Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-04

CONTINUED from Page One.)
around Ypres succeeded in holding in It's
ground against repeated onslaughts made
by vastly superior forces. The writer
goes into detail of the German attacks
and describes how they were frustrated
by the allies. The British force, says
Colonel Swinton. which consisted all along
of the same units had ITO withstand an
almost continuous bombardment and 70
meet one desperate assault after another.
each carried out by fresh units from the
large numbers which the Germans were
devoting to the operation"
Finally the French came to their assist
ance and never was help more welcome,
Tor by then our small local reserve had
again and again been thrown in the exc
oution of counter attacks and our men
were exhausted by the incessant fight
ing"
Front Greatly Shortened.
The British front now has been con-
siderably shortened and in addition has
been reinforced. while iull in the activ-
ity has enabled the commanders TO read
just their forces. strengthen their posi-
tons and bring up reserves. There has
therefore, been a great general improve
ment In the conditions under which we
are carrying on the fighting" OF the
fighting which preceded this reorganiza-
ton, the writer says IL was due solely to
the resources. initiative and edNirance Of
the regimentaI officers and men that sue
cess has laid with the British. He con-
tinues:
"As the struggle swayed backwards and
forwards, through wood and hamlet. the
fighting assumed most confused and
desperate character. The units became in
extricabiyr mixed and in many cases in
order TO strengthen some threatened point
or to fiji gap in the line the officers had
to collect and throw into the fight what
men they could regardless OF the usilF
to which they belonged Our casualties
have been severe. but we have. been fight
ing a battle and a battle implies casual
ties, and heavy as they have been, Il must
be remembered that they have not been
suffered in vain.
Act ms Containing Force.
1.-The duty fthe French. Belgians and
British in the western theater of opera
tions has been to act as containing
force; in other words. to hold onto and
TO keep occupied as many Of the enemy
as possible while the Russians were at
taeking in the east In this we have sue
ceeded in playing our part and by our
resistance have contributed materially
towards tn esuccess OF the campaign.
Moreover, our losses have not impaired
our fighting efficiency. The troops have
required only a slight respite ~. order to
be able to continue the action with as
much determination as ever. They are
u a Ed r
fered merely from the fatigue which Is
inseparable from protracted struggle
such as they have been through.
'srhe severest handling by the enemy
has never had more than a temporary
effect on their spirits, which have soor
recovered. owing TO the years OF dis-
| cipline to which the officers and mel
have been accustomed
Due to Lack OF Tratning.
"rhe values OF such preparation is al
noticeable on the side OF the enemy al
on our own. The phenomenal losses SUI
fered by the Germans new formations
have been remarked, and they were II
part due to their lack of training. More
over, though at the first outset these for
nations advanced to the attack as bravel!
as their active corps, they have not b!
any means shown the same recuperativ'
powers. The Twenty-seventh corps TO
instance. which Is a new formation, com
posed principally OF men with from onl!
seven to twelve weeks training, has no
vet recovered from its first encounte
with the British infantry around BE
eelaere, to the northeast OF Ypres.
month ago. On the other hand the guar
corps, in spite OF having suffered severel
In Belgium. of having been thrown head
long across the Disc river at Quiz, an
having lost large numbers on the plali
OF Compiegne and on the bank OF tn
Aisne river advancing against Ypres Of
November II as bravely as they did Of
August %"
Undergo Great Sacrifices.
The allies. continues Colonel swinton
have undergone great sacrifices 10 defen
against tremendous odds line that coul
only be maintained by making these sac
kriflces but the fact that the situstion ha
been relieved Is no reason for ASSUMING
that the enemy has abandoned his inten
lions OF pressing through TO the ses
The writer points out that the German
continue 20 attack with great courage, bu
little abated by failure. and while the
have not succeeded In gaining the strait
OF Dover they have been enabled 10 con
solidate their position ON the wester
frontier and retain oil but q small porto
: of Belgium.
''As wen as they have fought. however.
continues the narrative. II Is doubtf
n their achievements are commensurate
! with their Losses, which recently hay
: been largely due 70 a lack Of trainin
and a comparative lack Of discipline I
the units they put In the field"