1914

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Transcriber's note:

Obvious printer's errors have been corrected; all other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has been retained.

1914

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE RT. HON. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, M.P., TO WHOSE PREVISION, ENERGY AND TENACITY THE ARMY AND THE EMPIRE OWE SO MUCH.

1914

by

FIELD-MARSHAL VISCOUNT FRENCH OF YPRES, K.P., O.M., ETC.

With Maps

London Constable and Company Ltd. 1919

CONTENTS

Page PREFACE ................................................ xi

Chap.

I--PRELIMINARY ...................................... 1

II--THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ................. 16

III--THE SAILING OF THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE .......... 31

IV--THE RETREAT FROM MONS ........................... 56

V--FURTHER COURSE OF THE RETREAT ................... 81

VI--THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE ........................ 113

VII--THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE AND ITS PROGRESS UP TO SEPTEMBER 30TH ........................... 142

VIII--THE SIEGE AND FALL OF ANTWERP .................. 175

IX--THE LAST DAYS OF THE BRITISH OPERATIONS ON THE AISNE--THE NORTHERN MOVE ................ 193

X--THE BATTLE OF YPRES--FIRST PHASE, OCTOBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 26TH ........................... 214

XI--THE BATTLE OF YPRES--SECOND PHASE, OCTOBER 27TH TO OCTOBER 31ST ................... 237

XII--THE BATTLE OF YPRES--THIRD PHASE, NOVEMBER 1ST TO NOVEMBER 10TH ........................... 257

XIII--THE BATTLE OF YPRES--FOURTH AND FINAL PHASE, NOVEMBER 11TH TO THE END OF THE BATTLE ..................................... 277

XIV--THE ENTRY OF THE TERRITORIAL ARMY .............. 287

XV--A REVIEW OF THE ALLIED PLANS IN THE WEST AT THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES ...... 301

XVI--THE OPERATIONS OF DECEMBER 14TH-19TH, 1914 ..... 320

XVII--THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1914 ..................... 332

XVIII--AMMUNITION ..................................... 347

INDEX ................................................. 363

LIST OF MAPS.

1. GENERAL MAP OF NORTHERN FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

2. MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THE RETREAT FROM MONS AND BATTLES OF THE MARNE AND THE AISNE.

3. MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THE CAMPAIGN IN BELGIUM, 1914.

PREFACE

Le Marechal FRENCH commandait en Chef l'Armee Britannique au debut de la Guerre.

Comme on le sait, les allemands ont cherche en 1914 a profiter de leur superiorite numerique et de l'ecrasante puissance de leur armement, pour mettre hors de cause les Armees Alliees d'Occident, par une manoeuvre enveloppante, aussi rapide que possible.

Apres avoir cherche en vain la decision a la MARNE, puis a l'AISNE et a la SOMME, ils la poursuivent successivement a ARRAS, sur l'YSER et a YPRES.

A mesure que dans cette course a la mer, le terrain disponible se restreint devant eux, les coups se precipitent et se repetent plus violents, les reserves s'engagent, de nouveaux Corps d'Armee entrent en ligne nombreux et intacts. La reddition d'ANVERS assure d'ailleurs a l'ennemi d'importantes disponibilites.

Mais deja l'Armee Belge, appuyee de troupes francaises, arrete les allemands sur l'YSER, de NIEUPORT a DIXMUDE. Apres avoir pris part aux actions de l'AISNE, l'Armee Britannique a ete transportee dans le Nord. C'est ainsi qu'elle s'engage progressivement de la BASSEE a YPRES, s'opposant partout a l'invasion.