Various - The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915

V >> Various >> The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915

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However, the Field Marshal decided to send the First Corps north of
Ypres to stop the reinforcements which might enable the Germans to flank
the Allies. The shattered Belgian army and the wearied French troops'
endeavors to check the German reinforcements were powerless, so the
British commander sent fresh troops to prevent the Germans from
executing movements which would have given them access to Channel ports.

Sir Douglas Haig, with the First Army Corps, was sent Oct. 19 to capture
Bruges and drive the enemy back toward Ghent, if possible. Meantime the
Belgians intrenched themselves along the Ypres Canal. Sir John French
commends the valor of the Belgians, who, he says, exhausted by weeks of
constant fighting, maintained these positions gallantly.

Because of the overwhelming numbers of the Germans opposing them, he
says he enjoined a defensive role upon the three army corps located
south of Ypres. While Gen. Haig made a slight advance, Sir John says it
was wonderful that he was able to advance at all, owing to the bad roads
and the overwhelming number of Germans, which made it impossible to
carry out the original plan of moving to Bruges.

The fighting gradually developed into bayonet charges. Field Marshal
French says that Oct. 21 brought forth the hardest attack, made on the
First Corps at Ypres, in the checking of which the Worcestershire
Regiment displayed great gallantry. This day marked the most critical
period in the great battle, according to the Commander in Chief, who
says the recapture of the village of Gheluvelt through a rally of the
Worcestershires was fraught with much consequence to the Allies.

After referring to some of the battles in which the Indian troops took
part, Field Marshal French says:

"Since their arrival in this country and their occupation of the line
allotted to them I have been much impressed by the initiative and
resource displayed by the Indian troops. Some of the ruses they have
employed to deceive the enemy have been attended with the best results
and have doubtless kept the superior forces in front of them at bay. Our
Indian sappers and miners have long enjoyed a high reputation for skill
and resource. Without going into detail I can confidently assert that
throughout their work in this campaign they have fully justified that
reputation.

"The General officer commanding the Indian army describes the conduct
and bearing of these troops in strange and new surroundings to have been
highly satisfactory, and I am enabled from my own observations to fully
corroborate this statement."

Sir John French goes on to say that, while the whole line continued to
be heavily pressed, the Germans' efforts from Nov. 1 have been
concentrated upon breaking through the line held by the First British
and the Ninth French Corps and thus gaining possession of the town of
Ypres. Three Bavarian and one German corps, in addition to other troops,
were all directed against this northern line.

About Nov. 10, after several units of these corps had been completely
shattered in futile attacks, the Field Marshal continues, a division of
the Prussian Guard, which had been operating in the vicinity of Arras,
was moved up to this area with great speed and secrecy. Documents found
on dead officers, the report says, proved that the Guard received the
German Emperor's special command to break through and succeed where
their comrades of the line had failed. They took the leading part in the
vigorous attacks made against the centre on the 11th and 12th, says
Field Marshal French, but, like their comrades, were repulsed with
enormous casualties.

He pays high tribute to Sir Douglas Haig and his divisional and brigade
commanders, who, he says, "held the line with marvelous tenacity and
undaunted courage." The Field Marshal predicts that "their deeds during
these days of stress and trial will furnish some of the most brilliant
chapters which will be found in the military history of our time."

High praise is also given the Third Cavalry Division under Major Gen.
Julian Byng, whose troops "were repeatedly called upon to restore
situations at critical points and fill gaps in the line caused by the
tremendous losses which occurred."

The Commander in Chief makes special mention of Col. Gordon Chesney
Wilson of the Royal Horse Guards, Major the Hon. Hugh Dawnay of the
Second Life Guards, and Brig. Gen. FitzClarence of the Irish Guards, who
were killed, and of Brig. Gen. the Earl of Cavan, who "on many occasions
was conspicuous for the skill, coolness, and courage with which he led
his troops."

Of the Flying Corps the report says:

"Every day new methods of employing them, both strategically and
tactically, are discovered and put into practice."

Concerning the Territorials who have been employed, the Field Marshal
says the conduct and bearing of these units under fire and the efficient
manner in which they have carried out the duties assigned to them "has
imbued me with the highest hope as to the value and the help of the
Territorial troops generally."

[Illustration]

*Story of the "Eye-Witness"*

*By Col. E.D. Swinton of the Intelligence Department of the British
General Staff.*

_From the beginning of the war world-wide attention has been
attracted to the reports issued from time to time as coming from
"an eye-witness at British General Headquarters." At first these
reports were erroneously ascribed to Marshal French himself, and
resulted in much admiring comment on his vivid and graphic way of
reporting. Later it became known that they were the work of Col.
Swinton, who was attached to Gen. French's headquarters in the
capacity of "official observer."_

I.

*The Battle of the Aisne Begins*

[By the "Official Observer," Col. E.D. Swinton.]

General Headquarters,
Sept. 18, 1914.

Sept. 14, the Germans were making a determined resistance along the
River Aisne. Opposition, which it was at first thought might possibly be
of a rear-guard nature, not entailing material delay to our progress,
has developed and has proved to be more serious than was anticipated.

The action, now being fought by the Germans along their line, may, it is
true, have been undertaken in order to gain time for some strategic
operation or move, and may not be their main stand. But, if this is so,
the fighting is naturally on a scale which as to extent of ground
covered and duration of resistance, makes it undistinguishable in its
progress from what is known as a "pitched battle," though the enemy
certainly showed signs of considerable disorganization during the
earlier days of their retirement phase.

Whether it was originally intended by them to defend the position they
took up as strenuously as they have done, or whether the delay, gained
for them during the 12th and 13th by their artillery, has enabled them
to develop their resistance and force their line to an extent not
originally contemplated cannot yet be said.

So far as we are concerned the action still being contested is the
battle of the Aisne. The foe we are fighting is just across the river
along the whole of our front to the east and west. The struggle is not
confined to the valley of that river, though it will probably bear its
name.

The progress of our operations and the French armies nearest us for the
14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th will now be described:

On Monday, the 14th, those of our troops which had on the previous day
crossed the Aisne, after driving in the German rear guards on that
evening, found portions of the enemy's forces in prepared defensive
positions on the right bank and could do little more than secure a
footing north of the river. This, however, they maintained in spite of
two counter-attacks delivered at dusk and 10 P.M., in which the fighting
was severe.

During the 14th, strong reinforcements of our troops were passed to the
north bank, the troops crossing by ferry, by pontoon bridges, and by the
remains of permanent bridges. Close co-operation with the French forces
was maintained and the general progress made was good, although the
opposition was vigorous and the state of the roads, after the heavy
rains, made movements slow. One division alone failed to secure the
ground it expected to.

The First Army Corps, after repulsing repeated attacks, captured 600
prisoners and twelve guns. The cavalry also took a number of prisoners.
Many of the Germans taken belong to the reserve and Landwehr formations,
which fact appears to indicate that the enemy is compelled to draw on
other classes of soldiers to fill the gaps in his ranks.

There was a heavy rain throughout the night of Sept. 14-15, and during
the 15th. The situation of the British forces underwent no essential
change. But it became more and more evident that the defensive
preparations made by the enemy were more extensive than was at first
apparent.

In order to counterbalance these measures were taken by us to economize
our troops and to secure protection from the hostile artillery fire,
which was very fierce, and our men continued to improve their own
intrenchments. The Germans bombarded our lines nearly all day, using
heavy guns, brought, no doubt, from before Maubeuge, as well as those
with the corps.

All their counter attacks, however, failed, although in some places they
were repeated six times. One made on the Fourth Guards Brigade was
repulsed with heavy slaughter.

An attempt to advance slightly, made by part of our line, was
unsuccessful as regards gain of ground, but led to the withdrawal of
part of the enemy's infantry and artillery.

Further counter attacks made during the night were beaten off. Rain came
on toward evening and continued intermittently until 9 A.M. on the 16th.
Besides adding to the discomfort of the soldiers holding the line, the
wet weather to some extent hampered the motor transport service, which
was also hindered by broken bridges.

On Wednesday, the 16th, there was little change in the situation
opposite the British. The efforts made by the enemy were less active
than on the previous day, although their bombardment continued
throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the
defenders off one of the salients of their position, but they returned
in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the Third Division.

On Thursday, the 17th, the situation, still remained unchanged in its
essentials. The German heavy artillery fire was more active than on the
previous day. The only infantry attacks made by the enemy were on the
extreme right of our position, and, as had happened before, were
repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly, on this occasion, by our field
artillery.

In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting it may be
said that along the greater part of our front the Germans have been
driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their
infantry are holding strong lines of trenches among and along the edge
of the numerous woods which crown the slopes. These trenches are
elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many places there are
wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing.

Both woods and open are carefully aligned, so that they can be swept by
rifle fire and machine guns, which are invisible from our side of the
valley. The ground in front of the infantry trenches is also, as a rule,
under crossfire from the field artillery placed on neighboring features
and under high-angle fire from pieces placed well back behind the woods
on top of the plateau.

A feature of this action, as of the previous fighting, is the use by the
enemy of their numerous heavy howitzers, with which they are able to
direct long-range fire all over the valley and right across it. Upon
these they evidently place great reliance.

Where our men are holding the forked edges of the high ground on the
north side they are now strongly intrenched. They are well fed, and in
spite of the wet weather of the last week are cheerful and confident.

The bombardment by both sides has been very heavy, and on Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday was practically continuous. Nevertheless, in spite of
the general din caused by the reports of the immense number of heavy
guns in action along our front on Wednesday, the arrival of the French
force acting against the German right flank was at once announced on the
east of our front, some miles away, by the continuous roar of their
quick-firing artillery, with which their attack was opened.

So far as the British are concerned, the greater part of this week has
been passed in bombardment, in gaining ground by degrees, and in beating
back severe counter-attacks with heavy slaughter. Our casualties have
been severe, but it is probable that those of the enemy are heavier.

The rain has caused a great drop in the temperature, and there is more
than a distinct feeling of Autumn in the air, especially in the early
mornings.

On our right and left the French have been fighting fiercely and have
also been gradually gaining ground [Transcriber: original 'gronud']. One
village has already during this battle been captured and re-captured
twice by each side, and at the time of writing remains in the hands of
the Germans.

The fighting has been at close quarters and of the most desperate
nature, and the streets of the village are filled with dead on both
sides.

As an example of the spirit which is inspiring our allies, the following
translation of an ordre du jour, published on Sept. 9 after the battle
of Montmirail by the commander of the French Fifth Army, is given:

Soldiers: Upon the memorable fields of Montmirail, of Vauchamps, of
Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed the victories of our
ancestors over Blucher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has
triumphed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks,
his centre broken, the enemy is now retreating toward the east and
north by forced marches. The most renowned army corps of old
Prussia, the contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover, of Brandenburg,
have retired in haste before you.

This first success is no more than the prelude. The enemy is
shaken, but not yet decisively beaten. You have still to undergo
severe hardships, to make long marches, to fight hard battles.

May the image of our country, soiled by barbarians, always remain
before your eyes. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for
her.

Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few
days, my thoughts turn toward you, the victors in the next battle.
Forward, soldiers, for France!

FRANCHET D'ESPEREY,
General Commanding the Fifth Army.
Montmirail, Sept. 9, 1914.

The Germans are a formidable enemy, well trained, long prepared, and
brave. Their soldiers are carrying on the contest with skill and valor.
Nevertheless they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all the
rules of fair play, and there is evidence that they do not hesitate at
anything in order to gain victory.

A large number of the tales of their misbehaviors are exaggeration and
some of the stringent precautions they have taken to guard themselves
against the inhabitants of the areas traversed are possibly justifiable
measures of war. But, at the same time, it has been definitely
established that they have committed atrocities on many occasions and
they have been guilty of brutal conduct.

So many letters and statements of our wounded soldiers have been
published in our newspapers that the following epistle from a German
soldier of the Seventy-fourth Infantry Regiment, Tenth Corps, to his
wife may also be of interest:

"My Dear Wife: I have just been living through days that defy
imagination. I should never have thought that men could stand it. Not a
second has passed but my life has been in danger, and yet not a hair of
my head has been hurt.

"It was horrible! It was ghastly! but I have been saved for you and for
our happiness, and I take heart again, although I am still terribly
unnerved. God grant that I may see you again soon, and that this horror
may soon be over.

"None of us can do any more; human strength is at an end. I will try to
tell you about it. On the 5th of September the enemy were reported to be
taking up a position near St. Prix, southeast of Paris.

"The Tenth Corps, which had made an astonishingly rapid advance, of
course, was attacked on Sunday. Steep slopes led up to the heights,
which were held in considerable force.

"With our weak detachments of the Seventy-fourth and Ninety-first
regiments we reached the crest and came under a terrible artillery fire
that mowed us down. However, we entered St. Prix. Hardly had we done so
than we were met with shell fire and a violent fusillade from the
enemy's infantry.

"Our Colonel was badly wounded--he is the third we have had. Fourteen
men were killed around me. We got away in a lull without being hit.

"The 7th, 8th, and 9th of September we were constantly under shell and
shrapnel fire and suffered terrible losses. I was in a house which was
hit several times. The fear of death, of agony, which is in every man's
heart, and naturally so, is a terrible feeling.

"How often I have thought of you, my darling, and what I suffered in
that terrifying battle, which extended along a front of many miles near
Montmirail, you cannot possibly imagine.

"Our heavy artillery was being used for the siege of Maubeuge. We wanted
it badly, as the enemy had theirs in force and kept up a furious
bombardment. For four days I was under artillery fire. It was like hell,
but a thousand times worse.

"On the night of the 9th the order was given to retreat, as it would
have been madness to attempt to hold our position with our few men, and
we should have risked a terrible defeat the next day. The First and
Third Armies had not been able to attack with us, as we had advanced too
rapidly. Our morale was absolutely broken. In spite of unheard-of
sacrifices we had achieved nothing.

"I cannot understand how our army, after fighting three great battles
and being terribly weakened, was sent against a position which the enemy
had prepared for three weeks, but naturally I know nothing of the
intentions of our Chiefs; they say nothing has been lost.

"In a word, we retired toward Cormontreuil and Rheims by forced marches
by day and night. We hear that three armies are going to get into line,
intrench and rest, and then start afresh our victorious march on Paris.
It was not a defeat, only a strategic retreat. I have confidence in our
Chiefs that everything will be successful.

"Our First Battalion, which has fought with unparalleled bravery, is
reduced from 1,200 to 194 men. These numbers speak for themselves."

Among the minor happenings of interest is the following:

During a counter-attack by the German Fifty-third Regiment on positions
of the Northampton and Queen's Regiments on Thursday, the 17th, a force
of some 400 of the enemy were allowed to approach right up to the trench
occupied by a platoon of the former regiment, owing to the fact that
they had held up their hands and made gestures that were interpreted as
signs that they wished to surrender. When they were actually on the
parapet of the trench held, by the Northamptons they opened fire on our
men at point-blank range.

Unluckily for the enemy, however, flanking them and only some 400 yards
away, there happened to be a machine gun manned by a detachment of the
Queen's. This at once opened fire, cutting a lane through their mass,
and they fell back to their own trench with great loss. Shortly
afterward they were driven further back, with additional loss, by a
battalion of Guards which came up in support.

An incident, which occurred some little time ago during our retirement,
is also worthy of record. On Aug. 28, during the battle fought by the
French along the Oise between La Fere and Guise, one of the French
commanders desired to make an air reconnoissance. It was found, however,
that no observers were available.

Wishing to help our allies as much as possible a British officer
attached to this particular French army volunteered to go up with the
pilot to observe. He had never been in an aeroplane, but he made the
ascent and produced a valuable reconnoissance report.

Incidentally he had a duel in the air at an altitude of 6,000 feet with
the observer of a German Taube monoplane which approached. He fired
several shots and drove off the hostile aeroplane. His action was much
appreciated by the French.

In view of the many statements made in the press as to the use of
Zeppelins against us, it is interesting to note that the Royal Flying
Corps, who had been out on reconnoissance every day since their arrival
in France, have never seen a Zeppelin, though airships of a non-rigid
type have been seen on two occasions near Marne.

Late one evening two such were observed over the German forces. An
aeroplane was dispatched against them, but in the darkness our pilots
were uncertain of the airship's nationality and did not attack. It was
afterward made clear that they could not have been French.

A week later an officer, reconnoitring to the flank, saw an airship over
the German forces and opposite the French. It had no distinguishing mark
and was assumed to belong to the latter, though it is now known that it
also must have been a German craft.

The orders of the Royal Flying Corps are to attack Zeppelins at once,
and there is some disappointment at the absence of those targets.

The following special order has been issued today to the troops:

"Special Order of the Day,
By Field Marshal Sir John French,
G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G.,
Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field.

"September 17, 1914.

"Once more I have to express my deep appreciation of the splendid
behavior of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the
army under my command throughout the great battle of the Aisne,
which has been in progress since the evening of the 12th inst., and
the battle of the Marne, which lasted from the morning of the 6th
to the evening of the 10th and finally ended in the precipitate
flight of the enemy.

"When we were brought face to face with a position of extraordinary
strength, carefully intrenched and prepared for defense by an army
and staff which are thorough adepts in such work, throughout the
13th and 14th, that position was most gallantly attacked by the
British forces and the passage of the Aisne effected. This is the
third day the troops have been gallantly holding the position they
have gained against most desperate counter-attacks and the hail of
heavy artillery.

"I am unable to find adequately words in which to express the
admiration I feel for their magnificent conduct.

"The French armies on our right and left are making good progress,
and I feel sure that we have only to hold on with tenacity to the
ground we have won for a very short time longer when the Allies
will be again in full pursuit of a beaten enemy.

"The self-sacrificing devotion and splendid spirit of the British
army in France will carry all before it.

"J.D.P. FRENCH, Field Marshall,

"Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field."

II.

*The Slow Fight on the Aisne.*

[Made Public Sept. 24.]

The enemy is still maintaining himself along the whole front, and, in
order to do so, is throwing into the fight detachments composed of units
from different formations, the active army, reserve, and Landwehr, as is
shown by the uniforms of the prisoners recently captured.

Our progress, although slow on account of the strength of the defensive
positions against which we are pressing, has in certain directions been
continuous; but the present battle may well last for some days more
before a decision is reached, since it now approximates somewhat to
siege warfare.

The Germans are making use of searchlights. This fact, coupled with
their great strength in heavy artillery, leads to the supposition that
they are employing material which may have been collected for the siege
of Paris.

The nature of the general situation after the operations of the 18th,
19th, and 20th cannot better be summarized than as expressed recently
by a neighboring French commander to his corps: "Having repulsed
repeated and violent counter-attacks made by the enemy, we have a
feeling that we have been victorious."

So far as the British are concerned, the course of events during these
three days can be described in a few words. During Friday, the 18th,
artillery fire was kept up intermittently by both sides during daylight.
At night the German centre attacked certain portions of our line,
supporting the advance of their infantry, as always, by a heavy
bombardment. But the strokes were not delivered with great vigor, and
ceased about 2 A.M. During the day's fighting an aircraft gun of the
Third Army Corps succeeded in bringing down a German aeroplane.

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