The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-08
VIFSI FYAN NINE TOP[AY LOCAL
BAIJER-TlJRNERHERE SATURDAY

being the enemy's first objective.
II Is fairly certain that the concentra-
ton of an important new army on Inc
western flank OF the British, to the
north Of Paris. was quite unknown 10 the
Germans and did not enter into their cal
culations until some days later.
We had also the best reason Tor. pc
licving that the German 'hlsner coIl-
inand regarded the British forces as
rate so far as any effort which we could
make for the defense Of Paris was con
ccrncd. In fact. believing the capitai 10
be practicnlly a, l,s a tngreE was blindly
marching into n veritablc hornets nest
in spite Of the backward condition Oh the
Paris defence. ,,, ,r.-
ccssful attack by the French Flfth army
al Guisc heavily defeated three GerInIa ma,
army corps and threw them Pa CO. T'i IN
severe loss; This had 2 great enc, oniv
enabled the Fifth army TO hold its Own
for some time on the ,Oise. DetSSen
Guisc and In Fcrc. but 1t consideraniS
relieved hostile pressure on inc ofie'SA
and French troops on our lett; .s,5,o-
From Rove on the west, Montdldier.
Sovon, La Fere. Guise. UP to Hlrson on
tho cast tho heads Of the allied colun.ns
were established. we'll covered oy thei
adT Throu9h T1@ this day reports often
conf rodictorv and conflicting reached
me. II was quite clear that our Posi.t31i
on the Disc was pet fnsccs nam" and I feit
II 10 be impossible TO stand on that mr.
eyou until We could make Eood some VI
our heavy losses. and l could h9t Ioto
10 get anything up for sererai DAYS "
come. ,a,,od Tho
With great reluctance ! ordered tl e
retreat 10 be continued to the Inc OF Snt
Aisnc from Competgne TO SCISSORS nv
L. 1T.
a. Guisr bx the Filth French army and
tho desire expressed by General JoIte
,hat tho allied forces should hold thelr
ground as long ns possible anu 80
mnndcrs to carry out their marches WIN
nil delihnration and TO take aaEahtase
of every opportunity 10 chccN Inc c"e
myS advance. .ho allied
1t now became Known 10 m a.hed
commander that the enemy mao oetacnsu
- considerable force TO his eastern IRON
ticr where he was being seriously
threatened by tho Russians Joilre na
tural desire to profit by TINS co1pIGu
with his fears for the safety OF Pafis'
nndc him very anxious 10 take the Of
fcnsivc al the earliest possible moInent1;
10 can,c 10 see me on the afternoon OF
the 99th If August at Conpieene. ai,a
urged these views upon me- rcilllu re
firm, in nv absolute conviction thnt .ne
british forces could not effectively 1ul-
iii their share in such action for som"
DAYS and that, so far ms we Were CCit
c,rncd, q further retreat was lnev'taoir.
/ assured the French Commahosr il
cbirf Tint no serious gap shoulo DC
nadc in his line by any premature or
, hasty retirement. but l inperatiVely &C.
ma nded tho necessary time 10 rctit aI'o
obtain rcinforccmentS. x< 49,
I strongly. rrprcs"ntcd 70 Jollre S.e
ADVANTAGES or drawing the German arm
, les on still further from their base. even
Though we had TO move south OF inc
Marine Indeed thr ideas which | after
ward expressed Mt the British EN-
In Paris to Mr.. Millerand. the French MN,
Ister OF War, in the presence or Loro
kitchener, were the Same which had IN
nv mind during this interview WIN
Jorrrc, namely, that our stand shouIo De
made on some line between the Marine
and the Seine. ,, .,u VA
treat The Sixth French army on our left
wss moi. vet formed and tho Conamndcr
in Chief had put no definite pan OF a..
tack before me, with an assignee roIe
which he desired me to fulfill. AZ ne "sn
cd me- Ia do was to remain IN the INC ana
rim IN the gap between the F1fth ana
Sixth armies. This l had every inten.
nm bound to say that had to make
this decision In tho race OF rcs1stancSc
crs. who took depressed view as 10 inc
condition Of their troops. When L as
cusscd the situa, ion. at meeting %
british commanders held al CompieEnc.
Sir Horace Smith-Unrrirn expressed II
Az his opinion that Tho only course open
70 us was to retire to our base. t9or.
ouehly rcfit. rc-cmbark and try to land
at some favorable point on the coast
line I-7efuscd To listen TO what was
tho equivalent to a counsel Of despair.
Our communications with Harrc being
now dangerously threatened. II became
necessary 10 effect change OF base and
establish n fresh line. ST. Nazalre and
Nantes were fixed upon. with lie MINIS
Us advanced base.
The morning Of the 3oth found our.
cnvalry with two brigades TO the ncTth-
west OF Compicgne one to the north and
en-" to the northeast. The 9Th. under
Chetwode. covered the retirement OF tho
First Corps. Our line that night was
through Nampiel on the west to Coucy-
le-Chateau-
Huguet to-day communicated to me
Joffre's new dispositions. He. was re-
firing the Fifth French Army to the line
Of the Serre. their left on La Pere; their
Army was 10 fall back to the line Com
Army was TO fall back TO the line Com
Ipicgne-C1ermont. Sordet's cavalry