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.
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