A VINDICATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1919, Page 4

A VINDICATION.

THE BRITISH AT MONS. The Germans have made exceedingly merrjr over the conduct oi Lord French and the British “ Ccntemptibles ” at Mons. The author of “ Die Schlaehteu an der Marne,” | who represented the views of the German Staff, and also, doubtless, their annoyance at the escape ot the British from the net prepared for them, described the British as merely running away. They bolted and caused tbe defeat of the sth French Army under General Lanrezac at Charleroi by a too hasty retirement, he said. This view has from time to time found a faint echo even in Allied quarters. All the more welcome, therefore, is it to discover M. Fernand Eugerand, the French deputy for Calvados, in his new work which has stirred and startled Paris (“ Le Secret de la Frontiere,” Bossard, Paris, 3rd edition, 15s). rendering homage to our leadership and fighting power. This is what M. Huge rand says of our generalship: “ Marshal French found that his army was exposed to the risk of being isolated and cut off, so that he placed his troops south-east and south of the roads from Mons to Beaumont and to Maubeuge—a very wise measure which lessened the danger of touch being lost between liis army and Lanrezac’s. * * * * * “ This British army numbered 70,000 men. It had no touch with the sth Army. There was no unity ol command on the Allied front. Each army operated in its own sphere under the orders of its commander, and these commanders were under the direct orders of the General in Chief (General Joffre). “ Marshal French placed his troops in a defensive position and made them dig excellent trenches and establish a second line of defence. . . . The first attack by the German infantry opened at 8 111 close order. The leading German ranks fell as one man under the fire of the British machine guns and troops. The Germans renewed their attacks, which were broken by this calm and tenacious defence. “ It was a really remarkable defence which we (the French) had not been taught to understand, and did not understand even after it had been carried out. It was the first revelation of the tactics which the war was to establish. The British had nothing to unlearn and, taught by the Boer War, from the first moment seized the drift of events. The effort of the two German corps to advance was completely defeated. “ Far from giving the order to retreat, Marshal French fell back to his second line (when the Germans disclosed a turning movement). The British retreat"followed our (French) retreat and did not precede it. It is our duty loyally to state this as it is to r..cognise that the British Army knew how to hold the enemy iu check,”.