Evening star., 1915-04-15
OFFICER IS BLAMED
FOR BATTLE ERROR
British Robbed of Full Fruits
of Victory at Neuve
ChapeIIe.
GEN. FRENCH REPORTS
LOSSES OF THOUSANDS
Says Enemy Also Left Great Num-
per of Dead on Field-Cana-
dians Are Praised

LONDON. April 14.-Fieid Marshal
81 John French. commander OF the
British expeditionary forces on the
continent, reports the British losses in
the three days fighting at Neuvre Cha
pelle as follows: Killer, 100 officers.
.231 mens wounded. 35s officers, S,114
other ranks: missing, 23 officers, 1.12S
men
Eieid Marshal Frenchs report con-
tf3ues: 'The enemy left several thou
s;lnd dead on the field, and We have
positive information that upward or
1"mn0 wounded We're removed by tram
Thirty officers and 1,6a1 of other ranks
we're captured"
Order Not Carried Out.
Tue British commanders dispatch
concerning the battle of Neuve Cha-
pelIe hich began early in March, is
lengthy and says. with other things:
considerable delay occurred after
The capture of Neuve Chapelle and the
infantry was greatly disorganized.
am of the opinion that this delay would
not have occurred had the clearly e&-
pressed order of the general oHcer
commanding the first army been more
carefully observed
Field Marshal French fails TO reveal
the name Of the officer whom ne 50
sitarply blalnes for the delay which
robbed the British Of the full fruits OF
heir victory at Neuve Chapeiie
Commanders Message.
Field Marshal French's report which
covers the battles Of Eeuve ChapeIe
and -. Eoi, under date Of April .. was
published IN the Official Gazette today
The commander-in-ch chief writes:
The event of chief interest and i'm
portance which has taken place Is the
victory achieved over the enemy in the
battle of Neuve Chapelle. which was
fought March 10. II and l..
"'..'he main attack was delivered by
the troops of the 1st Army, under COM
mJud OF Gen. Sir Douglas Hais, sup
s"Fte5 by a large force of heavy artll-
lerv. ! division of cavalry and some
infantry of the General Reserve. Sec
uadary and holding attacks and demon
Slr..tipaS We're made along the front OF
ID Army, under direction of its com
n;.nder. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien.
Praises Gen. Haig.
Whilst the success attained was due
to the magnificent bearing and indom-
liable courage displayed by the troops
OF the French and Indian corps, l con-
slider that the able and skiilful dispo-
sitions which were made by the gen
eral officer commanding the 1st Army
contributed largely to the defeat of the
enemy and TO the capture of his posi-
ton The energy and vigor with which
Gen. Sir Douglas Haig handled his
command shows him to be leader Of
great ability and power
Infantry Disorganized.
Considerable delay occurred after
the capture of the Neuve Chapelle po-
sition. The infantry was greatly dis
organized by the violent nature of the
attack and by its passage through the
enemy's trenches and the buildings of
the vilI2sA. 1t was necessary to get
the units TO some extent together be-
fore pushing on. The telephone COM
rnunication being cut by the enemy's
fire rendered communications between
the front and the rear most dihcult.
..Tile fact of the left of the 23d Brigade
ha wing been held up had kept back the
Sth Division and had involved portion
Of the 25th Brigade in fighting to the
north, out of its proper direction of ad-
vance All this required adjustment. An
orchard held by the enemy north of
Neuve Chapelle also threatened the flank
of an advance toward the Aubers bridge.
Order Not Observed.
Il am of the opinion that this delay
would not have occurred had the clearly
E ef,rs-sSed order Sf the general officer com
raaI.l.ng the first army been carefully
observed.
The difficulties above enumerated
might have been overcome earlier in the
day if the general officer commanding
tne ith Corps had been able to bring his
reserve brigades more speedily into
action
Referring what he terms the
iasrhabe rromptitude in the arrival OF
reiuforGrrneuts from England. the field
!ahai calls attention TO the fact that
in spit' uf the heavy casualties in the
hr-tin- between he 10Th and 18th of