of the village. General Maeßean, with the Seciinderabab Brigade, a battalion of the Bth Ghurkas, and 47th Sikhs, sent supports to General Brunker after some delay, but the force attackex] at 1 o'clock in the morning. Detachments ■under Lieutenant-Colonel Lempriere reached the enemy's trenches, hut were driven out by enfilade fire, the gallant commander being killed. Macßean's main attack was continued till 4.30) but failed, the

Position on the 20th being precarious, particularly that of the Seaforths, wiiose flanks were exposed by the retirement of the Serhinds early in the afternoon. General Haig, therefore, ordered the First Division to move in support of the Indians, and took over Sir James Willcocks' command. On the 22nd the French troops also came to the Indians' assistance. The First Brigade reached Giveuchy via Pont Fixe. On the 21st the Third Brigade! re-occupied the trenches evacuatied by the Senhinds. General Haig directed the First Brigade to attack in a north-westerly direction, and the Third Brigade from Festubert, north-easter-ly, with the object of capturing the German trenches -IUO yards east of our own position. The First Brigade establisiied itself east of Givenchy, while the Third concentrated at Letouret, but the Indian trenches were so destroyed that it was impossible to reoccupy them. Throughout the day the Indians rendered all the assistance and support possible in view of their exhausted condition. On the evening of the 22nd, the position was practically re-established, and German activities ceased on the 23rd. The French and Indians fought with the utmost steadiness and gallantry whenever called upon. Abnormal snow and Hoods precluded active operations for the first three weeks in January.

indomitable Pluck of Coldstreams and

Irish Guards.

(Received 8.15 a.m. London, February 17

Sir John French comments in the despatch upon the Second Coldstreams' •aid Irish Guards' indomitable pluck in storming two sets of barricades and capturing three trenches, in winch

they killed and took prisoner many of the enemy.* On February Ist Guingky, of the Flying Corps, covered 100,000 miles, though the weather was uniformally had,only thirteen (lays' reconnaissances not being affected. The principle of attacking hostile aircraft on every opportunity was continued, and resulted in the German machines immediately retreating whenever chased. The army corps commanders were loud in their praises of the Territorials, who, they say, are fast approaching, if they have not already reached, the standard of efficiency of the regular infantry. The Artists' and Actors' Training Corps. is a great success, turning out 100 officers monthly. The training includes forty-eight hours on a tour of the trenches and visiting observation posts. On the morning of the 25th a strong artillery attack developed south of Bethune canal. The British line near the canal was a pronounced salient, which the Scots' Guards and Coldstreams were holding. The trenches at the salient were quickly blown in, forcing a retirement of the partiallyprepared second line, which was strengthened by the construction of a keep half-way between the canal and the main La Basse-Bethune road. The London Scottish were sent up

to support the counter-attacks organised at the north and south of the canal, resulting in the Germans being driven back. Our First Guards' Brigade, which had suffered severely, were sent as reserves. Meanwhile, an equ-ally-severe attack was taking place at Givenchy, after a heavy bombardment with high-explosive shells. Despite our artillery being hampered by constant interruption of telephonic communication between the observers and the batteries, their fire forced the Germans to crowd to the north-east corner of the village, and they finally broke through the centre of the village to the keep, and the Germans lost heavily. Well-timed local counter-at-tacks by the Welsh reserves were completely successful, and after about an hour's street fighting all the Germans at Givenchy were captured or killed, and the original line re-estab-lished.

Part of the fourteenth German Army Corps on the 29th, after severe shelling, made a violent attack, scaling the ladders upon the keep. The Sussex Regiment within inflicted serious losses on the Germans, who left 200 on the field.

The Troops had been subjected to the

Severest Trial

it was possible to impose upon a body of men, with desperate fighting. The troops have been palled on to face a vigorous, winter campaign*- though everything that science and medicine suggested has been employed to mitigate the hardships and suffering,/which Ts very great; nevertheless, they now present a soldierlike and splendid, though war-worn, appearance, with spirits high and confident, and health in excellent condition. The British battalions from India are particularly fine. Princess Patricia's Canadians are a magnificent set of men, who do excellent work in the trenches. Sir John French commends the Royal Engineers' medical corps, who are treating 11,000 daily on the lines of communication. Only 500 cases of enteric have occurred since the commencement.

Sir John French concludes: I gratefully acknowledge the help and support of Foeh Durbal Maudhuy.