After referring to some of the battles in which the Indian troops took part, Field Marshal French says: 

“Since their arrival in this country and their occupation of the line allotted to them I have been much impressed by the initiative and resource displayed by the Indian troops.  Some of the ruses they have employed to deceive the enemy have been attended with the best results and have doubtless kept the superior forces in front of them at bay.  Our Indian sappers and miners have long enjoyed a high reputation for skill and resource.  Without going into detail I can confidently assert that throughout their work in this campaign they have fully justified that reputation.

“The General officer commanding the Indian army describes the conduct and bearing of these troops in strange and new surroundings to have been highly satisfactory, and I am enabled from my own observations to fully corroborate this statement.”

Sir John French goes on to say that, while the whole line continued to be heavily pressed, the Germans’ efforts from Nov. 1 have been concentrated upon breaking through the line held by the First British and the Ninth French Corps and thus gaining possession of the town of Ypres.  Three Bavarian and one German corps, in addition to other troops, were all directed against this northern line.

About Nov. 10, after several units of these corps had been completely shattered in futile attacks, the Field Marshal continues, a division of the Prussian Guard, which had been operating in the vicinity of Arras, was moved up to this area with great speed and secrecy.  Documents found on dead officers, the report says, proved that the Guard received the German Emperor’s special command to break through and succeed where their comrades of the line had failed.  They took the leading part in the vigorous attacks made against the centre on the 11th and 12th, says Field Marshal French, but, like their comrades, were repulsed with enormous casualties.

He pays high tribute to Sir Douglas Haig and his divisional and brigade commanders, who, he says, “held the line with marvelous tenacity and undaunted courage.”  The Field Marshal predicts that “their deeds during these days of stress and trial will furnish some of the most brilliant chapters which will be found in the military history of our time.”

High praise is also given the Third Cavalry Division under Major Gen. Julian Byng, whose troops “were repeatedly called upon to restore situations at critical points and fill gaps in the line caused by the tremendous losses which occurred.”

The Commander in Chief makes special mention of Col.  Gordon Chesney Wilson of the Royal Horse Guards, Major the Hon. Hugh Dawnay of the Second Life Guards, and Brig.  Gen. FitzClarence of the Irish Guards, who were killed, and of Brig.  Gen. the Earl of Cavan, who “on many occasions was conspicuous for the skill, coolness, and courage with which he led his troops.”