ECHO OF LE CATEAU.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 April 1917, Page 6

ECHO OF LE CATEAU.

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

LOED FRENCH AND GENEAL SMITH-DOERIEN. LONDON,, February 27. General Sir Horace Sniith-Dorrien, in an article in one of the Sunday papers, describes his share in the early engagements of the war, especially those which formed part of the retreat from Mons. The article in questionlentitled'" How the Old British Army Died,'' and deals ■with the stand at Le Cateau. General Smith-Dorrien writes:— "I had received orders from Sir John French not to make a stand at Le Cateau, but to continue retiring. These orders I could not see my way to obey; for, I feared, with the men tired as they were, further retirement might end in a Tout, and also I considered that to show our teeth was the only way of stopping the enemy. I therefore informed the Commander-in-Chief by telephone of my decision. I said that before I could retire I must fight, and that in order to avoid disaster a hard blow must be dealt the Germans. "In reply I was informed that I was risking a Sedan. I said I was prepared to take that risk, and it was suggested to me that Sir. John might be willing to come and take over the command. But I was anxious not to avoid responsibility. I thought if there was going to be a Sedan that, for the sake of the cause of the Allies, Sir John should be able to return to England and organise a new army, v FEAE OF A SEDAN. "Personally I had fears that there might be a Sedan, but I could not see what other course I could take to save my force. At 7 a.m. on August 26 the Germans had a tremendous circle of guns extending right along our whole front, and the battle began. My only hope was to hold out till nightfall. But I never, expected to do so, because we had no time to construct trenches of any value. The ground was very open and both my flanks were in the air. A cavalry corps unddjr General Sondet which had been at Charleroi on the 25th had passed through my lines going east to west along my left flank. "I did not meet General Sordet, but I sent an urgent message to him, saying that I was going to fight, and that I hoped I would be able to coven my left. I got back no reply, but at about 4 p.m. when our retirement had commenced, I heard the sound of heavy firing beyond the loft flank, and I feared that the Germans had got round and were coming towards my reaT. I rode off in this direction with an aide-de-camp to learn it was not the Germans, but Sordet's gallant cavalry who were beating off the enemy. The French cavalry Tendered magnificent service on this day, and I felt that I must pay a tribute to-their timely intervention, so I sent a message of cordial thanks to the commander." On Tuesday the Times contained the following:— "We understand that Field-Marshal Viscount French desires it to be known that the account of the retreat from Mons by General Sir Horace SmithDorrien is not, in the Field-Marshal's view, accurate in certain respects. This statement particularly applies to the references of the battle of Le Cateau, and to the circumstances which led up to that action. Lord French does not, however, desire to become involved in anv possible controversial discussion while the war continues."