solute precision."

In forwarding his report on this engagement, the General Officer
Commanding First Army writes as follows:

Special credit is due--

(i) To Major Gen. Haking, commanding First Division, for the
prompt manner in which he arranged this counter-attack and for
the general plan of action, which was crowned with success.

(ii) To the General Officer commanding the Fourth Brigade
(Lord Cavan) for the thorough manner in which he carried out
the orders of the General Officer commanding the division.

(iii) To the regimental officers, non-commissioned officers,
and men of the Second Coldstream Guards and Irish Guards, who,
with indomitable pluck, stormed two sets of barricades,
captured three German trenches, two machine guns, and killed
or made prisoners many of the enemy.

8. During the period under report the Royal Flying Corps has again
performed splendid service.

Although the weather was almost uniformly bad and the machines suffered
from constant exposure, there have been only thirteen days on which no
actual reconnoissance has been effected. Approximately, 100,000 miles
have been flown.

In addition to the daily and constant work of reconnoissance and
co-operation with the artillery, a number of aerial combats have been
fought, raids carried out, detrainments harassed, parks and petrol
depots bombed, &c.

Various successful bomb-dropping raids have been carried out, usually
against the enemy's aircraft material. The principle of attacking
hostile aircraft whenever and wherever seen (unless highly important
information is being delivered) has been adhered to, and has resulted in
the moral fact that enemy machines invariably beat immediate retreat
when chased.

Five German aeroplanes are known to have been brought to the ground, and
it would appear probable that others, though they have managed to reach
their own lines, have done so in a considerably damaged condition.

9. In my dispatch of Nov. 20, 1914, I referred to the reinforcements of
territorial troops which I had received, and I mentioned several units
which had already been employed in the fighting line.

In the positions which I held for some years before the outbreak of this
war I was brought into close contact with the territorial force, and I
found every reason to hope and believe that, when the hour of trial
arrived, they would justify every hope and trust which was p