The Washington herald., 1914-12-04
BRITISH REPORT
LULL in BATTLE
No Progress Made by Either
Side in Flanders, Says
Eyewitness"
HIGH PRAISE FOR TROOPS
Story of Terrific Conflict Told by
staff Officer Of Field
Marshal French.
HIGH PRAISE FOR TROOPS
Warrington Herald.

SPECIAL Gable 10 The Washington Herald.
London. Dec. 3.-The official press bu.
reau tonight issued further account
by 'an eyewitness" OF recent opera.
tions in France and Belgium. 1t Is
dated Army Headquarters. November &c
and reads:
Recently there has been a Iull in
active operations. No progress has been
made by either side in our sphere OF
action and no change has occurred in
the situation. The British modification
comprising a readjustment Of our forces
which has been maturing for some
time. is now completed.
When the expeditIonary force was
transferred northward from the Aisne
TO the neighborhood Of the Belgian
frontier during the first days OF Oc-
tober. the task was TO prolOng the left
flank Of the French and to prosecute
farther north the action which they had
been so gallantly carrying on for a
month on their left. from SOissons TO
the north of Arras. and also 10 join
hands with the French and Belgian
forces on the coast.
Geographically the extent of the front
for which the British were responsible
during October was less than one
twelfth OF an immense line from Switzer-
land on the right to the English Channel
on the left, held by the allies. This being
so, il is obvious that a far greater share
of the common task of opposing the
enemy has fallen, and still falls to the
French, while the Belgians played an i'm
pOrtant and almost vital part. Our
casualties were heavy. but II must be
remembered that they were not suffered
in vain.
The duty of the French. Belgians and
British in the western theater Of opera
hnRn n hold and n kaaU
occupied as many of the enemy as pos
sible. while the Russians were attacking
in the east. In this we succeeded in play
ing a part by resistance that contributed
materially toward the success of the
campaign.
Our losses have not impaired our fight
ing efficiency. The troops required only
slight respite in order to continue the
action with as much determination as
ever. The phenomenal losses suffered
by the Germans new formations have
been remarked. They were in part due
to lack of training.
What the army has done cannot be
better expressed than in the concluding
words Of a special order recently issued
by the field marshal commander-in-chief.
II made calls upon you. The answers
which you made to them have covered
you. your regiments and the army with
honor and glory. Your fighting qualities.
your courage, and endurance have been
subjected to the most trying and severe
tests. You have proved yourselves wor-
thy descendants of the British soldiers
of the past. who built the magnificent
traditions OF your regiments. You have
not only maintained those traditions. but
you have materially added to their lus-
ter. II is impossible to find words to ex-
press my appreciation of the splendid
services you have performed"
The Germans are no unworthy foes In
spite of the strain of conducting a gi-
gantic struggle upon two fronts, they
continue to attack with courage which
is little abated by failure. but they have
not succeeded in gaining the straits Of
Dover