“This closed the period covering the heavy fighting which commenced at Mons on Sunday afternoon, August 23, and which really constituted a four days’ battle.

“I deeply deplore the very serious losses which the British forces suffered in this great battle, but they were inevitable, in view of the fact that the British army—­only a few days after concentration by rail—­was called upon to withstand the vigorous attack of five German army corps.

“It is impossible for me to speak too highly of the skill evinced by the two general officers commanding army corps, the self-sacrificing and devoted exertions of their staffs, the direction of troops by the divisional, brigade and regimental leaders, the command of small units by their officers and the magnificent fighting spirit displayed by the noncommissioned officers and men.

[Signed] “J.  D. P. FRENCH, “Field Marshal.”

TOLD BY A WOUNDED SOLDIER

A British soldier, who was wounded in the fight during the retreat from Mons, told the following story of the battle there: 

“It was Sunday, August 23, and the British regiments at Mons were merry-making and enjoying themselves in leisure along the streets.  Belgian ladies, returning from church, handed the soldiers their prayer books as souvenirs, while the Belgian men gave the men cigarettes and tobacco.

“About noon, when the men were beginning to think about dinner, a German aeroplane appeared overhead and began throwing out a cloud of black powder, which is one of their favorite methods of assisting batteries to get the range.

“No sooner had the powder cloud appeared than shrapnel began to burst overhead and in a moment all was confusion and uproar.  But it didn’t take the regiments long to get into fighting trim and race through the city to the scene of operations, which was on the other side of the small canal, in the suburbs.  “Here our outposts were engaging the enemy fiercely.  The outposts lost very heavily, most of the damage being done by shells.  The rifle fire was ineffective, although at times the lines of contenders were not more than 300 yards apart.

“The first reinforcements to arrive were posted in a glass factory, the walls of which were loop-holed, and we doggedly held that position until nightfall, when we fixed bayonets and lay in wait in case the enemy made an attempt to rush the position in the darkness.

DESTROY BRIDGES BEHIND THEM

“About midnight orders came to retire over the canal and two companies were left behind to keep the enemy in check temporarily.  After the main body had crossed the bridge was blown up, leaving the two outpost companies to get across as best they could by boats or swimming.  Most of them managed to reach the main body again.

“The main body retired from the town and fell back through open country, being kept moving all night.  When daylight arrived it was apparent from higher ground that Mons had been practically blown away by the German artillery.