THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES The Seventh Division--Its peculiar excellence--Its difficult position--A deadly ordeal--Desperate attacks on Seventh Division--Destruction of 2nd Wilts--Hard fight of 20th Brigade--Arrival of First Corps--Advance of Haig's Corps--Fight of Pilken Inn--Bravery of enemy--Advance of Second Division--Fight of Kruiseik cross-roads--Fight of Zandvoorde--Fight of Gheluvelt--Advance of Worcesters--German recoil--General result--A great crisis CHAPTER IX THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES (_continued_) Attack upon the cavalry--The struggle at Messines--The London Scots in action--Rally to the north--Terrible losses--Action of Zillebeke--Record of the Seventh Division--Situation at Ypres--Attack of the Prussian Guard--Confused fighting--End of the first Battle of Ypres--Death of Lord Roberts--The Eighth Division CHAPTER X A RETROSPECT AND GENERAL SUMMARY Position of Italy--Fall of German colonies--Sea affairs--Our Allies CHAPTER XI THE WINTER LULL OF 1914 Increase of the Army--Formation of the Fifth Corps--The visit of the King--Third Division at Petit Bois--The fight at Givenchy--Heavy losses of the Indians--Fine advance of Manchesters--Advance of the First Division--Singular scenes at Christmas INDEX MAPS AND PLANS Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1914 Position of Second Army Corps at Mons, August 23 First Morning of Retreat of Second Army Corps, August 24 Sketch of Battle of Le Cateau, August 26 Line of Retreat from Mons L Battery Action, September 1, 1914 British Advance during the Battle of the Marne British Advance at the Aisne Diagram to illustrate Operations of Smith-Dorrien's Second Corps and Pulteney's Third Corps from October 11 to October 19, 1914 Southern End of British Line General View of Seat of Operations Line of Seventh Division (Capper) and Third Cavalry Division (Byng) from October 16 onwards General Scene of Operations Sketch of Battle of Gheluvelt, October 31 [Illustration: Map of north-east France and Belgium] {1} CHAPTER I THE BREAKING OF THE PEACE In the frank, cynical, and powerful book of General Bernhardi which has been so often quoted in connection with the war there is one statement which is both true and important. It is, that no one in Great Britain thought seriously of a war with Germany before the year 1902. As a German observer he has fixed this date, and a British commentator who cast back through the history of the past would surely endorse it. Here, then, is a point of common agreement from which one can construct a scheme of thought.