plans of the British that it is doubtful if they
would not have failed in part even if the means of communication had
not been destroyed. Nevertheless, Sir John French wrote: "I am
of the opinion that this delay would not have occurred had the
clearly expressed orders of the general officer commanding the
First Army been more carefully observed."

There was also an additional delay in bringing up the reserves
of the Fourth Corps. Thus it was not until 3.30 p. m. that three
brigades of the Seventh Division, the Twentieth, Twenty-first,
and Twenty-second Brigades were in their places on the left of
the Twenty-fourth Brigade. Then the left moved southward toward
Aubers. At the same time the Indian Corps, composed of the Garhwal
Brigade and the Dehra Dun Brigade, forced its way through the Bois
du Biez toward the ridge. Strong opposition was met with to such
an extent, however, that the Thirty-ninth Garhwals and the Second
Leicesters suffered severe losses on reaching a German position
which had practically escaped the heavy artillery fire. A German
outpost at the bridge held the Dehra Dun Brigade, which was supported
by the Jullundur Brigade of the Lahore Division, in its attack
farther to the south on the line of the River Des Layes. The First
Brigade of the First Corps was rushed forward by Sir Douglas Haig;
but it was dark before these troops arrived. Another fortified
bridge, farther to the left, checked the Twenty-fifth Brigade;
and machine-gun fire stopped the Twenty-fourth Brigade, this fire
being from the German troops at the crossroads northwest of Pietre
village. The Seventh Division was held by the line of the Des Layes,
and the defense of the Pietre mill.

By evening the British had gone forward as far as their artillery
fire had been effective; and it was found necessary for them to
stop to strengthen the new line which they had established. They had
won Neuve Chapelle. They had advanced a mile. They had straightened
their line, but they could go no farther.

On the following day, March 11, 1915, the British artillery was
directed against the Bois de Biez and the trenches in the neighborhood
of Pietre. The Germans, however, had recovered from the surprise
of the great bombardment, and they made several counterattacks.
Little progress was made on that day by either side. On that night,
March 11, the Bavarian and Saxon reserves arrived from Tourcoing,
and on the morning of March 12 the counterattack extended