the heights of the Meuse.

Meanwhile, late in the afternoon of August 29, 1914, the British
retirement began afresh, and 10,000 French troops also withdrew from the
Somme, blowing up the bridges as they went. Everywhere along the roads
were crowds of country folk and villagers with wagons and carts piled
high with household goods or carrying aged persons and children, all in
panic flight before the dreaded invaders, fleeing for refuge in Paris.
At various places these stricken multitudes joined the army ambulances,
taking the shortest routes. Rumors of the coming of the uhlans ran along
the straggling lines with tales of the grievous havoc and ruin which
these horsemen, vanguards of the German columns, had wrought in the
land. Hardly had the retirement begun, when a body of uhlans entered
Amiens and demanded from the mayor the surrender of the town. This was
formally given, and the civilians were ordered, on pain of death, not to
create the slightest disturbance and not to take part in any action,
overt or covert, against the soldiery. Afterward, cavalry, infantry, and
artillery took possession of the town on August 30, 1914. On the same
day a German aeroplane dropped bombs on Paris.

While retiring from the thickly wooded country south of Compiegne, the
British First Cavalry Brigade were surprised while dismounted and at
breakfast in the early morning of September 1, 1914. Moving figures on
the distant skyline first attracted the attention of those who had field
glasses, but in the dim light their identity was not at first revealed.
Suddenly all doubt was resolved by a rain of shells on the camp. Many
men and a large number of horses were killed. At once the order "Action
front!" rang out, and the remaining horses, five to a man, were hurried
to cover in the rear, while on the left a battery of horse artillery
went into instant action. The German attack was pressed hard, and the
battery was momentarily lost until some detachments from the British
Third Corps, with the guns of the artillery brigade, galloped up to its
support. Then they not only recovered their own guns, but also succeeded
in capturing twelve of the enemy's.

On the eventful day of September 3, 1914, the British forces reached a
position south of the Marne between Lagny and Signy-Signets. They had
defended the passage of the river against the German armies as long as
possible, and had destroyed bridges in the path of the pursuers. Next,
at General Jo