Evening star., 1915-03-28

The German Defeat at Ypres.
The enemy had now begun an attack
more important than it's predecessor,
in view Of the numbers engaged in it.
This attack was intended as a renewal
to the south Of an effort which had Just
been shattered in the north. Instead
of turning our flank on the coast it
was now sought to drive in the right
Of our northern army under the shock
Of powerful masses. This was the bat
tie of Ypres.
In order to understand this long. des-
perate and furious battle we must
hark back few days in point of time.
At the moment when our cavalry
reached Roulers and Cortemark (Octo-
Der 1S), our territorial divisions from
Dunkirk. under Gen. Bidon, occupied
and organized a defensive position at
Ypres. 1t was poid d'appui. enabling
US to prepare and maintain our connec-
tions with the Belgian army. From
October % two British and French
position, which was to be the base OF
their forward march in the direction OF
Roulers- -Menin. The delay, already ex-
planned. and the strength Of the forces
brought up by the enemy soon brought
to standstill our progress along the
vorde. Gheluvelt. But in spite OF the
stoppage here, Ypres was solidly COW
cred and the connections of all the al
ued FORCES were established. Against
the line thus formed the German attack
was hurled from October 25 to Novem-
Der 13 to the north, the east and the
south of Ypres. From October 26 on
the attacks were renewed daily with
extraordinary violence, obliging US to
place reinforcements at most threaten
ed positions as soon as they came up.
Thus, October 81, we were obliged to
send supports to the British cavalry.
then to the British corps. between
which the cavalry formed the connect
ing link, and. finally, to intercalate
between these two corps a force equiv
alent to two army corps.
Between october 80 and November 6
Ypres was several times in danger. The
British lost Zandvorde, Gheluvelt. Mes
sines and Wytschaete. The front OF
more difficult to defend; but defended
1t was without a recoil. The arrival OF
three French divisions in our line en-
abled US to resume from the 4th to
10th and the 18th this offensive.
brought up against fresh and sharper
German attacks, was checked.
Before 1t could be renewed the ar
awaited. which were dispatched to the
north on November II. By the 14th
our troops had again begun to pro-
gress. barring the road to Ypres
against the German attacks, and in
mcting on the enemy who advanced in
massed formation losses which were
especially terrible in consequence of
the fact that the French and British
artillery had crowded nearly three
hundred guns on to these few kilo-
meters OF front.
Thus the main mass of the Germans
sustained the same defeat as the de-
tachments operating further to the
north along the coast. The support
which, according to the idea of the
German general stan. the attack on
Ypres was to render to the coastal
attack, was as futile as that attack
itself had been.
During the second half of November
the enemy was exhausted and lost in
the battle of Ypres alone more than
100000 men. He did not attempt to re-
new his effort. but confined himself to
an intermittent cannonade. We, on
the contrary. achieved appreciable
progress to the north and south of
Ypres. and insured definitely by
powerful defense organization of the
position the invio1ability of our front.
The compiler Of the report here adds
a footnote stating that over 10000
German corpses were found on the
battlefield during these three weeks
of battle.