SIR JOHN FRENCH’S REPORT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 142, 18 February 1915, Page 5

SIR JOHN FRENCH’S REPORT.

BRITISH PROGRESS. Press Association —Copyright. (Reed. 1.40 pan.) LONDON, Feb 16. The Press Bureau publishes Sir John French’s first big weekly report, which states that the British progressed in the La Bassee district, and a valuable point was secured on the 13th without less ,but there was conclusive evidence that the enemy's losses in recent fighting were severe. The enemy on the 14th gained a few trenches in the Ypres district, but we counter-at-tacked, and recovered some. There is increasing intensity of artillery duels along the remainder of the front, wherein we showed a marked superiority* We greatly damaged the enemy’s defences, and our aircraft, despite .bad weather, blew up the enemy's ammunition waggons neaV La Lessee, (Reed 8.45 a.rn.) LONDON, Ifeb. 17.

The despatch cf Sir John French comments on the 2nd Coldstreams and the Irish Guards, especially noticing their indomitable pluck In storming two sots of barricade, and capturing three trenches. Also, in ' killing and taking prisoners many of the enemy on the first February at Guinchy. The Flying Corps covered 100,000 males, though the weather was uniformly bad, in only thirteen days’ reconnaisances. The weather did not affect the principle cf attacking hostile aircraft cn every opportunity. Their continued attack resulted in the German machines immediately retreating whenever chased. Army Corps Commanders loudly praise the Territorials. They say that they are fast approaching, if not already reached, the standard of efficiency of the regular infantry. The acting Training Corps are a great success. They are turning out 100 officers monthly. The training includes a forty-eight hours’ tour In the trenches and visiting observation posts. On the morning of the 25th a strong’ artillery attack developed south of the Bethnne Canal. The British line near the Canal is a pronounced salient, which the Scotts Guards and Coldstreams are holding. Trenches were quickly blown in, forcing a retirement, which avas partially prepared, to the second line, and which had been strengthened by the construction of a keep, half-way between the Canal and the Main La Bassee to Bethnne Road. The London Scottish sent up supports, and counter-attacks were organised north and south of the Canal, resulting in the Germans being driven back.

Our first Guards Brigade, which suffered severely, sent reserves, but in the meanwhile there was an equally severe attack at Givenchy. After heavy bombardment with high explosive shells, despite our artillery being hampered with constant interruption of batteries, our fire forced the Germans to crowd into the north-east corner of the village. They finally broke through into the centre of the village, where they lost heavily to retain same. 4 well-timed local counter-attack by the Welsh Reserves was completely successful, and after about an hour’s street fighting all the Germans in Givenchy were captured or killed. Our original line was re-estabished. Part of the fourteenth German Army Corps o nthe 29th, after a severe shelling made a violent attack with scaling' ladders upon our Keep. The Sussex Regiment outside the Keep inflicted serious losses on the Germans, who left two hundred dead. The tricops were subject to the severest trial that it was possible to Impose on a body of men in desperate fighting. The last despatch was hard-

ly concluded when they were called upon to face a rigorous winter campaign, and although everything that science and medicine suggested was employed to mitigate hardships and sufferings, they were very great.

Nevertheless they now present a soldierly, and splendid, though war-wet n, appearance. Their spirits were high and confident, and their health was iu an excellent condition. the British battalions from India were particularly tine. Lady Patricia’s Canadians were a magnificent set of men, and they did excellent work in the trenches. Sir John eommends the Royal Engineers’ Medical Corps, who were treating 11.000 wounded daily. STIRRING STORY OF GALLANT FIGHTS. LONDON, Feb. 17. Sir John French’s despatch, dated 2nd February, alludes to the encouragement the troops received by the King’s visit. In consequence of the heavy fighting- in November the Franco-British forces were somewhat mixed up, thus entailing difficulties in supply. By the end of the month wo were able to concentrate our army by bolding a shorter Hue and establishing effective reserves.

SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACK BY INDIANS. Among number of successful minor engagements, part of the 14th Army Corps on the 23rd November captured SCO yards of the Indian trenches. The commander of the Meerut Division organised a powerful night counter-at-tack and re-established the line before daybreak. There were many casualties but the enemy suffered more heavily. The Meeruts captured a hundred prisoners, three machine-guns and two mortars.

A FRANCO-BRITISH ATTACK. Curly iu December certain indications induced the French commanders and myself to believe that the enemy had withdrawn forces from the western theatre. Arrangements were made with the Bth French Army to commence an attack. The 14th Royal Scots, in the face of a terrible machine-gun and rifle fire, with great dash carried the German trenches on the west edge of Petit Bois, capturing two machineguns. The Gordons, with great, gallantly, advanced on the Maedelskeed spur and forced the enemy to evacuate tne front trench, but losing heavily, were obliged to fall back in. the evening to their original positions, as the 32nd French Division on the left was unable to progress, and further advance by the British infantry at Wytsehaate war. impracticable. The possession of the western edge of Petit Bois was retained, though the ground was devoid of cover and so waterlogged that the men sank deeply in the mud. The casualties for day were 17 officers and 407 other ranks. The losses of the enemy was considerably larger In front of the Gordons a patrol counted a hundred dead in one trench. THE BATTLE OF GIVENCHY.

The outstanding feature was the fighting at Givenchy, where the commander of the Indians decided to take advantage of what appeared to be a favourable opportunity, and launched attacks on the 18th and I9th December. The attack by the Meerut Division on the left on the morning of the 19th was made with determination and initial success, but they were driven back by a German counter-attack. The attack by the Lahore Division was. completely successful, and they captured two lines of trenches with little loss. Before daylight the trenches were filled with as many men as they could hold, but the front was restricted, and communication with the near position impossible. After daybreak the position was found to be practically untenable. Both the flank supporting made attacks, which were late in starting, and wore conducted in daylight. They failed, though attempted with the greatest gallantry and resolution. Lieut.-Col. Ronaldsox -ae;" on until dusk, when all the captured trenches were evacuated. At daybreak on the 20th the Germans attacked the whole of the Indian front, particularly af Givenchy, by 10 o’clock, with success driving back the Sirhind Brigade and capturing a considerable part of Givenchy, but the 57th Eiflos, the 9th Shopals (north of the canal), and the Connaught Rangers (on the south) stood firm. Two regiments of Sikhs were sent to reinforce General Drunker. The Ist Manchosters, the 4th Suffolks, and two battalions of French Territorials were ordered to launch a vigorous counter-attack from Pout fixe, through sGivorichy, and re-take the lost trenches by means of a flank attack. By five o’clock a gallant attack by the Ist Manchosters had re-captured Givenchy, and the Germans only held our trenches north of the village. General Mcßean, with the Secunderabad Brigade and a battalion of the Sth Gluirkas, and the 47tli Sikhs, were sent as supports to General Drunker. There was some delay, but the force attacked at 1 o 'clock in the morning. Detachments under Lieutenant-Colonel Lemprierc reached the enemy’s trenches. They were driven out by an enfilading fire and the gallant commander killed. General McDcan’s main attack continued until 4.30, but failed. The position on the 20th was precarious, particularly that of the Seaforths, whose flanks were exposed by the retirement of the Sirhinds. Early in the afternoon Sir Douglas Haig was therefore ordered to move the Ist Division to support the Indians. He took over Sir James Willeocks’ command on the 22nd. French troops also came to the Indians’ assistance. The Ist Brigade reached Givenchy via Pontfixe on the 21st, and the 3rd Brigade .fe-occfp

pied the trenches evacuated by the Sirhinds. Sir Douglas Haig directed the Ist Brigade to attack in a north-west-erly direction, and the .‘Hal Brigade from Postubert north-easterly, with the object of capturing the Germr.--trenches four hundred yards east of our position. The Ist Brigade established itself east of Givenchy, and the did Brigade concentrated at Letourot. but the Indian trenches were so destroyed that it was impossible to reoccupy them. Throughout the day tim Indians rendered all assistance am* support possible in view of their exhausted condition. By the evening or the 22nd the position was practically* re-established, and the German activities ceased on the 23rd. the French and Indians fought with th utmost steadiness and gallantry whenever called upon. Abnormal snow and floods precluded active operations in the first three weeks of January.