Complex sentence: German cavalry appeared at Visé early on 4 August, to find the bridge down and Belgian troops on the west bank; the Germans crossed at a ford and forced the Belgians to retire towards Liège.
Split into simpler sentences: German cavalry appeared at Visé early on 4 August to find the bridge down and Belgian troops on the west bank. The Germans crossed at a ford and forced the Belgians to retire towards Liège.