Page "Western Front (World War I)" Paragraph 12

On 10 March, as part of what was intended as a larger offensive in the Artois region, the British army attacked at Neuve Chapelle in an effort to capture the Aubers Ridge.

The assault was made by four divisions along a front.

Preceded by a concentrated bombardment lasting 35 minutes, the initial assault made rapid progress and the village was captured within four hours.

The advance then slowed because of problems with logistics and communications.

The Germans then brought up reserves and counter-attacked, forestalling the attempt to capture the ridge.

Since the British had used about one-third of their supply of artillery shells, General Sir John French blamed the failure on the shortage of shells, despite the success of the initial attack.