Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-15
German Forces Suffer Heavy
Losses Along With Long
List Of British Casualties
Says Report
TERRIFIC ARTILLERY FIRE
COMMENCES ACTION
Killed and Wounded Among
CoIdStream and Irish Guards
Result Of Persistent COur-
age at Front

fsy MOANING JOURNAL GFgciAl LEASED wiHGl
London. April IL G2.50 y. MI
Field Marshal Sir John French, com
mander of the British eXpedltionarN
forces on the continent, reports the
British losses in the three days fight'
ing at Neuve Chapolle as foiloWs'
Knled--190 officers, 2.331 men,
Woun led---359 officers, S,lf4 othei
ranks.
Missing officers, LIPS men.
Field Marshal French's report con
tinues
oThe enemy left four thousand dea'
on the field and we have positive m
formation that upwards Of l2,0O'
wounded were removed by traln
Thirty officers and 1851 of othe'
ranks We're captured.
Censures subordinate.
The British dispatch concerning IN
battle Of Neuvc Chapelle which be
gan early in March says, among othe'
things:
considerable delay occurred ate
the capture of Neuve Chapelle and TN
infantry was greatly disorganized.
am of the opinion that this della.
would not have occurred had IN
clearly expressed order Of the genera
officer commanding the first arm
been more carefully observed.
Field Marshal French's report
which covers the battles of NeuV
Chapelle and st. Eloi. under date q
April 5, was published in the otteia
Gazette today The commander !
chief writes:
Event of Chief Interest
"The eyenttf E chief interest an
importance which mas taken place
the victory achieved over the enem
in the battle of Neuve Chapelle, whie
was fought on March 10. and II.
THE main attack was delivered b
the troops of the first army unde
command Of General Sir Dougla
Haig, supported by a large force q
heavy artillery, a division OF caYalr
and some infantry OF the general re
serve.
Secondary and holding attacks an
We're made along tn
front of the second army under dlrec
tion of it's commander. Sir Horac
Smith-DOrrien.
Compliments Sir Douglas.
= w mist lht huttfSS dttdli'H W"
due to the magnificent bearing an
indomitable courage displayed by IN
troops Of the fifth and indian corps
| consider that the able and skilltu
dispositions which were made by ia
general officer commanding the frs
army contributed largely TO the de
feat of the enemy and 10 the captur
of his position The energy and Vgo
with which Sir Douglas llaig handle
his command show him TO be a leade
of great ability and power
Another action of considerable i'm
portancc was brought about by sur
prise attack made by the Germans o.
March IA, against the 27th division
holding the trenches east Of st. Flo
A large force of artillery was cOncen
trated in this area under the cover o
a mist and a heavy volume Of fire wa
suddenly brought TO bear on IN
trenches
Surprise Attack Wins.
"At five o'clock IN the Afternoon
this artillery attack was accompanied
by two mine explosions and in tn
confusion caused by these and by tn
suddenness of the attack, the position
of st. Eloi was captured and held TO
some hours by the enemy.
Well directed and vigorous counter
attacks in which the troops Of tn
fifth army corps showed great brav
cry and determination, restored tn
situation by the evening of the 18th.
The dispatch describes further op
erations leading up to the attack o.
the town saying
Brilliant Action Begins.
"On February 6. a brilliant actioi
by the troops Of the first corps ma
terially improved our position in tn
area south of LaBassee canal Durin
the previous night parties Of the Trisl
guards ana the third battalion Of tn
Coldstream guards had succeeded i
gaining ground from which q con
Verging fire could be directed on tin
fanks and rear of certain bricl
stacks occupied by the Germans whicI
ANNOYANCE. At 2 p. m. the affai
commenced with severe lombard
ment Of the brick stacks and the enc
my's trenches.
"A brisk attack by the C0ldstrear
guards and Irish guards from Oh
trenches west Of the brick stacks fol
lNWeO anu NdN nuPBQtitU ny llit III
from the thanking position which ha
been seized the previous night by tn
same regiments.
"The attack succeeded: the brio
stacks were occupied without difficul
ty and q line was established mort
and south through a point about fort
yards east of the brick stacks.
Guards Suffer Heavily.
The casualties suffered by tn
fifth corps throughout the period un
der review and particularly during tn
month Of February have been heavie
than those on other parts Of the line
I regret this, but do not think. takin
all circumstances into consideration
that they were unduly numerous.
The position then occupied by tn
fifth corps had always been yer
vulnerable part of our lire Tn
ground WAS marshy and trenches wer
most difficult to construct and main
tain. The 27th and 2sth division
OF the fifth corps had had no previou
experiences in European warfare an
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