the Battle of Loos

LOOS, THE BATTLE OF (Sept. 25–Oct. 19, 1915), is the name given to the actions fought by the British in the great Allied offensive in France in the autumn of 1915.

The French Plan.

The plan elaborated by Gen. Joffre was to attack on both sides the great salient formed by the German front in France: on the right in Champagne with the French II.

and IV. Armies, the main effort ; and on the left in Artois with the X. Army. He hoped by these two operations to cut off the enemy troops in the salient and get astride their communications. He asked that the British should co-operate by attacking in Artois on the left of the X. Army. This army was commanded by Gen. D'Urbal and in the group of armies under Gen. Foch. Field-Marshal Sir John French was opposed to committing his troops to battle until the spring following, by which time further reinforcements and more guns and ammunition would have ar rived. The B.E.F. had suffered very heavy losses at Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres, Aubers and Festubert earlier in the year; had recently taken over a considerable portion of the French front with the newly-formed III. Army; the Territorial and New Army divisions recently sent to France required more training; and the force possessed very few heavy guns and was woefully short of ammunition and equipment for trench warfare.

In view of the German successes in Russia and the necessity for assisting France to the utmost, the British Government felt compelled to abandon the natural policy of waiting until such time as sufficient munitions could be prepared and the newly raised forces were ready before taking the offensive. Sir John French was therefore given definite orders to co-operate with the French. The I. Army under Gen. Sir. D. Haig, was selected to carry out the attack. Both Sir John French and Gen. Haig were opposed to attacking in the area between Lens and the La Bassee canal, as Gen. Foch required ; for it involved advancing over very unfavourable ground, open, but dotted with coal mines and mining villages : whilst Lens and its suburbs formed one vast industrial town. They suggested an objective further north. This proposal was overruled.

The Employment of Gas.

Whilst the British leaders were doing their best, against their better judgment, to prepare the offensive at a spot not of their own selection and with totally inadequate artillery, the first consignment of chlorine gas ar rived, for trial. Its use seemed to promise a chance of surprise and provide a solution of the problem of attack with inadequate means. A sufficient supply of gas was manufactured and prepara

tions were made to employ it. After four days' bombardment, during the later part of which the weather was unsuitable for flying and observation, on Sept. 25 the offensive was begun simul taneously in Champagne (3o French divisions) and Artois (17 French and nine--later 12—British divisions), whilst diversions were made at other parts of the line : by the British near Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Hooge; by the Belgians near Nieuport ; and by the navy on the coast. On the British front gas and smoke were discharged for 4omin. preceding the assault, which took place at 6 :30 A.M. The French X. Army did not leave its trenches until 12 :45 P.M. and even then the Allied contingents in Artois were not shoulder to shoulder, for between them opposite Lens was left a passive front of 3m. held by a French Territorial division.

The Assault on Sept. 25.

The British assault was made by the 47th (2nd London Territorial), 15th (Scottish, of the New Army) and 1st Divisions of the IV. Corps (Rawlinson), and the 7th, 9th (Scottish, of the New Army) and 2nd Divisions of the I. Corps (Gough). Although the wind was very feeble, and on the front of the 2nd Division unfavourable so that the gas and smoke blew back, considerable success was obtained by the British. The German defences comprised two separate positions (see sketch) disposed on the great rolling plain in which the spurs of the Artois plateau sink down. In spite of insufficient bombardment, the German front line position was overrun from the British right nearly as far as Auchy. The 47th Division reached all its objectives and formed a defensive flank towards Lens; the 15th Division captured Loos, but then lost direction and moved south-east on Hill 7o instead of continuing eastwards; the 1st Division got beyond the Lens-La Bassee road, but, in trying to keep touch with the 15th, became divided, thus creating a gap in its front ; the 7th Division advanced beyond the German first line, captured the Quarries, and in places arrived at the German second line, a few men actually entering Hulluch ; the 9th Division was even more successful: it overran the Hohen zollern redoubt, a strong independent work in the general line, and its wings, Big and Little Willie, captured Fosse 8 and the Dump, a valuable observatory, and got up to, and in places into, the second line between Cite St. Elie and Haisnes. Only the 2nd Division, in whose area the gas had blown back, made no progress.