The Story of the Great War, Volume 2: History of the European War from Official Sources
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume 2: History of the European War from Official Sources
World War, 1914-1918
Seeing their success in partially flooding the battle field, the
Belgians made more breaches in the dams, and, opening the sluices in the
canal, threw a flood of water greater still over the area occupied by
the Germans. In seething brown waves the water rose up to the high
ground at the railway near Ramscapelle. The Germans were caught in this
tide and scores of them were drowned. Many escaped, some struggled to
land on the Allies front and were made prisoners.
Sir John French summarized part of the fighting in Flanders, after the
capture of Antwerp, in the following official report: "The Second Corps
under General Smith-Dorrien was opposed by overpowering forces of
Germans, but nevertheless advanced until October 18, 1914, when the
German opposition compelled a reenforcement. Six days later the Lahore
Division of the Indian Army was sent to support the Second Corps. On
October 16, Sir Henry Rawlinson, who had covered the retreat of the
Belgian army from Antwerp, with two divisions of English cavalry and two
divisions of French infantry, was stationed on the line east of Ypres
under orders to operate over a wide front and to keep possession of all
the ground held by the Allies until the First Army Corps could reach
Ypres.
"General Rawlinson was opposed by superior forces and was unable to
prevent the Germans from getting large reenforcements. With four
divisions holding a much wider front than their size justified he faced
a rather awkward situation, as the enemy was massed from the Lys.
"The shattered Belgian army and the weary French troops advanced to
check the Germans--but in vain. Sir Douglas Haig with the First Army
Corps was sent to recapture Bruges on October 19, 1914, while the
Belgian army intrenched along the Yser Canal. General Haig failed--owing
to bad roads. October 21 brought the most severe attack made on the
First Corps at Ypres, in the checking of which the Worcestershire
Regiment did good work. This day marked the most critical period in the
battle which resulted in the recapture of the village of Gheluvelt."
South of Dixmude is one of the most historic and quaintly attractive
cities of Belgium, Ypres. It is situated on a tributary of the Yser
called the Yperlee, and a railway runs through it from Roulers to the
main Lille--St. Ower line at Hazebrouck and a very important canal runs
from the Yser in the north to the Lys at Comines.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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