nce 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 blood 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 try out, 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 Richebourg and
Festubert north of Givenchy, and at Vermelles, south of Cuinchy,
evidently prompted the Germans to attempt a counterattack. Besides it
was desirable for the Germans to test the strength of the Allies at this
point, and to