After the battle of Charleroi, despite the vigorous and determined
counter-offensive launched from Guise to Saint-Quentin on August 29–30,
the Franco-British Armies continued their retreat southwards.
During the evening of August 31, the Valabrègue group of reserve
divisions holding the Vauxaillon-Laffaux-Vaudesson sector, and acting
as flank-guard to the French 5th Army, remained as a covering force to
the north-east of Soissons. It was not, however, intended to defend
the town, and the only object in resisting the enemy at this point
was to cover the French retirement and ensure the safe passage of the
Aisne. Soissons thus became momentarily of primary importance. Large
detachments of enemy cavalry wedged themselves between the British and
French Armies, and advancing from Noyon towards Soissons, became a
formidable menace to the French retirement across the Aisne.
During the night of August 31, a cavalry division was ordered to
proceed with all despatch from Craonne to Soissons. Next morning a
portion of this division took up a position north of the town, in the
neighbourhood of Cuffies, with orders to hold it so long as the reserve
divisions east of the town had not crossed the Aisne. The remainder
halted on the Belleu Hills, with a view to guarding the river on
either side of the town. At about 10 a.m., the enemy came within sight
of Soissons and was brought to a standstill for two hours by French
cavalry and cyclist scouts. Early in the afternoon, the rear-guard of
the holding force being informed that the French army had succeeded in
crossing the Aisne, retired in an orderly manner towards Septmonts and
Buzancy.
On September 2, the Germans occupied the town, but though they levied
heavy requisitions, did not commit any act of pillage or vandalism.
[Illustration: DEAD HORSES BELONGING TO UHLANS, IN THE PLACE DE
L’HOTEL-DE-VILLE IN 1914.]