ituations at critical points and fill gaps in the line caused by the
tremendous losses which occurred."

The Commander in Chief makes special mention of Col. Gordon Chesney
Wilson of the Royal Horse Guards, Major the Hon. Hugh Dawnay of the
Second Life Guards, and Brig. Gen. FitzClarence of the Irish Guards, who
were killed, and of Brig. Gen. the Earl of Cavan, who "on many occasions
was conspicuous for the skill, coolness, and courage with which he led
his troops."

Of the Flying Corps the report says:

"Every day new methods of employing them, both strategically and
tactically, are discovered and put into practice."

Concerning the Territorials who have been employed, the Field Marshal
says the conduct and bearing of these units under fire and the efficient
manner in which they have carried out the duties assigned to them "has
imbued me with the highest hope as to the value and the help of the
Territorial troops generally."

[Illustration]

*Story of the "Eye-Witness"*

*By Col. E.D. Swinton of the Intelligence Department of the British
General Staff.*

_From the beginning of the war world-wide attention has been
attracted to the reports issued from time to time as coming from
"an eye-witness at British General Headquarters." At first these
reports were erroneously ascribed to Marshal French himself, and
resulted in much admiring comment on his vivid and graphic way of
reporting. Later it became known that they were the work of Col.
Swinton, who was attached to Gen. French's headquarters in the
capacity of "official observer."_

I.

*The Battle of the Aisne Begins*

[By the "Official Observer," Col. E.D. Swinton.]

General Headquarters,
Sept. 18, 1914.

Sept. 14, the Germans were making a determined resistance along the
River Aisne. Opposition, which it was at first thought might possibly be
of a rear-guard nature, not entailing material delay to our progress,
has developed and has proved to be more serious than was anticipated.

The action, now being fought by the Germans along their line, may, it is
true, have been undertaken in order to gain time for some strategic
operation or move, and may not be their main stand. But, if this is so,
the fighting is naturally on a scale which as to extent of ground
covered and duration of resistance, makes it undistinguishable in its
progress from what is known as a "pitched battle," though the enemy
certai