Further to the east, General Sordet's cavalry corps, which was supporting the left wing of the British army to the east of the line Le Catelet-Roisel, sought to check the German advance, but was unable to prevent the enemy from reaching the outskirts of Péronne on the evening of the 27th. The cavalry accordingly withdrew to the south of the Somme. On the 28th, the enemy took Péronne, and marched on Amiens. The cavalry corps fell back towards the south. On the 29th, General Maunoury, in command of a new army (the 6th), made the necessary dispositions to prevent his left from being out-flanked, and to check the enemy, whose advance-guards nearest Amiens had reached Bray-sur-Somme, Chuignolles and Framerville. In the first line were placed: A brigade of Moroccan chasseurs; The 14th division of the 7th corps, from Alsace, which had detrained at Villers-Bretonneux on the 27th; The 45th and 55th battalions of chasseurs. On the right, in the direction of Nesle, were units of the 55th division. The French attacked during the morning, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, and capturing the village of Proyart. At the same time, the four territorial divisions moved up the Somme and established themselves in Amiens. In the evening, the enemy counter-attacked in superior numbers. The 7th corps lost the positions won that morning, and withdrew to the south. From that moment, the town became exposed; the territorials evacuated it on the 30th, during the day, their rear-guard having several skirmishes with enemy patrols near Cagny. [Illustration] Occupation of Amiens The enemy entered the town on August 31st, and immediately made requisitions of all kinds, including food and money. These requisitions, of a total value of about 500,000 frs., had to be complied with the same day. [Illustration: _Retreat of the German Artillery_ (PLACE DE LA GARE).] Twelve town councillors and the Attorney-General were taken as hostages, and were only released on September 11th after much anxious suspense and annoyance. At first, the Imperial army merely passed through Amiens on its forced march "nach Paris." From the 1st to the 9th of September there were practically no Germans in the town. Occasionally, officers paid hurried visits, exacting further requisitions, and breaking open the safes of the Savings Banks. On September 9th, a garrison was installed, and a major appointed Kommandant of the town. Injunctions, prohibitions, and requisitions became more severe immediately. It was forbidden to be in the streets after 8 p.m., or to sell newspapers. Motor vehicles were seized, and Frenchmen residing in Amiens who had not been mobilised, were ordered to the Citadel. Two-thirds of them were eventually released, but about a thousand young men were sent away into captivity. They had scarcely left, when the Germans withdrew precipitately from the town.