Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-12
70 ESCAPE
TOTAL humiliation
GENERAL FRENCH MAKES OFF.
clAL REPORT OF FOUR
DAYS BATTLE.
BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE
BORE sRuNT OF ATTACK
Divisions Compelled TO Fight as They
Rstreatsd and Maintain Order and
Unoroken Ranks or De Completely
Cut to Piscss-stubberr Withdrawal
Under Most Dangerous csnditiens.

4 Unoroken Ranks or De C0Wpieteiy
Cut to Pisces-stubherr Withdrawal
I Under Most Dangerous Conditions.
London. Sept. 12.-Co{fee on English
breakfast tables was untasted While
the people read the thrilling story told
by Sir John French. commander III
chief of the British army now allied
with the French and Belgians on the
continent OF the heroic fight made by
the British troops to keep from being
annihlated by the Germans.
The Withdrawal of the British army
before the German advance was com
I pared 10 the pursuit OF a wildcat by
hounds the English force backing
stubbornly toward the River Oise
constantly showing its teeth. but real
izins that 1t must reach the river OF
perish. The report of General French
created much surprise in England. as
:; was not known until his statement
was made public just how hard pressed
the British army had been.
Respond to Public Demand.
The text of the report of General
French. which is addressed to Earl
Kitchener The secretary of war, ano
its publication indicates that the gov
eminent is responding to the public de-
Ynand for fuller information on the
progress of operations. so far as the
British forces are concerned In France
The report is published in the Lon
don Gazette the official organ. II
/: follows:
During Aug. % and % the ADVANCE
squadrons did some excellent work.
some OF them penetrating as far as
Soignies Ia town of Belgium ten miles
northeast of Mons) and several err
counters took place in which our troops
I showed TO great advantage.
I 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
i but that the right of the position from
/ Mons was being particularly threat
/ ened
The commander of the First Corps
! had pushed his flank back to some nigh
! ground south OF Bray and the Fifth
; cavalry evacuated Binche, MOVING
4
occupied Binche.
Ordered 70 Draw Back.
i .'.rhe right OF the third division un-
/. der General Hamilton was at Mons
which formed a somewhat dangerous
salient and directed the commander
of the Second Corps II threatened seri-
ously to draw back the center behind
Mons.
I'm the meantime about five in the
afternoon. received most unexpect
!, cd message from General Joffre pS
telegraph telling me that at least three
German corps were moving on my po-
sition in front and that second corps
Z Was engaged in turning movement
from the direction OF Journal. ne
also informed me that the two reserve
French divisions and the Fifth Frenct
( Army corps on my right were retiring
Chose New Position.
I'm view OF the possibility of my pc
ing driven from the Mons position,
had previously ordered position il
the rear to be reconnoitered-
This position rested on the fortress
of Maubeuge on the right and extended
west Of Jenlan. southeast of Valen'
ciennes on the left. The position wa
reported difficult TO hold because
standing crops and buildings limitet
the fire in many important localities.
When the news of the retiremen
Of the French and the heavy German
threatening OF my front reached me.
endeavored TO confirm II by aeroplan'
, reconnaissance. and as result or thi
| determineds TO effect retirement Z
. the Maubeuge position at daybreak Oh
the 24th.
Heavy Loss on Right.
a certain amount OF lighting con
tinued along the whole line Throughout
the night and at daybreak on the 24tl
the second division from the neighbor
hood of Harmienies made a powerful
demonstrations as If to retake Binche
This was supported by the artillery Q
both the first and the second division
!, while the first division took up a sup
porting position In the neighborhood o
Peasant. Under cover OF this demon
stration the Second Corps retired o
. the line OF Dour. Quarouble and Fra
meries The third division on the RICH
Of the corps suffered considerable los
. in this operation from the enemy. VIII
had .retaken Mons.
The Second Corps halted on thi
line, where they intrenehed themselves
enabling Sir DoEElas Haig. with tn
First Corps, to withdraw to the me-
position.
Niaht Attack on Left.
Toward midnight the enemy ap
r peared to be directing his principal ct
fort against our left. / had previousl
ordered General Ailenby with the cav
airy to act vigorously in advance
4 my left front and endeavor to take u
pressure off.
About 1870 in the morning Gener'
Allenby received message from b
Charles FERGUSON, commanding Il
fifth division. saving he was very has
pressed and In urgent need Of supper
On receipt of this messa8e -0ener
Allenby drew in his cavalry ana er
deavorcd to bring direct support tn =
fifth division.
During the course Of this operatic
General DeLisle Of the Second CAvalI
brigade thought he cav . GOOD oppol
.unity to pafalyse the further advans
of the enemy's infantry by making
mounted attack On his flank.
formed up and advanced for this pul
pose, but was held up by wire abol
500 yards from his objective.
oefriens IN Retreat
The Nineteenth Infantry briga'
was brought by rail- to valencienn
on the ED ana 23d. On the mornir
I of the oath. fhey we're moved out 10