McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-09-18
GEN. FRENCH TELLS HOW STRATEGY
SAVED BRITISH FROM HUMILIATION

London.--Many English breakfasts
went untasted while the people read
the graphic account by Field Marshal
Sir John French of the heroic fight
made by the British expeditionary
force to keep from being annihilated.
Like wildcat pursued by hounds, the
British force backed stubbornly to-
ward the River Disc, constantly show.
ing its teeth, but realizing that It must
attain the river or perish.
Text Of the Report.
The report Is published In the Lon
don Gazette. the official organ 1t IL
as follows:
"The transportation of the troops
from England by rail and sea was eff
fected in the best order and without
q 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 / con-
sidered most favorable from which to
commence the operations which GEN
eral Joffre 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 23. He continues:
Surprised by Joffre's Message.
Meanwhile. about FIVE In the after
noon. received most unexpected
message from General Joffre 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 turning move
ment 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.
I'm view of the possibility of my
being. driven from the Mons position
had previously ordered position In
the rear to be reconnoitered.
When the news of the retirement
OF the French and the heavy German
threatening on my front reached me
endeavored to confirm 1t by aeroplane
reconnaissance and as result of this
determined to effect retirement to
the Maubeuge position at daybresk on
the oath
Fighting on the 24th.
"A certain amount Of fighting con-
tiued along the whole line throughout
the night and at daybreak on the Gath
the second division from the neigh
borhood of Harmignies made power
full demonstration as If 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.
"The Second corps haltei son this
line, 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 Bavay to Maubeuge about
seven in the evening.
About 1880 In the morning General
Allenby received message from Sir
Charles FERGUSON, commanding the
fifth 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
Jendsavored to bring direct support to
the fifth division.
Re-Enforcements Brought Up.
"The Nineteenth infantry brigade,
which had been guarding the line Of
communications, was brought by rail
to Valenciennes on the 22d and 23d.
On the morning of the oath they were
moved out to 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.
AT nightfall position was occu-
pied by the Second corps to the west
Of Bavay. the First corps to the right.
The right was protected by the for
tress OF Maubeuge, the left by the
Nineteenth brigade In positions be-
tween Jenlain and Bruay and by cav
airy 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 deter
mined 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.
Not Moment to BE Lost.
Il felt that not moment must be
lost in returning to another position.
The retirement was resumed In the
early morning of the 25th to posi-
ton in the neighborhood Of LeCateau
and the rear guard was ordered 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
Caoopd oorpo apd fha ro,natndor of
the cavalry division, with the Nine
tenth brigade, the whole under COM
mand of General Allenby, covered the
west flank.
THE fourth division commenced its
detrainment at LeCateau on Sunday,
m - - n l.