In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 87, 15 April 1915, Page 5

In the West.

NEWS OF NEUVE CHAPELLE SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. Uniwp Prem Association. (Received 8,15 a.m.) ! London, April 14. Sir John French reports: The situations remained unchanged throughout the week. On Friday morning we Successfully exploded a mine in the vicinity of Armentieres, with the result that the loopholed walls of a house held by the enemy were destroyed, twenty-nine German casualties being counted. The enemy replied by bombarding our positions but not inflicting any damage. Early on Wednesday the Germans exploded two mines on our right, but failed to damage our trenches. A similarly harmless explosion occurred on our left on Friday evening. Sir John French's report regarding the fight at Neuve Chapelle reveals that one object was to secure positions eastward of the village as far as possible, but dwing to the delay after the capture of the village, due to the cutting of telephones and the failure to carefully carry out Sir Douglas Haig's instructions, a further advance was frustrated. The casualties for the three days were: 572 officers, 12,239 men. At about the end of February many vital considerations induced him to believe that a vigorous Bri- ■ tish offensive should be carried out at the earliest possible moment. Ho formed this opinion because of the general aspect of "the Allied situation and the necessity of assisting the Russians by holding as many of the enemy on the western front as possible. The weightiest consideration was the need of fostering an offensive, spirit in our troops after their experiences of the severe winter in the trenches. The object of the main attack was to capture Neuve Chapelle and the establishment of our line as far eastward of that place as possible. Sir Douglas Haig, with the first army, was entrusted with the operations. The Germans occupied a strong position at a triangle of roads just north of the village. Sir John French, describing the earlier stages of the fight, says the second army under Smith-Dorrein was instructed to support Sir Douglas Haig. The battle was opened at 7.30 in. the morning of March 10th by a powerful bombardment, which was effective except on the extreme northern portion of the front. Half an hour later the twenty-third and twen-ty-fifth brigades of the eighth division assaulted the German trenches northwest of tho village. The Indian and Garhwal brigade simultaneously assaulted and carried the enemy's trent ches in front, where tne wire entanglements were , almost entirely swept away by our shrapnel. The twentythird brigade was held up, however, by insufficiently cut entanglements. Our artlliery resumed at eight o'clock. and the infantry advance continued, while the twenty-fifth brigade and Gathwals got a footing in the village. Sir John French st'ates that the operations were chiefly remarkable for the enemy's violent counter-attacks,

and the ease with which we repulsed them. As our object was attained, he ordered the suspension of the offensive* There were 190 officers and 2337 men killed, 359 officers and 8176 men wounded ,and twenty-three officers and 1728 men missing. The enemy left several thousand dead on the field, and removed twelve thousand wounded. We captured thirty officers, and 1657 men. Sir John French expressed to Sir Douglas Haig his fervent appreciation of the magnificent gallantry and tenacious courage of all ranks. The work of the flying corps was of the greatest value in raids, most objectives being attacked from an altitude of a hundred feet, in one instance from fifty feet. All gaps caused by tta fighting, between March 10th and loth were filled within a few days. Sir John French continues: The enemy's fire cut our telephonic communication, and with the holding up of the twenty-third brigade, forced the other forces out of their proper direction. This required adjustment, and in General French's opinion this delay would not have occurred had Sir Douglas Haig's clearly expressed or'der been better observed, and the difficulties earlier overcome if the general commanding the fourth corps been able to bring up reserves more speedily. We advanced |ater in the day at Richebourg and Saint Vaast Pietre Mill and consolidated our positions gained on March 11th. The Indians essayed a further advance, but owing to the weather conditions we were unable to aerially direct the artillery. As the troops were pressing forward and he was unable to stop our artillery fire, he had to withdraw the infantry.

Continuing his report, Sir John French says: The twenty-third brigade was unable to progress owing to the entanglements, and there were heavy losess, especially in the Middlesex and Scottish Rifles. . The advance on the 25th, however, turned the enemy's southern flank, which was harrassing the twenty-third, and enabled the latter to get through and take possession of the village. All the roads northwards and southwards are in our hands. During the fight our artillery completely cut off the village from the surrounding country, and prevented with a curtain of shrapnel any enemy reinforcing. Considerable delay occurred after the capture of the village, as the infantry was greatly disorganised by the violent nature of the attack. A passage through the enemy's trenches and the buildings of the village was necessary to get units together before pushing on.* The use of the deadly rifle machine gun renders heavy casualties unavoidable. The power of the defence conferred by modern weapons was the main cause of the long duration of the present-day battles, which were only shortened by the most efficient and powerful artillery. Sir John French commends the Prince of Wales' work as a staff officer. A BRITISH OFFICER'S TOUR FRENCH TROOPS FULL OF CONFIDENCE. TIMKS AND SYDNEY SUN SeUVIOK. (Keceived 8.0 a.m.) London, April 14. A British officer who was with the French troops and toured Thann and St. Mihiel states: On the German side of the frontier the main roads are splendid military high-ways, having been built by the Germans with a view to the transport of their heaviest guns. The villages are too far from the fighting line to allow of billeting,

and encampments arc constructed in the woods, where the roads are oxposed to view. The enemy trench is planted with trees, the branches of which screen the heaviest guns, which had been dragged up the mountains and cunningly established. The j French can now shell the railways, factories, and cantonments used by the Germans in the valley. The , troops are full of confidence, and know J they have got the upper hand. The , snows have disappeared, except on the highest peaks, and the hardships of the winter arc past. It is sale to predict that the Germans will never I again obtain the ascendancy which was lost when the conditions were , entirely in their favour. In Gerbe- • viller only five hundred remain of the original two thousand inhabitants. Men, women, and children were massacred in cold blood, and every house was burnt when the Germans were forced to retreat. Luneville suffered little damage, probably because it harboured so many German spies. In the sector—Momeny-Pontamussen-St. Mihiel—the French artillery obtained remarkable superiority, the German trenches being clearly seen twelve hundred yards below. There is no sign , of life anywhere, because the French J artillery are forbidden all movement ! Iby day. The Germans' salient at St. ; Mihiel is one of the most remarkable features of the whole front. Thenposition is very strong, their artillery |being, specially favoured by wooded heights on either side of the river. THE WEEK'S CASUALTIES. (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, April 14. The week's casualties covering Xeuve Chapelle and Saint Eloi were 2638 killed, and 5488 wounded and missing. REPORTS FROM "EYE-WITNESS." Times and Syonet Run S™viorc. London, April 14. "Eye-witness" at headquarters says that both German officers and men openly expressed uneasiness at the marked change in the general demeanour of the German troops soon after Christmas. T7p till then they were absolutely confident and entirely cheerful, but latterly the soldiers had told French civilians that they recognised they were overpowered by the masses the English were going to put in the field. They had tried to persuade the French civilians that the English were equally bent on ruining France and grabbing everything for themselves.

An attempt to obtain a census for the purposes of the evacuation of Belgium caused a riot at Roubaix, where the women, indignant at the shortage of bread, attacked the bakers' shops. The German Governor informed the mayor that he intended to call out the troops,' but the latter advised him that a hundred thousand Germans were no match for the women of Roubaix, who were skilled in bottle-throwing. "Eye-witness' cites several official and unofficial instances by which the Germaus' campaign of hate against Britain is being maintained.