On August 23rd, the British, defeated on the previous day at Mons, retreated, leaving Tournai unprotected. The Germans drove out the 82nd territorial Division and entered the town. Elsewhere, they advanced as far as Roubaix-Tourcoing, blowing up the station of Mouscron. The French territorials counter-attacked vigorously, and units of the 83rd and 84th regiments reoccupied Tournai during the night. In the early morning of the 24th, _General de Villaret_, commanding the 170th Brigade, organized the defence of the bridges over the Escaut, where sharp fighting took place. However, his troops were obliged to fall back about noon, before the numerically superior enemy forces. While these events were taking place close to Lille, the Mayor requested that the town should not be needlessly exposed to the horrors of a siege. A meeting of the principal civil authorities (town councillors and members of both Houses of Parliament) was held, at which it was decided to petition the Government to declare the town open, and withdraw the military. At 5 p.m. on the 24th, a telegram arrived from the War Minister, with orders to consider Lille undefended, and to evacuate the troops between La Bassée and Aire-sur-la-Lys. On the 25th, the right wing of the German army was reported to be advancing, protected by about three divisions of cavalry with supporting artillery. Patrols reached the outskirts of the town soon afterwards. General Herment executed the orders he had received. Moreover, he knew that the neighbouring town of Maubeuge was holding out with 45,000 men, and that the Belgian army was intact at Antwerp. On September 2nd, enemy detachments entered Lille, disappearing three days later. The town was only occupied by patrols, who had orders to secure the German right (Von Kluck's army), which was executing its famous flanking movement. Then came the _Victory of the Marne_. After the German retreat and the indecisive _Battle of the Aisne_, the enemy began their northward movement known as the "Race for the Sea," the aim of which, on either side, was to turn the adversary's wing. On October 3rd, Joffre joined the 10th army under _General de Maud'huy_ to reinforce his left and prevent its envelopment. The 21st Army Corps arrived from Champagne, and the 13th Division detrained to the west of the town. On the morning of the 4th, battalions of Chasseurs, belonging to the 13th Division, received orders to take up positions to the north and east of the town. After spending the night at Armentières, they passed through Lille, where they had an enthusiastic reception. [Illustration]