The state herald., 1914-09-18

tHo erupniC dCCOuul ny Flelu NldTsuui
Sir John French of the heroic fight
made by the British expeditionary
force to keep from being annihilated
Like wildcat pursued by hounds. the
British force backed stubbornly to-
ward the River Disc, constantly show
Ing Its teeth, but realizing that 1t must
attain the river or perish
Text Of the Report.
The report is published in the Lon
don Gazette, the official organ. 1t is
as follows:
"The transportation OF the troops
from England by rail and sea was eff
fected In the best order and without
a check. Concentration was practi-
cally completed on the evening of Fri
day. August 81, and I was able to
make dispositions to move the force
during Saturday to positions | con-
sidered most favorable from which to
commence the operations which Cen
eral Joffre requested me to under
take"
| General French then described in
detail the position taken up by his
forces at and on the east and west
OF Mons. and the retirement OF the
center behind Mons on Sunday, Au-
gust 20. He continues:
Surprised by Joffre's Message.
Meanwhile, about flve in the after
noon. | received most unexpected
message from General Joffre by tele-
graph telling me that at least three
German corps were moving on my
position in front and that another
corps was engaged in turning move
ment from the direction OF Tournai.
He also informed me that the two re-
serve 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.
Had Reserve Position Ready.
"ln view of the possibility OF my
being driven from the Mons position
/ had previously ordered n position in
the rear to be reconnoitered.
when the news OF the retirement
threatening on my front reached me
endeavored to confirm 1t by aeroplane
reconnaissance and as a result OF this
I determined to effect a retirement TO
tho Maubeuge position at daybreek on
the 24th
Fighting on the Path.
"a certain amount OF fighting con-
tiued along the whole line throughout
the night and at daybreak OF the Path
the second division from the neigh.
borhood OF Harmignies made IA power
ful demonstration as II to retake
Binche. Under cover OF this demon
stration the Second corps retired ON
the line OF Dour. Quarouble and
Frameries. The third division on the
right OF the corps suffered consider
able loss In this operation from the
enemy who had retaken Mons.
The Second corps hal,ei on this
line. where they intrenched them
selves. enabling Sir Douglas lIaig with
the First corps to withdraw TO the
new position and he effected this with.
out much further loss. reaching the
line from Bayay to Maubeuge about
seven in the evening.
About 1880 In the morning General
Allenby received message from Sir
Charles Ferguson. commanding the
NTH division. saying he was very hard
pressed and In urgent need OF sup.
port On receipt OF this message Gen.
eral Allenby drew in his cavalry and
end .avored TO bring direct support to
the ffth division.
Re.Enforeements Brought ur.
"1he Nineteenth infantry brigade.
which hud been guarding the line OF
communications. was brought by rail
to Valenclennes on tho a2d and 23d.
On the morning OF the 2+th they were
moved out to n position south OF
Quaroubie TO support the left flank
OF the Second corps.
with tho assistance Of cavalry
Sir Horace Smith Dorrien was en-.
abled to effect his retreat to new
position. although having two corps
threatening his flank. He suffered
great iosrcs In doing 40.
AT nightfail a position was occu'
pied by tho Second corps to the west
OF Bnyay. the First corps TO the right.
Tho right was protected by the for.
tress OF Maubeuse. tho left by the
Ninctcenth brigade In positions be.
tween Jenlnin and Brnny and by cav.
airy on tho outer rnnk The French
were siili retiring and had no sup.
port except such m was afforded by
tho fortress Of Maubeuge. and deter
mined efforts of the enemy 10 got
around my nank assured me that II
was his intention TO hem me against
that place and surround mo,
Not . Moment TO De Lost.
Il felt that not a moment must be
lost In returning 10 another position.
The retirement was resumed In the
early morning Of tho s5th TO n posi-.