Get into position to the Get into position to the east of Mons, covering the west of Mons, covering the line Mons-Bray. line Mons-Condé. _August_ 23. Artillery engagement, but Strongly attacked by Von no severe attack. Ordered Kluck's army. Ordered to to retreat in conformity with abandon position and fall Second Corps. back. _August_ 24. Retreat with no serious Retreat followed up by the molestation upon Bavai. Germans. Severe rearguard Here the two Corps diverged actions at Dour, Wasmes, and did not meet again till Frameries. Corps shook they reached Betz upon itself clear and fell back on September 1. Bavai. _August_ 25. Marching all day. Overtaken Marching all day. Reinforced in evening at Landrecies by Fourth Division. and Maroilles by the German Continual rearguard action pursuit. Sharp fighting. becoming more serious towards evening, when Cambrai-Le Cateau line was reached. _August_ 26. Rearguard actions in morning. Battle of Le Cateau. German Marching south all day, pursuit stalled off at halting at the Venerolles heavy cost of men and guns. line. Retreat on St. Quentin. {137} _August_ 27. Rearguard action in which Marching south. Reach Munsters lost heavily. the line Nesle-Ham-Flavy. Marching south all day. _August_ 28. Cavalry actions to stop Marching south, making German pursuit. Marching for the line of the Oise near south on La Fere. Noyon. Light rearguard skirmishes. _August_ 29, 30, and 31. Marching on the line of the Crossed Oise. Cavalry Aisne, almost east and west. continually engaged. General direction through Crépy-en-Valois. _September_ 1. Sharp action at Nery with Retreat upon Paris continued. German vanguard. Later in Late this night the the day considerable infantry two Corps unite once more at action at Villars-Cotteret. Betz. Unite at Betz. _September_ 2. Crossed the Marne and began Crossed the Marne and began to fall back on the Seine. to fall back on the Seine. Halted near Presles. {138} CHAPTER V THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE The general situation--"Die grosse Zeit"--The turn of the tide--The Battle of the Ourcq--The British advance--Cavalry fighting--The 1st Lincolns and the guns--6th Brigade's action at Hautvesnes--9th Brigade's capture of Germans at Vinly--The problem of the Aisne--Why the Marne is one of the great battles of all time. [Sidenote: The general situation.]