General French's Report.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 21, 11 September 1914, Page 5

General French's Report.

THE OPERATIONS FROM AUGUST 25 TO SEPTEMBER 7. HIGHEST ADMIRATION FOR OFFICERS AND MEN. [By Ewotbio Timgbaph—Oopteioht] [Dnitfd Press .Association.] (Eeceived 8.50 a.m.) ar :; b "' • ' ,: ; London, September 12.

Official—Sir John 'French, reporting- on the proceedings of his force up to the 7th inst., says: "The transport of troops from England oy. sea and rail was effected in. the best order and without..check;,','and the concentration was practically complete on.-the evening of August 21st.. ,1 was able to make dispositions; and move the force on ; the. 22nd to a position I considered most favorable., from where to commence operations, which General Joffre requested me to undertake. A line was taken up and extended along the line of the canal from Condemn the west through Mons and Binche to the east. During the 22nd and 23rd, the advanced squadrons did excellent wort, some penetrating to the Forest of Soiginies. Several encounters took place, in which our troops showed to great advantage. Keports received on the 23rd showed that the enemy was commencing to attack the Mons line. Apparently they were.of some strength, threatening particularly the right position -from.,'Mons and Bray.. The commander oi the First Corps had pushed his flank back to some high ground at> the' south of ];mv., and the Fifth Cavalry Brigade evacuated Binchei moving slightly south. Thereupon, the enemy Occupied Binche, to the right of Mons. The third division was at. Mons, which was a somewhat dangerous salient. I directed the commander of the. Second Corps, if threatened seriously, .to draw back to the centre behind Mons. This was done before..dusk. About: evening I received an unexpected telegram from General Joffre that at least three German corps were moving on my position in front, and that the Second Corps were engaged in a turning movement from the direction of Tournai: also, that, two reserve French divisions and the Fifth French army on mv right were retiring, the Germans having previously gained possession of the passages across the Rambre between Charleroi and Nnmur. When the news of the retirement of the French and of heavy German force which threatened my front readied me, 1 endeavored to confirm it by aeroplane reconnaissance, and as a result determined to effect a retirement to Maubeuge. A certain amount of fighting continued along the whole line throughout the night. At daybreak on the 24th, the second division from the neighborhood of Harmigics made a powerful demonstration as if to retake Bin die. This was supported by the artillery of both the first and second divisions, whilst the first division took up a supporting position in the neighborhood of Peissant. Under cover of this demonstration, the second corps retired on a line, Dourqnarouble-Fra-meries.

"VERY HARD PRESSED, URGENT NEED OF SUPPORT."

SKILL OF GENERALS SMITH-DORREIN AND HAIG.

(Received 0.15 a.m.) London, September 10. • Sir John French continued: "The third division on the right of the corps suffered considerable loss in this operation from the enemy, who had re-taken Mons. The second corps halted on this line, where they partially entrenched themselves, enabling Lieutenant-Genei'i.! Sir Douglas Haig, K.C.8., with the first corps to gradually withdraw to a new position, which was effected without much further loss. Towards midday the enemy appeared to be directing a principal effort against our left. I had previously ordered Major-General E. H. H. Allenby, C. 8., with the cavalry to act vigorously in an advance of the left, and endeavor to take off the pressure. 'About 7.30 in the morning, Major-General ' Allenby received from Sir Charles Ferguson, commanding the sth division, a message: 'Verv hard pressed; in urgent need of support.' Thereupon, Colonel Allenby drew in the cavalry and endeavored to bring them in direct and support the fifth division. During this operation, Brigadier-General TT. de B. de Lisle, C. 8., of'the second cavalry brigade, thought he saw a good opportunity to paralyse a further advance of the enemy's infantry by making a mounted attack on the flank. He advanced for this purpose, but was held up by Wilabost five hundred yards from the objective. The Plinth Lancers and the Eighteenlh Hussars suffered severely in the retirement. General Sir H. L. Smith-Dorrien, with the assistance of cavalry, enabled them to effect a retreat to a new position, although, through Having two corps of the enemy on his front and one threatening his flank, he suffered srreat loss in doing so. As the F-rench were still retiring I had no support, except such as was afforded bv the fortress at Maubeuge. The enemy s determined attempt to get round our left flank assured me that they intended to hem me against Maubeuge and surround me.

I felt that not a moment nurd be lost. The retiring operation was full of danger. The difficulty was not only owing to the very superior force on my front, but also to the exhaustion of the troops. The retirement recommenced early on the 25th to a position in the neighborhood of Le Catan. Owing to the continued retirement of the French on my left, and the tendency of the enemy's western corps to envelope me, the commanders were ordered to retreat towards a general line, Vermond-St. Quentin-Itibemont. Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig, with the first division, was heavily engaged on the 25th in the south and east of Maroilles. Partly owing to the assistance of two French reserve divisions, but mainly owing to the skilful manner in which Sir Douglas Haig extricated his corps from an exceptionally difficult position at the right time, they were able at dawn to resume the march to the south on Guise. T cannot close the brief account of this glorious stand of the British troops without recording my deep appreciation of the valuable services rendered by General Sir H. L. Smith-Dorrien. I say without hesitation that Jus saving of the left wing of the army on the morning of the 2Cth would never have been accomplished unless the commander, with rare and unusual coolness, intrepidity, and determination, had been present personally to conduct the operation."

Sir John French concludes by eulogising the magnificent fighting spirit displayed by all the officers and men, and the admirable work of Sir David Henderson's Royal Flying Corps in furnishing him, most completely and accurately, with information of incalculable value.

HARD PUSHED IN RETREAT FROM THE 25th TO 28th.

(Received 9.50 a.m.) London, September 10. "On the 24th I asked General Sordet, commanding three divisions of French cavalry for support for the left flank, but General Sordet's horses were too tired. At daybreak on the 26th, it was apparent the enemy were throwing the bulk ot their strength against the loft of the position occupied by our second corps and the fourth division. As the guns ot four German army corps were in position against them General Sir Smith-Dorrien reported that it was impossible to continue the retirement at daybreak as ordered. I ordered him to try and break off the action and retire at the earliest possible as it was impossible to send any support. General Sordet s cavalry arrived in the left rear in the early morning, and 1 sent an urgent message to General Sordet to come and support the entrenchment of my left flank. He was unable to do so, owing to the fatigue of his horses. There was no time to entrench properly, and the troops showed a magnificent front to the terrible fire. Though the artillery outnumbered them by at least four to one, they put up a splendid fight, and inflicted heavy losses. At length it was apparent that, in order to avoid complete annihiation, a retirement must be attempted It was commenced at 3,30 m the afternoon. Ihe movement was covered with most devoted intrepidity by the artillery which had suffered heavily, and the cavalry a fine work assisted. Fortunately the enemy to pursue energetically, and the retreat continued fall the 28th. On the 27th and 28th, General Sorcl it gave material assistance in driving ■hack some'of'the enemv;fo Camhrai. lhe flying corps Bred at constantly, a'nd did not iu every kind of weather. By actually fighting 1 ill the air they destroyed five of the enemy's machines.