Feb. 1915.] De Groote Oorlog.
1 had previously ordered General Allenby with the Cavalry to
act vigorously in advance of my left front and endeavour to take
the pressure off.
Hiermede had de bevelhebber de algemeene reserve, het eenige
middel voor hem om invloed te blijven uitoefenen, uit de hand ge
geven. Dit moet reeds vroeg in den morgen geschied zijn, vóór
half acht want:
About 7.30 a.m. General Allenby received a message from
Sir Charles Fergusson, commanding the 5th Division, saying that
he was very hard pressed and in urgent need of support. On
receipt of this message General Allenby drew in the Cavalry and
endeavoured to bring direct support to the 5th Division.
During the course of this operation General De Lisle, of the
2nd Cavalry Brigade, thought he saw a good opportunity to pa
ralyse 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 9th Lancers and 18th Hussars suffered
severely in the retirement of the Brigade.
Deze, door gebrekkige verkenning mislukte charge doet denken
aan die van de Fransche kurassiers bij ReichshofenStudie van
krijgsgeschiedenis is op zichzelf niet voldoende om herhaling van
eenzelfde fout te voorkomen. Ook hier geldt, dat weten nog geen
kunnen is. Bij de verdere operatiën heeft de brigade-De Lisle
gelegenheid gehad zich van eene betere zijde te doen kennen.
The 19th Infantry Brigade, which had been guarding the Line
of Communications, was brought up by rail to Valenciennes on
the 22nd and 23rd. 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 19th
Brigade in position between Jenlain and Bry, and the Cavalry
on the outer flank.
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