A Concise Chronicle of Events of the Great War

by R. P. P. Rowe

The Germans bombard the whole British Front in the battle area and northwards to Armentières.

The French retire in the Coucy district, south of the Oise.

April 9 (Tues.)

The Germans attack in great strength on a ten-mile front between La Bassée and Armentières; they penetrate the centre of this sector, which is held by the Portuguese, and widen the gap made (the Battle of the Lys: see April 29).

April 10 (Wed.)

The new German offensive extends northwards; the British are forced back on the Messines Ridge and in front of Ploegsteert Wood; south of Armentières the Germans cross the Lys.

Palestine:—The Turks attack in the coastal sector; they are repulsed and the British line is advanced at some points.

April 11 (Thur.)

There is fierce fighting on the Messines Ridge, where the British 9th Division repulses strong enemy attacks; below Armentières the Germans rapidly deepen and widen the salient they have created; they capture Armentières and Merville, and force back the British to a line behind Ploegsteert, Steenwerck, and Estaires; German attacks on the lines covering Béthune are repulsed with heavy loss; the Germans claim 20,000 prisoners and over 200 guns in this battle to date.