The facts about the battle, Mr. Lloyd George continued, were
imperfectly known. At one time it was very critical. The enemy broke through between our Third and Fifth Armies, and there was a serious gap. The magnificent conduct of our troops saved the situation. They retired in perfectly good order and re-established the line. The Prime Minister specially mentioned Brigadier-General Carey for gathering a scratch force of engineers, signallers, a Labour battalion, and some machine-gunners and defending a breach in our front for six days till the danger had passed. Until the retirement of the Fifth Army and its failure to hold the line of the Somme had been explained, it would be unfair to censure General Gough ; it would be equally unfair to the Army to retain his services in the field. The Third Army under General Byng had held firm, never yielding ground until it had to retire in conformity with the retreating Army on its right The French reserves were brought up with re- markable rapidity, as soon as the enemy's design was apparent The enemy had failed in his main objects, but he had obtained a great initial success, and was preparing another attack.
