Reconnaissance No. 770                                                                   21^st November 1914.

Aeroplane:                                                                      

Squadron No.  5.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lieut. Strange;

Observer: Capt. Arkwright;                         Reference Map:  1/40,000 – 36).

Hour commenced: 11-5 a.m.

Hour concluded:    .1-30 p.m.

================================================================

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

12-10 p.m.     QUESNOY.                           30 or 40 Motor Wagons moving into

QUESNOY from S.E. on QUESNOY – LILLE road.

About 30 or 40 parked at QUESNOY.

 12-25 p.m.    LILLE.                                     About ten hangats on Aerodrome; dropped

                                                                        6 bombs.

12-35 P.M.     LOMME.                                 Signs of large cavalry bivouacs; dropped 6

                                                                        bombs.

12-45 p.m.     FOURNES                            Signs of a number of bivouacs in and

                                                                        around FOURNES.

(Signed): F.J. Arkwright, Capt.

            Observer.

Reconnaissance No. 769                                                                   21^st November 1914.

Aeroplane:                                                                      

Squadron No.  2.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lieut. H. de Havilland

Observer: Lieut. Bewes.                                         Reference Map:  Merville   )

Hour commenced:   10-10 a.m.,                                                       La Bassee) 1/40,000

Hour concluded:    12-0 a.m.

================================================================

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

11-0 a.m.       ESTASIRES –                      Trench ¼ mile South of of U in AVOUE.

                        LA BASSEE                          Communication trench leading from it to

another trench in rear.

Gun pits on each side of main road, ½ mile W.N.W. of R in RUE des TRANCHANT.  Those West of road occupied.

The pits on East side of road were unoccupied, except the four Easternmost ones.

Gun pits ¾ mile W.N.W. of L in LORGIES occupied.

 11-0 a.m.      LA QUINQUE RUE.             Enemy’s trenches immediately

North & South of L in LA QUINQUE RUE have been sapped within a few yards of our trenches.

11-0 a.m.       RUE d’OUVERT.                  Unoccupied trenches on East side of

village.

11-15              CHlle ST. ROCH.                 Unoccupied trenches between this village

and VIOLAINES.

Unoccupied Gun pits at E of BEAU PUITS.

Unoccupied Gun pits at T of LE TILLEUL.

Unoccupied trenches ½ mile South of G in LORGIES on South side of the road.

11-15 a.m.     LA BASSEE.                         Unoccupied trenches East of LORGIES.                        

11-40 a.m.     NEUVE CHAPPELLE.        The fields between the BOIS DU BIEZ and

HALPEGARBE road appeared to have been crossed by troops, as the snow has been trampled in.

The roads leading from LIGNY LE PETIT to the LA BASSEE – WICRES road were not white, and looked as if they had been used a good deal.

(Signed): R.C.H. Bewes, Lieut.

            Observer.

Reconnaissance No. 768                                                                   21^st November 1914.

Aeroplane: Avro – No. 637.                                                                              

Squadron No.  5.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lieut. Brock.

Observer: Lieut. Penn-Gaskell.                                         Reference Map:  1/40,000

Hour commenced:  9-10 a.m.,

Hour concluded:    10-30 a.m.

================================================================

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

9-40 a.m.       WYTSCHAETE                    Indications that troops have been moving

about in the snow outside the village of OOSTTAVERNE.  No movements of troops now.  Emplacements & trenches on att. sketch.

                        HOLLEBEKE.                       Indications that a large number of horses

have been exercised from South side of town to North side of HOUTHEM.  No movement of troops now.  Emplacements for six guns, facing S.W. at Pt. 58 N.E. of wood ½ mile S.W. of H in HOLLEBEKE.  also two other groups of Emplacements for six guns each, facing same direction as above and about 200 yards & 400 yards distance respectively.  All Emplacements close to East side of wood.

                        WARNETON                         ) No movement of troops or signs that there

                        BAS-WARNETON               ) have been any movements in the snow.

                        DEULEMONT                       )

MESSINES                           Emplacements & trenches shown on att. sketch.

(Signed): L. Penn-Gaskell, Lieut., R.F.C.

Observer.

Sketch on separate sheet.

G.S.O.2.

            R.F.C.

            The following work carried out:-

1. Brock & Penn-Gaskell.  Gun & Tactical Rec. North, successful.

• Carmichael & Small.  Obs. Art. Fire, twice with Heavies partially successful – the snow made it difficult.  I went to battery with observer afterwards.

• Strange & Arkwright.  Gun Rec. South.  It is believed that some of the 6 bombs dropped on LILLE station took effect; successful.

• Brock & Small.  Special tactical Rec. ordered by H.Q. 111 A.C. successful.

• Glanville & Small.  Gun Rec. South – failed through strength of wind.

(Sd) A.C.W. Mac Lean.

Major.

No. 5 Squadron R.F.C.

21/11/14.

————————————-

23A

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY. 21-11-14.

**************************

Enclosed in original.

(Sd) G.M.W. MACDONOGH.

Brigadier General,

General Staff.

I

21-11-14.

O.C.

            No. 3 Squadron.

The following reconnaissance (strategical) is required:

LILLE – SECLIN – DOUAI – LENS back.

(Sd) W. Salmond.

Major. G.S.

21/11/14.

BIPLANE.

LUST VERKEHRS – GESELLSCHAFT

A.G.

Illustration oblong over inverted triangle with LVG up and down centre of triangle.

BERLIN, JOHANNISTAL.

System Schneider.  Tip D.4. No 161.

R.F.C.

The above is the marking on the German biplane which descended within the lines of the Indian Corps today.

(Sd) G.M.W. Macdonogh,

Brig: General.

I. 8.0. p.m.

21/11/14.

H.Q. R.F.C.

G/122/34

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION, 20/11/14.

======================

S of the LYS.

                        No movement reported.

N. of the LYS.

R.F.C. reported large quantities of rolling stock in stations.

General.

Two German 21 cm. mortars have been recovered by the Allies from the front of RAMSCAPPELLE and two more are still there besides some 16 cm. howitzers.

RUSSIA.

The following communication is issued by the Naval General Staff:-

”On November 18^th a division of our vessels of the line of the Black Sea Fleet, on their return to SEVASTAPOL from a cruise along the Anatolian coast, sighted a Turkish squadron consisting of the Goben and Breslau 25 miles off the Chersonese lighthouse.

The Russian Fleet at once manoeuvred into battle order, bringing the enemy on to their starboard, and opened fire at a distance of 40 cables.  The first discharge of the 12-inch guns from the flagship Svyatoi Evstafii struck the Goben and caused an explosion on board her which gave rise to an out-break of fire.

The Russian flagship and other vessels continued to make excellent practice, and further explosions occurred in the Goben.

The Goben opened fire after some delay, the enemy very apparently being taken by surprise.

The Germans fired broadsides with their heavy guns, concentrating their fire upon the Russian flagship.

The action lasted 14 minutes, after which the Goben disappeared in the mist.

The Breslau, taking advantage of her speed, did not take part in the action, but kept in the offing.

The Svyatoi Evstafii was the only Russian vessel to suffer any damage, and that was insignificant.

Our casualties were a lieutenant, 3 midshipmen, and 29 sailors killed; one lieutenant and 19 sailors seriously wounded, and 5 sailors slightly wounded”.

W. Salmond

Major, G.S.

H.Q. R.F.C.

10-30 a.m.

21/11/14

Q.G.

BULLETIN DE RENSEIGNEMENTS.

——————————

reçu le 21-11-14 a 8.45.

Primo.             Rien a signaler sur l’ensemble du front ennemi.

Secundo.       Compte-rendu des reconnaissances d’avions.

                        1^o. ENTRE LA MER ET LA LYS. – Matériel pour 15 trains a

                                    OSTENDE.  (plus important que d’habitude).

                                    Matériel pour 144 trains dans le secteur WERWICK –

                                    COURTRAI – INGELMUNSTER – LICHTERVELDE – STADEN.

                                    Pas de mouvements importants sur voies ferrées.

                        2^o  ENTRE LYS ET SOMME.par de renseignements sur les voies

ferrées On n’a constate aucun mouvement ni aucune trace sur le neige franchement tombée dans la région LORGIES (2 km Nord de LA BASSEE) HERLIES – FROMELLES – CROIX BLANCHE (12 km Nord de LA BASSEE) AUBERS.  Toutefois les tranches a l’Ouest d’AUBERS paraissent toujours tenues.

                        3^o ENTRE SOMME ET OISE aucune modification constatée en

                                    arrière du front.

                                    Ces reconnaissances gênées par le froid et le vent n’ont pu

                                    donner de renseignements sur les voies ferrées.

                        4^o ENTRE OISE ET MOISELLE.

                                    On ne signale aucun mouvement de troupes, ni aucune

                                    modification apparente dans les cantonnements.  Pas de

                                    renseignements sur les voies ferrées dans la région St

                                    QUENTIN – NOYON – SOISSON – LAON.

Trafic normal sur voie ferrée entre LAON et L’ARGONNE ainsi

que sur les voies aboutissant a METZ.

ETAT-MAJOR GENERAL              le 20 Novembre 1914

2^o Bureau

No. 4598

10-10 p.m.

NOTE

AU SUJET DE L’OBSERVATION DES VOIES

FERREES PAR LES AVIONS

………………………………………………….

            Dans certaines Armees, les renseignements de l’aviation concernant les mouvements sur voie ferrée ne sont pas établis avec une précision suffisante.

            On rappelle que pour qu’un compte-rendu d’observation de voie ferrée soit complet, il faut :

            1^o. Que la voie soit survolée sur un parcours aussi long que possible.

            2^o Que le nombre de trains circulant dans les deux sens soit indique sur ce parcours.

            3^o. Que soit autant que possible détermine le sens du courant plein par l’observation des trucs charges.

Copie transmise à titre de renseignement à M. le Chef d’Etat General de l’Armée Britannique.

                                                St Omer, le 21 Novembre 1914.

                                                Le Colonel, Chef de Mission,

P.O. Le Chef d’Etat Major,

Lieut. Col. Rebois.

O.B./B06827.

O (a).

Reconnaissance No763                                                         20^th November 1914.

Aeroplane B.E. No 242.                                                             Ref. Map N.W. EUROPE

Squadron No 4.                                                                                      Sheet 1/250000

Pilot – Capt. Soames.

Observer –

Hour commenced 12-5 p.m.

Hour concluded    3-0 p.m.

================================================================

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

1-30 a.m.       STADEN.                               Rolling stock for about 3 trains in station.

No movements of troops.

1-40 p.m.       CORTEMARCK.                  Rolling stock for about 7 trains.

1-50 p.m.       THOUROUT                          Rolling stock for about 10 trains.  Convoy of

7 lorries at point 33, two miles N.E. of THOUROUT.

2-10 p.m.       BRUGES.                              Streets quiet.  No barges on canals; no

movements in the station, but all yards full of rolling stock.

1 train running from OSTEND to BRUGES.  1 aeroplane tent ½ mile out of BRUGES to the East of the BRUGES – THOUROUT road.

Road STADEN – COURTEMARCK –THOUROUT – BRUGES clear, and no movements seen on any branch roads.

                                                                        Height 5500’

Observation – Good.

(Sd) A.H. Soames, Capt.,

Observer.