The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-18

SlF jOnn french or the heroic HBHl
made by the British expeditionary
force to keep from being annihilated
Likv a wildcat pursued by hounds, the
British force backed stubbornly to
ward the River Disc. constantly show
ing its teeth. but realizing that II must
attain the river or perish.
Taxi OF the Report
The report Is published In the Lon
don Gazette, the official organ. II Ii
as follows:
The transportation or the troops
from England by rail and sea was Of.
fected In the best order and without
check. Concentration was practi-
cally completed on the evening Of Fri
day. August 81, and | was able to
make dispositions 10 move the force
during Saturday TO positions con-
sidered most favorable from which to
commence the operations which Gem
eral JofYre 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 behind Mons on Sunday, Au-
gust %. He continues:
Surprised by Joffre's Message.
Meanwhile, about Ave In the after
noon. | received most unexpected
message from General Joffre by tele-
graph, telling me that at least three
German corps we're moving on my
position in front and that another
corps was engaged In turning move
ment from the direction OF Journal.
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 on the Sambre between
Charleroi and Namur.
Had Reserve Position Ready.
I'm View OF the possibility OF my
being driven from the Mons position
I had previously ordered a position in
the rear to be reconnoitered.
When the news OF the retirement
81 the French and the heavy German
threatening ON my front reached me
endeavored to confirm II by aeroplane
reconnaissance and as result of this
| determined 10 effect retirement to
the Maubeuge position at daybreek on
the gath.
Fighting on the gath.
"A certain amount OF fighting CON
tiued along the whole line throughout
the night and at daybreak the gath
the second division from the neigh
borhood OF Harmignles made !. power
fui demonstration as II to retake
Binche, Under cover OF this demon
stration the Second corps retired on
the line OF Dour. Quarouble and
Frameries The third division on the
right OF the corps suffered consider
able loss in this operation from the
enemy who had retaken Mons,
'Tne Second corps haltei on this
tine. where they intrenched them.
selves. enabling Sir Douglas Haig with
the First corps to withdraw TO the
new position and he effected this with.
out much further loss. reaching the
line from Rayay TO Maubeuge about
seven IN the evening.
About 1880 In the morning General
Ailenby received message from Sir
Charles Ferguson. commanding the
ffth division. saying he was very hard
pressed and in urgent need OF sup
port. On receipt OF this message GEN
eral Allenby drew In his cavalry and
end~avored TO bring direct support to
the fifth division.
Endorsements Brought ur
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 Gath 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 new
position. although having two corps
OF the enemy on his front and one
threatening his flank. He suffered
great losses In doing so.
~ htkuliuil q pOSiNiOu was OCCu-
pied by the Second corps 10 the west
OF Bavay, the First corps to the right
The right was protected by the for,
tress of Maubeuge. the LETT by the
Nineteenth brigade in positions be
tween Jenlain and Bruay and by cav
airy on the outer flank The French
We're still retiring and | had no sup
port except such as was afforded BY
the fortress of Maubeuge, and deter
mined efforts OF the enemy to gel
around my flank assured me that il
was his intention to hem me agains
that place and surround me.
Not Moment to Be Lost.
Il felt that not a moment must b,
lost in returning to another position
The retirement was resumed in tn,
early morning of the 25th to a posi-
ton in the neighborhood Of LeCateal
and the rear guard was ordered to b
clear OF Maubeuge and BaYay by 3:3
a. M. Two cavalry brigades, with tn
divisional cavalry of the Secon