Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-10

direct support to the Fifth division.
During the course of this operation
General Delisle of the Second cavalry
brigade thought he saw a good oppor-
tunity to paralyze the further advance
of the enemy's infantry by making a
mounted attack on his flank. He
formed up ana advanced for this pur-
pose. but was held up by wire about
500 yards from his objective and the
Ninth lancers and the Eighteenth hus-
sars suffered severely in the retire
ment of the brigade
"The Ninth infantry brigade. guard
ing the line of communications, was
brought by rail to Valenciennes on the
22nd and 23rd. On the morning of the
gath they were moved to a position
south of Quarouble to support the left
flank of the Second corps. With the
assistance Of cavalry Sir Horace Smith
Dorrien was enabled to effect his re-
treat to new position, although having
two corps of the enemy on his front
and one threatening his flank. He suf-
| fered great losses in doing so.
AT nightfall position was occupied
by the Second corps to the west of
| Bavay, the First corps to the right.
The right was protected by the fort
| ress of Maubeuge, the left by the Nine
teenth brigade in position between
Jenlain and Bruay, and cavalry on the
outer flank. The French were still re-
firing and had no support except such
as was afforded by the fortress of
Maubeuge, and determined efforts of
the enemy to get around my flank as
sured me that 1t was his intention to
hem me against that place and sur
round me.
Full of Danger and Difficulty.
II felt that not a moment must be
lost in returning to another position. I
had every reason to believe that the
enemy's forces were somewhat ex-
hausted. and knew that they had suf-
fered heavy losses. / hoped, therefore,
that his pursuit would not be too Wig
orous to prevent me effecting my OBJ
Ject The operation, however, was full
of danger and difficulty, not only ow-
ing to the very superior forces in my
front. but also to the exhaustion of the
| troops.
The retirement was recommended
In the early morning of the 25th to a
position in the neighborhood of Leca-
teau and the rear guard was ordered
to be cleared of Maubeuge and Bavay
| by $3.50 a. m. Two cavalry brigades.
with the divisional cavalry of the Sec
ond corps, covered the movement OF
the Second corps and the remainder of
the cavalry division with the Nine
teenth brigade, the whole under COM
mand of General Allenby, covered the
west flank.
THE Fourth division commenced its
dertainment at Lecateau on the 23rd.
and by the morning of the 25th, IL bat
| tanons and a brigade of artillery with
the divisional staff, were available for
| service. l ordered General Snow to
move out to take up a position with his
right south of Solesmes, his left rest
ing on the Cambria -Lecateau road.
south of La Chapriz. In this position
the division rendered great help to the
effective retirement of the Second and
First corps to new positions
although the troops had been or
dered to occupy the Cambria. Le-
cateau, Landrecies position and ground
had, during the 25th, been partially
prepared and entrenched, had grave
doubts. owing to information 1 had re-
ceived as to the accommodating strength
of the enemy against me, as to the
wisdom of standing there to fight.
Great Effort Is Made.
Having regard to the continued re-
| tirement of the French right, NV ex-
posed left flank, the tendency of the
enemy's western corps to envelop me
and more than all the exhausted con-
dition of the troops, determined to
make a great effort to continue the re-
treat till could put some substantial
! obstacle. such as the Somme or the
Oise between my troops and the enc
my and afford the former some oppor-
tunity for rest and reorganization.
Orders were therefore sent to the
corps commander to continue their re-
treat as soon as they possibly could to-
wards the general line of Vermand, st.
Quentin and Ribemont and the cavalry
under General Allenby were ordered to
cover the retirement. Throughout the
25th and far into the evening the First
corps continued to march on Landre-
cies, following the road along the east
ern border of the forest of Normal, and
arrived at Landrecies about 10 o'clock.
l had intended that the corps should
come further west so as to fill up the
gap between Lecateau and Landrecies,
but the men were exhausted and could
not get farther in without a rest.
THE enemy would not, however. al
low this rest, and that evening the re-
port was received that the Fourth
guards brigade in Landrecies was heav-
lily 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 gall
lantly and caused the enemy to suffer
a tremendous loss in issuing from the
forest into the narrow streets of the
town. This loss has been estimated
from reliable sources at between 700
and 1000.
First Division Heavily Engaged.
AT the same time information
reached me from Sir Douglas Haigh
that his IYrat diuisinr, ,z,na o lra haa,.il..