Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-18
ARE REFUSED,
BUT At TERRIBLE COST
Line at Ypres Seems to +
Have Failed.
GUARD CORPS is BEATEN BACK
Sent Into Battle Under Eyes Of Their
Emperor, Soldiers Show Utter Con.
tempt OF Death That Wins Enemy's
Admiration.

LONDON November l7.---Coloncl IG.
j. Swinton. the official observer at the
SritiHh headquarters. gave to-day
further chapter In his narrative OF
operations at the front. bringing up
his account to November I8. His latest
report describes the nerce attack OF
the Prusslan Guards on the British
lines In tho ncishborhood OF Ypres.
Colonel Swinton's report, issued
through the official press bureau. fol-
lows In part:
The dimi1ution In the force OF the
German rush to the west has not lasted
long. On November II they recon-
menced the desperate battle for tho
possession of Ypros and it's neighbour
hood
Though the struggle has not yet
come to an end. this much can be
said: The Germans have gained some
ground, but thcy have not captured
Ypres.
BOTH SIDES SUFFER
HEAVY CASUALTIES
''In repulsinG the enemy so far, we
nave suffered heavy casualties, but
battles Of this fierce and prolonged
nature cannot be but costly to both
sides. We have the satisfaction OF
knowing that we have foiled the
enemy in what appears to be at present
his main object In the western theatre
OF operation, and havo inflicted i'm
mensely greater losses on him than
ITO carry on the narrative tor the
three days of tho 10th. 18th and 18th
OF November:
Tuesday, the 10th, was uneventful
for us. At some distance beyond our
left flank the enemy advanced In force
against tho cFrench, and were repulsed
Directly on our left, however, along the
greater part OF the front. Smelling was
less severe, and no infantry attacks
took place.
"'po "a no ~
kept up very heavy bombardment.
On our loft centre the situation re-
manned unchanged, both sides content
Ing themselves with furious cannonad-
Ing. In our centre the Germans re-
tained their hold on 4 small amount
OF ground which they had gained from
as. but In doing SO incurred q heavy
loss from our artillery and machine
gun fire.
"Wednesday, the 18th, was a day or
desperate lighting. AS day broke tho
Germans opened fire on our trenches
to tho north and south OF the road from
Menin to Ypres This was probably
the most furious artillery fire which
| they have yet employed against us. a
few hours later they followed this By
an infantry assault In force This at
tack was carried out by the First and
Fourth Brigadcs OF tho Guard Corps,
! which. as we now know from prisoners
had been sent for to mako 4 supreme
| ciiort " capture pres.
COME SWEEPING ON
| DESPITE THEIR LOSSES
! "As the attackers surged forward they
were met by our frontal fire. and since
they were moving diagonally across
part OF our front they were also at
| tucked on the flank by artillery, rifles
and machine guns. Though their casual
ties before they teacheQ our line must
have boon, enormous. such was their
resolution and the momentum OF the
| mass, that. In spite OF the splendid re-
sistance OF our troops. they succeeded
! IN breaking through our line In three
places near the road. They penetrated
some distance into the woods behind
our trenches, but by another counter
| attack, again enflladcd by machine
guns. they were driven back to their
line of trenches, certain portion Of
which they succeeded In holding, in
spite OF our efforts to cXpcl them. What
their total losses must have been dur
ing this advance ma! be guagcd TO
some extent hy the fact that the num-
her OF the dead left In woods behind
our lines alone amounted to 700.
, ~ simultaneous effort made TO the
south, a part of the came operation
although not carried out by the Guard
Corps. failed entirely. The lighting, to
| q great extent was carried OF at close
| quarters. Scattered bodies OF the enc
| my, who had penetrated into the woods
In tho rear OF our position, could Meth
| or go backward nor forward, and were
nearly all killed or captured
The portion OF the line to the south
east Of Ypres held by us was heavily
| shelled, but did not undergo any very
serious infantry attack. That occu-
| pied by tho French. however, was both
| bombarded and lercely assaulted. On
! the rest OF our front save for the
usual oombnrdment. all was compare
| lively quiet. On tho right one OF our
trenches was mined. and then ahen-
doned. Aa soon rs 1t was occupied by
tho enemy the charges were fired and
several Gormans We're blown to pieces.
REGIMENT ANNIHILATED
DURING NIGHT ATTACK
| Thursday. November I2, was marked
by partial lull In the lighting all
along our line. TO the north a German
force which had crossed the User and
retren ched on the LEFT bank, was ami
Inflated By night attack with the
bayonet, executed by the French.
Slightly to the south the enemy, was
forced back for three quarters of a
mile. Immediately on our left the
French were strongly attacked and
driven back n short distance. our ex-
treme left having to conform to this
movement Our allies soon recovered
the ground they had lost. however
and this enabled us to advance also.
ITO the southeast OF Yprcs the
1 -.
our centre and right the eIiemy's
bonbardment vas maintained. but
nothing worthy OF special note oc-
CURED.
Although the failure OF this great
attack by the Guard Corps 10 ac-
complish their object cannot be de-
scribcd as = decisive event. 1t possibly
marks. the elimination, X not the close
OF the second stage in the attempt to
capture Ypres, and II IS not without
siBntffcancc. That the Guard Corps
should have been selected to act
against the eastern edge OF the Ypres
salient may be taken as proof OF the
necessity felt BY the Germans to gain
this point In the line.
Their dogged perseverance, in pur.
suance OF their objective claims whole
hearted admiration. The failure OF one
great attack. heralded as IL was by IN
impassioncd appeal to the troops made
in the prescnco OF the Emperor HIM
self. but carried out by partially
trained mon, las been only the signal
4 - y.