<P> From 19 October until 22 November, the German forces made their final breakthrough attempt of 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres, which ended in a mutually - costly stalemate . After the battle, Erich von Falkenhayn judged that it was no longer possible for Germany to win the war by purely military means and on 18 November 1914 he called for a diplomatic solution . The Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann - Hollweg, Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg, commanding Ober Ost (Eastern Front high command), and Hindenburg's deputy, Erich Ludendorff, continued to believe that victory was achievable through decisive battles . During the Lodz offensive in Poland (11--25 November), Falkenhayn hoped that the Russians would be made amenable to peace overtures . In his discussions with Bethmann - Hollweg, Falkenhayn viewed Germany and Russia as having no insoluble conflict and that the real enemies of Germany were France and Britain . A peace with only a few annexations of territory also seemed possible with France and that with Russia and France out of the war by negotiated settlements, Germany could concentrate on Britain and fight a long war with the resources of Europe at its disposal . Hindenburg and Ludendorff continued to believe that Russia could be defeated by a series of battles which cumulatively would have a decisive effect, after which Germany could finish off France and Britain . </P> <P> Between the coast and the Vosges was a westward bulge in the trench line, named the Noyon salient for the captured French town at the maximum point of advance near Compiègne . Joffre's plan for 1915 was to attack the salient on both flanks to cut it off . The Fourth Army had attacked in Champagne from 20 December 1914--17 March 1915 but the French were not able to attack in Artois at the same time . The Tenth Army formed the northern attack force and was to attack eastwards into the Douai plain across a 16 - kilometre (9.9 mi) front between Loos and Arras . On 10 March, as part of the larger offensive in the Artois region, the British Army fought the Battle of Neuve Chapelle to capture Aubers Ridge . The assault was made by four divisions along a 2 mi (3.2 km) front . Preceded by a surprise bombardment lasting only 35 minutes, the initial assault made rapid progress and the village was captured within four hours . The advance then slowed because of supply and communication difficulties . The Germans 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 ammunition, General Sir John French blamed the failure on the shortage of ammunition, despite the early success . </P> <P> All sides had signed the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, which prohibited the use of chemical weapons in warfare . In 1914, there had been small - scale attempts by both the French and Germans to use various tear gases, which were not strictly prohibited by the early treaties but which were also ineffective . The first use of more lethal chemical weapons was against the French near the Belgian town of Ypres . </P> <P> Despite the German plans to maintain the stalemate with the French and British, Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, commander of the 4th Army planned an offensive at Ypres, site of the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914 . The Second Battle of Ypres, April 1915, was intended to divert attention from offensives in the Eastern Front and disrupt Franco - British planning . After a two - day bombardment, the Germans released a cloud of 168 long tons (171 t) of chlorine gas onto the battlefield . Though primarily a powerful irritant, it can asphyxiate in high concentrations or prolonged exposure . Being heavier than air, the gas crept across no man's land and drifted into the French trenches . The green - yellow cloud started killing some defenders and those in the rear fled in panic, creating an undefended 3.7 - mile (6 km) gap in the Allied line . The Germans were unprepared for the level of their success and lacked sufficient reserves to exploit the opening . Canadian troops on the right drew back their left flank and halted the German advance . The gas attack was repeated two days later and caused a 3.1 mi (5 km) withdrawal of the Franco - British line but the opportunity had been lost . </P>

How did world war 1 progress on the western front