The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-15
ERROR CAUSED BIG LOSS
TO BRITISH IN VICTORY

hsrt The Eighth division became IN. I
volved vt'h q portion ~ tho Twenty
nth Brigade. hghting 20 the north put
~ tho proper direction Of our advance
Nn orchard he'd by the enemy north OF
Ieuve Cnapelle also Threatened tho nauk
- our advance toward the Aupcrs Ridge
II am OF the opinion that this DELAY
would not have occurred had w. clearly
'ypreseei order Of tho General OF the
First Army been more carefully oh
served
"Our further Sdvanre did not corn-
rnencc before 2 40 = VI The Twenty
frpt Brigade was able 70 form up In tho
open on tho left without q snot - ing
Ared At II, Thurs showing that at that
time rae enernys resistance had been
parAlyzed. Tho Brigade pushed forward
in the direction % the Moulin du pretre
and az first made good progress. but
ras subsequently held m by machine
gun frs from houses in Inc with the
German Entertainments. The Twenty
fourth Brigade, which rad been directed
against the Moulin du Pretre. was also
held UP by machine guns In houses and
trenches At the junction OF the road
"Six hundrc,l yards northwest ~ N"
Moulin du pretr" the Twenty-htth
Brigade. on the right ~ the Twenty
fourth was also held M by machine gums
n
whils two brigades Of tho M-erut Di-
vision were establishing Themselves on
4 new line the Dehra Dun Brigade. sup
ported hy the Iuliaudar Brigade Of the
Lahore DIVISION, NOV ed to attack tho
pois du Biez but was held IN on the
line Of the River dos T.ayes by Ger.
man post a. the bridge which cnf'laded
them ard brought them 20 standsuil.
"W'hile our artillery fire was brought
t. H~s =
las Haig directed the First Corps 20
despatch one more battalion Of tn
First Bri gade IN support the troops sup
porting tho bridge Three battalions
we're sent 20 Richbourg-St Vast
Meanwhile darkness was coming on and
the enemy brought NJ reenforc"men,s,
10 no further progress could be made.
"1he First Corps attacked IN tho morn
ing from Gveuchy simultaneously with
the attack against Neuve Chapelic As
The enerny's wir. ENGAGEMENTS had been
insufiicently cut little progress could be
made. but tho troops held fast along
the German front
'On March II the attack was renewed
nv the Fourth Corps and also tn" Indian
Corps. but II was seen that further adj
wnce woull be Impossible until our
artillery had dealt with various houses
and well defended localities which held
NJ the troops along the entire front
Efforts were made to direct our artillery
Nre against these points, hut owing 70
the weather and the fact that nearly AL
tho telephone communications had been
cut Il was impossible 20 do 50 with &C.
curacy. When our troops which were
pressing forward. occupied a house here
ard there " was not possible to ston
our artillery and our troops had to he
withdrawn.
ron the i2th the same unfavornh'e
weather conditions prevailed and ham
p~red our artillery. although tho Fourth
Corps and also Tho Indian corps ga'.
lantiy attempted 10 capture stro' 90
fortified positions or their front. They
we're unable. however. 10 maintain
themselves there
violent Attacks.
The operations % this day were
chiefly remarkable for violent counter
attacks supported by artillery delivered
by the Germans, and for the ease with
which these attacks were repulsed
AS most OF the objects for which
,hesn operations were undertaken had
been obtained I directed Gen. Sir
Douglas Haig on the right OF he 18th
- hold and consolidate the ground
which he had gained and 10 suspend
further offensive operations for tho
present.
In spite % .he heavy casualties IN
Cured between tho 10Th and tho 18th
NJ March" says Gen. French IN con-
Guiding this part OF the report. "ihe
deficiencies I'm officers and men were
made good iu q few days. \. the con-
clusion of the battle the general health
~ IN. army Was excellent and 10 recur-
renoa hal been reported Of the foot
trouble which appeared 20 he threaten
ins In January
Sir John French drvotos part Of his
roport 10 high tribute paid to the
Canadian troops,
"On the lj.A OF February" hc says.
the Canadian division began to arrive.
7 inspected N" division. which was UNI