Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-03


brigade first clashed with German cav
airy in the woods along the Bethune-
Aire canal.
The English cavalry moved toward
Hazebrouck, clearing the way for two
army corps which advanced repidly in a
northeasterly direction. For several days
the progress of the British was only
slightly interrupted except at La Bassee,
high position which Field Marshal
French mentions as having stubbornly re-
sisted.
Field Marshal French says the End
army corps under General Smith Dor
rien was opposed by overpowering
forces of Germans, but nevertheless,
advanced until october 49, when the
enemys opposition forced a reinforce
men. Of the End corps Six days later
the Lahore division of the Indian army
was sent to support the 2nd corps.
On October 16 Sir Henry Rawlinson
vas stationed on the line east of Ypres
under orders to operate over a wide
front and to keep possession of all the
ground held by the allies until the list
army corps could reach Ypres
General Rawlinson was opposed by
superior forces and was unable to
prevent the Germans from getting
large reinforcements Field Marshal
French then decided to send the 1st
corps north of Ypres to stoy the Ger
man reinforcements which might en-
able them to flank the allies, The
shattered Belgian army and the worn
French troops endeavors to check the
German reinforcement5 were power
less so Field Marshal French sent
fresh troops to prevent the enemy ex-
ecuting movements which would have
given him access to channel ports.
Sir Douglas Haig with the first army
corps was sent October 10 to capture
Bruges and drive the enemy back toward
Client, If possible. Meantime the Bel
gians entrenched themselves along the
Ypres canal. Field Marshal French COM
mends the valor of the Begians who
maintained these positions gallantly.
Because of the overwhelming numbers
of the Germans opposing them, Field
Marshal French says he enjoined de-
fensive role by the three army corps
located south of Ypres.
BAYONET CHARGES
The fighting gradually became bayonet
charges. Field Marshal French says that
October 21 brought forth the hardest at
tack, made on the first corps at Ypres,
in the great battle according to Field
Marshal French, who says the recapture
of the village Of Gheluvelt through a
rally of the Worcestershire regiment was
fraught With much consequence to the
allies.
After referring to some OF the battles
in which the Indian troops took part
Field Marshal French says:
Since their occupation of the line
allotted to them, I have been much i'm
pressed by the initiative and resource
displayed by the Indian troops. Our In
dian sappers and miners have long en-.
joyed a high reputation for skill apd re.
source. 7 can confidently assert thai
throughout their work in this campaign
they ahve fully justified that reputa.
ton
General French goes on to say thai
while the whole line continued to be
heavily pressed the enemy's principa
efforts from November I had been con
centrated upon breaking through the line
held by the First British and the Ninth
French corps and thus gaining possession
Of the town of Ypres. Three Bavariar
and one German corps, in addition tc
other troops, were directed against this
northern line.
PRUSSIANS MOVE UP.
About November 10, after several units
of these corps had been completely shat
tered in futile attacks, General French
continues, a division of the Prussiar
guards was moved up to this area with
great speed and secrecy
Documents found on dead officers
the report says proved that the guart
received the German Emperors specia
command to break through.
They took the leading part in tn,
vigorous attacks made against the cen
ter on the eleventh and twelfth. say
Field Marshal French, but were re
pulsed with enormous casualties.
Field Marshal French pays higl
tribute to Sir Douglas Haig and hi
divisional and brigade commanders
who, he says, held the line with mar
velous tenacity and undaunted cour
age"
High praise also is paid the thirt
cavalry division under Major Genera
Julian Bying. Field Marshal Frencl
makes special mention of Col. Gordon
Chesney Wilson of the Royal Hors
Guards Major the Honorable Hugh
Dawnay of the Second Life Guards ant
Brig adier General Fitzclarence of tn
Irish guards, who were killed. and o
Brigadier General. the Earl of Cavan
OF the flying corps the report says:
Every day new methods OF employing
them, both strategically and tactically
are discovered and putinto practice"
Concerning the territorials, the fell
marshal says the conduct and bearing o
these units under fire has imbued m
with the highest hope as to the value an
the help of the territorial troops gener
ally"
ON THE WAY To THE FRONT.
We took what was said to be the las