Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-11

| ish forces in France, covering the Brit
sh operations since they landed in
| France, was made public In the Off,
! ciel Gazette today.
The report is addressed to Earl
| Kitchener, the secretary for war, and
| its publication indicates that the gov
/ eminent is responding to the public
/ demand for fuller information on the
| progress of operations in France so
! far as the British forces are concern
| ed.
The report is as follows:
The transportation of the troops
from England by rail and sea was eff
fectcd in the best order and without a
check Concentration was practically
completed on the evening of Friday,
Aug 2l, and l was able to make dis
position to move the force during Sat
urday to positions l considered most
/ favorable from which to commence
the perations which Gen. Joffre re-
qucsted me to undertake. The line ex-
tended along the line of the canal
from Condo on the west, through Mons
and Binche on the east.
During Aug. e and % the advance
squadrons did some excellent work, some
of them penetrating as far as Soignies
Ga town of Belgium 10 miles northeast of
Mons), and several encounters took place
in which our troops showed to great ad-
vantage.
ION Sunday. the 2sd, reports began to
come in to the effect that theenemy was
commencing an attack on the Mons line
apparently In some strength, but that the
right of the position from Mons was be-
Ing particularly threatened.
1.-THE commander of the first corps had
pushed his flank back to some high
ground south Of Bray and the 5th Cav
airy evacuated Binohe, moving slightly
south. The enemy thereupon occupied
Binche.
1.-The right Of the third division under
General Hamilton was at MONS, which
formed somewhat dangerous salient and
directed the commander of the second
corps OF threatened seriously to draw
back the center behind Mons. This was
done before dark.
IN the meantime, about in the after
noon. l received most unexpected mes
sage from General Joffre by telegraph
telling me that az least three German
corps were moving on my position in
front and that a second corps was en-
gagged in turning movement from the
direction of Journal. He also informed
me that the two reserve 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.
I'm view Of the possibility of my be-
ing driven from the Mons position, had
previously ordered a position in the rear
T. be reconnoitered. This position rest
I'd on the fortress of Maubeuge on the
right and extended west to Jenlain,
southeast of valenciennes on the left.
The position was reported difficult to hold
because standing crops and buildings
made the siteing OF trenches very diff
cult and drew the fire in many important
localities. II nevertheless offered few
good artillery positions.
when the news of the retirement OF
the French and the heavy German
threatening on my front reached me,
endeavored to confirm it by aeroplane re-
eonnaissanee and as result of this de-
termined to effect retirement to the
Maubeuge position at daybreak on the
cath.
"A certain amount Of lighting continued
along the whole line throughout the
night and at daypreak on the Gath the
second division from the neighborhood of
Harmignles made a powerful demonstra-
ton as If to retake Binche. This was
supported by the artillery of both the
first and the second division while the
first division took up supporting posi-
ton In the neighborhood OF Peasant Tn
der cover of this demonstration the Sec
ond corps retired on the line of Dour
Quarouble and Frameries The third d.
vision 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 Hagin,
with the first corps, gradually to with
draw to the new position, and he
effected this without much further
loss reaching the line from Bavay to
Maubeuge at seven in the evening
Towards midnight the enemy APP
peared to be directing his principal
effort against our left. l had previ-
the cavalry to act vigorously in ad-
vance of my left front and endeavor
to take the pressure off.
About 7.9o 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
support. On receipt Of this message,
General Allenby drew in his cavalry
and endeavored to bring direct sup
port to the fifth division.
During the course of this opera
ton, General Delsle Of the second
cavalry brigade thought he saw a
good opportunity to paralyze the fur
Their advance of the enemys infantry
by making a mounted attack on his
flank. He formed up and advanced
for this purpose but was held up by
wire about 500 yards from his objec-
tive and the ninth Lancers and tho
18th Hussars suffered severely in the
retirement of the Brigade.
THE 18th infantry brigade. which
had been guarding the line Of COM
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