ST. QUENTIN IN 1914.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1698, 14 April 1917, Page 3

ST. QUENTIN IN 1914.

CAREY WAR INCIDENTS. Now that SI. Quentin is so much in the public 1 , eye, it is interesting to recall the fact that the British established their general headquarters in this important town for a brief period in August, 1914. during the famous retreat from Mons. In a small volume entitled, “On the Road from Mons,” the eoiumauder of a British Army Service Corps train has given us a few glimpses of what the town of Si. Quentin was like at that lime. The writer had lost touch with the brigade to which his train was supposed to be attached, and had motored into St. Quentin to tind out what had become of it. “1 arrived at general headi|iiarlers at St. Quentin,” he says, “to tind most of the staff already gone; and from those who were left hastily packing up the things they wanted, 1 could get no information whatever. . . Anxiety was written largely on their faces, and none hid from me the fact that our army was in a tight corner. . . . Outside, the town wa> in the greatest stale of excitement ; it was in the air that we had been completely annihilated at he Catcall, and the populace stood aboiit like frightened sheep, bleating and baaing; some literally too terri(ic'il to move. Apprehension, and the fear consequent of the worst, could never have been more vividly portrayed on the laces of mankind than it was on those of the homeforsaking civilians in the- square at Si . Qiicnl in tha I day. . . .

‘There was a French ollicer l hero who was dressed in the magnificent: uniform of a crack French cavalry regiment. . . . He told me he

had Just come from watching the battle. . . . and if 1 slopped

much longer there I should witness the most terrible sight that can he seen on lids earth —an army in retreat, roup'd , hopelessly beaten, men streaming panic-stricken, utterly war-worn, dismay written in every line of their faces, |o he ridden down and cut up by the enormous masses of the enemy in their remorseless pursuit It was dark when maidenly a big ca,r rolled up. By its light I recognised General Sir 11. Smith-Dorrien silImg in it. . . . 1 went straight up to him and automatically said, ‘Are yon looking for general headquarters, sir/’ He said. ‘Yes.’ ! said, ‘They have gone.’ He repeated, ‘Gone!’ I have never seen a man’s face express so much as his did. . . . lie (old me to march my (rain to Xoyon. So once more our jaded horses moved off, and the men were unutterably relieved to be moving out of that panicstricken square.*’