rendered by Sir Douglas Haig and the army corps under his command. Day
after day and night after night the enemy's infantry has been hurled
against him in violent counter-attack, which has never on any one
occasion succeeded, while the trenches all over his position have been
under continuous heavy artillery fire.

The operations of the First Corps on this day resulted in the capture of
several hundred prisoners, some field pieces and machine guns.

The casualties were very severe, one brigade alone losing three of its
four Colonels.

The Third Division commenced a further advance, and had nearly reached
the plateau of Aizy when they were driven back by a powerful
counter-attack supported by heavy artillery. The division, however, fell
back in the best order, and finally intrenched itself about a mile north
of Vailly Bridge, effectively covering the passage.

The Fourth and Fifth Divisions were unable to do more than maintain
their ground.

5. On the morning of the 15th, after close examination of the position,
it became clear to me that the enemy was making a determined stand; and
this view was confirmed by reports which reached me from the French
armies fighting on my right and left, which clearly showed that a
strongly intrenched line of defense was being taken up from the north of
Compiègne, eastward and southeastward, along the whole Valley of the
Aisne up to and beyond Rheims.

A few days previously the Fortress of Maubeuge fell, and a considerable