Evening star., 1915-03-28

in the Lille district and further to the
north.
The Arrival of the Belgian Army.
There remained the Belgian army. On
leaving Antwerp. October 9. the Bel
gfan army. which was covered by 5000
British bluejackets and 5000 French
bluejackets, at first intended to retire
as far as to the north of Calais. but
afterward determined to make a stand
the condition of the Belgian troops.
exhausted by struggle of more than
three months. did not allow any imme-
diate hopes to be based upon them.
This situation weighed on our plans
and delayed their execution.
Ypres. Messines, Neuve Eglise. Mer-
Vile, Lestrem. Richeboug, st. Vast.
The 10th we made progress to the
east of Ypres The 18th our cavalry
even reached Roulers and Cortemark.
But it was now evident that in view
German right our left was not capable
of maintaining the advantages OBJ
tafned during the previous few days.
To attain our end and make our front
sary. That effort was Immediately made
by the dispatch to the north OF the
Lys of considerable French forces
which formed the French army of Bel
gium
The French Army of Belgium.
The French army Of Belgium consist
ed, to begin with, of two territorial
divisions. four divisions Of cavalry and
a. naval brigade. Directly after its
constitution it was strengthened by
elements from other points on the
front, whose arrival extended from
October q to November IL. Those re-
Inducements were equivalent alto
gether in value to five army corps. a
division OF cavalry, territorial di-
vision and sixteen regiments OF cav
airy. plus sixty pieces Of heavy artil-
lery.
Thus was completed the strategic
maneuver defined by the instructions
of the general in-chief September II
and developed during the five follow
ing weeks with the ampleness we have
carried out during this period were
combined with the pur-
suit of operations, both defensive and
offensive, from the Oise to the North
sea.
October % our left. bounded six
rested on Nieuport. thanks to the sue
cessive deployment of five fresh armies
three French armies. the British
army and the Belgian army.
Thus the coordination decided upon
by the generalin-chief attained its
end. The barrier was established. 1t
remained to. maintain it against the
en- emy's offensive. That was the object
and the result OF the battle of Elan
ders, October % to November 10.
The German Attack in Flanders.
Th, ro,,to~,, fo %be Fourtb ;ns+o,Ir,opt
then takes up the operations in Elan
ders, as follows:
The German attack in the two Flan-
ders was conducted strategically and
with remarkable energy. The
complete and indisputable defeat in
which it resulted is therefore signifi-
cant.
The forces which the enemy disposed
for this operation between the sea and
the Lys comprised:
% The entire fourth army, COM
by the Duke of Wurttemberg,
consisting Of one naval division, one
had received no training before the
war;, which was liberated by the fall
Of Antwerp, the 22d, 23d, 26th and 9th
Reserve Corps and the 18th Division,
belonging to the gath Reserve Corps
(2) A portion of another army under
Gen. Won Fabeck. consisting of the
18th Corps, two Bavarian corps and
three (unspecifed) divisions.
go Part of the sixth army, under the
of the Crown Prince of Ba-
varia. This army. more than a third
of which took part in the battle of
Flanders, comprised the 18th Army
Corps. portions of the 18th Corps and
the 18th Reserve Corps. the 7th and
the 14th Corps. the 1st Bavarian Re
serve Corps. the guards and the 4th
Army Corps. ... ...
a. Four h ghly mobile cavalry corps
prepared and supported the action of
the troops enumerated above Every
thing possible had been done to fortify
the morale of the troops. At the be-
Of Bavaria in a proclamation had ex-
horted his soldiers ito make the de-
cisive effort against the French left
wing" and "to settle thus the fate of
the great battle which has lasted for
weeks"
October 2s Prince Rupprecht Of Ba-
varia declared in an army order that
Under very difficult conditions" and,
ne added TT is our business now not
to let the struggle with our most de-
tested enemy drag on longer, the de-
,isive blow is still to be struck"
October 30 Gen. Won Deimling, COM
the 18th Army Corps (belong-
ng to Gen. Won Fabeck's command),
thrust against Ypres will be of de-
cisive Importance"
Emperor Went in Person.
1t should be noted also that the en-
oeror proceeded in person to Thielt
md Courtrai to exalt by his presence