New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-19

tarded. The LIST Corps was heavily
and constantly engaged. On the af-
ternoon Of the 18th the right flank OF
the LIST Division was seriously threat
ened. The enemy's attack was ulti-
mately driven back, with heavy loss.
"On the 18th information reached
me that General Jofrre had found It
necessary TO make new plan and to
! attack and envelop the German right
| flank. II was evident to me that the
/ battle in which we had been engaged
since the 18th must last some days
longer, until the flank movement could
he felt and the way opened to drive
the enemy from his positions.
"Thus il became essential to estab-
/ lish some system of relief in the
/ trenches, and have used the infantry
of the 9th Division with good results
/ for this purpose. On the evening of
/ the 10th the enemy again began to
show activity. After dark the enemy
continued his attack on the I'd Divi-
| sion, only to be again driven back.
/ Our losses in these two DAYS were
/ considerable, but the enemys, as OBJ
| tanned, vastly exceeded them.
con the night of the 2lst another
violent counter attack was rcpulsed BY
/ the Sd Division. the enemy losing heav-
/ ily. On the 23d four 6-inch howitzcr
! batteries, which ] had asked to be sent
| from home. arrived. Two batteries
were handed over to the I'd Corps and
/ two 10 the 1st Corps. They were
/ brought into action on the cath with
very good results.
/ "Our experiences in this campaign
seem to point TO the employment OF
more heavy guns of larger calibro in
great battles which last several days,
/ during which time powerful intrench-
/ ing work on both sides can be carried
out. These batteries were used with
considerable effect on the cath ard
J following days.
"On the 23d the action Of General
/ dc Castelnau's army on the allied left
/ developed considerably and apparently
withdrew considerable forces of the
enemy from the centre and the east. I
am not aware whether il was due 10
| this cause or not, but until the Goth il
/ appeared as though the enemy's oppo-
stiOn in our front was weakening On
that day. however, a very marked re-
newal of activity commenced. A con-
slant and vigorous artillery lombard
ment was maintained all day, and the
/ Germans in front of the 1st Division
were observed to be sapping up to our
/ lines and trying TO establish new
/ trenches.
/ Renewed counter attacks were de
! livered and beaten off during the
course Of the day, and in the after
/ noon a well-timcd attack by the LIST
/ Division stopped the enemy's intrench-
ing work.
During the night of the 9th and
! 2Sth the enemy again made the most
determined attempts TO capture the
trenches of the LIST Division but with
out the slightest success. Similar at
/ tacks were reported during these three
days all along the lines of the allied
/ front, and il is certain that the enemy
/ then made one last great effort TO es-
tablish ascendancy. He, however, was
unsuccessful everywhere, and is re-
| ported TO have suffered heavy losses.
THE same futile attempts were
made all along our front up to the
/ evening of the 28th, when they died
away and have not since been renewed.
ION former occasions have brought
/ to your lordships notice the valuable
services performed during this cam
paign by the Royal Artillery.
Throughout the battle of the Asne
4 they have displayed the same skill,
| endurance and tenacity, and | deeply
appreciate the work they have done.
"Sir David Henderson and the Royal
Flying Corps under his command have
again proved their incaiculable value.
Great strides have been made in the
development of the use of aircraft in
! the tactical sphere by establishing ef-
/ tective communication between the air
craft and the units in action.
at is difficult to describe adequately
and accurately the great strain to
which the officers and men were sub
jected almost every hour of the day
and night throughout this battle.
! have described above the severe char
acter of the artillery fire, which was
directed from morning till night, not
only upon the trenches but over the
whole surface of the ground occupied
+ by our forces. 1t was not until "A few
days before the position was evacuated
that the heavy guns were removed and
the fire slackened. Attack and counter
attack occurred at all hours of the
right and day throughout the whole
position, demanding extreme vigilance
and permitting only minimum of rest.
"The fact that between September II
and the date of this dispatch October
81 the total number of killed, wounded
and missing reached the figures
amounting to 56l officers and 1880
men proves the severity of the strug-
gle.
"The tax on the endurance Of the
troops was further increased by the
heavy rain and cold which prevailed
for some ten or twelve days of this try
ing time.
"The battle of the Aisne has once
more demonstrated the splendid spirit,
gallantry and devotion which animate
the officers and men Of his majesty 5
( forces"