Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-22
SINGLE YARD GAIN
OFTEN OF VALUE
Frequently Enables Possessor to
Act With Greater Effect Than
Otherwise Is Possible.
FIGHTING AT CLOSE RANGE
Official Eyewitness" Gives Ac-
count Of Operations at Neuve
Chapelle.

LONDON March 2l.--The following
official eyewitness" account OF British
operations on the western front. dated
March Ia, was issued by the press bu-
rcau to-day:
Since the action al 81. Eloi on the
18TH and 18th, there has been no ight-
ing on our front but that has been
somewhat cclipsed by the story OF
Ncuve Chapelle. On the evening of
Sunday. the 18th, after an extremely
heavy artillery nre directed against bur
trenches. the Germans endeavored to
rush our lines. The Germans rushed
our support trenches which they had
blown up By a mine, ami. following
their success penetrated the village it
self
They were not allowed 10 remain
long in urdisputed possession. however.
Our frs, cavalry attack took place at
2:3o a. VI. OH the morning Of the 18th.
II was only partly successful. the
enemy still retaining possession OF the
st. Eloi breastworks and trenches. But
by another effort, nearly two hours
later. we succeeded in driving the
enemy completely out OF the village,
recapturing all the trenches which had
not been destroyed
FIGHTING At ST. ELoI
OF FIERCEST DESCRIPTION
The lighting at st. Eloi was of tho
ficrccst description. Gaining the place,
the Germans erected barricadcs across
the streets. which they defended by
machine guns. These had TO he stormed
ono by one, our men coming on from
time To time. regardless OF losses. until
the village was cleared OF the enemy.
The next morning tho Germans dis
played a humanity which. unfor-
tunately, is not always shown by them.
and refrained from firing on our
strctcher bearer parties. who were en-
gagged in carrying away the wounded
within quite close range of the enemy
guns.
During the lath the enemy made n
last EFFORT 10 recoTerssthe ground by
assault. Presumably. It was not In
tended TO he more than n forlorn hope,
for only 200 men took part
prisoners captured during the nght-
Ing said the German losses we're very
great. the supports suffering especially
severely from our she'll fire.
"Wednesday and Thursday, the 10Th
and l'th. passed quietly. except for n
hearty Smelling of the various points.
especially in the neighborhood OF
-N'uNt 'naDelIo.
ON the morning OF the 18th 900
Germans took advantage of the misty
weather 10 try and reach their own
trenches by advancing across the open
near lie TouQuct. They werc seen, and
fire was opened on them
MONOTONY Is BROKEN
ny DRAMATIC MOMENTS
In spite OF the generally monoton-
Gus character OF the present stages OF
the war. there have been some dra-
matte moments. One such imm ediatelv
preceded the attack on Neuvc Chap
ellie on the 18th. When our infantry
were awaiting the order TO assault and
were watching, the bombardment, they
could see our shells bursting in the
thick veil OF smoke and dust which
hunE over the German trenches. AS
the minutes wore on. and as the artil-
leTy fire grew hotter and hotter and
the time grew nearer for the rush
forward, excitement rose to fever heat.
our men jumped on the parapets,
brandishing their rifles toward tbe
Germans shouting remarks. which
were drowned In the roar OF the guns
losses were trif1ing. Only in subseouont
ties.
The effect of the victory of Neuvc
Chapelle has been remarkable. II has
caused the troops. who by no means
were depressed. TO become even more
elated. and has filed them with conf
dence. In spite of tho undoubtedly
heavy losses. the effect OF the recent
hght'ng on the Germans is irnposstble
to gauge--thouRh they are stubborn
FOLK. and not easily downcast
The operations OF the last few dava
cannot have been encouraging. The
form of warfare which the operation.
have developed approximates that OF n
Siege. There is very much lighting M
close range, and the possession OF n
single yard OF ground counts, because
1t may enable the possessor to mr.,
against other points with greater effect
than he could otherwise have done.
DETERMINED TO FIGHT,
KILL AND KNOCK OUT,
The British army In France Is nou,
determined TO fight. kill and knock out
as many Germans rs possible, as quick :
~ as possible. with tho least possible
loss TO ourselves. The duty before tho
British nation is. by every means in
it's power. to back up and help tho soI.
diers do this
The outstanding lesson OF this war
as in all wars. has been the value OF
preparation, and the direction in which
preparation has chiefly affected opern-
tiona. has lain in the possession OF guns
and ammunition.
Nowadays Providence lies on the
side with the big batteries rather than
on the side with the big battalions. This
Is due partly to the devastating effect
OF modern guns and the mechanical
traction which enables them to be
brought to the field Of battle
The strongest intrenched positions
can be carried with less loss to the at
tackers than to the defenders IL the as
sault Is sufficiently prepared by artil-