The New York Times Current History of the European War | Page 2

the Third Division, under Gen. Hamilton, was at Mons,
which formed a somewhat dangerous salient; and I directed the
commander of the Second Corps to be careful not to keep the troops on
this salient too long, but, if threatened seriously, to draw back the
centre behind Mons. This was done before dark. In the meantime, about
5 P.M., I received a most unexpected message from Gen. Joffre by
telegraph, telling me that at least three German corps, viz., a reserve
corps, the Fourth Corps and the Ninth Corps, were moving on my
position in front, and that the Second Corps was engaged in a turning
movement from the direction of Tournay. He also informed me that the
two reserve French divisions and the Fifth French Army on my right
were retiring, the Germans having on the previous day gained
possession of the passages of the Sambre between Charleroi and
Namur.
3. In view of the possibility of my being driven from the Mons position,
I had previously [Transcriber: original 'previouly'] ordered a position in
rear to be reconnoitred. This position rested on the fortress of
Maubeuge on the right and extended west to Jenlain, southeast of
Valenciennes, on the left. The position was reported difficult to hold,
because standing crops and buildings made the siting of trenches very
difficult and limited the field of fire in many important localities. It
nevertheless afforded a few good artillery positions.

When the news of the retirement of the French and the heavy German
threatening on my front reached me, I endeavored to confirm it by
aeroplane [Transcriber: original 'areoplane'] reconnoissance; and as a
result of this I determined to effect a retirement to the Maubeuge
position at daybreak on the 24th.
A certain amount of fighting continued along the whole line throughout
the night and at daybreak on the 24th the Second Division from the
neighborhood of Harmignies made a powerful demonstration as if to
retake Binche. This was supported by the artillery of both the First and
Second Divisions, while the First Division took up a supporting
position in the neighborhood of Peissant. Under cover of this
demonstration the Second Corps retired on the line
Dour-Quarouble-Frameries. The Third Division on the right of the
corps suffered considerable loss in this operation from the enemy, who
had retaken Mons.
The Second Corps halted on this line, where they partially intrenched
themselves, enabling Sir Douglas Haig with the First Corps gradually
to withdraw to the new position; and he effected this without much
further loss, reaching the line Bavai-Maubeuge about 7 P.M. Toward
midday the enemy appeared to be directing his principal effort against
our left.
I had previously ordered Gen. Allenby with the cavalry to act
vigorously in advance of my left front and endeavor to take the
pressure off.
About 7:30 A.M. Gen. Allenby received a message from Sir Charles
Fergusson, commanding the Fifth Division, saying that he was very
hard pressed and in urgent need of support. On receipt of this message
Gen. Allenby drew in the cavalry and endeavored to bring direct
support to the Fifth Division.
During the course of this operation Gen. De Lisle, of the Second
Cavalry Brigade, thought he saw a good opportunity to paralyze the
further advance of the enemy's infantry by making a mounted attack on
his flank. He formed up and advanced for this purpose, but was held up

by wire about 500 yards from his objective, and the Ninth Lancers and
the Eighteenth Hussars suffered severely in the retirement of the
brigade.
The Nineteenth Infantry Brigade, which had been guarding the line of
communications, was brought up by rail to Valenciennes on the 22d
and 23d. On the morning of the 24th they were moved out to a position
south of Quarouble to support the left flank of the Second Corps.
With the assistance of the cavalry Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien was
enabled to effect his retreat to a new position; although, having two
corps of the enemy on his front and one threatening his flank, he
suffered great losses in doing so.
At nightfall the position was occupied by the Second Corps to the west
of Bavai, the First Corps to the right. The right was protected by the
fortress of Maubeuge, the left by the Nineteenth Brigade in position
between Jenlain and Bry, and the cavalry on the outer flank.
4. The French were still retiring, and I had no support except such as
was afforded by the Fortress of Maubeuge; and the determined attempts
of the enemy to get round my left flank assured me that it was his
intention to hem me against that place and surround me. I felt that not a
moment must be lost in retiring to another position.
I had every reason to believe that the