The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-09-24

| Co+oo NNupy the Cambrai-Le-
~a.eau-Landrecies position mi
traT hau' during the 25th, been mar.
Icy preparing and intrenched. I had
sraVe doubts-owing to information
iau received as to the accumpIating
strength of the enemy against RS
fight. 'nere 10
having regard to the Continued ra
tlrement of the French right. nv ev.
posed left flank, the tendency of the
ehemys western corps to enyelon mo
and more than all the exhausted CON
oltlon OF the troops. I determined to
make great effort to continue the re.
treat till could put some substantial
obstacle, such as the Somme or the
use, between my troops and the enc.
N.Y. and afford the former some on.
portunlty for rest and reorganization.
Orders were therefore sent To
the corps commanders to continue
'helr retreat as soon as they possibly
coulu toward the general line of Yer.
mand, st. Quentin and Ribemont. and
the cavalry under General Auenby
We're ordered to cover the retirement.
throughout the 25th and far into the
evening the First corps continued to
march on Landrecies, following the
road along the eastern border of the
| forest OF Normal, and arrived at Land,
recles about ten o'clock
Enemy Allows No Rest.
had intended that the corps
should come further west, so as to I'll
up the gap between Lecateau and
Landrecies. but the men were exhaust.
ed and could not get further in with.
out rest.
| The enemy, however would not
allow them this rest, and about $50
that evening the report was received
that the Fourth Guards brigade in
Landrecies was heavily attacked by
troops of the Ninth German army
corps, who were coming through the
forest to the north of the town. This
brigade fought most CALAMITY and
| caused the enemy to suffer tire.
mendous loss in issuing from the for.
| Oob ihlO INC ndIIOW SlT6etS OF tlo
town. This loss has been estimated
| from reliable sources at between 700
and 1000
AT the same time information
| reached me from Sir Douglas Haig
that his first division was also heavily
engaged south and east of Marbles"
Two French divisions assisted the
First corps to retire in the night OF
! the 25th. Second corps took position
between Caudry and LeCateau.
Attacked by Four Corps.
AT daybreak 1t became apparent
that the enemy was throwing the bulk
of his strength against the left of
the position occupied by the Second
corps and the fourth division. At this
time the guns of four German army
corps were in position against them,
and Sir Horace Smith Dorrien report
ed to me that he judged it impossible
to continue his retirement at day
break, as ordered, in the face Of such
an attack.
81 sent him orders to use his ut
most endeavors to break off the action
and retire at the earliest possible mo-
ment, as it was impossible for me to
send him support, the First corps be-
ing at the moment incapable Of move
! ment.
"The French cavalry corps under
General Sordet was coming up on
our left rear early in the morning and
l sent him an urgent message to do
his utmost to come up and support
the retirement of my left flank, but
owing to the fatigue of his horses he
found himself unable to intervene in
any way.
Outnumbered Four to One.
There had been no time TO In
trench the position properly, but the
troops showed a magnificent front 10
the terrible fire which confronted
them. The artillery, although out
matched by at least four to one. made
splendid fight and inflicted heavy
losses on their opponents.
AT length It became apparent that
II complete humiliation was to be
avoided retirement must be attempted
and the order was given to commence
it about $3.50 in the afternoon. The
movement was covered with most de-
voted intrepidity and determination by
the artillery. which had itself suffered
heavily, and the fine work done by
the cavalry In the further retreat from
the position assisted materially the
final completion of this most difficult
and dangerous operation. Fortunate
". the enemy had himself suffered too
heavily to engage in an energetic pur
suit
THE retreat was continued far into
the night Of the 26th and through the
27th and the 2sth, on which date the
troops halted on the line from Noyen,
Chauny and LeFere. having Their
thrown of the weight OF the enemy'A
pursuit.
French Come to Rescue.
"On the 9th and the zsth ! was
much indebted TO General Sordet and
the French cavalry division. which he
commands. for materially assisting
NV retirement. and successfully driv-
ing back some % the enemy on Cam
brai General d'Amade also. with the
Sixty-first and SiIty-second reserve
divisions, moved down from the neigh
borhood OF Arras on the enemy's right
l. 81 a