ABSTRACT
Throughout the night small, alert men, wearing the uniform of Japanese generals were busy making preparations for the complete destruction of the German army. They were dotted about on the Chiltern Hundreds and at Watford, Rickmansworth, Beaconsfield, and High Wycombe, hurrying up more divisions to make an impenetrable barrier of fire and steel around the demoralised Germans hosts. Since they were not over-confident in the fighting and marching capabilities of Lord Eagleton’s raw levies, they employed double or treble the number of soldiers actually necessary, had they been operating with a regular army. An immense ring was almost closed round the disorganised Germans. The great semicircle had moved upwards until it passed through High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Chalfont St Giles, Rickmansworth, and skirted Watford. The pursuing hosts were hastened on by forced marches during the night, and by the morning formed another huge semicircle passing through Abbot’s Langley, Boxmoor, Berk Lamps tend, and Wiggington. Two army corps had Been advanced through Prince’s Ris-borough in the afternoon of the preceding day, and had opened a terrible fire on the German right wing, driving it eastwards into the Chiltern Hundreds, and finally forging another link on to the huge chain. At about the same time the leading German columns came into contact with strong British forces posted near Chorley Wood, Chalfont St Giles, Coleshill, Penn, and on the high ground above Wycombe. Swept by a terrific artillery-fire, the Germans wavered and finally retired with great confusion. The increasing darkness, the crowded condition of the roads, and the dispirited state of the soldiers created a panic. The utmost confusion soon reigned in the German vanguard. Whole regiments broke and fled regardless of their officers. Some went to the right in the hope of getting round by High Wycombe; others fled eastwards towards London. But the narrow crooked lanes soon absorbed all stragglers, and the majority fell back upon the main body.
