1915-08-27 — Page 6

Supplement to the “China Mail

LONG DISPATCH FROM

SIE JOHN FRENCH.

SECOND BATTLE OF

YPRES.

POISON GAS ATTACKS.

On the evening of the 18th these two battalions were relieved by the 2nd Batalion, West Ruling Regiment, and the Sol Bartalion, King's Own York shire Light Infantry, who nisin stormed the bill andre soverid heavy artillers are, and the enemy was driven off at the point of the, bayonet.

Ia. this operation 53 prisoners were eapured, including far oficera.

On the 20th and following days many unsuccessful attacks by the enemy were malo on Hill 60, which was continuously shelled by henry

GAINS ON FESTUSERT FRONT. | artilforys

THE NEW ARMY.”

A long dispatch from Fieldle Marshal Sir John French deding with the operations of the British Army in France sud Flanders up to May 25 was published on Sunday iduly 1d as a supplement to the **London Chaette." It deals with. the fire and prolonged fighting rond Ypres, and shows that it wn only the widespread employ wint of gas, coupled with the CRE of overwhelming masses of heavy and field artillery, that enabled the Gremans' to gain such ground as they did and to effect, among other thiaga, the recapture of Nil 60.

laporant gains made in the Bi the of Fastubert are chronicled, and in recording the arrival of some aboosions of the "New" Armies in Fr now the Field Mushaf pays a tribute to their artillery units as fis to make their places in the line.--- "The Times,"

The dispatch is a followa; –

From the Field Marshal Commadiog-

in-hin', The British Army in France.

During the night 1 directed the In the afternoon the Lahore Division. M4A 12.95 nm. the gentra of a Brigade Cavalry Corps and the Northumbria in conjunction with the French right, further to the lefoulso bruke: its right Dvision, which was then in general re- sherded in pushing the enemy back barrahon, howover, he 1st Suff Ike," varve, to rove to the west of Ypres, and sons. little distance iqward the North which had been refused to cover a gap.. placed the tropa ng the disposal of but their further advance was stopped still held on and were apparently ur the General Officer Caramanding the owing to the continual employment by muudel and overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Second Army. I also fired other re the curmy of asphyxiating gas.

three more baitalians had been moved | serve troips from the rd Corpa and the On the right of the Lhure Division up to reinforce, two other battalions First Array to be held in raadiness to the Naribuniberland Infantry Briguio were moved up in support to General meat eventualities,

advance against St Julien and metually Headquarters line, and an Infantry In the confusion of the gas and smoke succeeded in entering, and for a time Arigalo came up to the grounds of the Germana suoceerted in cipturing the occupying, the southern portion of thu lamertinghe Chateau in Corps Reserve. bridge at Steenstranto and some works village. They were, however, eventually "At 11.30 am. a small party of Cer-.. mouth of Lizerne, all of which were in driven brk, largely owing to gua, and maus attempted to advance against the ecoupation by the French.

finally occupied a line a short way to left of the British line, but were des- On May at another attempt to The earmy having thus established the Sath. This attack was moa trayed by the 2nd Essex Regiment. recapture Hill C0 was supported by himwell to the west of the Ypres Canal, successfully and gallantly led by A counter struck was launched at grea volumes of asphyring geI was somewhat apprehensive of his Brigadier General Riddell, who, I regro 3.30 pm by the Ise York and Lancss- which caused nearly all the mer alone succeeding in driving a wedge between to say, was killed during the progresser leciment, 3rd Billa ex Regiment, afront-of-alat 400 yards-to-be the French and Belgian troops at the of the operation.

2nd East Surrey Regiment, 2nd Royal immediately struck down by its fames. point. I directed, therefore, but some| Although no attack was made on the Dublin Fusiliers and the 1st Royal.

The splendid counge with which the fof the reinforcements sot north should south-eastern side of the salient, the Warwickshire Regiment, The counter, leiders rallied their mea and salined be used to support and Assisi Ceneralį troops operating to the cast of Ypres attack reached Frezenborg, bat was the natural tendency to panic (which 15 l'atz, should be find dificulty in pre- were subjected to heavy artillery fire eventually driveu back and held up on inevitable on such occasions), combined wearing any farther advance of the from this direction which took some of a line rooning about north and south with the prompt intervention of sup Gemas west of tho enak

the battalions, which were advancing thmuzh Verlorenhoek, despite reposted ports; oere more dawa the enemy back.

North to the attack, in reverse,

efforts to advance. The 12b London A second and marò savere "gas"

Regiment, onbe lett succeeded as great. attick, ander auch more favourable

est in reaching the original trench line, weather conditions, enables the enemy to

aud did considerable execution with recapture this position in May 5th.

their machine gun,

The enemy own his success in this last attack entirely to the use of asphyxiating gas. It was only a few days liter dust the means which bave aince proved an effective, of counter acting this method of making war were put into pretice. Edit Eisen ober. wise, the enemy's stuck on May 5th would most certainly have shared the fate of all the many previous attempts he had made.

FIRST USE OF GERMAN GAS.

At abm 10 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd connexion was finally en Some gallant atempts made by the aired berween the left of the Canadian Labore Division on the 27th, in conjune Division and the Fresch right, about, tion with the Fraach, pushed the enemy eighs hundred yards out of the canal further North; but they were partially bar na this entailed the maintenance by frostmited by the constant fumes of gai "The 7th Acgs and Sutherland the British troops of a much longer line to which they were exposed. In spite Highlanders and the lat East Lanenshira than that which they had held before of this, however, a certain amount of Regment attacked in a north-easterly

he attack commenced on the previous ground was guined.

direction towarda Wieltje, and connect- night, there were no reserves avilable The French had succeeded in retaking fed the old trench line with the ground for counter-attack until reinforcements, Lizerne, and bad maile some progress at gained by the counterattack, the line which were ordered up from the Second Steenstruate and Hot Sas; but the being consolidated during the night.

[rmy, were able to deploy to the east of ¦ evening of the 28th no further progress Ypres

bud been made toward the recapture of the original liae.

EFFECT OF LOSS OF GUNS.

Early on the morning of the 23rd

I

Went to sre General Foch, and from hom

*

WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH LINE.

I sent instructions, thereforo to Sir Herbert Plumer, who was now in charge

"During the night orders wore receiv ed that two Cavalry Divisions would be maved up and place! at the disposat of the 5th Corps, and a Territorial.

if required.

Division would be moved up to be used

"On the 9th the Germans again ro- pealed their bombardment. Very heavy

To the Secretary of State for War, It was at the commencement of had happened, as reported by General of the operation, to take preliminary shellfire was concentmted for two

War Ollier, London, S. W.

General Headquarters,

15th June, 1915,

M Lean,→

I have the hocpar to report that since the date of my last dispatch (5th April, 1915) the Army in France under my coma and b been heavily engaged oppos te bath flanks of the fine held by the Batish Forces.

!

I. In the North the town and district of Ypres bare nec more in this campaign been successfully defended again vigorous and sustained attacks made by large forces of the enemy, and supported by a me of heavy ani field: sruutlery, which, not only in number, but also in weight and calibre, is superior to any concentration of guns. which has previously assailed that part of the line..

Gloucestershiro Regiment. and ad

11 received a detailed account of what the Second Bole of Ypres Puz. General Foch informed me that on the evening of the 22nd April, it was bis intention to make good there for the retirement to the new bars on the trenches of the 2nd

line which had been fired upon. referred to in paragraph of which the French Division had lust, e ancher interview with Gneral Foco, infantry stack which was successfully

original line and regain the trenches,

On the morning of the 29th 1 had Canteron Highlanders, followed by'az that the enemy first made use of asphyxiating us.

presed the desire that I should' mine "Some days previously I had complied in my present line, assuring me that ho informed me that strong reinforca- repulsed. The Germans again bo

mants were hourly arriving to support banded the sailent, and a further attack with General Jofire's request to take the origin position would be re over the irenetes ocupied by the establabel in a few days. General General Putz, and urged me to postpone in the afternen succeeded in occupying French, and on the evening of the 22nd Foch, further informed me that he had gonders for any retirement until 150 yards of trench. The Gloucesters the result of his attack, which was timed counter niticked, but suffered heavily. nered up large French reinforcements, the troops holding the lines east of which were poly on their was, and that to commence at daybreak on the 20th, and the struck failed. The salient Ypros were posted as follows:--

should he knows. To this I agreed, bring very exposed to shell fire from From Steenstranto to the east of tips from the North had already arrived instructed. Sir Herbert Plumer both faks, as well as in front, it was Langemarck, ne fat as the Peleaped to reinforce General Putz.

I fully concärn d in the wisdom of the

dermed "advisable not to attempt to pella Road, French Division.

retake the trench at night, and a re Thence, in a south easterly direction General's wish to re patahlish our old

trenchment was therefore dag across it. the Paschendaele Becelaere line, and agreed to cooperate in the way toward

| he desired, stipulating, however, that if Road, the Canadian Division.

Thence a Division tyk up the line the prasition was not re-established with in a southerly direction east of in limited time I could not allow the Zonnebeke to a point west of Bervlaere, Britah trops to remain in so exposed whence another Division continged silution as that which the action of the the line south cist to the northern previous twenty-four hours bad com- limit of the Corps.on its right.

pelled them to occupy.

Of the 5th Corps there were four

In the South a rigorous offensive has hattalings in Divisional Reserve about agnis been taken by troops of the First Ypres; the Chandise Division hart one Army in the course of which a large battalion in Divisional Reserve, and the area of extrenched and fortified ground Canadian Brigade in Army Reserve haa boa ciptured from the enemy,

An Infuntry Brigade, which had just whilat valable support has been been withdrawn after suffering heavy afford to the attack which our Alfies Ines on Hill 60, was resting about have carried or with such marked Vamertinghe.... pucers against the enemy's positions to the eat of Arras and Lens.

II.

Inch regret that during the period under report the fight ing has been characterized on enemy's side by a cynical and barlar ous disrend of the well-known naagos

the

|

During the whole of the 23rd the remy'e artillery was very active, and his atacks all along the front were sup ported by some beavy guns which bad the neighbourhood of Osteni,

been brought down from the coast in

The loss of the guts on the night of the 22nd prevented this fire from being kept down and much aggravated the tuation. Our positions, however, were well maintained by the sigurous confiter

take made by the 5th corps.

accordingly.

No substantial advance having been made by the French, I issued orders to Sir Berbert Plumer at one o'clock on May

to commence his withdrawal to the new line....

The retirement was commenced the following night, sad the new line was occupied on the morning of May 4th.

'At 3 p.m. the enemy started to shell the whole front of the centre Division. And it was reported that the right Brigide of this Division was being heavily punished, but continued to

maintain it. line.

I am of opinion that this retirement, "The trenches of the Brigaden on the carried ont deliberately with warcels left centre were also heavily shelled any loss, and in the face of an enemy in daring the day, and a wicked by in- pruiting, refres the greatest paible fantry. Both attacks were repulsed. credit on Sir Herbert Piumer and those who so eliciently carried out his crders.

The successful conduct of this apers- tion was the more remarkable from the fact that on the eraning of May 2nd, when it was only half completed, the enemy idea heary attack, with the usual gas accompaniment, on St Julien

SUPERIORITY OF GERMAN ARTILLERY.

"Or the 10.1 instant the trenches on

either side of the Manin-Ypres Road vere shelled very severely all the mcru- ing. The 2nd Cameron Highlanders, 9th Royal Scots, and the 3rd and 4th". King's Royal Rifles, however, repalsed

Following a heavy bombardment, the enemy attacked the French Division at

and the line to the west of it. about 5 pan., using asphyxiating gases

During the day directed two Briga. An attack on a line to the east of for the first time. Aircraft-reported that at about 5 p.m. thick yellow smokes of the 3rd Carpe, and the Labore Fortuin was made at the same time un-an attack made, under cover of gas, with heavy loss. Finally, when the had been seen issuing from the fermin ivision of the Indian Corps, to beder similar conditions.

In both cases our troops were at first trenches had been practically destroyed trenches between Tangemarck and moved up to the Ypres ares and placed

driven from their trenches. by gas fumes, and a large number of the garrison Disschote. The French reported that at the disposal of the Second Army.

In the course of three two or three bat on the arrival of the supporting buried, the 3rd King's Royal Rifles and of civilized war and a Bigrant defiance simultaneous attarka bad been

mario east of the Y pres-Staden Radway, days many circumstances combined in haitalions and to brigades of a Cavalry and 4th Rife Brigade fell back to the of the Higus Convention.

All the scientific resources of Ger in which these asphyxiating gases had render the situation east of the Ypres Division, which were sent up in support trenches immediately west of Belle- Canal very critical and most difficult to from about Pulijas, all the lost trenches waarde Word. So heavy had been the many vapparently been branght into been employed. play it prosince a gas of so virulent and top. The effect of these poisonous gues

What follows alamat dalies descript-lent with.

were regained at night.

shell fire that the proposal to join up The confusion caused by the sudden

On the 3rd May, while the retirement the line with a switch through the wood- being brought inic contact with it is was so virulent as to render the whole retirement of the French Dirisis, and was still going on, another violent nt had to be abandonet, the trees broken fret prfreed and then meats with a of the line beld by the French Division the necessity for closing up the gap and tack was directed on the northers face by the shells forming an impassable lisgering and agonizing death.

mentioned above practically incapable checking the enemy's advance at all of the salient. This was also driven back entanglement...

at costs, led to a mixing up of units and awith heavy loss to the enemy. The enemy has invariably preceded of any action at all. It Tas prepared, and supported his attacks he fret impossible for anyone to realize Audden shifting of the arcas of com

Further attempts of the enemy during dierge in stupendon's reluma of what had actually happened. The ad, which was quite unavoidable. those bisonous gas fumes whenever the smoke and fumes lid everything from Fresh units, as they came up from the the sight of the 3rd to advance from the eight, and buadreds of men were thrown South, had to be pushed into the firing woods west of St. Julien were frustrated

prevailed to any extent in the neigh within an hour the whole position a Frach guas, we were unable to keep enemy beavily shelles the trenches we Germans attack-d in force and gained a ̧

Bach weather conditions have only into a comatose or dying condition, vade in un area swept by artillery are entirely by the fire of our artillery.

rbich, owing to the capture of the During the whole of the 4th the paint than on the previous dig. The bourbes of Ypres, and there can be no to be abandoned, together with about down.

had oracurted, quite unaware that they footing in part of the trenches, but were

poisoning a nature that hay human

wind was favourable.

[ 50 guns."

doubt bat the eff-ot, of these poisonous fumes materially influenced the operati wish particularly to repudiate any ions in that theatre, until experience is of attaching the least blame to the French Division for this unfortunate Bugges el cffective counter measures, which have since beea so' perfected as

incident. to render the innocuous.

four.

THE STORMING OF HILL 60.

III.

the night of Saturday,

"Alter a comparatively quiet night and morning (10th-11th the hostle ery fire was concentrated on the reuches of the 2nd Cameron Highland- ers and 1st. Args1 and Sutherland Hi hlanders at a slightly more northern

the enemy

All this led to very heavy casualties; were no longer occupied. So 8000 08 promptly preted by a supporting com and I wish to place on read the deep the retirement was discovered the Gerpany of the 9th Roval Stute. After

presence of mind evinced by the oar new line and to advance their guns Germans again atacked about 4.15 p.m.. admiration which I feel for the resource mana commenced to entrench oppisits cand short artillery bombardment, the Alter all the examples our gallant aders actually on the spot.

to new positions. Our artillery assisted but were again repulsed by rifle and The parts taken by Major-General by planes, caused him considerable ruchingan fire. A third bombard- The brain power and thought which Allies have shown if dogged and has evidently been at work before this tenacious courage in the many trying Snow and Brigadier-General Had were loss in carrying out these operations. ment followed, and this time the Ger- caworthy method of making war reach situations in which they have been reported to me: as teing purncularly Up to the morning of the 8th the mans succeeded in glining a trauch ed the pitch of efficiency which has placed throughout the course of this marked in this respect.

enemy made attacks at short intervals, or rather what was left of it- lecal An instance of this occurred on the covered by gas, on all parts of the line counter stick failing. However, dar been demonstrated in its practice shows campaign it is quite superfluous for that the Germans mitas bare harboured me to dwell on this aspect of the in-afternoon of the 24th when the enemy to the east of Ypres, but was everying the night the enemy was agais these designs for a long time.

cide. t, and I would only express my exceedest in breaking through the line where driven back, with heavy loss. riven out. The trench by this time the As a soldier I cannot help expressing Erm conviction that, if any trops in the St. Julien.

Throughout the whole period since being practically non-existent. Brigulier-General Hull, acting under the de-peat regret and come surprise world hid been able to hold their

the first break of the line on the night garrison found it untenable under the that an Army which hitherto has claimed trenches in the face of such a treacherous the orders of Lieutenant General Aldier of April 22nd all the troops in this Ziary heavy ball fire the enemy brought to be the chief exponent of the chivalry and altogether unexpected onslaught. Ex, organized & powerful couler had been complantly subjected to violent to Bear upon it, sad the trench wins of war should have stooped to employ the French Division would have stood track with his own Brigada and some artillery bomburiment from a large vacuated Twice more did the Ger such devices against brave and gallant arm.

of the nearest available uuita. He was called upon to control, with only time of guns with an unlimited supply an anipers creep back into it and Brigade, stiff, parts of battalions from while under so vastly superior fire of a retrenchment was made, cutting off of ammunition. It proved impossible twice toore they were riveted. Finally, six separate divisions which were quite TENACITY OF THE CANADIANE new to the ground, Although the artillery to dig efficient trenches, or to the salient which had been contested ruck did not succeed in retaking S. properly reorganize the line, after the throughon: the day. It was won owing The left flank of the Canadian Division alien, it effectually checked the the first great gas surprise and the haber of the enemy's guns, but both confusion and demoralization caused by andy to the superior weight and April 17th, a commanding was thus left dangaroosly exposed to enemy's farther france. hill which aff rded the enemy excellent bericus attack in Bank, and there/apIt was only on the morning of the sequent almat daily gas attacks. Nor our infantry and pur artillery took a artillery observation towards the West peared to be a prospect of their being 25th that the enemy were able to force as it until after this date (May 8th) very heavy tall of the enemy, and the and North West was successfully mined overwhelmed and of a successful attempt hack the left of the Canadian Division that effective preventives had been ground lost has proved of little use to and captured.

by the Germans to cut off the British from the point where it had originally devised and provided. In these circum. Do the remainder of the front the day This bill, known as. Hill 60 lias troops occupying the salient to the Enes fuised the Froach lion.

stances a violent bombardment of nowrly. Opposite the northern extremity of theIn spite of the danger to which they

the whole of the 5th Corps front brake passed comparatively quiet, though moet fide hell by the 2nd Corps

were expo-ed the Canadians held their

but at 7 am on the morning of the Sib, parts of the live underwent intermittent H&ND-TO-HAND FIGHTING

which tually concentrated on the With the assistance of the Royal The operation was planned and the ground, with e magnificent display of

wholling by ecos of various entire mining commenced by Majur General tenacity, and courage; and it is not too

ROUND YPRES.

front of the Division between porch and Bulfin before the ground was handed much to say that the bearing and con-

south of Frezenberg. This fire, comFlying Corps the 31st fleavy Battery Oor to the troops under Lieutenant-duct of these splendid trois averted During the right, and the excly pletely obliterated the trenches and scored a direct hit on a German gun, and the North Midland Heavy Battery General Sir Charles Fergasson, tinder diameter which might have been attend-morning of the 25th, the anemy directed caused ecormous losses. whom supervision?

got on to some German: howitzers-with operations was ed with the most serious. coparquepers. a heavy attack against the Division at carried at

grent success. They were supported with great | Broodseinde cross-roads which was sup- BRITISH LINE BROKEN.

With the exception of another very The mines were successfully fired at promptitude by the reserves of the ported by a powerful shell fire, but he

heavy burst of shell fire against the p.. the 17th, and finuediately Divisions holding the salient and by a failed to make any progress. A The artillery bombardment was short-right Division early in the morning, aftermar la the hill was attacked and Brigade which had been resting in Dosing the whole of this time they followed by a heavy infantry attack, the 12th passed uneventfully, gained, without difficulty, by the 1st billets.

town of Ypres and all the roads to the before which our line bad to give way. On the night. of the 12th-19th the Battalion, Royal West: Kent Regiment, Throughout the night the enemy's at East and West were uninterruptedly and the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Lacks were repulerd, #fective counter subjected to a violent artillery fire, but

I relate.what happened in Sir Herbert retiring in Army Reserve to rest, life was re-organized, the centre Divis Scottish Borderers. The stack was attacks were delivered, and at length in spite of this the supply of both lumer's cwn words

and their places being taken in th wall supported by the Divisional touch was gained with the French right, food and ammunition was maintained The right of one Brigade was broken trenches by the two Cavalry Divisions: Artillery, assisted by French and and a new line was formed

throughout with order and efficiency about: 10,15 am then ita centre, and the Artillery and Engineers of the Belgian batteries, CENTEN The Bad London Heavy Battery, which During the afternoon of the 26th then part of the left of the Brigade in centre Division forming with them During the night several of the bad been cutached to the, Casatian many Gerinan priemers were taken, the next section to the south. The what was known as the Cavalry. Force ademy's ounter-attacks were repulsed Divikida, was posted behind the right of including some officers. The hand-to- Princes Patricia's Canadian Light In under the command of General, be Liste. with heavy kas, ami fierce hand-to-hand the French Division, and, hơing in hand fighting was very savars, and the fantry, however, although andering vily fighting took place; but on the early volved in their retrent, fell into the every suffered heary lows heavily stuck to their fire or support THE HEAVIEST BOMBARDMENT morning of the 18th the enemy succeeded aremye hands. It was recaptured by During the 26th the Lahore Division trenches Shroughout the day thisOn the 18t the various reli in forcing back the troops holding the the Canadians in their counter-attack, and a Cavalry Division were pushed op time two bitutions were moved to right of the hill to the raverse slope, hat the gang could ni Brwithdrawn into the fighting tiae, the former on the General Headquarters 2utine seride wing bem complate without incident, where, however, they hang on through before the Canadians were again driven right of the French, the Litter Jusup the Menta rosid La support and cover the the heavies, hombardment yet ex trut she may,

book

port) pork at the fiă Corne,

perienced bruke olit at 4.30: Continued with little

and