-to-hand encounters
took place in workshops, electric-power stations, and manufacturing
plants. The normal whir of machinery, now silent, was succeeded by the
crack and spitting of continuous rifle fire.

The French-Turco and Zouave troops fought with savage ferocity, with
gleaming eyes, using bayonets and knives to contest alleys and
passageways. House doors were battered in to reach those firing from
upper windows. Roofs and yard walls were scaled in chase of fleeing
parties. The Germans were driven out of Charleroi several times, only to
return in stronger force. Similarly with the French. With each change
of victors, the losing side turned to bombard with a torrent of
artillery shells the war-engulfed city.

At nightfall on August 22, 1914, Charleroi burst into flames. A dread
and significant glow fell upon the sky. Absent were the usual
intermittent flare of blast furnaces. The greater part of Charleroi had
become a heap of ruins. Those of its citizens still alive cowered in
holes or corners for shelter.

The battle of Charleroi went on throughout the night. Early on the
morning of Sunday, August 23, 1914, Von Hausen swept down through the
gap between the armies of Von Buelow and the Duke of Wuerttemberg. He
crossed the Meuse, drove from before him the French detachments watching
it, and advanced to attack the rear of the French right.

Von Hausen took the French at Charleroi completely by surprise. At the
moment they could comprehend neither where he came from nor the measure
of his strength. But he was in army force.

The French were compelled to withdraw their right from Charleroi. Von
Hausen seized the advantage to hurl his forces upon their rear, while
Von Buelow thundered in assault more vigorously than ever on the French
front. A powerful force was hurled upon them from an unexpected
direction. Presently the retreat of the French Fifth Army was threatened
by the two Saxon corps of Von Hausen's army, pressing on the French
right flank and rear. In this emergency the retirement of the French
Fifth Army appears to have been undertaken with spontaneous realization
of utmost danger. It gave way before the attacks of Von Buelow and Von
Hausen to move southward, leaving their British left wing without
information of defeat.

CHAPTER IX

BATTLE OF MONS

On Friday, August 21, 1914, the British force began to take position on
the French left, forming the line Binche-Mons-Conde. When finally
concentr