Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-10
Field Marshal Sir John French
Sends Detailed Report of
Desperate Struggle Against
German Forces,
GEN. SMITH-D0RIEN
SAVES LEFT WING
Hard PresSedby Superior Num-
berS Greatest Skill and
Courage Required to Pre-
vent AnnihiIatiOn.

fsy nossINo JOURNAL SPECIAL Issssp wiarI
London. sept. 10 (i:52 n. mD--The
London Gazette issued late last nigh,
contains a dispatch from Field Mar
shal Sir John French. commander OF
the British forces in France, reportine
the proceedings of his force A sum
mary Of the report follows:
The British took position on Au-
gust %. the report SAYS. on a line
from Conde on the west through Mons
land Blnche on the east. General
French understood that at the most
two army corps were in front of the
British position.
Unexpected Information.
AT o'clock on the evening of Au-
gust 20. he received a most unexpected
message from General Joffre. the
French commander-ln-chle that three
German army corps were moving
frontly on the British and that an
other corps was engaged in a turning
movement from Turnai General
Joffre also stated that the French
army on the British right was reti--
ing"
AS result Of this information nc
determined to retire to a position
which he had previously reconnoiter-
ed, extending from Maubeuge. west TO
Jenlain. southeast of Valenciennes.
Retirement Successful.
There was a certain amount of
fighting along the whole line of the
right The retirement was carried
out successfully through the path
amid continuous fighting.
AS the French troops we're still
retiring General French continues.
u had no support except from the for
tress at Maubeuge and determined at
tempts OF the enemy TO go around my
left flank assured me II was his IN
tention to press me against that place
and surround me. | felt not a moment
must be lost In retiring to another po-
sition.
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 re-
tirement recommended early In the
of the 25th TO a position near
LeCateau.
Under severe Pressure.
Although the troops had been or
dered to occupy Cambrari. lie Cateau
and Landrecies and that position and /
ground had, during the 25th, been (,
prepared and entrenched. | (
had grave doubts, owing to informa- (
Iion | received of the accommodating Z
strength of the enemy, as to the wis., (
lom of standing there to fight.
Moreover the retirement Of the I
French troops on my right continued
md | determined to make a great ef- I
'crt to continue the retreat TIL could
)ut substantial obstacle. such as the
somme river or the Disc river be-
ween the British and the enemy to n
ord the former some opportunity for
est ard reorganization
Therefore the corps commanders
we're ordered TO retreat as soon as
possible to a general line from st.
Quentin to Ribmontn
Incessantly IIarrassed
az hieh'H lllen describes The
march through all that day and until
ate in the evening curing which time
lie was necessarily harrassed by the
nemy who continued the attack late
t night on the exhausted British.
ieneral French continues:
General Sordet. commanding three
ayalry divisions whom | had called
Q my assistance, though ne render
d valuable aid. later, was unable to !
ford any support on the most critic I
! day, the 10th, owing to the exhaus- ,
ion OF his horses
Withstand Severe Attack.
al daybreak, the 26th. il become d
pparent that the enemy was throw N
1g the bulk of his strength against |
he left OF our position, the guns Of
our German corps being in position
gainst II. General Smith Dorrien re-
orted that he was unable to retire.
$ ordered. In the face of such an at
lck 1t was impossible for me to
ipport General Dorrien, as the First
1rps at the moment was incapable ii
moving. There had been no time d
} intrench properly, bnt the troops n
,owed magnificent front to the ter II
BILE fire. II,
Retreat TO Escape AnnihlIalion. In
Finally it became apparent that ia
complete annihilation was to be G
yoided. retirement must be at II
mpted, and an order was given to Il
,mmence it at $3.50 o'clock in the ri
ternoon The moevment was cover
with the most devoted intrepidiyi
ID. determination by the artillery.
hieh had suffered heavily. and the a
he work of the cavalry assisted ma Ii
rially in the completion of the most al
fficult sand dangerous operation. 90
ortunately the enemy had suffered lin