I cannot close the brief account of this glorious stand of the British
troops without putting on record my deep appreciation of the valuable
services rendered by Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien.
I say without hesitation that the saving of the left wing of the army
under my command on the morning of the 26th August could never have been
accomplished unless a commander of rare and unusual coolness,
intrepidity, and determination had been present to personally conduct
the operation.
The retreat was continued far into the night of the 26th and through the
27th and 28th, on which date the troops halted on the line
Noyon-Chauny-La Fere, having then thrown off the weight of the enemy's
pursuit.
On the 27th and 28th I was much indebted to Gen. Sordet and the French
cavalry division which he commands for materially assisting my
retirement and successfully driving back some of the enemy on Cambrai.
Gen. D'Amade also, with the Sixty-first and Sixty-second French Reserve
Divisions, moved down from the neighborhood of Arras on the enemy's
right flank and took much pressure off the rear of the British forces.
This closes the period covering the heavy fighting which commenced at
Mons on Sunday afternoon, 23d August, and which really constituted a
four days' battle.
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