The Germans have said that before the First Battle of
Ypres they had already run short of ammunition. Whether this be true or not, the number of their guns and the amount of ammunition they used were out of all proportion to our own reply. The critical moments of the battle occurred between two and three o'clock on the afternoon of October 31st, 1914. The First Division were holding the Menin-Ypres road and Gheluvelt, and they were hurled backwards by a tremendous attack. According to all human reckoning, it seemed that the position was lost. No military com- mander could have reasonably counted upon the division rallying and holding its ground against such an overwhelming onslaught. It is generally believed that Lord French when he received the news made up his mind to retire, as of course prudence and foresight alike required.
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