About 7.90 a.m. General Allenby received a message from Sir Charles Fergusson, commanding 6th Division, saying that he was very hard pressed and in urgent need of support. On receipt of this message General Allenby drew in the Cavalry and endeavoured to bring direct support to the 5th Division.
During the course of this operation General De Lisle, of the trid Cavalry Brigade, thought he saw a good op-Portunity to paralyze the further advance of the enemy's infantry by making a mounted attack on his flank. He formed up and advanced for this purpose, but was held up by wire about 500 yards from his objective, and the 8th Lancers and 18th Hussars suffered severely in the retirement of the Brigade.
The 19th Infantry Brigade, which had been guarding the Line of Communications, was brought up by rail to Valeaciennes on the 22nd and 23rd. On the morning of the 3th they were moved out to a position south of Quarouble to support the left flank of the Second Corps.
With the assistance of the Cavalry Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien was enabled to effect his retreat to a new Position; although, having two corps of the enemy on his front and one threatening his flank, be suffered great losses in doing so.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.