Supplement to the "China Mail *
they made n'austrotial advance on the east side of the cnual, and on the they ropelled a Clerman counterattack making a further advance in the same direction, anil taking ene hundred prisoners
The boar the atmak commenced 9.45 am. A large proportion of the men were asleep, and the attack was too sudden to giv them time to put oo their respiratora..
The remainder of the day was apeut in socuring and consolidating positions which had been win, and endeavouring to unite the inser flanks of the 7th, and 2nd Divisions, which were separated by trenches and parts strungly beld by the enamy,NON
The Cerman communications leading to the rear of their positions were systematically shelled throughout the night
ARMY DIVISIONS
ARRIVE
Since the date of my last report
by the 8th. Division with the object of Y. some Divisions of the "New"
throughout the day. At about 15
As an instance of the successful at- A the Cavalry Brigade astride the
lempts to deceive the enemy in this rail ay having suffered very severely,
respect it may be mentioned that on the and hair trenches having been obliteras
afteracun of the 24th instant a bombard od back about 800 yards. The North
ment of about an hour was carriest out Son reet Yematury on the right of the Briard, although also suffering severe Ou the early morning of the 21th »
distracting attention from the Ypres | Army have arrived in this country,
I made a close inspection of one ly, ung na to their trenches throughout violent outburst of gas, agains nearly the Various attempts which were made salient.
Considerable damage was done to the Division, formed us on parade, and the lay, and actually advanced and whole front was followsil by benvy, "shull | throughout the day to secure this object atta ved the enemy with the bayonet Breand the most determined attack had not succeeded at nightfall in driv-enemy's parapeta and wire; and that the have at various times seen several anita
desired impression was produced on the belonging to others. " The Brigade on its'right, also maintain-was doliverail against our position casting the enemy back. edis position as did also the Cavalry of Ypres..
enemy is evident from the German wire- These Divisions have as rat hud vary Division, except the loft squadron
less news on that day, which stated little experience in notunt fighting: which, when reduced to sixteen men,
"West of Lille the English attempts to judging from all I have seen, I am of. attack were nipped in the bud." N opinion that they ought to prove a fall buck. The 2nd Essex Regiment real sing the situation, promptly charged
About two hundred prisoners were In previous reports I have down nt-valuable addition to any fighting force. captured on the 18th instant. A tention to the enterprise displayed by and retook the trench, bolling it till
As regards the lafantry, their physi- relired by the Cavalry. Meanwhile a
Fighting was resumed at daybreak; the troops of the 3rd Corpe in conduct que is excellent, whilst their bearing. cou eramek by two Cavalry Brigades
and by 11 o'clock the 7th Division bading night reconnaissances, and to the and appearance on parade reflects grat was unched al 2.30 p.m. and succeed
made a considerable advance, capturing courage and resource shown by officers credit on the officers and staffe respons. The units el, spite of very heavy shrapnel and
saveral more of the enemy's trenches, and other patrols in the conduct of these ible for their training.
appear to be thoroughly well obeered rif tire, in rogaining the original line
The tukatotied to this Division, winer operations. of inches, turning out the Germans
was to pash on in the direction.of Kue' Throughout the period under report and commanded. The equipment is in who bad entered it and in some cases
D'Ouvert, Chitereau St. Roch, and this display of activity has been very good order and efficient.
marked all along the 3rd Corps front, pur-uing them for some distance. But
Canteleux.
The 2nd Division was directed to and mach valuable information and a very heavy shell fire was again opened onem, and they were aguia compelled
push on when the situation permitted intelligence have been collected.. tor tire to an irregolar line in rear,
towards the Rue de Marsis and Violance. principally the craters of shell holes The enemy in their counter-attack
suff-rad very severe losses.
The Sad Royal Irish and the h Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, overcurio by gna fumes, were driven out of a farm held in front of the left Division, not this the enemy procede to hold and fortify.
All attempts to retake his fan daring the day failed, and during the night of the 24th-25th the General Oficer Commanding the left Division decided to take up a new line which, although slightly in rear of the old one, be considered to be a much better position. This operation was successful ly carried out.
The fighting in other parts of the Eine was little less severe. The 1st
Throughout the day the whole lins Ens Lancashire Regiment wars ahelled was subjected to one of the most violent out of their trenches, but their support artillery attacks which it bad over com muy and the Sud Ester Regiment, undergone and the 6th Cirps and the nga ucting on their own initiative, Cavalry Divisions on gaged had to fight w them back. The enemy penetrat hard to maintain their positions. Ou edi to the farm at the north-east corner the following day, however, the line was of the line, but the 1st Rife. Brigade, consolidated, joining the right of the ufter a avere struggle, expelled them. French at the same place as before, and The 1st Hampshire Regiment also passing through Wieltje (which was rop led no attack, and killed every strongly fortified) is a southerly direc German who got wibia Alty yards of tion: en to Hoogt, where the Cavalry the trenches The 5th London Begi- have since strongly occupied the mer, despite very heavy casualties, chateau, and pushed our line further matained their position unfalteringly, east.
At the
ADVANCE AT NEUVE "
CHAPELLE.
The Indian Division was ordered to
extend its front far enough to enable it WORK OF THE MEDICAL CORPS to keep touch with the left of the 2nd Division when they advanced,
I bave much pleasure
On this day I gave orders for the Sist VII. ata me plens vinna (Bighland) Division to move into the preciation of the admirable manner in neighbourhood of Eataires to be ready which all branches of the Medicat to support the operations of the First Services now in the field, under the Army,
direction of Surgeon General Sir Arthur At about noon the enemy was driven Slougett, have ret and dealt with the ont of the tronches and posts which he many dificult situations resulting from occupied between the two Divisions, the the operations during the last two inner faks of which were thus enabled months." to join hands.
"
Several units of artillery have been tested in the friog line behind tha trenches, and I hear very good reports of them Thir shooting has been ex- tremely good, and they, are quite is to take their places in the lips.."
The Pioneer Battalions have created
a very lavourable impression, the officers being kean and ingenivos and the men of good physique and good diggers. The equipment is suitable The training in deld works has been good, but, generally speaking, they le quire the assistance of Regular Royal Engineers as regards laying out of important works. Man for man 125 The medical units at the front were digging the battalions should do By Lightfall the 2nd and 7th Divisions frequently exposed to the enemy's fire, practically the same amount of work as bad made good progress, the area of and many casualties-occurred smoagatan eguivalent number of suppers, and captured ground being considerably the officers of the regimental Medical in rivetting, entanglement, etc., a great" extended to the right by the successful Service! At all times the officers, non-deal more than the ordinary infantry, operations, of the latter.
commissioned oflicera and man, and battalions. The state of the weather on the mora-nurses carried out their duties with fear- ing of the 18th mach hindered an effects less bravery and great deration to the iva artillery bombardment, and farther welfare of the sick and wounded. attacks had, consequently, to be post- poned.
CAPTURE OF GUNS AND
TRENCHES.
At le southern end of the line the left Briade was once again heavily skulled, Da i deed was the whole frant. ead of a very hard day's fighting our line remained in ita former position, wil the exception of the short distancu lost by one Cavalry Division. Later, the line was pushed forward and In pursuance of a promise which I reade to the French Com- a new line was deg in a leas exposed mander-in-Chief to support un attack nosi ton, slightly in rear of that origin which his troops were making on the ally seld. The night passed quietly.
Vorking parties of from 1,200 to 9th May between the right of my line 1,807 men base been found every alght and Arras; I directed Sir Douglas Haig to carry cut on that date an attack on by ferritorial Division and cthere German trenches in the neighbour-out the fine in the course of the after- unit for werk op rear lines of defcuse, hood of Rougebane (north-west of Fro- in audition to the work performed by melles) by the 4th Corps, and between the trisons in reconstructing the frentence Chapelle and Givenchy, by the line enches which were daily destroy-las and Indian Corps. ed by shell fire.
4.
a
he work performed by the Royal Fly ing rps has been invaluable. Apart frol. the hostile aeroplanes actually desyed, our airmen have prescuted grom den of aerial reconnaissance by the enemy, and have registered a large nter of targets with our artillery.
ATTACK CHECKED BY ONE MAN.
The bombardment of the enemy's Positions commenced at 5 a...
Half-an-hour later the 8th Division of the 4th Cerpe captured the first line of German trenches about Rougebanc, and some detachmente seized a few localities beyond this line. It was soon found, bowerer, that the position was much stronger than had been anticipated, and that a mere extensive artillery prepara- tion was necessary to crush the re- sistance offered by his numerous fortia- ed posts.. There have been many cases of)
Throughout the 0th and 10th repeat- indi idual gallantry. As instances ed efforts were made to make further may be given the following:
progress. Not only was this found, to During one of the heavy attacks be impossible, but the violence of the mad against our infantry gas was seen enemy's machine-gun fire from his prsta rollug forward from the enemy's the flanks rendered be captured zrez 193. Private Lyon of the 2nd trenches so dificult to hold that all the Laneshire Fusiliers at once rushed to units of the 4th Corps had to retire to the machine gun without waiting to their original position by the morning adjusts reapirator. Single-Landed of the 10th
cheer their attack. He was carried
During the months of April and May several divisions of the Territorial Force joined the Army under my eommand.
The evacuation of casualties from the front to the Base, and to England was expeditiously accomplished by the Experience has ehowa that these Administrative Medical Staffs at the troops have now reached a standard of front and on the Lines of Communico-efficiency which enables them to be use sion. All ranks employed in units of fully employer in complete divisional oraciation and in Base Hospitals have nuits. shown the highest skill and antizing zeal and energy in alleviating the condi- Infantry attacks were made through- tion of those who passed through their noon sad evening; but although not
The whole organization of the Medical very much progress was made, the line Services reflects the highest credit or all was advanced to the La Quinque Rus concerned. Béthune Road before nightfall.
banda.
On the 19th May the 7th and 2nd VIII. I have once more to call Divisions were drawn out of the line to
your Lordship's attention rest. The 7th Division was relieved by to the part taken by the Royal Flying the Canadian Division and the 2nd Corps in the general progress of the Division by the 51st (Highland) Division campaign, and I wish particularly to Sir Douglas Haig placed the Cannd-mention the invaluable assistance they ian and 61st Divisions, together with rendered in the operations described in
The Royal Flying Corps is becoming more and mon ndispensable factor
Several divisions have been so ens
ployed some in the trenches, others in the various ofensive bad defensive. operations reported in this despatch..
In whatever kind of work thess units have been engaged, they have all borns an active and distinguished part, and havs proved themselves thoroughly reliable and efficient.
The opinion I have expressed in former despatches na to the use and value of the Territorial Force has been
ME. ASQUITH'S VISIT.
the artillery of the 2nd and 7th Divisions, this report, under the able direction of fully justified by recent events. under the command of Lieutenant Major-General Sir David Henderson. General Alderson, who he directed to conduct the operations, which had hitherto been carried on by the General Officer Commanding First Corps; and be directed the 7th Division to remain in Army Reserve.
During the night of the 19th-20th small post of the enemy in front of La Quinque Rue was captured.
( During the night of the 20th-21st the Canadian Division brilliantly carried on the excellent progress made by the 7th Division by seizing several of the enemy's trencies and pushing forward their whole line several hundred yards..
number of prisonera fd some machine guns were captured.
in combine operation. In cooperation XII The Prime Minister was kind with the artillery, in particular there
enough to accept an: ir- has been continuous improvement both vitation from me to visit the Army in in the methods ond in the technical France, and arrived at my Headquarters material employed. The ingenuity and on the 30th May, technical skill displayed by the officers Mr. Asquith made an exhaustive of the Royal Flying Corps, in affecting tour of the front, the hospitals, and all this improvement, have been most the administrative arrangements mada by Corps Commanders, for the health marked.
and comfort of men behind the trenches.
60 COMBATS IN THE AIR.
It was a great encouragemont to all' ranke to see the Prime Minister amacugat them; and the eloquent words which on several occasions be addressed to the troops had a most powerful and bone- ficial effect
The General acompted my invitation, and on the 27th May he inspected the
regi-sent went forward alone one after-formed part of a general plan of attack and repulsad three very severe hostile behind their own lines, and many have 7th Division, under the command of
counter-attacks.
On the 24th and 25th May the 47th Division (2ad Londen Territorial) succeeded in taking some more of the ground gained to the east and north.
he kept his gun in action the whole The 1st and Indian Divisions south time the gas was relling over, actually of Neave Chapelle met with no greater
Since my last dispatch there has been hoing it on the parapet to get a better success, and on the evening of the 10th
On the 22nd instant the 51st (High considerable increase both in the field of Gre. Although neatly sulfocat-I sanctioned Sir Douglas Huig's propos- ely the gap, he poured a stream of a to co scentrato all our available re. Land) Division was attached to the number and in the activity of German fead into the advancing enemy and sources on the southors point of attack. Indian Corps, and the General Oficer seroplanes in our front. During this
As I was desirous that the Frenchi The 7th Division was moved mound Commanding the fadian Corps took period there have been more than sixty to ha deg out, but, hearing another from the 4th Corpe area to support this charge of the operations at La Quicque combats in the air, in which not one Commander-in-Chief, should ses some attork was imminent, he tried to get attack, and I directed the General Rue, Lieutenant-General Alderson with British aeroplane has been lost. As thing of the British troops, I asked hack to his guy. Twenty-four hours Officer Commsuding the First Army to the Canadians conducting the operations these fights take place almost invariably General Johre to be kind enough to
My Lover or behind the German lines, only later be died in great agony from the delay it long enough to ensure a power to the north of that place, effects of the gaus.
Tal and deliberate artillery preparation. On this day the Canadian Division Due hostile aeroplane has been brought inspect a dirisico on parade.
however, have been definitely wrecked A young subaltern, in a cavalry The operations of the 9th and 10th extended their fine slightly to the right down in our territory. Five more, noon to reconnoitre. He got into a which the Allies were conjointly con
been chased down and forced to land in Major-General H. de la P. Gough, C.B wood, 1,200 yards in front of our lines, ducting on a line extending from the which he found occupied by Germans, north of Arras to the south of Armen
most unsuitable ground.
To spite of the opposition of battle which was reating behind the trenches. aircraft, and the great number of anti- and cards back with the information tierea; and, although immediate progress that he enemy had ovacaaled a trench was not made during this time by ike enemy's trenches and making good the aircraft gune employed by the enemy.ed to me in a letter the pleasure it gave General Joffre subsequently express- air reconnaissance has been carried out him to see the British troops, and his and vers diguing cather-information British forces, their attack assisted in
I had now reason to consider that the with regularity and pocuracy, which proved most valuable to the securing the brilliant successes attained artillery as well as to his own unit. by the French forces on their right, not bastle, which was commenced by the I desire to bring to your Lordship's appreciation of their appearance on "A patrol of two officers and a non-only by holding the enemy in their First Arusy on the 9th May and re-notice the assistance given by the French parade. He requested me to make this compratsaioaed officer of the 1st Cam-front, but by drawing off a part of the newed on the 16th, having attained Military Authorities, and in particular known to all ranks 'bridgeshires went out one night to German reinforcements which were.com for the moment the immediate object by General Hirschauer, Director of the The Moderator of the Church of reco noitre a German trench 350 yards ing up to support their forces east of I had in view, should not be further French Aviation Service, and his assist Scotland, the Right Reverend Dr.
actively proceeded with; and I gave ants, Colonel Bottieanr and Colonel awa. Creeping along the parapet of Arras. the trench, they heard sounds indicating It was decided that the attack should orders to Sir Douglas Haig to curtail Stammler, in the supply of aeronautical Wallace Williamson, Dean of the the presence of six or seven of the be resumed on the night of the 12th in his artillery attack and to strengthen material, without which the efficiency of Order of the Thistle, visited the Army eseny. Further on they heard deep atant, but the weather continued very and consolidate the ground he had won, the Royal Flying Corps would have been in France between the 7th and 17th
sexionaly impaired,
May, and made a tour of the Besttish Dor, apparently proceeding from a dull and misty, interfering much with
regiments with excellent results. dagut immediately beneath them. artillery observation. Orders were final Aith sogh they know that the garrisonly issued, therefore, for the action to
IX. upon the except XIII. Trait put upon them by
In this dispatch I wish again
In spite of the constant of the treach outnumbered them, they commence on the night of the 15th
ionally good work done throughout this the arduous nature of the fighting decided to procure an identification. instant. Unfortunately la palling out a clasp
In the battle of Erstubert above campaign by the Army Service Corps which they are cailed upon to carry out decribed the enemy was driven from a and by the Army Ordnance Department,
knit with which to cut off the sleeper's
LONGER BRITISH LINE.
identity disc, one of the officer's re- DAYS OF CONTINUOUS FIGHTING. position which was strongly entrenched not only in the field, but also on the daily and almost hourly, the spirit
On the latter day they erneusted
and fortified, and ground was wor on ́s Lines of Communication and at the Base which animates, all ranks of the Army front of four miles to an average depth parts action, at those in France remains high and conidout.
To foresee and meet the requirements of 000 yards.
French Division.
volvers weat off. A conversation in ogitated whispers, broke out in the Garian tronch, but the patrol cropt ealery away, the garrison being 100 Cian Division into the 1st Corps area On the 15th May I moved the Cana-
Tommy is known to have suffered the matter of Ammunition, Stores, They meet every demand-made upon started to fire.
and placed them at the disposal of Sir very heavy losses, and in the course of Equiparat, Supplies and Trosport has them with the wungat cheerfulness. Despite the very severo abelling to Doughs Haig."
the battle 785 prisoners and 10 machine entailed on the part of the Officers, non- which the troops had bean subjectail,
The infantry of the fadian Corps and guns were captured. A number of commissioned officers, and men of these This splendid spirit is particularly Services sustained elfort which has manifested by the men in hospital, even which obliterated trenches and caused very inany casualties, the spirit of all the 2nd Division of the 1st Corps machizo gund were also destroyed by never been relaxed since the beginning amongst those who are mortally
advanced to the attack of the enemy's our fire.
wounded. rank remains excellent. The enemy'e trenches which extended from Richie pase particularly on the 10th and bourg L'avoue in a south westerly During the period under report the 13th, have naquestionably been serious direction
GM Army under my command has taken irencies (in face of the cavalry counter Before daybreak, the 2nd Division had over trenches occupied by some other attan) in which were afterwards food anumy a trenches, but the fagian Corps found succeeded in capturing two lines of the their own wounded. The enemy have were-unable to make any progress owing been seen stripping our dead, and on to the strength of the enemy's defences three occasions men in khaki have been in the neighbourhood of Richebourg
L'Avcne. scep advancing."
At daybreak the 7th Division, on the right of the End, advanced to the attack, CAUGHT BY GAS WHILE ASLEEP. and by 7 s. had entrenched them selves on a line running nearly North Tha fight went on by the exchange of and South, halfway between their or desu tary shell and rifle, fire, but with iginal reaches and La Quinque Buswork throughout the banks, out any remarkable incident until the having cleared and captrrad, saverzl morning of May 24th, Daring this lines of the enemy'stretches, including pirios, however, the French on cur left a number of fertiled puets
had attained considerable enccses. On As it was found impossible for the the 13th instant they captured Steen India Corps to make agy progress in stran and the tranches in Eet Sas, and face of the enemy's defenden Sir Dongles on the 10th they drove the cas my Eaig directed the attack to be suspend
sad ng over the era, fading tweed at this point and ordered the indian thread Grum dead On the ITYb Duan to form a divara doctor
I
or of the war, and which has been reward ed by the most conspicuous success,
The close cooperation of the Railway The invariable question which comes Transport Department, whose excellent from lips hardly able to utter a sound work, in combination with the French How are things going on me th Railway Stall, has ensured the regulari front? I am much indebted to General grently ontributed to this success. XIV. In conclusion, drains to
ty of the maintenance services, bes D'Urbal, commanding the 10th Franch
The degree of efficiency to which Army, for the valuable and efficiant these Services has been brought was special antics the valuable services support received throughout the battle well demonssmted in the course of the rendered by General Sir Douglas Baig of Festa bert from three groupe of Becond Estle of I prea, in his successful handing of the troope French -75% guns. Ple
The roads between Poperinghe and of the First Army throughout the Ypres, over which transport, supply, Battle of Festubert, and Lieutenant- In spite of very unfavourable weather and ammunition columns had to pass, General Siz Herbert Plumer for his fus conditione, rendering observation most wara continually searched by hustile defence of Ypres throughout the ardu difficult, our yra stillery did excellent beary artillery during the day and our and difficult operations during the night whit the passage of the canal latter part of April and the math of through the two of Xpres, and along May
VI. During the important opera the rogues of that town, could only have the bonoms to be
#unitions described above, which ba nascellillysder moet misicult and were carried on by the First and Second dangerous as regards hostile Your Lordship's most obedient Servanty Armies, the 3rd Corps was particularly
throughout the whole DF. French, active in making demonstrations with
weaks during which there view: to holding the enemy in its front
prevailed the work was
ding-in Chibi, and preventing reinforcements reaching
Kone with piechot kyder Bas
Field Marshal
The British Army in