suburbs of Ypres and had that city at their mercy,
provided allied reenforcements ordered up did not obstruct their path.

The fighting still continued for part of November, 1914, but for the
month of October no definite result was to be recorded.

At Ypres, on November 2, 1914, the Germans captured 2,300 English troops
and many machine guns. Dixmude was stormed by the Germans on the 10th of
November, and they crossed the Yser Canal, capturing the Allies position
west of Langemark, also driving them out of St. Eloi. Snow and floods
interfered with the fighting along the battle front. Ypres was bombarded
on several occasions and was repeatedly set on fire.

November 11, 1914, was another day of severe fighting. At daybreak the
Germans opened fire on the allied trenches to the north and south of
the road from Menin to Ypres. After a furious artillery fire the Germans
drove their men forward in full force. This attack was carried out by
the First and Fourth brigades of the Prussian Guard Corps which had been
especially selected to capture Ypres if possible, since that task had
proved too heavy for the infantry of the line. As the Germans surged
forward they were met by a frontal fire from the allied lines, and as
they were moving diagonally across part of the allied front, they were
also attacked on the flank by the English artillery. Though the
casualties of the Germans were enormous before they reached the English
lines, such was their strength and the momentum of the mass that, in
spite of the splendid resistance of the English troops, the Germans
succeeded in breaking through the allied lines in several places near
the road. They penetrated some distance into the woods behind the
English trenches, where some of the bloodiest fighting of the entire war
took place.

On November 12, 1914, comparative quiet reigned and with the exception
of artillery duels and some desultory fighting no results were obtained
on either side. The British report makes this comment on this attempt
upon Ypres: "Their (the Prussian Guard Corps') dogged perseverance in
pursuance of their objective claims admiration.

"The failure of one great attack, heralded as it was by an impassioned
appeal to the troops made in the presence of the emperor himself, but
carried out by partially trained men, has been only the signal for
another desperate effort in which the place of honor was assigned to the
corps d'elite of the German army.

"It must be a