At that time a group of divisions under General d’Amade, comprising the 81st, 82nd, 84th, and 88th territorials, and the 61st and 62nd reserves, was stationed between Dunkirk and Mauberge, with orders to check enemy cavalry raids.
However, the front allotted to these troops was so long that they formed merely a thin curtain, which was obliged to retire before the approach of the first German army.
Amiens was then occupied by Moroccan troops, which were hurriedly despatched in the direction of Comon and Villers-Bretonneux, to organise defensive positions.
General d’Amade arrived on August 27th.
His territorial divisions were sent by train to a point below the town, with orders to prevent the Germans from crossing the Somme. On the same day, the 61st and 62nd reserve divisions marched towards Péronne, their ultimate destination being south of the Somme. However, on debouching from Bapaume, they had an extremely violent engagement with a German army corps. The battle continued until the following day, eventually turning in favour of the enemy, and the two divisions were thrown back northwards.