Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-12

\ pied by the second corps TO the VEL
OF Bavay. the first corps to the rixht.
Tho right was protected ~ the for-
trepso Of Mauheuge. the left BY the
Ninstesnth brigade in position between
Jenlain and Bruay and cavalry on the
outer f1ank. The French were still re-
firing and had no support except such
I az was afforded by the fortress Of
| Maubeuge.
Army in Great Peril.
Il felt that not moment must be
lost in retiring to another position l
had every reason to believe that tho
enemy's forces were somewhat ex-
1 haustd and I knew that they had suf-
fered heavy losses. The operation.
however. was full of danger and diff
Guilty, not only owing to the very SUI
perior 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 lie
Cateau and the rear guard were order
/ ed to be clear of Maubeuge and Bavay
! by $3.50 a. m.
4 Having regard to the continued re-
tirement of the French right. my eX-
posed left flank, the tendency Of the
enemy's western corps to envelop me.
; and. more than all, the exhausted
condition of the troops. determined to
make great effort to continue The
retreat till could put some substan-
| tial obstacle. such as the Somme or
| the Disc between my troops and the
enemy.
| Retreat d ordered.
| "Orders We're therefore sent to the
corps commanders to continue their re-
treat a. soon as they possibly could
| toward the general line of vermand.
St Quentin and Ribemont. and the
! cavalry under General Allenhy We're
ordered to cover the retirement. Thru
out 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 Landrecies
about 10 o'clock. I had intended that
| the corps should come further west so
as to fill up the gap between LIE
| Cateau and Landfecies, but the men
| were exhausted and could not get fur
! ther in without a rest.
1.-The enemy. however would not al
| low theLS this rest and about $3.50 that
evening the report was received that
the fourth guards brigade In Landrectes
i was heavily attacked by troops OF the
ninth German army corps, who wers
coming thru the forest to the north
! Of the town.
French Aid Given.
! eat the same time Information
Preached me from Sir Douglas Haig that
his first division was also heavily en-
! - 70 siYl
urgent messages to the commander 81
right to come up to the assistance OF
the first corps. which they eventually
/ did.
! "By about IN the afternoon the
second corps had got into position.
! with their right on lie Cateau. their
left in the neighborhood of Caudry.
!, and the line OF defense was continued
| thence by the fourth division toward
Seranviiiers.
/ cs~siry Was Scattered.
/! During the fighting on the gath and
! 25th the cavalry became good deal
| scettered. but by early morning OF the
o6th General Alienby had succeeded in
! concentrating two brigades to the south
| of Cambria.
l
| corps consisting OF three divisions I'M
der General Sordet. had been in Billets.
north of Avesnes. On my way back
1 from Vayay. which was my poste de
commandments during the fighting OF
| the 23rd and the 24th. visited Cen
| eral Sordet and earnestly requested his
CO. operation and support, He promised
to obtain sanction from his army COM
mander TO act on my left flank. but
| said that his horses were too tired TO
move before the next day.
1 although he rendered me valuable
| assistance later on in the course of the
retirement. he was unable for the rea :
sons given to afford me any support
on the most critical day OF all-namely.
the osth.
| Germans Use Heavy Guns.
cat daybreak i, 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 reported to me
that he judged it impossible to continue
his retirement at daybreak.
IT sent him orders to use his utmost
lendeavors to break or the action and
retire at the earliest possible moment.
az 1t was impossible for. me to send him
SUPPORT.
"The French cavalry corps under
(! General Sordet was coming up on our
left rear early in the morning, and ]
sent him an urgent message TO do his
utmost to come up and support the re-
i tirement of my left flank but owing
to the fatigue of his horses he found
himself unable to intervene in any way
There had been no time to intrencia
the position properly, but the troops
!, showed a magnificent front TO the ter
rible fire which confronted them.
Army Faced Annihiiatisn.
AT length 1t became apparent that Il
complete aniIiniiation was to be avoided
retirement must be attempted, and thu
order was given to commence It about
$40 in the afternoon. The movement
was covered with most devoted intFep-
idity and determination by the artil.
lery. which had itself suffered heavily.
and the Ane work done by the cavalry
: in the further retreat from the position
assisted materially the Anal completion
t-r