Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-10
BRITISH HARD PRESSED.
GEN. FRENCH REPORTS
Continued from First Page


position rested on the fortress of
Maubeuge on the right and extend
ed west to Jenlain, southeast of
Valenciennes on the left. The posi-
ton was reported difficult to hold
because standing crops and buildings
made the posting of trenches very
difficult and limited the fire In many
important localities. 1t nevertheless
afforded a few good artillery posi-
tions.
Retirement in Maubeuge Planned.
when the news of the retirement
OF the French and the heavy German
threatening on my front reached me,
l endeavored to confirm it by aero
plane reconnaissance and as a result
of this I determined to effect re-
tirement to the Maubeuge position at
daybreak on the Gath.
"A certain amount of fighting con-
tinued along the whole line through
out the night, and at daybreak on
the oath the second division from the
neighborhood of Harmignies made a
powerful demonstration as If to re-
take Binehe. This was supported by
the artillery of both the first and
second division, while the first divi-
sion took up supporting position in
the neighborhood of Peasant. I'm
der cover of this demonstration the
Second Corps retired on the line of
Dour, Quarouble and Frameries. The
third division on the right of the
corps suffered considerable loss in
this operation from the enemy who
had retaken Mons.
THE Second corps halted on this
line where they entrenched them
selves. enabling Sir Douglas Haig,
with the First Corps. gradually TO
withdraw to the new position, and
he effected this without much fur
Their loss, reaching the line from
Bavay to Maubeuge about in the
evening.
Toward midnight the enemy APP
peared to be directing his principal
effort against our left | had previ
ously ordered General Allenby with
the cavalry to act vigorously in adj
vance of my left front and endeavor
to take the pressure off
about 1880 in the morning Cen
erals Allenby received q message from
Sir Charles Ferguson commanding
the fifth division, saying he was very
hard pressed and in urgent need of
support. On receipt of this message
General Allenby drew in his cavalry
port to the fifth division.
During the course of this opera
ton, General De Lisle. of the sec
ond cavalry brigade, thought he saw
good opportunity to paralyze the
further advance of the enemy's iu-e
fantry by making a mounted attack
on his flank. He formed up an adj
vance for this purpose. but was held
up by wire about 500 yards from
his objective, and the Ninth Lancers
and the Eighteenth Hussars suffered
severely in the retirement Of the
brigade.
THE Nineteenth infantry brigade.
which had been guarding the line of
communications, was brought by rail
to Valenciennes on the 22d and 23d.
In 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 as
slstance of cavalry. Sir Horace Smith
Dorrien was enabled 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.
Intended to Surround Him.
pied 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
nineteenth brigade, in position be-
tween Jenlain and Bruay, and caval-
~ on the outer flank. The French
were still retiring and | had no sup
port except such as was afforded by
the fortress of Maubeuge, and de-
termined efforts of the enemy to get
around my flank assured me that 1t
was his intention to hem me against
that place and surround me.
Il felt that not moment must be
lost in returning to another position.
l had every reason to believe that the
enemy's forces were somewhat ex-
hausted, and l knew that they had
suffered heavy losses. l hoped there
fore, that his pursuit would not be
too vigorous to prevent me effecting
my object. The operation, however,
was full of danger and difficulty, not
only owing to the very superior forces
in my front, but also to the exhaus-
ton of the troops.
"The retirement was recommended
In the early morning of the 18th to a
position in the neighborhood of lie
Cateau, and the rear guard were or
dered to be clear of Maubeuge and
Bavay by $3.50 a. m. Two cavalry
brigades, with the divisional cavalry
of the second corps, covered the
movement of the second corps, and
the remainder of the cavalry division,
with the Nineteenth brigade, the
whole under command of General
Allenby covered the west flank.
1.-THE fourth division commenced its
detralnment at LIE Cateau on Sunday.
the 23d, and by the morning of the
25th eleven battalions and q brigade
of artillery, with the divisional staff,
,unre availahle for service | ordered