eye could overlook the plain reaching to the Lys and to
Wervicq, some seven odd miles away, a plain broken by one or two slight
hummocks of which the least inconspicuous holds the village of Linselles.
Mouveaux was the point to which Clerfayt was expected to advance from his
side. It was on a level with Tourcoing, and lay, as Tourcoing did,
precisely upon the line between Courtrai and Lille. To reach Mouveaux,
therefore, and not to be content with the capture of Roubaix, was
consistent with and necessary to the general plan of the allies. Moreover,
as Otto with the second column had taken Tourcoing, it was necessary that
the third column should proceed to Mouveaux, unless Otto's left or
southern flank was to remain exposed and in peril. One may say, in
general, that until Mouveaux was occupied the chance of joining hands with
Clerfayt (supposing that General to have kept to his time-table and to be
across the Lys and marching up to meet the columns from the Scheldt) was
in peril. Therefore, until one has learnt what was happening to the fourth
and the fifth columns, it is difficult to understand why the Duke of York,
after the difficult capture of Roubaix, desired to make that point the
utmost limit of his advance and for the moment to proceed no further.
Without anticipating the story of the fourth and fifth columns, it is
enough to say that the Duke of York's desire not to advance beyond Roubaix
was sufficiently excused by the aspect of the country to the west and
south upon his left.

Roubaix overlooks from a slight elevation the valley of the Marque. Lest
the word "valley" be misleading, let me hasten to add that that stream
here flows at the bottom of a very slight and very broad depression. But,
at any rate, from Roubaix one overlooks that depression for some miles;
one sees five miles distant the fortifications of Lille, and the
intervening country is open enough to betray the presence of troops.
Indeed, once Roubaix was captured, the English commander could see across
those fields, a couple of hours' march away, the tents of the great French
camp at Sainghin under the walls of the fortress.

Now, along that river valley and across those fields there should have
been apparent in those mid hours of the day, when the Guards had stormed
Roubaix, the great host of the fourth and fifth columns coming up in
support of the second and third.

If the time-table had been observed, the Arch-Duke and Kinsky, over 25,000
m