allied line stretched--a few
miles to the northeast of Ypres--from Bixschoote to the crossroads a
mile and a half northwest of Zonnebeke. The cavalry only were kept busy
during this day, while the other forces were making elaborate
preparations for the main drive. The great attack was delivered October
21 against the point of the salient between Zonnebeke and Besselaere.
The allied line on the left was so much exposed that the Twenty-second
Brigade was enfiladed by the Germans at the very beginning, and in the
center the Germans pierced the line held by the Royal Scots Fusiliers,
with the Yorkshires on the extreme right. The fierce assaults from both
sides ended in a draw for this day.

On October 22, 1914, the fighting was most severe all day; but later in
the day the most violent assault of all was made by the Germans upon the
First Brigade on the left. There the trenches were held by the Camerons,
north of Pilkem on the Langemarck--Bixschoote road. Here the Germans
broke the line and succeeded in capturing part of the Camerons--the
famous Red Tartans. Further south, the Royal Scots Fusiliers were
obliged to give way. The Germans pressed hard in the vicinity of
Hollebeke which point opened a clear road to Ypres; but here the allied
forces stood their ground. Still farther south the Essex Regiment and
the Lancashire Fusiliers fought savagely, but were driven back upon
Armentierre when night fell.

[Illustration: Battle Front in Flanders.]

Early Friday morning, October 23, 1914, the Allies made a desperate
assault upon the trenches lost by the Camerons on the previous day. The
fighting culminated in a savage bayonet attack which resulted in the
recapture of these trenches by the British composed of the King's Royal
Rifles, the Royal West Surrey Regiment and the Northamptons.

On October 24, 1914, the Germans advanced upon the allied extreme left;
but were successfully repulsed between Zonnebeke and Poelcapelle. Later
in the day the Germans renewed their attack and compelled the allied
troops to retire some distance.

The advance on the allied left was continued on Sunday, October 25,
1914. Repeatedly the Germans succeeded in piercing the allied lines; but
at one time, even though they had broken through, a momentary lack of
reserves compelled them to retreat to avoid capture. A savage enveloping
attack was made during the night, north of Zandvoorde, where again the
Germans broke through the allied lines, but were