Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-16
GENERAL VILLA IS CRUSHNY DEFEATED IN SECOND BATTLE At CELAA

The village The 23rd brigade was
slill held up in front of the enemy's
wire entanglements and could not pro-
sress. Heavy losses were suffered,
especially in the MiddleseX regiment
and the Scottish rifles.
The progress, however, of the Goth
brigade into Neuye Chapelle immedi-
ately TO the south of the 23rd brigade
had the effect Cf turning the south
crn flank of the enemy's defenScs in
front of the 23rd brigade.
This fact, combined with powerful
artillery support, enabled the 23rd
brigade To get forward between 10
and | a. m, ana by IL o'clock the
whole village of Neuve Chapelle and
the roads leading northward and
southwestward from the eastern end
Of that village We're in our hands.
During this time our artillery COM
pletely cut off the village and sur
rounding country from any German
reinforcements which could be thrown
into the fight to restore the situation
by means of certain shrapnel fire.
Prisoners subsequently reported that
all attempts at reinforcing the front
were checked. Steps were at once
taken to consolidate the positions
won.
Considerable delay occurred after
the capture Of the Neuve Chapellc
position. The infantry was greatly
disorganized by the violent nature of
the attack and its passage through
the cnemy's trenches and the build
ings of the village. II was necessary
To get the units TO some extent to-
gether before pushing on. The tele-
phonic communication being cut by
the enemy's fire rendered commune
cations between the front and the real
most difficult. The fact Of the left
Of the Twenty third brigade having
been held up had kept back the
Eighth division and had involved q
portion of the Twenty-fiftb brigade in
fighting to the north out Of its proper
direction of advance. All this re-
quired adjustment An orchard held
by the enemy north Of NeWe Chapellt
also threatened the flank Of AM ad-
vance toward the Aubrs bridge.
Resistance Paralyzcd.
Il am of the opinion that this delay
would not have occurred, had the
clearly expressed order of the general
commanding the first army been care
fully observed.
"The difficulties above enumerated
might have been overcome earlier in
the day if the general officer com
manding the fourth corps had been
able to bring his reserve brigades
more speedily into action. As it was
a further advance did not commence
until before $3.50 p m. The Twenty
first brigade was able to form in the
open on the left without a shot being
fired at il, thus showing that Mt the
time, the enemys resistance had beer
paralyzed.
THE brigade pushed forward in the
direction of Moulin -Du-Pietre. Al
first it made good progress, but was
subsequently held mp by machine guf
fire from houses and from Z defended
work in the line of the German en-
trenchments opposite the height o.
the Twenty second brigade.
Further to the south the Twenty
fourth brigade, which had been di
rected on Pietre, was similarly hell
up by machine guns in houses anC
trenches. The Twenty-fifth brigade
on the right of the Twenty-fourth, wal
also held up by machine guns, from {
bridge held by the Germans over th'
river Les Layes, to the northwest o.
| Bois- Du-BieZ.
while two brigades of the Meeru
division were establishing them
selves on q new line, the Dehra Dur
brigade, supported by the Jullundel
brigade Of the Lahore division moved
to the attack Of the Bois-Du- -Biez bu
were help up on the line of the river
Les Layes by German post at thu
bridge which enfiladed them ant
brought them to a standstill.
"The defended bridge over the rivel
! Les Iayes and its neighborhood i'm
mediately assumed considerable i'm
portance. While the artillery fire wa'
brought to bear as far as circum
stances would permit on this point
General Sir Douglas Haig directed thu
first corps to dispatch one or mor'
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