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In consequence, they had had to cede considerable ground, their line was pierced, and the flank of General Dubois' army, adjoining theirs, was menaced. When word of this disaster reached Foch that night he at once set out from Cassel for French's headquarters at Saint Omer. It was 1 A.M. when he arrived. Marshal French was asleep. He was waked to receive his visitor.
To Peter himself, to whose homeless old age food was more than philosophy, the arrangement seemed entirely satisfactory. Colonel French's presence in Clarendon had speedily become known to the public. Upon his return to the hotel, after leaving Peter to his own devices for the day, he found several cards in his letter box, left by gentlemen who had called, during his absence, to see him.
This was made from Belfast, and the force, which consisted of about fourteen hundred men, advanced south to the Komati River. The infantry were Suffolks and Shropshires, the cavalry Canadians and 5th Lancers, with two Canadian guns and four of the 84th battery. All day the Boer snipers clung to the column, as they had done to French's cavalry in the same district.
In the upper room at French's, where a Forsyte could still get heavy English food, James and his son were sitting down to lunch.
Had his growing absorption in other things led him to neglect his child? Phil needed a mother. This dear, thoughtful woman, whom nature had made for motherhood, had seen things about his child, that he, the child's father, had not perceived. To a mind like Colonel French's, this juxtaposition of a motherly heart and a motherless child seemed very pleasing.
The French fell back because all the weight of the German army was thrown against France, while the Austrians were left to look after the slowly mobilizing Russians. Two million five hundred thousand men on their first line the Germans had, as we know now, against the French twelve hundred thousand and Sir John French's army fighting one against four.
The enemy was composed of French's division of three brigades, variously reported from four to five thousand strong. This force gradually surrounded the place by 8 a.m., when General French sent in by flag of truce this note: AROUND ALLATOONA, October 5, 1884.
Before having had time to properly fortify our position we were attacked on the right flank by General French's cavalry, while the left flank had to resist a strong opposing force of cavalry. Both attacks were successfully repulsed, as well as a third in the centre of our fighting line.
"Perhaps we shall find her there," said Geoffrey with a laugh. "Your woman? No! That would be rather creepy! To think we had a spy on us all the time! I should hate that!" She spoke with animation; and a sudden question shot across French's mind. She and Buntingford had been alone there under the darkness of the yews.
On the north bank at daybreak was French's cavalry brigade, which was slightly reinforced during the day, and his horse artillery. Soon after daybreak fighting began, the Boers opening fire at the west end of their line upon the mounted infantry. The latter replying succeeded in driving the enemy a quarter of a mile up stream. French's horse artillery also opened from the north bank.
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