a portion of our left wing, which advanced, gained some
ground, and took two guns and eighty prisoners. It is believed that six
machine guns fell to the French.

In the centre the fighting was severe, though generally indecisive in
result, and the troops in some places were engaged in hand-to-hand
combat. Toward evening we captured 200 prisoners.

On the right action was again confined to that of the guns.

Up to the night of the 25th, therefore, not only have we maintained our
position against the great effort on the part of the enemy to break
through to the west, or to force us back, which started on the 20th; we
have on our left passed to the offensive.

These six days, as may be gathered, have been spent by us in repelling a
succession of desperate onslaughts. It is true that the efforts against
us have been made to a great extent by partially trained men, some of
whom appear to be suffering from lack of food. But it must not be
forgotten that these troops, which are in great force, have only
recently been brought into the field, and are therefore comparatively
fresh. They are fighting also with the utmost determination, in spite
of the fact that many of them are heartily sick of the war.

The struggle has been of the most severe and sanguinary nature, and it
seems that success will favor that side which is possessed of most
endurance, or can bring up and fling fresh forces into the fray. Though
we have undoubtedly inflicted immense loss upon the enemy, they have so
far been able to fill up the gaps in their ranks and to return to the
charge, and we have suffered heavily ourselves.

One feature of the tactics now employed has been the use of cavalry in
dismounted action, for on both sides many of the mounted troops are
fighting in the trenches alongside the infantry.

Armored motor cars, armed with Maxims and light quick-firing guns, also
have recently played a useful part on our side, especially in helping to
eject the enemy lurking in villages and isolated buildings. Against such
parties the combined action of the quick-firer against the snipers in
buildings, and the Maxim against them when they are driven into the
open, is most efficacious.

XI.

*The British Defense at Ypres.*

[Dated Nov. 13.]

The diminution in the force of the German rush to the west has not
lasted long. The section of the front to the north of our forces was the
first to meet the recrudescence of violence in the shape of