New-York tribune., 1914-11-30

from Ypres to Armentieres. General
French explains that he was impressed
early in October with the necessity of
giving the greatest possible support TO
the northern flank of the Allies in the
effort to outfank the enemy and com
pei him to evacuate his position. He
saws that the situation on the Aisne
warranted the withdrawal of British
troops from positions they held there,
as the enemy had been weakened by
continual attacks and the fortiications
of the Allies much improved.
British Position Changed.
General French made known his
view to General Joffre, who agreed WIN
it. The French General Stat arranged
for the withdrawal of the British, when
began on October and was competed
on October 10. when the lst Army
Corps, under General Sir Douglas hale'
detrained at Saint-Omar.
The general plan, as arranged by
General French and General toch, COM
mandng the French troops to the norm
of Noyon. was that the English should
pivot on the French at bethune, ATTACK,
ing the Germans on their flank ana
forcing their way north. In the event
that the British force the Germans out
of their positions, making possible
forward movement Of the Allies, the
French and British were 10 march east,
with Lille as the dividing line between
the two armies. the English right being
directed on Lille.
The battle which forms the chief
feature of General French's report
really began on October ! /, when Major
General Cough, OF the I'd British Cav
airy Brigade. first clashed with Ger
man cavalry in the woods along the
Bethune-Aire Canal.
The English cavalry moved toward
Hazebrouck, clearing the way for two
army corps, which advanced rapidly IN
a northeasterly direction. For several
davs the progress Of the British was
only slightly interrupted, except at La
Bassee, a high position, which Generai
French mentions as having stubDorniy
resisted.
General French says the I'd Corps,
under General SmithDorrien, was
opposed by overpowering forces OF
Germans, but nevertheless advanced
until October ls, when the enemys op-
position forced a reinforcement OF the
I'd Corps. Six days later the Lahore
division OF the Indian army was sent
to support the I'd Corps.
On October Is Sir Henry Rawlinson,
who had covered the retreat OF the
Belgian army from Antwerp with two
divisions of English cavalry and two
divisions of French infantry, was sta
toned on the line east Of 1pres, under
orders to operate over a wide front and
TO keep possession of all the ground
held by the Allies until the lst Army
Corps could reach Ypres.
Fought Against Great Odds.
General Rawlinson was opposed by
superior forces. and was unable to pre-
vent the Germans from getting large
reinforcements. With four army corps
holding a much longer territory than
their size justified, General French
saws he faced a stubborn situation.
The enemy was massed from the Lys,
and there was imperative need LOT
strengthened line.
However, General French decided TO
send the lat Corps north Of fpres to
stop the German reinforcements, when
might enable them to flank the Allies.
The shattered Belgian army and the
worn liOtPot 'h
10 check the German reinforcements,
were powerless, so General French
sent fresh troops 10 prevent the enemy
from executing movements when would
have given him access 10 Chahhei
ports.
Sir Douglas Haig. with the lst Army
Corps, was sent on October ~ to capt
ure Bruges and drive the enemy back
toward Ghent, II possible. Meantime
the Belgians intrenehed themselves sew es
along the Ypres Canal. General French
commends the valor Of the Belgians,
who. he says, exhausted by weeks OF
constant lighting, maintained their po-
sition gallantly.
Because of the overwhelming num-
bers Of the Germans opposing them'
General French says he enJoined de-
fensive role by the three army corps
located south Of Ypres. While General
Haig made a slight advance, Genera
French says it was wonderful that ne
was able TO advance at all, OWING 70 ,ne
bad roads and the overwhelming num-
Der of Germans, who made II impossi-