y, by stages of forty-five kilometers a
day, was so swift that Gen. Joffre, in order to realize his plan for
the offensive, had to order the retreat to be continued.

The army should withdraw to the Aube, and as far as the Seine if
necessary; everything should be subordinated to preparing a successful
offensive.

On Sept. 5 the conditions which the General in Chief sought to realize
were fulfilled--our left wing (Maunoury's army, the English Army, the
army of Lanrezac which was now d'Esperay's army) was no longer in
danger of being cut off.

On the contrary, the German right, (Gen. von Kluck,) marching to the
south toward Meaux and Coulommiers, was exposing its right wing to
Maunoury's army.

On the evening of the 5th the General in Chief ordered a general
advance, adding: "The hour has come to advance at any cost and to die
rather than fall back."

VICTORY OF THE MARNE.

As early as Sept. 8 the menace directed by Gen. Maunoury against the
German right was beginning to tell.

The enemy brought back from the south to the north two army corps and
wheeled about facing west.

Thus it presented a weak point to the English Army, which, having
advanced from the line stretching from Rozoy to Lagny, (on the 6th,)
straightened its line toward the north, crossed the Marne on the 9th,
thus flanking the German Army already battling with Gen. Maunoury.

On the right of the British d'Esperay's army also crossed the Marne,
forcing the enemy to retreat, and at the same time supporting the
action of its neighbors, that is to say, the English Army on the left
and Foch's army on the right.

[Illustration: Map of Operations in France During First Four Months of
the War

(1) Point where Germans failed to hold Nancy, Sept. 12, 1914.

(2) Extreme limits of the dash to Paris, terminating Sept. 8, 1914.

(3) Point to which the first unsuccessful flanking movement against
the French left wing extended, Aug. 30, 1914.

(4) Point of extension of similar flanking operations, balked Nov. 12,
1914.

(5) Scene of frustrated efforts to break through French centre, Sept.
26, 1914.

(6) Line of attacks upon Calais and Dunkirk, defeated Oct. 18, 1914.

(7) Ypres, where desperate and fruitless assaults, ending Nov. 15,
1914, were made by the Germans.

(8) Intrenched line of battle, Feb. 1, 1915.]

For it was on our centre, made up of Foch's army, which had been
constituted on Aug. 20, that the Germans were going to seek revenge