El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-10
BRITISH FORCES FIGHT SAVAGELY;
ESCAPING ANNIHILATION BY FOE
Report by Field Marshal Sir John French Falls Like
Bombshen on British Public, Unaware that Army
Had Narrowly Avoided determination by Ger
mans in Retreat Tow ard French Capital

on the most critical day of all, namely.
Ordered to Retire.
! AT daybreak IL became apparent that
the enemy was throwing the bulk Of his
] strength against the left of the position
| occupied by the second corps and the
/ fourth division. At this time the guns
| of four German army corps were in Pc o
/ sition against them, and Sir Horace
! Smith DOrrien reported 10 me that he
/ judged il impossible to continue his re
] Jirement at daybreak as ordered, in the
I face Of such an attack. 1 sent him or
ders to use utmost endeaVors TO break
/ off the action and retire at the earliest
/ possible moment, as II was impossible
/ for me to send him support, the first
corps being at the moment incapable Of
movement.
The French cavalry corps and Gen.
Sordet was coming up on our left rear
early in the morning and sent him
an urgent message to do his utmost 70
| come up and support the retirement OF
my left flank but, owing to the fatigue
Of his horses, he found himself unable
to intervene in any way.
ARTILLERY Made Splendid Fight.
There had been no time TO entrench
the position properly, but the troops
showed magnificent front TO the ter
ribls fire which confronted them The
artillery, although Outmatched by at
least four to one, made splendid fight
and inflicted heavy losses on their OPP
pOnents-
Withdrawal From Battle.
AT length it became apparent that
If complete humiliation was to be
avoided, retirement must be attempted
and the order was given to commence il
about $3.50 in the afternoon The move
ment was covered with most devoted
intrepidity and determination by the
artillery which had itself suffered
heavily, and the fine work done by
the cavalry IN the further retreat from
the position, assisted materially the
final completion OF this most difficult
and dangerous operation. Fortunately,
the enemy had himself suffered too
heavily to engage in any energetic pur-
suit.
4 cannot end the brief account Of
this glorious stand Of the British troops
without putting on record my deep ap-
probation OF the valuable services rem
dered by Sir Horace Smith DOrrien. |
I say without hesitation that the saw
ing Of the left wing Of the army under !
my command on the morning Of the |
18th could never have been accom-
plished unless a commander Of rare and !
unusual GOODNESS, intrepidity and de- /
termination had been present to person |
ally conduct the operations
The retreat was continued far Into !
the night Of the 26th and through the /
9th and 2Sth, on which date the troops /
halted on the line from NOyon, Chauny 1
and Lafere, having then thrown off the !
weight Of the enemy's pursuit
French Commanders Aid.
"On the 27th and the 2SUh / was much 4
indebted to Gen. Sordet, and the French /
cavalry division which he commands,
for materially assisting nv retirement
and successfully driving back some OF i
the enemy on Cambria Gen. DfAmade i
also, with the 61st and ed reserve divis- j
ions. moved down from the neighbOr-
hood Of Arras on the enemy's right 4
rear OF the British forces.
This closed the period covering the
heavy fighting which commenced az
Mons on Sunday afternoon, August %,
and which really constituted a four
days battle. At this point therefore
propose TO close the present dispatch.
DePlOres Heavy Losses.
I deeply deplore the very serious
losses which the British forces suffered |
in this great battle. but they were in
eviUable in view of the fact that the I
British army-Only few days after /
cOncentration-was called on 70 with ]
stand the vigorous attack Of five Ger {
man 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 devoted 7
sXertions Of their stats, the direction |
Of troops by the divisional brigade and
-egimental leaders, the command Of
small units by thir officers, and the
magnificent fighting spirit displayed
BY the non commissioned officers and
men
COmmends Flying Corps.
7 wish particularly TO bring to your
ordshlp's notice the admirable work
lone by the royal flying corps under
Sir David Henderson. Their skill en-
srgy and perseverance have been be-
-Ond all praise. They have furnished
ne with most complete and accurate
Information which has been Of incalcul- ]
ible value. They were fired at con-
SANITY by both friend and foe and, not
lesitating to fly in every kind Of
weather, they have remained undaunted
throughout Further. by actual fight
ng they destroyed five OF the enemy's
machines"
The report concluded with commen-
iauon OF personal and general stats /
II headquarters, the Quartermasrer
'orps and the adjuUant generals de-
iartment.