American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-10-23
RETRIBuTros AT YPREs.

day m the memory OF the Ypres OF
three years ago. when General
French's contemplate little army, "
as the kaiser called AZ. hurled back
/ $50. 900 Germans who were trying TO
break through to Cainis-hoping
70 cross the channel 20 England n
London and victory. They didn't
break through. The few thousand
British. almost without artillery or
machine guns. opposed the Germans
with rifles and fists. and chcked with
poison gaa. but never gave ia. The
very ground they are now capturing
"a mile al a stroke Is a vast cemetery
covering the British and German dead
81 1914.
Three years ago. on October 10.
Hair. with the first corps, arrived
behind the front in Flanders and then
began the determined stand of the
small British army against massed
Teuton forces we'll prepared not only
10 oppose any British advance, but
vi~ctorlously onward-save for the
lighting spirit of a forlorn hope that
animated the British troops.
John Buchan. IN Nelson's History
Of the War" says:
on the evening OF the 18th October.
1910. the allied offensive had virtual
~ ceased. First one and then another
OF the three strategic possibilities had
been frustrated. We were aware that
at last We had reached the main Ger
man front in position everywhere from
Lille 10 the sea. and daily growiny in
numbers which threatened OF fall in
"a tidal wave upon the thin. far
stretched allied line.
Here Is the situation the allies we're
facing az that time. according To con-
temporary accounts;
Ypres had become the crucial point
on the whole 5OO-mile from from the
North sen 10 Switzerland. Here he
Germans. over and over again. until
winter set in, threw into the struggle
the flower OF their army. only to see
Il torn and shattered by that con
temptibie little army" from Great Bri-
tain. which blocked the way to Calais.
Having r~eorganized their forces. the
Germans in November attempted In
another way 10 press through to the
channel. They selected a rout by
which they could keep far enough in
land 10 escape the fire of British and
French war ships. A quarter of a mill
lion men were understood TO ave
been massed along the front from
which they we're TO make this new at
tack. with the Duke OF Wurttemberg
Ia supreme command. To aid him
100000 fresh troops were ordered for
ward, reenfOrcements which were
TO give the duke 100000 men.
While the lighting continued at in
t~ervals on the Newport ixmude lines.
the main forces we're massed on a
Dixmude-Ypres front. and IL was ex-
pected that a supreme effort would be
made there. Had they been able. by
forcing a va at hat point. the Ger
a would have secured a direct
route a. BOulognc.
The two British and one French
division were not quite unprepared
for the new onslaught. although hav-
ing g~rievously inadequate supplies of
men and guns Throughout the day
OF October 81. according TO Field Mar
hal French. the extreme right and
left of the first crops held fast" In
the evening tho enemy was steadily
driven back.
The Germans planned 10 attack first
in the direction of Lille and Arras.
orders were given TO break through
10 the coast before the end of Novem-
Der. m unsuccessful this promised 10
be the last effort TO gain either Calais
or Boulogne. The British bore the
brunt of the onsiaughts in his terri
tory. where IN many places their lines
had become so thin that. only by show
ing an obstinacy worthy of the tradi-
NAHNAH VI N1NNA ANff WIZ AhNN AHAN W
hold their ground. II was related that
one battalion OF foot guards wen into
action commanded by a non-cOmmis-
stoned officer. Some cavalry rcgi-
monts had already lost half their ef-
fcotive strength. Occasionally the
Germans captured some OF the
trenches. but by vigorous counter-at-
tncks the British not only regained
them. but won fresh ground. .
The lighting ragged with the greatest
Intensity ON tho Menin road south of
Hprcs. on the Ypres canal. the River
Lys. and the plateau that Is crossed
hy "a oad from Npres 20 Armentieres.
By November 8. when the full tide
Of war had flowed back into France.
south from the seacoast. he Germans
rercely attacked the allied line.
At Armentieres the Germans brought
10 bear "a new type OF motnr which
threw a p~rojectile Weighing several
hundred pounds.
The ground around Armentiercs was
too soft 20 sustain the ewight of he
mOtar. and so. undo cover OF night.
the Germans dug a deep pit. hllcd IL
with concrete. and mounted the gun
on a wooden platform. and at dawn
they were able 10 rake the allies
trenches with ~high-anglc she'll ire.
Accounts printed az the time stated
This attack was under imperial and
royal auspices. the kaiser and the
king OF saNouy being present az the
local German headquarters. After
another hour OF she'll fire directed on
the whole allied line. mudstained men
who. molelike. had burrowed into he
earth. crawled forth. and pulling them