Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

CHAPTER LXXXII.

COUNTER-STROKES IN THE WEST.

The Meaning of a Counter-stroke—The German Weakness—German Reinforcements—The Attack of 3rd October—TahureThe French take the Village and the Butte of Tahure—The Moroccan Advance at Navarin Farm— German Counter-stroke at Loos—Immense Losses—DBritish Attack on 13th October __The Fight of the North Midland Division at the Hohenzollern—Captain C. G. V ickers—Strength of German Defences—The French win Summit of HartmannsweilerkopfGerman Attack at Loos on 19th October—Sketch of British Front—German Counter-attack East of Rheims—The French take La Courtine—The Germans retake the Butte of Tahure __D'Urbal’s Army—Story of the Sappers Mauduit and Cadoret—Results of October Fighting—Losses on both Sides—Death of Brigadier-General J. F. Trefusis.

E have seen that the Germans in the West

{ / had definitely adopted the defensive. But

¥ since a passive defence was repugnant to their whole conception of war, the Allies after every assault might look for a vigorous counterstroke, which, according to a great authority, is the soul of the grand tactics of the defensive. In a campaign of open warfare a counter-stroke may take many forms, but when both antagonists are entrenched it is limited, generally speaking, to one type. When the breaching assault has reached the limit of its strength the reserves of the defence are suddenly thrown in, and, finding their enemies ex-