The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-07
GERMAN ARMIES
CONTINUED From Page oas.)

Smith Dcrrien. carrying peremptory or
ders 10 break of the action and to coz
tinue the retreat forthwith.
Shortly aftcrward the French COM
mander in chief arrived with his chief
Of stan. He was followed by the COM
mander Of tho Fifth French army, and
WI proceeded To discuss the situation.
narrated tho events Of the previous
two days. and pointed out the isolated
situation in which the British army had
been placed by the very sudden change
OF plan and headlong retirement Of the
Firth French army on my right.
IanrcZac appeared to treat the whole
affair "a quite normal and merely Incl
dental to the. common exiEencies Of war.
He offered no explanation and gave no
reason for the very unexpected moves he
had made. The discussion was appar-
emily distasteful to him for he remained
only a short time at headquarters and
left before any satisfactory understand
ing az to further plans and disposition
had htNen arrived at.
JofYrc remained with me somo con-
siderable time. I gathered that he was
by no means satisfied with the ACT ION OF
his subordinate general. No very def
mite plans were then decided upon. the
understanding. as tho French command
er in chief left. being that the retreat
VIA to be continued as slowly and de-
Eheralcly MS possible. until we found
ourselves in favorable position 10
make n finn stand and take tho offcns-
i've The commander in chief urged me
to maintain my position In the line
which I told him hoped, in spite Of the
heavy losses which we had suffered 10
be able to do.
1zF. 60
Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien's headquarters
as I could get no satisfactory report
from that general. For the first few
miles we were able 10 make fair progress
but as VIC went on tho road grew worse
and worse and sometimes we werc abso.
luteiy blocked for several minutes to-
gcthcr.
The whole countryside was covered
with refugees and their belong4ngs
whileour own transport were cndeavor'
Ing TO make all haste they could to con-
vcy much needed food. ammunition and
material 10 the divisions in front
Several messages reached me on the
road. and at last got information that
Smith Dorrien had broken off the action
and that his columns wore once more on
the march. He was only just In time,
for subsequent reports reached me dur
ing this motor journey. Of considerable
Uhlan patrols in the neighborhood. and
toward evening st. Quentin Itself was
threat ened by hostile cavalry. which.
however did not succeed In entering the
town.
On reaching headquarters found that
more or less detailed reports had arrived
which showed tho shattered condition OF
the troops which had fought at LIE
Cateau.
All idea OF making any prolonged
stand on the Sommc south Of st. Quend n
which Ind during the day seriously en-
tered my mind as a possibility, was def
initely abandoned.
The first necessity WAS TO rally and
collect our troops which had become
mixed up and scattered by tho trying ex-
pcrienccs~ Of the previous days and
nights. The great essential WAS to re-
cover order. restore confidence and in
fuse fresh spirit with a clear aim in
view. To enHbIe all this 10 be hrou ght
about we had first to look 10 the caval-
n Orders were at once sent To Allen
by TO make such dispositions az would
erfectually cover our rear and western
flank. 7 told him he was 10 enlist the
co-operation Of the French cavalry under
Soriet The corps commanders wcrn or
dered 10 NOV" towards the line La Ferc-
Noyon.
On the evening OF the 2Sth hcadouar-
tiers were moved to Soyon. where ! ar
rived late a, night TO consider the possi-
Utilities of making a stand behind tho
Disc
ON the eth tho orders issued for the
efficient conduct of the retreat began to
take effect and the cavalry kept tho M
envy we'll at bay.
Smith Dorrien reprrtcd himself In tho
early hours NJ the morning. and later
Major Davnry (Second Life Guards)-
tho recollection OF whose splendid and
Invaluable services until he FILL at the
head OF his regiment will forever remain
with mr-hrought news OF HaiEa pro-
eress. while Shca Of the Indian cavalry
aftervard renowned lender of d.
vision At tho front-old me OF the valu-
oi,lc role which WAS being SO cffectua1ly
performed ~ tn" cavalry.
In telegram which ] communicates
to tho troops General Joffrc very hand
somcly acknowledged what ne described
az the 'InvnlnabIc" scrv!ces rendered
TO the allied cause by the British army
throughout the Inst few days
II was e.nccrr qualification - tho
army 70 see tho generous Terms in
which tho Frrnch commander In chief
expressed hin appreciation.
spent tho carly hours Of tho 18th in
personally accommodating the country
bordering the south hank Of tho otae in
the neighhorhood Of Soyon.
The one idea which now poRscased
my mind WAS the possibility OF making
stand with the object Of obtaining the