The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-16
Tells OF BATTLING.
BRITISH GENERAL DESCRIBES
TERRIFIC CONFLICT
FACED ANRIRILATION

FACED ANNIRILATION
Official Report of Sir John Frencl
Tells of Ferocious Attack Upol
British Troops Made by Germa,
Soldiers During Last Part o
August.
The text OF the report Of Fielt
Marshal Sir John French, in com
mand of the British forces in France
to Earl Kitchener, the secretary O.
war, on the British operations, was
made public Thursday. 1t follows il
part:
"The transportation of the troops
from England by rail and sea was
effected in the best order and with.
fout a check Concentration was
practically completed on the evening
of Friday, August 81, and was able
to make dispositions to move the
force during Saturday to positions
considered most favorable. The line
extended along the line Of the canal
from Conde on the west through
Mons and Binche on the east.
"On Saturday, the 23rd, reports
began to come in to the effect that
the enemy was commencing an at
tack on the Mons line.
''The right of the third division
under Gen. Hamilton was at Mons,
which formed somewhat dangerous
salient, and directed the command
er of the second corps If threatened
seriously to draw back the centre be-
hind Mons. This was done before
dark.
"About 5 in the afternoon recelV-
ed a most unexpected message from
Gen. Joffre by telegraph, telling me
that at least three German corps
| were moving on my position in front
and that another corps was engaged
in turning movement from the
direction of Journal. He. also in
formed me that the two reserve
French divisions and the fifth French
divisions and the fifth French army
corps on my right were retiring"
In consequence, Gen. French con-
tinues, he determined to retire to
position which he had previously re-
connoitered, extending from Mau-
beuge to Jenlain, southeast of Valen-
ciennes.
There was certain amount OF
fighting along the whole line OF the
right. The retirement was carried
out successfully throughout the 2+th,
amid continuous fighting.
"The French troops were still re-
tiring," the report continues, "and |
had no support except from the for
tress at Maubeuge, and determined
attempts OF the enemy to get around
my left flank assured me ii was his
intention to press me against tnat
place and surround me. I felt not a
moment must be lost in retiring to
another position.
This operation was full of dan
ger and difficulty, not only owing to
the very superior force in my front.
but the exhaustion of my troops The
retirement recomm enced early in the
morning of the 25th to a position
near LIE Cateau.
Although the troops had been or
dered to occupy Cambria, LIE Cateau
and Landrecies and that position and
| ground had, during the 25th, been
| rar tally prepared and entrenched,
had grave doubts owing to informa-
ton I received regarding the accu-
mulating strength of the enemy as
to the wisdom of standing there to
fight. -.
"Moreoyer, the tirement Of the
French troops on my right continued
and Il determined to make great
effort to continue the retreat till
could put substantial obstacle, such
as the Somme River or the Disc River
between the British and the enemy
and afford the former some oppor'
tunity for rest and reorganization.
Therefore, the corps commanders
we're ordered to retreat as soon as
possible to a general line from St
Quentin to Rebmont.'
Cen. French then describes the
march through all that day and unuI
late in the evening, during which
time he was necessarily harassed by
the enemy, who continued the attacs
late at night on the exhausted Brit
ish. He continues:
Gen. Sordet, commanding three
French cavalry divisions, whom mac
called to my assistance, though he
rendered valuable aid later. was un'
able to afford any support on the
most critical day. the 26th, owing tc
1.-The exhaustion of horses.
"At daybreak the 26th it became
lapparent that the enemy was throw
ling the bulk of his strength agalns
the left of our position and the guns
of four German army corps being II
position against it. Gen. Smith Dor
rien reported that he was unable t(
retire as ordered. In face of such al
attack it was impossible for me t.
SUPPORT Gen. Dorrien, as the hrs
corps at the moment was incapable
of moving. There had been no time
to entrench properly, but the troops
Il S,orn;foopt front TO tll