operate like the French
Army. It is to-day strongly entrenched in the positions
which it occupies. While maintaining the integrity of
its front, it might doubtless be possible for it to
withdraw a certain number of divisions (to begin with
one Corps), which might in succession be transported to
the left.

"2. The British Cavalry Division is at the present
moment unemployed on the front; it might, similarly to
the 11th and 10th Corps and 8th Division of Cavalry,
move by rail or by march route to the extreme left to
act as a communicating link between the Belgian Army
and the French troops.

"3. The 7th and 8th Divisions, which will shortly
arrive, could be disembarked in the neighbourhood of
Dunkirk. They would subsequently operate in the
direction of Lille. Their action would immediately make
itself felt on the right flank of the German Army,
which daily receives fresh reinforcements. These
divisions would be joined to the divisions withdrawn
from the front.

"4 The Indian Divisions, as soon as they are able to
take the field, would move by rail to join the English
formations assembled in the northern region, and would
form the nucleus with which would be united the other
British Divisions as soon as they should be removed.

"5. As soon as the advance can be resumed, the front
will be narrowed; it would then be possible for the
English to halt and slip behind with a view to moving
the left of the line while the 6th and 5th
Armies close in towards each other. The fewer units
remaining to be moved, the easier would be the
operation.

"To sum up, the Commander-in-Chief shares Marshal French's view that
it is desirable for the whole British Army to be on the left of the
French Armies, but cannot be entirely of the same opinion as to the
time at which this movement should be carried out.

"The Commander-in-Chief would be grateful to His Excellency, Marshal
French, if the latter would let him know whether he shares his views
as to the proposals indicated above."

On the same date, I replied to the Commander-in-Chief as follows:--

"September 30th, 1914.

"Note by the