THE MOHS RETREAT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 5

THE MOHS RETREAT.

LOUD FRENCH’S STORY. HIGH HOPES SHATTERED, LONDON, May 2. A further instalment of Lord French’s book, which describes the battle of Mens, says that the British Army on tho night of August 21 went to sleep iu tho highest spirits and with hopes that its mobilisation, transport, and concentration would be effected without a hitch. The preliminary engagements foreshadowed that moral superiority over tho Germans, which afterwards was completely established. Lord French awoke on the morning of August 22 in high hopes, hut before many hours disillusionment began. Lord French describes hew he started to visit General Lanrezac, commading the French Eleventh Army Corps, iu tho neighbourhood of Philippeville, but was constantly stopped by columns moving southward, all of which were looking mast depressed. .Suddenly he met Captain Spiers, tho liason officer, who reported a German advance, adding, “Offensive action is contrary to General Lamozae’s plans.” Owing to the difficulty of finding General Lanrezac, Lord French returned to lid Gateau, where late in the evening, the climax of disillusionment was experienced, when he received a request from General Lanrezac to attack the flank of tho German columns which wore pressing him back. Lord French says it was difficult to realise what was in General Lenrezac's mind when he made such a request, and he replied that such an operation w r as quite impracticable. Describing tho events of August 23, Lord French says that he left Sir Hor-, ace Smith-Dorricn full of confidence with regard to his position, but when he returned to headquarters in the afternoon reports were received that Sir Horace Smith-Dorrieu w’as abandon ing tho salient at Mens, although ho reed not have feared an imminent turning movement, and his front was no-whe-ro greatly threatened.

In consequence of the arrival of further disquieting reports in the evening Lord French decided on an immediate retreat, as the situation was strategically untejuiWo. He pays a tribute to the support of Genorl Allenby and General Drummond in taking severe pressure off the Fifth Division, and to the steadfastness and skill of Sir Douglas Haig’s First Corps. He concludes with a graphic picture of the worn-out staff, sa> ing, ‘ ‘lt makes my blood boil to hear and'to read the calumnies which arc often heaped on the head of the unfortunate staff.”