Sir John French on the operations of the British Army to August 28 —Lord Kitchener on the four days’ battle—Fighting in the Valley of the Meuse—Charleville 106 CHAPTER VI The French Army on the Oise—Sir John French on the operations of the British troops on August 28—The fight at St. Quentin— A sharp action at Compiègne—At Chantilly—English soldiers shopping—A quiet day—British losses and resources—The enemy at Senlis—The end of the retreat—A view of a great military feat—Sir John French’s despatch 123 CHAPTER VII The German advance on Paris—the Government quit the Capital for Bordeaux—The fortifications of Paris—Preparations for a siege—The German change of plan—Sir John French’s despatch —German vengeance—The failure of the Crown Prince’s Army— Declaration of the Triple Entente—Conclusion 160 [Illustration: WAR MAP DRAWN BY G. W. BACON AND CO., LTD., 127, STRAND, W.C. POSITIONS OF THE BRITISH FORCES IN THE RETREAT TOWARDS PARIS.] The Retreat to Paris CHAPTER I MOBILISATION AND TRANSPORT OF THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE—THE KING’S MESSAGE TO HIS TROOPS—SIR JOHN FRENCH’S ORDER OF THE DAY—LORD KITCHENER’S ADDRESS—DEATH OF GENERAL GRIERSON— DISPOSITION OF THE FRENCH FORCES IN THE NORTH—ADVANCE OF THE GERMANS—SIR JOHN FRENCH ON THE MOVEMENTS OF THE BRITISH TROOPS —FIGHTING AT MONS—THE KAISER’S ARMY ORDER. By the middle of the third week of the war, the British Expeditionary Force—three army corps and a cavalry division—had been mobilised and sent across the Channel to France. Sir John French’s force was the largest army that England had ever sent into the field at the outset of a campaign. Its mobilisation, concentration, and transport across the narrow seas had been carried out with silent efficiency. England waited confidently and patiently for the tidings of its entry into the battle line. On August 9 the King had issued to his troops on their departure for the front the following message:— BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _Aug. 9, 1914_. You are leaving home to fight for the safety and honour of my Empire. Belgium, whose country we are pledged to defend, has been attacked, and France is about to be invaded by the same powerful foe. I have implicit confidence in you, my soldiers. Duty is your watchword, and I know your duty will be nobly done. I shall follow your every movement with deepest interest, and mark with eager satisfaction your daily progress; indeed, your welfare will never be absent from my thoughts. I pray God to bless you and guard you and bring you back victorious. GEORGE R.I. Lord Kitchener also addressed to the forces these instructions, to be kept in the Active Service Pay-book of every soldier in the Expeditionary army: