The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-10
Ohfcfal Report Of Operations Of
Gen. French's Army
Is Made Public by the Secretary
Of War.
CONCENTRATION COMPLETED
And Positions Along Fighting
Line Taken August g.
Retiring Movement Was Begun
Almost Immediately.

London. Sept 1O.-The text of the re-
port of Field Marshal Sir John French.
in command Of the British forces in
France, covering the British operations
since they landed, was made public to-
day. The report is addressed to Earl
Kitchener, the secretary of war, and its
publication indicates the government is
responding to the public demand for
fuller information OH the progress OF
operations so far rs the British forces
are concerned in France.
The report is published in the Lon
don Gazette, the official organ. 1t fol-
lows:
THE transportation of the troops
from England by rail and sea was eff
fected III the best order and without
check. Concentration was practically
completed on the evening of Friday
August y, and / was able to make dls-
position to move Il force during Sat
urday to position which General Jonre
requested me to undertake. The line
extended along the line of the canal
from Condo on the west, through MONS
and Binehe on the east.
During August p and 70 the au-
vance suuadrons did some excellent
work. some OF them penetrating as far
as Soignies "a town of Belgium. ten
miles northeast of Mons). and several
encounters took place in which our
troops showed TO great advantage
Germans Occupy Binche.
ION Sunday. the 23rd, reports began
to come in to the effect that the enemy
was commencing an attack on the Mons
line. apparently in some strength but
that the right Of the position from
Mons was being particularly threat
ened.
The comma nder of the first corps
had pushed his flank back to some
high ground south of Bray and the Fifth
cavalry evacuated Binche. moving
slightly south. The enemy, thereupon
occupied Binche.
The right of the Third division. un-
der General Hamilton. was at Mons,
which formed a somewhat dangerous
salience and l directed the cOmman-
der Of the Second corps. if threatened
seriously. to draw back the center be-
hind Mons. This was done before dark.
In the meantime, about In the
afternoon. I received a most unexpected
message from Joffre by telegraph, tell
ing me that at least three German
corps were moving on my position In
front and that a second corps was en-
gagged in turning movement from the
direction of Journal. He also informed
me that the two reserve french Oh
visions and the Fifth French army
corps on my right were retiring. the
Germans having on the previous day
gained possession Of the passage of the
Sambre between Charleroi and. Namur
Prepared to Retreat.
I'm view of the possibility of my be-
ing driven from the Mons position, I
had previously ordered position in the
rear to be -econnoitered. This position
rested on the fortress of Maubeuge on
the right and extended west to JenlaiIi.
southeast Of Nalenciennes, on the left.
The position was reported difficult to
hold because standing crops and build
inss made the sighting of trenches very
difficult aid limited the fire in many
in portant localities. 1t nevertheless af-
farded few good artillery positions.
when the news of the retirement of
fhe French and the German threaten
ting movement on my front reached me
! endeavored to confirm by aeroplane
reconnaissance and as a result of this
] determined to effect a retirement to
the Maubeuge position at daybreak en-
the 24th. A certain amount of fighting
Continued along the whole line through
cut the night and at daybreak on the
faith. the second division from the
leighborhood of Harmignies made a
powerful demonstration as if to take
inche. This was supported by the ar
tilery Of both the First and Second
visions, while the First division took
tip supporting position in the neigh
porhood of Peissant.
The Retreat Begins.
Under cover of this demonstration the
Second corps retired on the line OF Dour