The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-30
GER MANS HELD
IN TRENCHES,
SAYS FRENCH
British Commander Tells of
Forced Inactivity in
the North.
BELIEVES BATTLE
Is NEARING IT'S END

LONDON. Nov. 2e.-The War Office
gave out tonight long despatch.
dated November 20. from Gen. Sir John
French detailing the operations in
Flanders.
The British commander says there are
signs that the Ipres- Armentieres battle
is possibly In its last stages. The enemy's
fire. he says. has slackened considerably
and their infantry attacks have practi-
cally ceased.
Gen. French discusses the situation
early in October. when he became i'm
pressed with the necessity Of bringing
the greatest possible force to bear to
support the Allies northern adnk, with
"A view to outhankng the enemy and
compelling him to evacuate his posi-
tons, as the enemys forces on the Aisne
had been weakened by continued
abortive futile attacks. After paying
tribute to the effective cooperation OF
Gen. Joffrc and his staff Gen. French
continues.
THE great battle may he said TO have
commenced ON October II when Gen
Coughs cavalry first came into con-
tact with the enemy. who was holding
the woods north of Bethune and the
Are Canal. These were cleared. after
which our men Joined hands with the
sixth cavalry division in the neighbor-
hood Of Hazebrouck. simultaneously
the right of the second cavalry division
connected with the left Of the Second
Corps after crossing the canal
Gen French then describes various
linking operations. which were met BY cor
responding cNtcns ons of ia" German line,
incidentally mentioning the difficult nature
Of the ground, which. being covered with
mining works and factories and remark
ably Nat. makes effective artillery support
most difficult
III was then the object" says Gen
French, TO get astr.de the La Bassee-Lille
road. IN tho neighborhood of Furnes. and
So threaten the flank and rear of tho
cucmy's position on the high ground south
% la Bassce
The position at la Rassce throughout
the battle DENIED all attempts Al capture
either by the French or Briusu
On October 10 Geu. Sm'th-Dorr.en HAD
made only slight progress. Tho Dorset
shire regiment suffered heavily. $50 being
KILLED.. ll lu''EE NV '''illl''ii'i''f -''''I'''
Roper. but Il maintained rs hold. Gen
S!r Hubert Hamilton. commander OF the
Third N.Siou. was killed on October ~.
Tho follow uE day the Third DIVISION
fought spleudidly and, after crossing on
plauks the dik's with which the country
: iutcrseotcd drove the enemy from one
lntrenched position To- another In the loop
holed villages. till they had pushed the
Germans OFF the Estaires-l-a Hassce road
Fighting over Wide Area.
Cen French then nos into detail in do
srrihiug "A long series Of attacks an"
counter attacks In which thor w'''
severe losses on both sides and various
positions were taken. bur often there was
little or no progress. The lHrg"s ~rtl"
map would alone enable one TO follow n"
operations in aud around the numerous
villages which are mentioned
Gen French pays - tribute o. IN"
operations Of cen. Sir Henry nawlins'n
in the neighbour 'od OF Ghent and Ant
werp IN projecting 'he Withdrawal OF ne
Belgian army IN the middle OF ortoher
The task. he says. was most dfhcult
owing 10 the importance OF holding all
the ground won. This compelled Gen.
Rawlinson 70 operate on a wide front
for some days. as no troops were available
to reinforce him,
The force of Gen Rawlnson had 20
encounter very superior forces and
rendered most signal services and showed
great gallan'ry Ger. Rawlinson's To-
flank was severely threatened on october
rs His force was not strong enough 10
capture Menin as had been directed and
the enemy remained in possession
ON October ~. Gen. French says a
question OF vital importance arose The
enemy was greatly superior in strength
on the Lys and the second, third and
fourth cavalry corps were holding much
wider front than their numbers war
rantcd
considering these facts alone saws
Gen. French. "it would have seemed wise
20 send the first CORPS 10 strengthen m"
,ine. but this would have left In" coun-
try east and north of Ypros and the
Nprcs Canal open to wide turning
movement by tho German force wAich
was known 10 be In that region Will" Il
was also known that the Germans were
bringing large rernforcements from thr
east which could be opposed T r several
DAYS only by two or ,hrec French
cavalry divisions, som" French terri
torals and tho Belgian army.
After their hard lighting the Rclgiaus
were not in condition to stand such an
attack unsupported and unless substantial
resistance could be offered 20 this
threatened turning movement the allied
flank mus, he turned and the Channel
ports laid bare 10 the enemy ! judged
that "a successful movemen: Of this kind
would be sraught with such consequences
that the nj, X Of operating ON 80 extended
a front Ilust he undertaken and ! di-
rected Gen. Sir Douglas IIaig to move
with the first corps To the north OF Ypres.
"From HE best Information AT my dis
pOsal ! Judged that the considerable re-
endorsements which the enemy had un-
doubleday brought M had been directed
principally on the Lys and against the
second corps at La Bassee and that Gen.
Iiaig would probably not be opposed
north of Nprcs by much more than the
third reserve corps, which ! knew had
suffered considerably In previous opera
tions. and perhaps one laudwchr division
Force sent Against Bruges.
"On October 10 I Instructed Gen lIaig
10 advance with the First Corps through
Ypres 20 ThOurOut. The object was to
capture Bruges subsequently and. il pos
sible. 10 drive the enemy toward Ghent
In case of AN Unforeseen situation arising
~ the enemy proving stronger than was
anticipated he was to decide after pass-
ing Nprcs, according to the situation
whe her to attack the enemy lying to the
north or to hustle forces from the east. 1
Continued on Third Page.