war took place shortly before noon, when one hundred and seventeen
squadrons of cavalry were engaged. In this action the British were
successful, but the German cavalry were tired and harassed, having
been severely handled the day before.

In this engagement between the British and the German right, all
the odds had been in favor of the British, and success meant merely
the grasping at opportunities that presented themselves. Still,
by constantly striking at General van Kluck's exposed flank, his
frontal attack of General d'Esperey was so weakened, that, toward
evening at the close of two days of continuous and very severe
fighting, the Fifth French Army was able to advance and hold the
position from La Ferte-Gaucher to Esternay. The ground gained was
valuable but not essential, yet it made a profound impression.

General d'Esperey's step forward was the Germans' step back. It
meant that the road to Paris was barred. How fully this was realized
may be seen from an order signed by Lieutenant General Tuelff von
Tschepe und Weidenbach and found in the house that had been occupied
by the staff of the Eighth German Army Corps when the victorious
French entered Vitry-le-Francois. The order was dated "September
7, 10:30 p. m." and it read as follows:

"The object of our long and arduous marches has been achieved.
The principal French troops have been forced to accept battle,
after having been continually forced back. The great decision is
undoubtedly at hand. To-morrow, therefore, the whole strength of
the German army, as well as all that of our Army Corps, are bound
to be engaged all along the line from Paris to Verdun. To save
the welfare and the honor or Germany I expect every officer and
man, notwithstanding the hard and heroic fights of the last few
days, to do his duty unswervingly and to the last breath. Everything
depends on the result of to-morrow."

Much did, indeed, depend on the result of the morrow, and for the
third day, again, it was General von Kluck's initial move that
brought disaster to the German side.

Why was it that Von Kluck, instead of marching directly on Paris,
as would have been expected, made a detour, having as his object
not the capital but the French army? It may be said in favor of it
that the decision taken by the German General Staff was in conformity
with the military doctrine of Napoleon. According to this doctrine,
a capital, whatever its importance, is never more than an accessory