Battle Studies
The
Second Battle of Ypres 1915
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Battle Studies
The
Second Battle of Ypres 1915
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| 22 April 1915: 17.30 |
Battle
of Gravenstafel Ridge
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The Allied
front line is broken: the way to Ypres is openA message telephoned later in the evening from General Foch, commander of the Groupe Provisoire du Nord, to the French Commander-in-Chief, General Joffre, confirmed that the withdrawal of the French troops from their front line positions, due to the devastating effects of the gas, was halted at about 5.30pm. (1)
By 5.30pm the German infantry had broken through the Allied front line. This swift German breakthrough into the French-held sector had created a large gap of about 3.5 kilometres between Steenstraat and the left of the 3rd Canadian Brigade's front line position south west of Poelcappelle.
In
the words of General Foch, "La route d'Ypres était libre" -
the way to Ypres was open. (2)
Acknowledgements
(1) Les Armées Françaises dans la Grande Guerre, Tome II, Troisième Partie, Annexes, 2. Volume, Annex no. 1422
(2) Les Armées Françaises dans la Grande Guerre, Tome II, Troisième Partie, Annexes, Annexes, 2. Volume, Annex no. 1422
Copyright Joanna Legg & Graham Parker © 2002 All rights reserved
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