M. Auguste Mellot, deputy of Namur, saw in that town on August 21 eleven German Army Corps “pass the Meuse coming from Visé, a powerful force being detailed to mask their march.” The German troops engaged in this action probably amounted to fewer than half that number.
The lines of the Allied Armies practically covered every assailable point from Condé to Dinant. Mr. Maxwell thus described the position of the British forces just before the great battle which began on Saturday, August 22:—
The 1st British Cavalry Division (General Allenby) had its headquarters at Givry, close to the frontier, and was moving north in the direction of Binche. Cavalry covered the south-east of Mons. It was pushed forward also toward Fontaine l’Evêque, west of Charleroi, and, generally speaking, threatened to raid the left flank of the Germans advancing rapidly from the direction of Brussels.
An immense army was gathered on the frontier, and had passed into Belgium. Mons was the point of greatest concentration of the British. It was an army marching to attack, for there was no attempt at making defensive works. From Mons the British army extended west along the canal from Mons, from Maubeuge through Bavay, on to Valenciennes, where the Highland regiments created immense enthusiasm. From the western end of the canal at Mons, Belgian territory has few defenders. Most of the men have been withdrawn from that side. Prussian patrols swarm over the country, and it is clear that behind them is a great army.
Sir John French, in his first admirable despatch, gives a history of the activities of the British Expeditionary Force during that eventful week in August from the 21st to the 28th when our troops were fighting against overwhelming odds. We will divide the despatch into sections, which will fall into place as our story proceeds. He says:—
The concentration [of the troops] was practically complete on the evening of Friday, August the 21st, and I was able to make dispositions to move the Force during Saturday, the 22nd, to positions I considered most favourable from which to commence operations which the French Commander-in-Chief, General Joffre, requested me to undertake in pursuance of his plans in the prosecution of the campaign.
The line taken up extended along the line of the canal from Condé on the west, through Mons and Binche on the east. This line was taken up as follows:—
From Condé 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 5th 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 reconnaissance was entrusted to Brigadier-General Sir Philip Chetwode with the 5th Cavalry Brigade, but I directed General Allenby to send forward a few squadrons to assist in this work.
During the 22nd and 23rd these advanced squadrons did some excellent work, some of them penetrating as far as Soignies, and several encounters took place in which our troops showed to great advantage.
The scouting operations of the British cavalry extended south-westward of Brussels and south-east as far as Charleroi. The German cavalry were well-nigh exhausted by their ceaseless exertions, but a rapid advance was necessary for their success, and it was clear that they would proceed without delay; while our cavalry scoured the country for any signs of the German advance. The French were coming up from the south. A wounded soldier in the British hussars stated that on Friday, August 21, his party encountered some of the 4th Cuirassiers. The two forces without any warning came face to face round the turn of a small village street. They immediately attacked one another as quickly as their horses could move, much to the alarm of the village people, who made for their houses, screaming with terror. It was a genuine cavalry charge without the discharge of a gun. The hussars were the lighter, consequently they had the advantage as regards speed, for the horses of the Cuirassiers were dead beat. The result of the encounter was 27 Germans killed and 12 taken prisoners.
CHAPTER II
THE BATTLE OF MONS, AUGUST 23RD—SIR JOHN FRENCH’S DESPATCH—THE WEST KENTS IN ACTION—AN AEROPLANE DUEL—A ROYAL ENGINEER’S EXPERIENCE—MISSING THEIR REGIMENT—ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY AND GERMAN SHRAPNEL—CAPTAIN GRENFELL.