Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-17
FRENCH PRAISES VARIOUS
BRANCHES OF HIS ARMY:
Writes History OF Land Battles Cow
ering Period of November 20
10 February 2.
KINGS PRESENCE ENCOURAGES
Report Gives Details Of Number of
Small Incidents = Flying Corps
Performs Splendid service.
Troops Are EulOgized.


Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
LONDON, February 16.-What might
be termed as history OF the land fight
ing in which the British troops were
engaged. written by Field Marshal Sir
John French, and covering the period
from November 90 to February 2, was
made public by the press bureau this
afternoon. In this review General
French euloEizes the various branches
OF his army, and says:
II may mention in particular the
fine appearance of Twenty seventh and
Twenty eighth Divisions. composed
principally of the battalions from In
dia included in the former division
was Princess Patricia's Royal Cana
dian Regiment. They are magnif-
cent set of men, and have done excel
lent work in the trenches"
81 have no reason to modify to any
materia! degree my views of the gem
eral military situation expressed in
my dispatch of November 90" the re-
port says.
"a salient feature Of the period was
the presence of the King, whith was
troops The Prince OF Wales joined
the staff November l6
During the experiences OF heavy
hEhting, which ended in the last week
/ OF November, the French and British
F., FORCES had become somewhat mixed ur
cntailinR certain amount OF difficulty
in the matter of supply and in securing
! unity OF command. BY the end Of No
'enher was able to concentrate my
army in one era and to establish effec-
| tive reserves.
CONSIDERABLE FALLING OFF
! IN ARTILLERY FIRE
"RT the end OF December there was
II considerable falling off In the volume
OF artillery fire against our front by
the enemy. Reconnaissance reports
h1f ,tat-
tllery had been withdrawn We
judged also that the cavalry except
from one division OF the guard, had
! disappeared. There did not appear to
, he a great diminution I'm the infantry
| holding the trenches"
Continuing, the report gives details
! "f number OF small accommodating
and patrol incidents On November %.
IL" One Hundred and Twelfth Rcgi-
'nent OF the Fourteenth Germany Army
Cops captured 500 yards Of trenches
held u" the indian corps. The Mecrut
division made Il powerful attack In the
night time. and by daybrcak the line
Was entirely re-establshed The oper-
alton was costly one. involving many
casualties. About hundred men wero
taken prisoners. including three of
hcers. Then English captured three
machine gums and two trench mortars.
ON December - concentration Of the
indian corps WAS COMPLETED by the ar
rival OF the lIrhnnd Brigade, from
EGYPT. The enemy OF December com
mcnced strong attack against the
Third Corps. but We're driven back
with heavy losses. The attack was NOT
; renewed. The British casualties were
slight
LARGE FORCES ARE
WTTHDHAWN FROM WEST
During the early days Of December"
, General French continues. Certain in
dlcations along the whole front in
duced the French commanders and my
self to believe that the enemy had with
drawn considerable forces from the
western theatre. Arrangements were
made with the French army to COM
ihcnce an attack on the morning Of the
fourteenth, when combined heavy ar
tillcry bombardment was oDencn bv The
French and the Second British corps
The Royal Scots Regiment alta kcd
'hr fttt bois near the village OF
N!tsehaete Facing terrific gun
hre 'hey carried a German trench and
captured two machine guns and my
prisoners. The Gordon lIiuhl,nders
forced the enemy to evacuate the front
trench. but We're finally compelled 10
ia!i back TO their original position
The French division on the left was
unable TO progress. The possession
or the western edge OF the Petit Bois
was however. retained. Our casual
yes were seventeen officers and 407
men The losses Of the enemy were
, very considerable. Large numbers OF
dead were found In the Petit Rois.
hundred were found in one trench
ENEMY's ADVANCED
TRENCHES CAPTURED
An attack by the Meerut Division
: on the left on the 10th was at first
! attended with considerable success
IL" chemys advanced trenches were
, .ap'ured' but a counterattack drove
ne indians back 10 their original posi-
In I,-i
TWO rows OF trenches but cyentu,rv
i"u 10 Nacate them. On December 40
he enemy bombarded heavily and al
; lacked with infantry the Indian front
ur!IlhS pack the Kirkland brigade and
capturing from the Indians A consid-
: cradle part OF Givcnchy The othcr
, ti'"i"h regiments stood firm and with
= ne "'her British regiments 'attcmpted
20 fecapture the lost trenches Tho
; rWo British regiments recan,ura1
GiNenchy. and also Two Inns 90
trenches 10 the northeast TIL. onc,,,
} H''it possessed our trenches north ~
s'!IaSe our Counterattacks
II Lcached Inc enemys trenches. but was
: ntNsil PACK by an enf,ladr fire Com
=. inahder Lieutenant Colonel Iemfriese
- was killed In the main attack
ny counterattncking the forces were
. ,h"i'y pushed In. and they also failed
-, ~, me northern section OF the defensive
: !ine. The left nari. OF the Se,for,t
= liighlandcrs was much 3xposed amd -
f!ith Battalion was shortly left COM.
r',s!! IN the air by tho retirement
OF me supporting Indian brigade
II" liighlandcrs and tho 1,a,o,
I't''hchts were heavily ATTACHED
throughout the day The Highlapders
suffered heavily. hut maintained Their
II posiioh until strong endorsements OF
SSNt' al brisadcs were moved up the
F!rst brigade obtained a hold @
SINehchH at 10 T.. NJ, and the supp..,t.
l. ing trenches 10 the west OF the orch,rd
: were carried N''"' y"
e, INDIAN TROOPS FIGHT
u WITH GREAT GiLI.4STn,.
= AT T. NJ. on the 22d. Sir Dou.l,,
a,m's .o.n command. In the evening
1 our position at Givenchv vas n-,rtin,I
s. ~ re-estahlished. During the 23d tha