The report, as published in the London Gazette, the official organ, was as follows: 

FIELD MARSHAL FRENCH’S REPORT

“The transportation of the troops from England by rail and sea was effected in the best order and without a check.  Concentration was practically completed on the evening of Friday, August 21, and I was able to make dispositions to move the force during Saturday to positions I considered most favorable from which to commence the operations which General Joffre requested me to undertake.  The line extended along the line of the canal from Conde on the west, through Mons and Binche on the east.

“During August 22 and 23 the advance squadrons did some excellent work, some of them penetrating as far as Soignies (a town of Belgium ten miles northeast of Mons) and several encounters took place in which our troops showed to great advantage.

“On Sunday, the 23d, reports began to come in to the effect that the enemy was commencing an attack on the Mons line, apparently in some strength, but that the right of the position from Mons was being particularly threatened.

“The commander of the First Corps had pushed his flank back to some high ground south of Bray and the Fifth Cavalry evacuated Binche, moving slightly south.  The enemy thereupon occupied Binche.  “The right of the third division under General Hamilton was at Mons, which formed a somewhat dangerous salient and I directed the commander of the Second Corps if threatened seriously to draw back the center behind Mons.

“In the meantime, about five in the afternoon, I received a most unexpected message from General Joffre by telegraph, telling me that at least three German corps were moving on my position in front and that a second corps was engaged in a turning movement from the direction of Tournai.  He also informed me that the two reserve French divisions and the Fifth French Army Corps on my right were retiring.

CHOSE A NEW POSITION

“In view of the possibility of my being driven from the Mons position, I had previously ordered a position in the rear to be reconnoitered.

“This position rested on the fortress of Maubeuge on the right and extended west to Jenlain, southeast of Valenciennes on the left.  The position was reported difficult to hold because standing crops and buildings limited the fire in many important localities.

“When the news of the retirement of the French and the heavy German threatening on my front reached me, I endeavored 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.