for the check of their right wing; if they had succeeded in cutting us
off between Sezanne and Mailly, the situation would have been reversed
with the advantage on their side.

From Sept. 6 to Sept. 9 Foch's army met with repeated assaults, but on
the evening of the 9th the left of his army, shifting from west to
east toward Fere-Champenoise, flanked the Prussian Guard and the
Saxons who were advancing southeast of this town.

This bold manoeuvre insured success. The Germans withdrew in great
haste, and on the 11th in the morning Gen. Foch entered
Chalons-sur-Marne.

On his right Langle de Gary's army had also moved forward, and on the
12th, after spirited encounters, it joined, and added to, the line of
Gen. Foch's army.

Meanwhile Ruffey's army (now Darrail's) had succeeded in stretching
its lines north, and, although meeting with a stubborn resistance,
hastened the German retreat, which was accelerated by the offensive
taken by Castelnau's and Dubail's armies from Nancy to the Vosges.

Thanks to this strategic offensive, the campaign turned in our favor.
We have maintained this advantage over the enemy ever since.

THE RACE FOR THE COAST.

_After Sept. 13 the German resistance, strengthened by strong
defensive works prepared in advance, checked the French and English
pursuit; then began the "race for the sea." During this long battle
the German staff never lost the hope of turning the allied left wing,
while we hoped to be able to outflank their right wing. The result was
a race which at the end of October extended the fronts of the opposing
armies as far as the North Sea._

In this race the Germans had an advantage over us, namely, the
concentric shape of their front which simplified the problem of
carrying troops and supplies.

In spite of this advantage, the turning movement attempted by their
right with twelve army corps, six reserve corps, and four corps of
cavalry, utterly failed.

This failure confirmed the victory of the Marne.

As early as Sept. 11 Gen. Joffre had directed the effort of Maunoury's
army against the German right wing. But this army was not large enough
to cope with the situation.

So about Sept. 20 a new army was formed on the left of Maunoury's army
and intrusted to Gen. de Castelnau.

This army strongly intrenched itself in the district which stretches
over Lassigny, Roye, and Peronne. It was supported on its left by the
territorial divisions of Gen. Brugere. (Sept. 21-26.