Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-16
Field Marshal Sir John French
Continues Report of Opera
tons Against German IN
vaders in Western Zone
FIERCE ATTACK TO AID
RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN
Also Necessary to Give Eng
Iish Forces Something to
Do, After Long Wait in the
Trenches, for Moral Effect


Tondon. April 15.-Field Mafshal
ets John French, in continuing ms
renort on operations Of the Brush eN-
peditlonary force, writes:
"nuring the month of February, ]
arranged with General Foch to render
the Ninth French corps, holeing the
trenches to my left, some much need
ed rest sending the three divisions
Of the British cavalry corps to hold
! norton of the French trenches
and each division for period OF ten
days alternately.
Iii was very gra flying 10 me to
note once again in this campaign the
eager readiness which the cavalry dis
played TO undertake a role when
does not properly belong to them, ID
order to support and assist their
French comrades"
Referring 10 Neuve Chapelle ana
the considerations leading up TO TINS
ihe field marshal says:
10 Aid Russian Movement.
about the end of February many
vital considerations induced me to be-
lieve that vigorous offensive move-
ment by the troops under my com
mand should be planned and carried
ont ut the earliest possible moment
Among the more Important reasons
which convinced me of this necessity
were: The general aspect of the al
lied situation throughout Europe ana
particularly the marked success of
the Russian army IN repelling the
violent onslaughts of Marshal Won
Hindenburg; the apparent weakening
Ct the enemy on my front, and the
necessity for assisting our Russian al
lies to the utmost by holding as many
hostile troops as possible in the west
ern theater, the efforts to this end
which we're being made by the French
forces at Arras and in Champagne,
and-perhaps the most weighty con-
sideration Of ALL the need of foster
ing the offensive spirit i'm the troops
under my command after the trying
ana possible enervating experiences
which they had gone through In a
severe winter in the trenches.
Weather Imposed Drawback.
in a former dispatch | commented
upon the drawbacks which the winter
weather in this climate imposes upon
vigorous offensive. Early IN March
these difficulties became greatly les
sened by the drying up of the country
and by spells of brighter weather.
u do not propose in this dispatch
10 enter at length into the consider
atoms which actuated me in deciding
upon the plan, time and place of my
attack. As mentioned above, the
main attack was carried out by units
OF the first army, supported by
troops of tho second army and the
general reserve. The object of the
main attack was to be the capture or
the village Of Neuve Chapelle and the
enemy's position at that point, and tho
establishment OF our line as far for
ward as possible to the east OF that
place.
The object, nature and scope OF
the attack and the instructions for
the conduct of the operations were
communicated by me to Sir Douglas
Iialg IN secret memorandum dated
February 49,"
Opening of Battle.
General French after describing the
man typographical features and
showing how the Germans had es-
laplished a strong post with numer-
GUS machine guns among the big
houses, behind walls and in the or
chafds which flanked the approaches
70 the village, proceeds:
The battle opened at 1880 O'Clock
the morning of the tenth of March
" powerful bombardment of the
eenlemys position in Neuve Chapelle.
me artillery bombardment had been
wen prepared and was most effective,
..Ncept on the extreme northern por-
uoil OF the front of attack.
Al sos o'clock, the 23rd and 25th
pilsades of the eighth division as
saulted the German trenches on the
northwest of the village At the
same hour the Carnival brigade of the
4Neerut british India) division, which
V0eeupied a position to the south OF
MeuVe Chapelle, assaulted the German
lehches in its front. The Carnival
,urlsade and the 25th brigade carried
w enemy's lines of entrenchment
%iefe the wire entanglements had
I'm almost entirely swept away by
our shrapnel, fire.
.. Entanelcments INTERVIEWED.
me 23rd brigade. however, on the
,noIlheast was held up by wire en-
easements which were not suffi-
ti,,ntly cut At $40 O'Clock the ar
@ iy was turned on Neuve Chapelle
,l ana &C 6:S5 o'clock the advance of the
~ thhiailtry was continued. The 25th and
,ne carnival brigades pushed on east
I ".uu ana northeastward respectively
'''u succeeded In getting a footing In