ECHO OF LE CATEAU.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15193, 13 April 1917, Page 2

ECHO OF LE CATEAU.

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, LORD FRENCH AND GENERAL SMITH-DORRIEN. LONDON, February 27. General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, in an article in one of the Sunday papers, describes LLs share in the early engagements of the war, especially those which formed part of the retreat from Mons. The article in question is entitled "How the Old British Army Died," and deals with the stand at Le Gateau. General Smith-Dorrien writes: "I had received orders from Sir John French not to make a stand at Le Cateau, but to continue retiring. These orders I could not sec my way to obey; for I feared, with the men tired as they were, further retirement, might end in a rout, and also I considered that to show our teeth was the only way of stopping the enemy. I therefore informed the Commander-in-Chief by telephone of my decision. I said that before I could retire I must fight, and that in order to avoid a disaster a hard blow must be dealt the Germans. "in reply T was informed that I was risking a Sedan. I said I was prepared to take that risk, and it was suggested to me that Sir John might be willing to come and take over the command. But I was anxious not to avoid responsibility. I thought if there was going to be a Sedan that, for the sake of the cavse of the Allies, Sir John should be able to return to England and organise a new army. FEAR OF A SEDxIN. "'Personally* I had fears that thierfl might be a Sedan, but I could not see what other course I could take to save my force. At 7 a.m. on August 26 the Germans had a tremendous circle of guns extending' right aloruy our whole front, and the battle began. My only hope was to hold on till nightfall. But I never expected to do so, because we had no time to oonstruot tijeirches of any value. The ground was very open and both my flanks were in the air. A cavalry corps under General Sordet which had been at Charleroi on the 25th, had passed through my lines going east to west on my left flank. "I did not meet General Sordet, but I sent an urgent, message to him, saying that I was going to light, and that I hoped I would fce able to cover my left. I got back no reply, but at about 4 p.m.. when our retirement had commenced, I lveard the sound of heavy firing beyond the left flank, and I feared that the Germans had got round and were coming towards my rear. I rode off in this direction with aD aide-de-camp to learn it was not the Germans, but Sordet's gallant cavalry who were beating off the enemv. The French cavalry rendered magnificent service on this day, and I felt that I must pay a tribute to their timely intervention, so I sent a message of cordial thanks to the commander." On Tuesday the Times contained the following: "We understand that Field-Marshal Viscount French desires it to be known that the account of the retreat from Mon% by General Sir Horace SmithDorrien is not, in the Field-Marshal's view, accurate in certain respects. This statement particularly applies to the references to the battle of 1/0 Cateau, and to the circumstances which Jed up to that action. Lord French does not, however, desire to become involved in any possibly controversial discussion while the war continues."