In this section the forces of
the Crown Prince of Bavaria opposed the troops under the command
of General Smith-Dorrien.
From October 1 to 3, 1914, considerable fighting went on in the
flats east of Arras between Lens and the River Scarpe. This resulted
in the retirement of the Allies on the 4th. The Germans began to
bombard Arras, keeping it up until the 6th, when their attempt to
take the city next day was successfully repulsed. On October 8,
the Germans, then holding Douai and Lens, were shelling Lille, then
held by the British territorials. For the next two weeks artillery
duels alternated with trench fighting and skirmishing.
The main attack at La Bassee covered fully ten days, lasting from
October 22, 1914, to November 2, 1914. The first severe fighting
came as has already been mentioned, on October 22, 1914. The British
were driven out of the village of Violaines, which is situated on
the road between Lorgies and Givenchy, and General Smith-Dorrien
was compelled to retreat to the village of Faugissant, to the south
of Lavantie.
On October 24, 1914, the Germans attacked heavily along the entire
line, and the First Gordon Highlanders were driven out of their
trenches. For three days the most savage fighting continued, resulting
in the capture of Neuve Chapelle by the Germans on October 27, which
was defended by East Indian troops. The fighting was desperate on
both sides and became much confused, as units here and there had
succeeded in breaking through their respective opponents' lines.
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