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World's War Events: Recorded by Statesmen, Commanders, Historians And by Men Who Fought or Saw the Great Campaigns
World's War Events Recorded by Statesmen Commanders Historians And by Men Who Fought or Saw the Great Campaigns Author:Francis J. Reynolds Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE GREAT RETREAT SIR JOHN FRENCH THE transport of the troops from England both by sea and by rail was effected in the best order and without a check. Each... more » unit arrived at its destination in this country well within the scheduled time. The concentration was practically complete on tne evening of Friday, September 21st, and forces. I was able to make dispositions to move the force during Saturday, the 22d, to positions I considered most favorable from which to commence operations which the French Commander in Chief, General Jeffre, requested me to undertake in pursuance of his plans in prosecution of the campaign. The line taken up extended along the line of the canal from Cond6 on the west, through Mons and Binche on the east. This line was taken up as follows: From Cond6 to Mons inclusive was assigned to the Second Corps, and to the right of the Second Corps from Mons the First Corps was posted. The Fifth Cavalry Brigade was placed at Binche. In the absence of my Third Army Corps I desired to keep the cavalry division as much as possible as a reserve to act on my outer flank, or move in support of any threatened part of the line. The forward reconnois- sance was intrusted to Brigadier General Sir Philip Chetwode with the Fifth Cavalry Brigade, but I directed General Allenby to send forward a few squadrons to assist in this work. Daring the 22d and 23d these advanced nd™£ squadrons did some excellent work, some of me, them penetrating as far as Soignies, and several encounters took place in which our troops showed to great advantage. 2. At 6 A. M. on August 23, I assembled the commanders of the First and Second Corps and cavalry division at a point close to the position and explained the general situation of the Allies, and what I understood to be General J...« less