South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-10
RUSH TROOPS TO
AID GERMAN ARMY
NOW IN RETREAT

4 ret not noHe.-l must De lost III
retiring 10 another position.
Operation Was Dangerous.
This operation was full Of danger
and difficulty, not only owing 10 the
very superior force in my front, but
the exhaustion Of my troops The re-
urement commenced early in the
morning of the 2jth to a position near
Lecateau.
Although the troops had been or
dered to occupy Cambria. Lecateau
and Landreceis and that position and
ground had during the 25th been par
tally prepared and intrenched. / had
grave doubts, owing to information I
received regarding the accumulation
of strength OF the enemy as TO the
wisdom of standing there to fight
Moreover the retirement of the
French troops on my right continued
and I determined TO make q great eff
fort TO continue the retreat until I
could put a substantial obstacle. such
as the Somme river or the Disc river
between the enemy and afford the
former some opportunity for rest and
reorganization
Therefore the corps commanders
were ordered to retreat as soon as
possible TO a general line from St
Quentin to Ribemont
French Were Exhausted.
ATEH. COIutl I DTOUdDiN ten. 0duTtl.
commander OF the 18th division of
the 10th French army CORPSE COM
handing three cavalry divisions.
whom 1 had called to my assistance,
though he rendered valuable aid later,
was unable to afford any support on
the most critical day, the 26th, owing
to the exhausted condition of his
physical resources.
AT daybreak on the 26th it became
ing the bulk of his strength against
the left of our position and the guns
of four German army corps being in
position against it, Gen. Smith-DOr
rien reported that he was unable to
retire as ordered. In the face of
such an attack it was impossible for
me to support Gen. Smith-Dorrien as
the first corps at the moment was in
capable of moving. There had been
no time TO entrench properly but the
troops showed a magnificent front TO
the terrible fire.
FINALLY ii became apparent that. If
complete humiliation was to be avoid
ed, a retirement must be attempted,
and an order was given to commence
at $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon. The
movement was covered with the most
devoted intrepidity. and determination
by the artillery which had still suf-
fered heavily and the fine work of
the cavalry assisted materially in the
completion of the most difficult and
dangerous operation. Fortunately the
enemy had suffered too heavily to en-
gage in energetic pursuit"
Pays Tribute TO General.
Sir John paid glorious tribute to
Gen. Smith Dorrien. saying that "un-
less a commander of rare GOODNESS
and determination had been present
to conduct personally the operation
the saving of the whole left wing
would have been impossible" Gen.
French also paid high encOniums to
the valuable scouting service of the
flying corps.
Continuing he says:
THE retreat was conducted far in
to the night of the 26th and the two
ed on the line of Noyon, CLANCY and
La. Fere, having thrown off the weight
of the enemy'S pursuit During these
two days / was indebted to Gen.
Sordet's cavalry division for assist
ance in repelling the enemy. Gen.
DAmade, commander of the sixth
French army corps, also from the
neighborhOod of Arras relieved the
pressure on the British rear, near the
enemy's right flank"
The statement issued by the gov
eminent press bureau continues:
The Germans suffered heavily.
Hundreds were captured. They are
said to be exhausted.
THE British have crossed the
Marine in a northerly direction"
DeplOres Heavy Losses.
Sir John said in his report that the
lighting which had begun at Mons on
Aug. %. was continuous for six days.
In summing up, the British general
said:
Il deeply deplore the very serious
losses which the English troops suf-
fered in this great battle, but they
were inevitable In view of the fact
that the British army only a few
days after concentration by rail was
called upon 10 stand the vigorous at
tack of five German army corps. 1t
is impossible for me to speak too
highly Of the skill evinced by the two
general officers commanding army
corps, the self-sacrificing and de-
voted eXertions of their stats the di-
rection of troops by the divisional,
brigade and regimental leaders; the
command of small units by their Of
ficers, and the magnificent fighting
spirit displayed by the nOn-commis-
stoned officers and men.
Praises Flying Corps.
THE skill. energy and persever-
duCe OI the IOSdl uAinB corps mas
been beyond all praise. They furnish
ed me with the most complete and
accurate information which has been
of incalculable value in the conduct
of operations. They were fired at
constantly by friends and foe, and not
hesitating 10 fly in any kind Of wealth
Ell. they have remained undaunted
throughout. Further. by actual fight
ing. they destroyed five of the enemys
aeTOplanes."
Sir Johns report showed that the
Germans were relentless in their
pursuit of the French and English
soldiers. He speaks Of night attacks
attacks lasting all day and far into
the night or others that began long
before daybreak Although coached
in unofficial language the report bris-
ties with action showing that the
British contested every inch OF
ground bitterly and vigorously before
yielding H.