to maintain my position for more than three weeks of very severe
fighting on the north bank of the river."

The offensive of this entire movement was intrusted to the First
Corps. The artillery strength of the armies of General von Kluck
and Von Buelow was such that it was almost impossible for the Second
and Third British Army Corps to assail them by a charge up the
bluff. But, meantime, the French had not been idle. On September
13, 1914, General d'Esperey's Fifth Army crossed the Aisne east
of Bourg, and on the following day commenced the assault on the
Craonne plateau.

The next day, Tuesday, September 15, 1914, was a day of several
small victories for the Germans. General von Zwehl was a hard hitter
and a quick hitter. Having disposed of his artillery where he thought
it could be of the most use, he aided Field Marshal von Heeringen
with counsels of counterattack, counsels that the Field Marshal
fully indorsed. The Sixth French Army under General Manoury, at
the extreme west of the line, was the chief point of attack. Though
well placed on a strong position at Nampcel, the Germans drove
the French before them like clouds before the wind, recaptured
the spurs, forced the French backward through the Morsain ravine
and back to their original crossing place of the Aisne between
Viv and Fontenoy.

The Third Corps of the British suffered heavy loss of life without
any opportunity to retaliate, for it was too thoroughly and completely
dominated by the guns of Vregny.

The lull of Wednesday, September 16, 1914, was a foretaste of the
deadlock which was gradually forming. The French Fifth Army had
been compelled to abandon all idea of a direct attack upon the
Craonne plateau, the natural position being far too strong. The
Second and Third Corps of the British army could do nothing. Sir
John French, though eager to push the advantage, secured by his
position on the heights, was well aware that such a move was not
possible unless the entire French line was ready to cooperate with
him, for, if he tried to drive down upon the ridge of the Aisne,
or, for that matter, tried to flank it, the line of the Duke of
Wuerttemberg would bend back upon him and nip him in a way which
would render escape difficult.

A sudden recrudescence of activity on the western front gave rise to
the hope that the deadlock might yet be avoided, that the two great
armies might come to handgrips again. Bolstered up by reenforcements,
General Man