The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 263, 16 April 1915, Page 5

The Western Front.

AT NEUVE CHAPELLE. SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. OVER 12,000 CASUALTIES. THE OBJECT ATTAINED. London, April 14. Sir John French's report regarding Neuve Chapelle reveals that one object was to secure positions eastward of the village as far as possible, but owing to the delay after tlie capture of the village, due to Cutting of the telephones and the failure carefully to carry out Sir Douglas Haig's instructions, a further advance was frustrated. The casualties in three days were 572 officers and 12,239 men. About February many vital considerations induced him to believe that the vigorous British offensive should be carried out at the earliest moment. He formed this opinion because of the general" aspect of the Allies' situation und 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 the offensive spirit in our troops after their experience during the severe winter in the trenches. The object of the main attack was the capture of Neuve Chapelle, and the establishment of our line as far eastward of that place as .possible. Sir Dougl&s Haig, with the Ist Army, was entrusted with the operations. The Germans occupied a strong position at a triangle of roads just north of the village. OPENING OF THE BATTLE. The 2nd Army, under General Smith - Dorrien, was instructed to support Sir Douglas Haig. The battle was opened at 7.30 in the morning of March 10 by a powerful bombardment, which was effective except on the extreme northern portion of the front. Half an hour later the 23rd and 25th Brigades of the Bth Division assaulted the German trendies north-west of the village. The Indian Garhwal Brigade simultaneously attacked and carried the enemy's trenches in front, where the wire entanglements were almost entirely swept away by our shrapnel. The 23rd Brigade was held up, however, by insufficiently cut entanglements. The artillery resumed at eight o'clock, and the infantry advance continued, while the 25 th Brigade and .the Garhwals got a footing in the village. A DIVISION HELD UP. The 23rd Division was unable to progress owing to the entanglements, and suffered heavy losses, especially the Middlesex and .Scottish Rifles.

The advance of the 25th Division, however. turned the enemy's southern flafik, which was harassing the 23rd Division, and enabled the latter to get through and take possession of the village. All the roads northwards and southwestwards 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 of the enemy being reinforced. Considerable delay ocurred after the capture of the viil,i n -e. The infantry was greatly disorganized hv the violent nature, of the attack, and the passage * through the enemy's trenches and buildings in the village, so it was necessary, to get the units together before pushing on. The use cf the deadly rifle and mach-ine-gun renders heavy casualties unavoidable. The power of defence conferred by modern weapons is the main cause of the long duration of presentday battles, which can only be shortened by the most efficient and powerful artillery. AN UNFORTUNATE DELAY. The enemy's fire cut the telephonic communication, and, with the holding \,p of the 23rd Division, forced the forces out of their proper direction. This required adjustment. > In Sir John French's opinion this klay would not have occurred had Sir Doughs ITaig's clearly expressed order been better observed. The difficulties would have been earlier overcome if the general commanding the 4th Corps had been able to bring up the reserves more speedily. The. British advanced later in the day to Richebourg, St. Vaast, and the Pietre Mill. We consolidated the positions gained. On the 11 tli the Indians essayed a further advance, but owing to the we;iiiier conditions we were unable to stop our artillery fire. We had, therefore, to withdraw the infantry. The operations were chiefly remarkable for the enemy's violent counterattacks and the ease with which we repulsed them. As our object was attained, 1 ordered the suspension of the o'i'en-

BRITISH CASUALTIES. One hundred., and ninety officers and 2337 men were killed, 350 officers and 8174 men wounded, 23 officers and 172S men were missing. The enemy left several thousand dead in the field, and removed twelve thousand wounded. We captured 30 officers and 1057 men. FINE WORK OF THE TROOPS. I expressed to General Sir Douglas ?l:iig my fervent appreciation of the ::!:i.'niii ieent gallantry and tenacious courage of all ranks. The woi'k of the Flying Corps v/is of Ihe greatest value in raid's. Most of the objectives were attacked from an altitude of a hundred feet, in one instance from fifty feet. All the gaps caused by the fighting | between .March 10 and 15 were filled within a few (lavs.

Sir .John l'"reiicli commends the work of the Prince of Wales us a stall'-onkrr.

CANADIANS TAKE TART IN THE BATTLE. PRAISED BY THE BRITISH COMMANDER. Received April 10, 12.3(1 a.in. London, Aj)ril li. Field Marshal Sir John French states that the, Canadians arrived on the IStii. He inspected the division, and fouid them splendid, with a most soldierly anpearancc and good physique, hard ami fit. The division thoroughly justified his good opinion. They were first attached for a few days to a brigade :or training in Third Corps trenches at Puiteney, and lie received such ail excellent report of their efficiency that he was able to employ the Canadians in the trenches early in March. They held part of the line of the first armv at Neuve Chapelle, and, although they were not engaged in the main attack, they rendered valuable help, keeping the enemy actively employed.