The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-15
Sir John French Submits
Report of Bloody Vic
tory Won by His Troops
Over Germans
TEUTONS ALSO LOST
HEAVILY; NEARLY 1000
TAKEN PRISONERS
Detailed Account of Eng
lands Biggest Land Vic
tory Given by Army Com
mander in Chief

London, April 14.-Q2:50 p. m.)
Field Marshal Sir John French, CON-
mander of the British expeditionary
forces on the continent, reports the
British losses in the three days fight
ing at Neuve Chapel as follows:
Killed, 100 officers, 1887 men.
Wounded. s59 officers. s174 other
ranks.
Missing, 90 officers. 1928 men.
Field Marshal Frenchs report con-
flnues; THE enemy left several thou
sand dead in field and we have posi-
tive information that upward of H.
600 wounded We're removed by train,
Thirty officers and 1857 of other ranks
Were captured
The British commanders dispatch
concerning the battle of Neuve Chap
pei which began early ip March, IS
lengthy and says among other things:
considerable delay occurred after
the capture of Neuve Chapel and the
infantry was greatly disorganized.
am of the opinion that this delay would
not have occurred had the clearly ex-
pressed order of the general officer
commanding the first army been more
carefully observed"
Field Marshal Frenchs report which
covers the battles of Neuve Chapel and
St Eloi, under date of April ;, was pub
lished in the Official Gazette today. The
commander in chief writes:
"The event of chief interest and i'm
portance is the victory achieved over the
enemy In the battle oil Neuve Chapel
fought March 10, II and Y.
The main attack was delivered by the
troops OF the First army, under Gen. Sir
Douglas Haig, supported by a large force
OF heavy artillery a division of cavalry
and some infantry of the general reserve
Secondary and holding attacks and
demonstrations were made along the front
OF the Second army, under direction of its
commander, Sir Horace Snith-Dorrien
whilst the success attained was due
TO the magnificent bearing and indomitrs.
bic courage displayed by the troops oi
the Fifth and Indian corps, consider that
the able and skillful dispositions which
were made by the general officer COM
manding the First army contributed large
ly to the defeat of the enemy and to the
capture OF his position. The energy and
Nigor with which Gen. Sir Douglas Haig
handled his command show him to be a
leader of great ability and power.
Another action of considerable i'm
rortance was brought about by surrlise
attack made by the Germans on March
IA against the Twenty-seventh division
holding the trenches east of st. Eloi A
large force of artillery was concentrated
- this area under the cover of a midst
and a heavy volume of fire was suddenly
brought to bear on the trenches.
AT o'ciock in the afternoon this ar
fllery attack was accompanied by two
mine explosions, and in the confusion
caused by these and by the suddenness
of the attack the position of st. Eloi was
captured and held for some hours by the
enemy.
well directed and vigorous counter at
tacks, in which the troops of the Fifth
army corps showed great bravery and
determination, restored the situation by
the evening of the 18TH
Describes Operations
The dispatch describes the opera
tons leading up TO the attack on the
town, saying:
"On February a brilliant action
by the troops of the first corps ma
terially improved our position in the
area south of La Bassee canal Dur
ing the previous night parties of the
Irish guards and the Third battalion
OF the Colostfeam guards had gained
ground from which a converging fire
could be directed on the flanks and
rear of brick stacks occupied by the
Germans which had been for sometime
a source of considerable annoyance. At
r. M. the affair commenced with a
severe Commandment of the brick
stacks and the enemy's trenches
"A brisk attack by the Coldstream
guards and Irish guards from our
trenches west of the brick stacks fol-
lowed and was supported by the fire
from the thanking position which had
been seized the previous night by the
same regiments.
'"The attack succeeded. the brick
stacks were occupied and a line was
established north and south through a
point about 40 yards east of the bricis
stacks
'The casualties suffered by the fifth
corps throughout the period under re-
view and particularly during the
month OF February have been heavier
than those on other parts of the line.
(Contfnned ON Page Ninel