The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-09-11
Report of Gen. French on
How British Army Saved
the Allies Left
MARVELLOUS RETREAT
FROM BELGIAN LINE
Menaced Frequently by Dis
aster in Most Extreme
Form

London, Sept. 1.-THE British retreat
| from the Belgian line southwark to Par
is, described in detail yesterday by the
! commander. in chief, General Sir John
French. cannot fail to elicit the utmost
admiration, and will take its place in
history as masterpiece Of strategy
! In the face of tremendous odds, consist
| ing of five entire German army corps,
or 100000 men, and outnumbered four
to one in artillery, General French
brought off his army virtually intact.
Not only did he accomplish this, but
very large losses were inflicted on the
enemy, who was, moreover, greatly har-
assed. hampered, and exhausted in his
advance by the work OF the British cav
airy. To his aeroplanes General French
attributes no small degree of the sue
cess of the operation, highly praising
the heroism and devotion OF the flying
officers, who unhesitatingly faced not
only atmospheric obstacles, but the fire
of the enemy. Besides their invaluable
service for reconnaissance, the aviation
corps succeeded in destroying five OF the
German machines in battles in the air.
According to the dispatches General
French's graphic account of the heroic
fight made by the British expeditionary
force to keep from being annihllated Tell
like a bombshell on the English public,
who, it appears, have not been permit
ted to know how hard pressed their
army has been. On Aug. % the British
forces faced the bulk OF the German
strength and were in danger of being
surrounded and destroyed. The heroic
stand of General Smith orrien on the
British left undoubtedly saved the day.
On this day the British stood alone,
even the French cavalry, on account OF
the exhaustion of their horses, being I'M
able to cover the retreat.
General Freneh's report gives the de-
tail of his retreat which began at Mons
on Aug. 90 and ended at st. Quenbron
on Aug. IS. In the course of it the
general says;
Trap at Maubeuge.
CAS- the French troops were still re-
firing | had no support except from the
fortress at Maubeuge, and determined
attempts Of the enemy to get around
my left flank assured me that it was
his intention 10 press me against that
place and surround me. | felt not a
moment must be lost in retiring TO an
other position.
"This operation was full Of danger
and difficulty, not only owing TO the
very superior force in my front, but the
exhaustion of my troops. The retire
ment commenced early in the morning
of the 25th TO a position near La Ca
teau.
although the troops had been or
dered TO occupy Cambria, lie Cateau
and Landrecies, and that the position
and ground had, during the 25th, been
partially prepared and intrenched
had grave doubts. owing to information
received, regarding the accumulating
strength of the enemy as to the wis
dom of standing there to fight.
Moreover, the retirement of the
French troops on my right continued,
and | determined to make a great effort
to continue the retreat till ] could put
substantial obstacle, such as the
Somme river or the Disc river, between
the British and the enemy, and afford
the former some opportunity for rest
and reorganization.
therefore. the corps commanders
were ordered to retreat as soon as pos
sble to general line from st. Quentin
to Ribemont."
General French then describes the
march through all that day and until
late in the evening. during which time
he was incessantly harassed by the en-
envy, who continued the attack late at
night on the exhausted British Gen
eral French continues:
General Sordet, commanding three
cavalry divisions, whom I had called TO
my assistance, though he rendered val
liable aid later. was unable to give any
support on the most critical day. the
26th. owing to the exhaustion of his
horses.
The Saving of the Left Wing.
AT daybreak on the Goth it became
apparent that the enemy was throwing
the bulk of his strength against the left
of our position, and the guns of four
German army corps being in position
against it, General Smith Dorricn report
cd that he was unable to retire as or
dered.
"In the face Of such an attack il was
impossible for me to support General
Dorrien, as the first corps at the mo
ment was incapable Of moving There
had been no time to intrench properly
but the troops showed magnificent
front to the terrible FIRE.
Finally it became apparent that it
complete annilihilation was TO be avoid
ed retirement must he attempted. ard
an order was given 10 commence i at
$3.50 O'Clock IN the afternoon. The move
ment was covered with the most de-
voted intrepidity and determination bv
the artillery. which had still suffered
heavily. and the fine work 81 the cav
airy assisted materially in the compile