There was nothing left for the Germans but to continue their march along the road, which gets narrower just before entering the village. They had not gone more than 200 yards before a fresh rain of lead, which was kept going for a long time, and mowed them down like grass, and in still more considerable numbers than at the first fight. With a wild rush the remainder of the Germans, about 150, stormed the door of the new farm which sheltered the enemy, but found only the mitrailleuses, conscientiously put out of order. As for the twenty-six heroes, they had disappeared like a conjurer’s rabbit, to rejoin their regiment, without having sustained the slightest injury, after having routed 3,500 Germans. CHAPTER IV THE BRITISH TROOPS RETIRE INTO FRANCE—THE ADVENTURES OF A CHAPLAIN TO A FIELD AMBULANCE—THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY—A WOUNDED GUNNER—LOSING HIS REGIMENT—A GORDON HIGHLANDER’S EXPERIENCES—OPERATIONS OF THE FRENCH TROOPS—BRITISH _versus_ GERMAN CAVALRY—SIR JOHN FRENCH’S ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS OF AUGUST 25—THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI—THE REV. OWEN S. WATKINS’ ADVENTURES—MR. ASQUITH ANNOUNCES A WONDERFUL FEAT OF ARMS. We now return to Sir John French’s despatch and quote that portion in which he describes the causes that forced him to retire to the Bavai—Maubeuge line on Monday, August 24:— In view of the possibility of my being driven from the Mons position, I had previously ordered a position in rear to be reconnoitred. This position rested on the fortress of Maubeuge on the right and extended west to Jenlain, south-east of Valenciennes, on the left. The position was reported difficult to hold, because standing crops and buildings made the sighting of trenches very difficult and limited the field of fire in many important localities. It nevertheless afforded a few good artillery positions. When the news of the retirement of the French and the heavy German threatening on my front reached me, I endeavoured to confirm it by aeroplane reconnaissance; and as a result of this I determined to effect a retirement to the Maubeuge position at daybreak on the 24th. A certain amount of fighting continued along the whole line throughout the night, and at daybreak on the 24th the 2nd Division from the neighbourhood of Harmignies made a powerful demonstration as if to retake Binche. This was supported by the artillery of both the 1st and 2nd Divisions, whilst the 1st Division took up a supporting position in the neighbourhood of Peissant. Under cover of this demonstration the Second Corps retired on the line Dour—Quarouble—Frameries. The 3rd Division on the right of the Corps suffered considerable loss in this operation from the enemy, who had retaken Mons.