Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-30
british TROOPS
STANDL|KE ROCK
AGAINST ATTACK
They Have Beaten Back SUI
periOr Numbers of Ger
many's Finest Soldiers. =
FIELD MARSHAL FRENCH
TELLS OF THEIR EXPLOITS
He Praises Marvellous Fighting
Power and Courage of
Officers and Men,
NO INSTANCE OF FAILURE
He Believes Difficult Task of Stop
ping Invaders Has Been
Fulfilled.
FIELD MARSHAL FRENCH
TELLS OF THEIR EXPLOITS
NO INSTANCE OF FAILURE
He Believes Difficult Task Of Stop
ping Invaders Has Been
Fulfilled.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch. ]
LONDON. November 2s.-Thc official
press bureau. at the instance of the
War Office, tonight gave out lengthy
dispatch from Field Marshal General
Sir John French. I'm which the com
mander OF the British expeditionary
forces recounts operations of his troops
through the battle OF Ypres and Ar
mentieres. General French states:
Early in October study of the
general situation strongly impressed
me with the necessity of bringing the
greatest possible force TO bear on the
northern flank. in order to outfiank tho
enemy and compel him to evacuate
Our position on the Aisnc appeared
to warrant the withdrawal of British
forces from positions they then held.
The enemy had been weakened by con-
tinual abortive and futile attacks.
while the fortifcations of our posi-
tions was much improved.
These Views were represented to
General Joffre. who agreed with the
plan"
SUCCESS is ATTAINED
IN DIFFICULT TASK
Describing the battle of Yprcs. Cen
eral French says:
II fully realize the difficult task be
fore US and the onerous role our troops
were called upon to fulhll,. That sue
cess has been attained, and all tho
enemy,sf desperate att empts to break
through the Line have. heen frustrated
is due entirely 10 the marvellous fight
ing power and indomitable courage
and tenacity of our officers, nopcom- :
missioned officers and men,
NO more arduOuS task ever has
been assigned to British soldiers in all
their splendid history, and there is no
instance OF their ever having answered
so magnificentiy to the desperate calls
made upon them by necessity.
"A copy OF an order taken from a
captive prisoner. and which purported
TO emanate from General Won BeImling.
OF the German army, said that the
Fifteenth German Corps. together with
the Second Bavarian and Thirteenth
Corps. were Entrusted with -the task
of breaking through the line at Ypres.
1t also showed that the German EN-
peror himself considered the success OF
this attack of vital Importance to the
successful issue of the war"
General French. In paying tribute
to the work OF British soldiers, sas:
The courage, tenacity. endurance and
paralleled circumstances is beyond all
praise"
Referring to the Indian contingents
he says:
II was notably impressed with the
initiative and resourcefulness display ed
by the Indian troops. Some OF the
ruses they employed to deceive the
suits. They doubtless kept superior
forces fronting them at bay. while
lighting along the whole line con-
tinued to be heavily pressed"
Since November /, the principal ef-
forts OF the enemy, says General
French. have been concentrated Upon
the breaking OF the line held by the
First British Corps and the Ninth
French Corps.
GUARDS THROWN BACK
WITH ENORMOUS LOSSES
Referring to the attacks OF the Prus-
sian Guards, the field marshal states
Documents found upon the bodies
of the dead officers prove that the
guard received the Emperor's special
commands to break through, but. like
.their comrades, they were rcpulsed
with enormous losses.
Throughout this period General Sir
Douglas Haig. assisted by his di-
visional and brigade commanders, held
the line with marvellous tcnacity and
undaunted courage.
The work of the Royal Flying Corps
continues to prove OF the utmost value
and General French gives word OF
praise to the success of its operations
Almost every day." he says. new
fields OF usefulness In which this corps
may Nbe employed both strategically
and tActically. have been discovered"
Remarking upon the general military
situation OF the allies. the general says:
1T does not seem TO he clearly un-
derstood that the operations cmbra CO
nearly all of Central Europe from the
east, to the west.
GERMAN NUMBERS REDUCED
AND MORALE DAMAGED
THE combined French, Belgian and
British armies in the west and the
Russian army in the cast are opposed
by the united forces of Germany and
Austria The role which the armies
of the west have been called upon to
fulfill has been to occupy strong de-
fensive positions. holding the ground
they havo gained and inviting the
cncmy's attack while throwing these
attacks back and causing the enemy
heavy losses In retreat and then fol-
lowing up with powerful and successful
countcrattacks.
The value and significance in this
role lie In tho fact that tho moment
when the, eastern provinces of Germany
arc in Imminent danger OF being over
run by the powerful armies OF Russia,
nearly the whole OF the German army
is tied down to a line of trenches ex-
tending from tho fortress OF Verdun
to tho sea at Nleuport, where they are
held. We have reduced their numbers
and their morale by the successful
o,fl lo,, &c x~,,, A. '.-.L