Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-10-07
GEN. FRENCH TELLS HOW STRATEGY
SAVED BRITISH FROM ANNIHILATION

went untasted while the people read
the graphic account by Field Marshal
Sin John French OF the heroic tight
made by the British eXpeditionary
force 90 keep frc m being nnnihilated
Like wildcat pursued by hounds, the
British force backed stubbornly to-
ward the River Disc. constantly show
Ing its teeth, but realizing that il must
attain the river or perish.
Text Of the Report
The repor. is published in the Lon.
don Gazette, the official organ. IL is
as follows:
The transportation OF the troops
from England by rail and sea was eff
tected IN the best order and without
a check. Concentration was practi-
cally completed on the evening OF Fri
day. August 81. and was able TO
make dispositions to move the force
during Saturday to positions I con
sidered most favorable from which TO
commence the operations which Cen
eral Jofre requested me to under
take"
General French then described in
detail the position taken up by his
forces at and on the east and west
OF Mons, and the retirement OF the
center belrnd Mons on Sunday. Au-
gust %. He continues:
Surprised b. Joffre's Message.
Meanwhile. about 1--WE in the after
noon. 7 received a most unexpected
message from General Josre by tele-
graph. telling me that at least three
German corps were moving on my
position in front and that another
corps was engaged in n turning move
incnt from the direction OF Tournai.
He also informed me that the two re-
serve French divisions 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.
Had Reserve Position Ready.
TN view OF the possibility OF my.
being driven from the Mons position
! had previously ordered n position N
The rear TO he reconnoitered
when the news Of the retirement
~ the French and the heavy German
threatening on my front reached me
endeavored TO confirm IL by aeroplaue
reconnaissance and as "A result OF this
determined 20 effect n retirement to
the Maubeuge position at daybreak on
he 24th
Fighting ON the oath.
"a certain amount OF fighting con
Hued along the whole line throughout
the night and at daybreak or the oath
the second division from the neigh
borhood OF Harmignics made "a power
ful demonstration as n to retake
BlnChe. Under cover Of this demon
stration the Second corps retired on
the line OF Dour. Ouarouble and
Frameres. The third division on the
right OF tho corps suffered consider
able loss in this operation from 1.-The
enemy who had retaken Mons
The Second corps haltei on this
line, where they intrenched them
selves. enabling Sir Douglas Halg with
the First corps TO withdraw to the
new position and he effected this with
out much further loss. reaching the
line from Bayay to Maubeuge about
seven I'm the evening
About 80 I'm the morning General
Allenby received a message from Sir
Charles FERGUSON. commanding the
nth division. saying he was very hard
pressed and in urgentAneed OF sup
port. On receipt OF this message Gen
eral Allenby drew in his cavalry and
end -avored to bring direct support to
the firth division.
Re-Enforcements Brought UP.
THE Nineteenth infantry brigade,
which had been guarding the line OF
communications, was brought by rail-
20 Valenciennes on the 22d and 23d
On the morning OF the oath they were
moved out 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 en-
abled TO effect his retreat TO a new
position. although having two corps
OF the enemy on his front and one
threatening his flank. He suffered
great losses I'm doing so.
at nightfaIl a position WAS occu-
pied by the Second corps 20 the west
Of Bavay, the First corps TO the right
The right was protected by the for
tress Of Mapbeuge. the LEFT by the
Nineteenth brigade In positions be
tween Jenlain and Bruay and by cav
airy on the outer flank Tho French
woro sUll retiring and ] had no sup
port except such as was afforded by
the fortress Of Maubeuge. and deter
mined efforts OF the enemy ~ get
around my flank assured mo that u
was HIS intention 10 hem me against
that place and surround me
Not = Moment 20 BE Lost.
'T felt that not q moment must be
lost IN returning TO another position
Tho retirement was resumed foo the
'arly morning Of the 2jth 90 q posi-