Part 11 (1/2)

I ordered General Snow to ht south of Soles on the Cambrai-Le Cateau Road south of La Chaprie In this position the Division rendered great help to the effective retirement of the 2nd and 1st Corps to the new position

Although the troops had been ordered to occupy the Caround had, during the 25th, been partially prepared and entrenched, I had grave doubts--owing to the inforth of the eneht

Having regard to the continued retireht, my exposed left flank, the tendency of the enemy's western corps (II) to envelop me, and, more than all, the exhausted condition of the troops, I deterreat effort to continue the retreat till I could put some substantial obstacle, such as the Somme or the Oise, between my troops and the eneanisation

Orders were, therefore, sent to the Corps Commanders to continue their retreat as soon as they possibly could towards the general line Vermand-St Quentin-Ribemont

The Cavalry, under General Allenby, were ordered to cover the retire, the 1st Corps continued itsthe eastern border of the Foret De Mormal, and arrived at Landrecies about 10 o'clock I had intended that the Corps should coap between Le Cateau and Landrecies, but the et further in without rest

The enemy, however, would not allow them this rest, and about 930 pade in Landrecies was heavily attacked by troops of the 9th Gerh the forest on the north of the town

This brigade fought allantly and caused the ene from the forest into the narrow streets of the town This loss has been estimated from reliable sources at from 700 to 1,000 At the sa that his 1st Division was also heavily engaged south and east of Maroilles I sent urgent es to the Coht to come up to the assistance of the 1st Corps, which they eventually did

Partly owing to this assistance, butextricated his Corps from an exceptionally difficult position in the darkness of the night, they were able at dawn to resuny on Guise

By about 6 pht on Le Cateau, their left in the neighbourhood of Caudry, and the line of defence was continued thence by the 4th Division towards Seranvillers, the left being thrown back

During the fighting on the 24th and 25th the Cavalry beca of the 26th General Allenby had succeeded in concentrating two brigades to the south of Cambrai

The 4th Division was placed under the orders of the General Officer Co the 2nd Army Corps

On the 24th the French Cavalry Corps, consisting of three divisions, under General Sordet, had been in billets north of Avesnes On my way back frohting of the 23rd and 24th, I visited General Sordet, and earnestly requested his co-operation and support He promised to obtain sanction from his Army Commander to act on my left flank, but said that his horses were too tired to h he rendered me valuable assistance later on in the course of the retireiven to afford me any support on the most critical day of all, viz, the 26th

At daybreak on August 26 it becath against the left of the position occupied by the 2nd Corps and the 4th Division

At this tiainst theed it impossible to continue his retirement at daybreak (as ordered) in face of such an attack

I sent him orders to use his utmost endeavours to break off the action and retire at the earliest possible moment, as it was i at the moment incapable of movement

The French Cavalry Corps, under General Sordet, was co, and I sent an urgent e to him to do his utmost to co to the fatigue of his horses he found himself unable to intervene in any way