Some
thousands of stupefied prisoners, eight batteries of French
field-guns, and four British 4.7's, which had been placed in a
wood behind the French position, were the trophies won by this
disgraceful victory.
Under the shattering blow which they had received, a blow
particularly demoralizing to African troops, with their fears
of magic and the unknown, it was impossible to rally them
effectually until the next day. It is to be remembered in
explanation of this disorganization that it was the first
experience of these poison tactics, and that the troops engaged
received the gas in a very much more severe form than our own
men on the right of Langemarck. For a time there was a gap five
miles broad in the front of the position of the Allies, and
there were many hours during which there was no substantial
force between the Germans and Ypres. They wasted their time,
however, in consolidating their ground, and the chance of a
great coup passed forever.
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