Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-31
Four Days of.
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REPORT FROM COMMANDER OF BRITISH FORCES IN FRANCE.
CASUALTY LIST 5000
Battle of the Most Desperate Char aoter Fought on the 26th-Britons Have Been Restins-Reinforeed and Ready for Next Big Battle.

London. Aug. 30. z.30 D. m.-After four days of desperate fighting the British army in France is rested re- fitted and reinforced for the next great battle. according to an an- nouncement today by Lord Kitchener, secretary of state for war. Tn state ment based on reports from Sir John French. commander of the British ex- peditionary forces, the secretary says that the British after struggling against tremendous odds. retired to a new line of defense where they have not been molested since Thursday. The casualties are between 5000 and 5000. Since this fighting ceased the French on the right and left have l brought the German attack to a standstill 1t is declared.
 Lord kitehener's Statement.
 Lord Kitchener's statement which was issued through the medium of the official information bureau, follows: Although the despatches of Sir John French as to the recent battle sible now to state what has been the British share in the recent operations
 Four Days Battle.
 There has, in fact, been a four | days battle-on the 23rd. 24th, z5tt | and 18th of August. During the whole ! of this period the British, in conform | 1ty with a general movement Of the French armies, were occupied in re- | sisting and checking the German ad vance and in withdrawing to new lines of defense.
 | Checked German Advance.
 The battle began on Sunday al Mons during which day and part O. the night the German attack wa. stubbornly pressed and repeated. wa. completely checked by the British front. On Monday. the 24th, the Ger. mans made vigorous efforts in su. perior numbers to prevent the saf' withdrawal of the British army anC to drive 1t into the fortress of Mau. beuge.
 Stormed British Lines. | This effort was frustrated by tn. steadiness and skill with which tn, British retirement was conducted and as on the previous day, very heav, losses, far in excess of anything sui. fered by us. were inflicted on the en, emy. who. in dense formation and 1T enormous masses, marched forwarC again and yet again to storm tn, British lines.
 German Attack Was Fierce.
 '-The British retirement proceeded or the 25th with continuous fighting though not on the scale of the pre- | the 25th the British army occupied the line of the Cambrai. Landrechie and Le Cateau. (Cambrai Is a forti fled town fin the department of tn north, S2 miles southeast of Lille oi the river Scheldt. Le Cateau Is four brai). It had been intended to resum the retirement at daybreak on tn Eth, but the German attack in whicl no less than five army corps were en gagged, was so close and fierce that i was not possible to carry out this in tention until the afternoon
 Battle of Desperate Character.
 The battle on this day. the 26th Twas of most severe and desperat lperb and most stubborn resistance t the tremendous odds with which the, were confronted and at length ex tricated themselves in good order though with serious loss and unde the heaviest artillery fire. No gun were taken by the enemy, except thos the horses of which had all been kille or which were shattered by high ex plosive shells.
 Germans Lost Heavily.
 General French estimates tta during the whole of these operation from the 23rd to the 2sth inclusive his losses amounted to 5000 or 500 |, Oh Il6 OLn6T nAnQ the lOSSe suffered by the Germans in their at tacks across the open and throug their dense formation, are out of al proportion to those which we hay suffered.
 Tn Landrecies alone on the 25th a an instance, a German infantry bri gade advanced in close order into
 marrow street which they complete ly filled. Our machine guns wer Drought to bear on this target fror ! the end of the town The head of tn colums was swept away.
 V A FrishtfuI Panic.
 "A frightful panic ensued and is estimated that 800 or 300 dead an wounded Germans were left in thi l street alone. Another incident whic may be chosen from many like it, wa , the charge of the German guard cav airy division upon the 12th cavalr } brigade when the German cavalr were thrown back with great losse } and in absolute disorder. These ar } notable examples of what has take place over practically the whole iron during these engagements and tn Germans have been made to pay tn extreme price for every forward marc they have made
 British Claim Glorious Achievement.
 Since the 26th apart from cavalr fighting, the British army has nc been molested. It has rested and re fitted after its exertions and gloriou , achievements. Achievements amount | ing to double the losses sustained, al ready have joined. Every gun ha been replaced and the army is no1 ; ready to take part in the next grea , encounter with undiminished strengt , and undaunted spirits.
 German Attack Brought to Standstii To-day the news is again favorabl, The British have not been engaged but the French armies, acting wig orously on the left and right, hav' for the time being, brought the Ger man attack to a standstill.
 Sir John French also reports ths l on the 18th the British fifth cavalr brigade fought in brilliant fashio with German cavalry, in the cours } of which the Twelfth Lancers and tn 5 Royal Scots Greys routed the enem 3 and speared a large number in High } Tt must be remembered throughou l the operations in France are vast an that we are only on the wing of th Ehole 4eld of battle.