The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1914-09-25
GEN FRENCH TELLS HOW sTRATEeY
SAVED BRITISH FROM humiliation

~SfNA ~ N~N1Fy ~NN NAss+fA&Nits%T
caieaaI Andracies position ana
ground had, during the sssh. been pA>
tally preparing and intgeneAed, haA
gsave doaAts--owtns TO information
had received rs 10 tho accommodating
strength OF the eneny against me-
90 10 the Wisdom al standing there 10
fight
Having regard 10 the ceseinued ~
tirumen, Of the rrench right, ny en-
pcseA left flank, the tendency ct the
snesny's western cnrps TO envelcp me
and more than al the exhausted con
dssion Of the trvopa. I determined 10
mske great effort ao ccnsinae the r.
treat I'll could put some Substantial
obstacle, such a. the Somns or the
oiss. between my troops and the enc
my. and afford the former some op-
portunity for rect and Reorganization.
Orders were therefore sent 10
the corps commanders 10 ccnsinue
their retreat "a soon m they possibly
could toward the general line Of Yer
mand. ST Quentin and Hbemont ana
the cavalry under General Allvnhy
were ordered TO cover the retirement
Throughout the .sth and far into the
evening the First corps continued TO
march on iandrscies, following the
road along the eastern border Of the
forest OF Normal, and arrived at Land
recies about ten O'Clock
Enemy Allows No Rest.
y had intended that the corps
should come further west. so az TO fli
UP the gap between Lsosteau and
Landrecics, but The men we're exhaust
ed and could not set further In with
out q rest.
The enemy. however. would not
allow them this rest. and about $50
that evening the report was received
that the Fourth Guards brigade In
Landrec'es was heavily attacked by
troops o. the Ninth German army
corps. who were coming through the
forest 10 the north of the town This
brigade fought most CALAMITY and
caused the enemy 10 suffer ire
mendous loss in issuing from the for
est into the narrow streets os the
town. This loss has been estimated
from reliable sources at between TOO
and 1000
AT the same time Information
reached me from Sir Douglas Haig
that his first division WAS also heavily
engaged south and east OF Marbles"
Two French divisions assisted tho
First corps to retire In the night OF
the e5th. Second corps took position
between Caudry and I>eCateau.
Attacked by Four corpa
AT daybreak Il became apparent
tina, the enemy was throwing the bulk
of HE strength against the left or
the position occupied by tho Second
oorps and the fourth division At this
time the guns OF four German army
corps we're in position against them,
and Sir Horace Smith Dorrien report
cd 20 me that he Judged II impossible
to continue his retirement at day
break, as ordered. In the face OF such
an attack
Il sent him orders 10 use his ut
most endeayors 20 break on the action
and retire al the earlies, possible mo.
ment, MS II was impossible for me 10
send him support. the First corps be-
Ing at the moment incapable OF move
ment
The French cavalry corps Under
General Sordet was coming UP on
our left rear early In the morning and
sent him an urgent message 10 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 10 intervene 10
any way
outnumbered -Four TO One.
There had been no time to In.
french tho position properly. but the
troops showed magnificent front 10
The terrible nre which confronted
them. The artillery. although out
by ~ least four TO one. made
/ splendid ngh, and inflicted heavy
osses on their opponents
AT length II became apparent that
4 complete humiliation was 10 be
avoided retirement must be attempted
md the order was ri zen 10 commence
I about 3:3o In the afternoon. Thu
Movement was covered with most de-
'oted intrepidity and determination by
he artillery, which had itself suffered
heavily. and the fne work done by
he cavalry In tho further retreat from
he position assisted materially tho
inal completion OF this most difficult
md dangerous operation, Fortunate
W. the enemy had himself suffered too
heavily 10 engage In an energetic pur-
Iuit.
The retreat was continued far into
he night Of the 2Sth and through the
nth and the ?sth, on which date tho
,roops halted on the line from NoyE.
rhauny and LcFere, having then
hrovn on the weight OF the enemy's
yursuit.
French Come TO Rescue.
On the 27tk and tho 9sth was
much indebted 10 General gorsiet and
he French caralry division. which he
commands, for materially assiating
ny retirement. and successfully driv-
ng back some Of the enemy on Cam
,rai General t'Amads also. with the