In many cases the hedges and dykes split up the German attacks so that even the biggest operations degenerated into disconnected actions which made the greatest demands on the powers of endurance and individual skill of our volunteers. In spite of all these difficulties our men, both old and young, even when left to act on their own initiative, showed a spirit of heroism and self-sacrifice which makes the battle on the YSER a sacred memory both for the Army and the Nation, and every one who took part in it may say with pride, 'I was there.' THE ADVANCE OF THE FOURTH ARMY An Army Order of 16th October 1914 gave the following instructions for the 18th:-- The III Reserve Corps to march to the line COXYDE-FURNES-OEREN, west of the YSER. The XXII Reserve Corps to the line AERTRYCKE-THOUROUT. The XXIII Reserve Corps to the line LICHTERVELDE-ARDOYE. The XXVI Reserve Corps to the Area EMELGHEM-ISEGHEM, and, on the left wing, the XXVII Reserve Corps to the line LENDELEDE-COURTRAI. The XXII, XXIII, XXVI and XXVII Reserve Corps all reached their appointed destinations on the evening of the 18th without meeting any strong resistance. Along almost the whole front our advanced guards and patrols came into touch with weak hostile detachments who were awaiting our advance well entrenched, and surprised us with infantry and artillery fire. At ROULERS a hot skirmish took place. Aeroplanes circling round, motor-lorries bustling about, and cavalry patrols pushing well forward showed that the British now realised the strength of the new German forces. [Illustration: DISPOSITIONS ON OCTOBER 20TH. 1914. _On 20th October none of the I British Corps were on the right of the IV Corps; the map should read British Cavalry Corps. It is also inaccurate to represent the whole III British Corps as north of Armentières--only one of its Divisions was--while the II Corps was certainly too closely pressed to detach any troops to the north as depicted in the diagram._]