De Groote Oorlog.
Feb. 1915.]
owing to the information I received as to the accumulating strength
of the enemy against me—as to the wisdom of standing there to fight.
Having regard to the continued retirement of the French on
my right, 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 determined to make a great effort to
continue the retreat till I could put some substantial obstacle,
such as the Somme or the Oise, between my troops and the
enemy, and afford the former some opportunity of rest and reor
ganization. Orders were, therefore, sent to the Corps Comman
ders to continue their retreat as soon as they possibly could
towards the general line Vermand-St.Qeuntin—Ribemont
The Cavalry, under General Allenby, were ordered to cover
the retirement.
De toestand was dus vrijwel hopeloos.
Aangezien het le legerkorps, gelijk zooeven, vooruitloopend, reeds
is aangehaald, den terugtocht 's morgens voortzette, zonder zich om
de rest van het Leger te bekommeren, bleven het 2e korps, versterkt
door de niet volledige 4e divisie, en de rest van de Cavalerie den
26sten zonder steun van het le korps.
During the fighting on the 24th and 25th Cavalry became a
good deal scattered but by the early morning 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 Commanding the Second Army Corps.
Hiermede gaf de opperbevelhebber reeds bij den aanvang zijne
laatste reserve uit de hand. De commandant van het 2e korps
wordt aldus de verantwoordelijke man.
Eenige spoortreinen, die vermoedelijk de rest van de 4e divisie
aanvoerden, zijn, gelijk uit dagbladberichten bekend werd, regelrecht
in de armen van de Duitschers gereden.
Omtrent steun van Fransche zijde meldt het Rapport alleen
The French Cavalry Corps, under General Sordêt, was coming
up on our left rear early in the morning, and I sent an urgent
message to him to do his utmost to come up and support the
retirement of my left flank; but owing to the fatigue of his horses
he found himself unable to intervene in any way.
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