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October 1914
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Second day of a general German assault on the line from Arras north to the sea. II Corps holds its ground but Smith-Dorrien decides to retreat to a stronger line
At the end of 20 October the two divisions of I Corps are separated by Ypres. Sir John French ordered the corps to advance to Langemarck then attack north, with the aim of liberating Bruges. The attack begins later than hoped on 21 October, and I Corps soon runs into increasingly large numbers of German troops. At 3pm Haig cancels the offensive and prepares a new defensive line 1,000 yards beyond Langemarck. By the end of the day the British have realised that they face strong German forces and Joffre agrees to send the French IX Corps to Ypres to reinforce the BEF>
The Germans attack Dixmunde but are repulsed by the Belgian and French troops in the town.