orced
by French troops, began a series of violent attacks upon the German
lines; but the Germans replied by a ceaseless bombardment of Nieuport,
which is about a mile inland. No results of importance were obtained
on either side.

The last week of December, 1914, bore a relieving holiday aspect,
for it seemed as though by general consent the carnival of mood was
to be considered not consonant with the solemnity of the season.
But for all that the French succeeded in blowing up some German
trenches with a new howitzer they were anxious to tryout, and the
Belgian-French forces retook St. Georges in northern Flanders.

St. Georges had been held by the Germans for some time; the village
stands on the right hand of the Yser, and it was the only position
they retained on that side of the river. It seems from the very
ease with which the village was taken that the Germans felt their
position there untenable, and withdrew to their own side of the
river in order to enjoy a quiet Christmas with their comrades,
whose singing of Christmas songs was forever being wafted over
that river of blood. Although the general action continued on both
sides, no serious battles are to be recorded in Flanders for the
balance of the year 1914.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXX

OPERATIONS AROUND LA BASSEE AND GIVENCHY

On the whole, the results obtained during the first days of 1915
on the Belgian battle front favored the Germans. Of this front the
Belgians held but three miles more or less, and the British were
defending a line of about twenty miles, while the French covered
the balance of about twelve miles, all of which included about the
entire front in Flanders from the dunes at Nieuport on the Channel
to Armentieres in the south, a line--by no means straight--about
thirty-five miles in length.

Activities along the extended front in the Champagne district having
proved successful for the German forces to a considerable extent,
the General Staff turned its attention now to the La Bassee region.

There was good tactical reason for this move, because the British
were seriously threatening the position, straddling La Bassee Canal
where it flows between Cuinchy and Givenchy, and there was danger
that they might capture La Bassee, where the Germans held a salient
of considerable strategical importance, as it covered their line
of communication to the south.

Previous successful operations by the British at Rich