ral Joffre which he describes as "a most
unexpected message." General Joffre's telegram conveyed the first news
to General French not only that the French Fifth Army had been defeated
and was in retreat--the first intimation even that the French right at
Charleroi under General Lanrezac was in peril--but that at least three
German army corps were attacking the British. Doubtless the German
smashing of General Joffre's planned grand counterattack, after the
Germans were to be beaten, was disheartening as well as a sore
disappointment.

General French possessed 75,000 men. It was now disclosed that in front
Von Kluck was hurling upon him 200,000 men, Von Buelow was hammering on
his right, Von Hausen in pursuit of the French threatened his rear,
while some 50,000 Germans were enveloping his left. He had no option but
to order a retreat.

Dealing with the combined action of the French and British in this
critical period a French military writer says:

"The French armies of the center--that is to say, the Third and Fourth
Armies--had as their mission the duty of attacking the German army in
Belgian Luxembourg, of attempting to put it to flight and of crumpling
it up against the left flank of the German main body at the north. This
offensive on the part of the French center began on August 21, 1914. The
Third Army (General Ruffey) followed from the east to the west the
course of the Semoy, a tributary on the right of the Meuse. The Fourth
Army operated between the Meuse and the Lesse. The Germans occupied the
plateau which extends from Neufchateau to Paliseul. It is uncertain
territory, covered with heaths and thick woods, and lends itself poorly
to the reconnaissance work of aviators or cavalry patrols. There are no
targets for the artillery. The Germans had strongly fortified the
ground. The infantry of the Fourth Army which hurled itself against
these positions was thrown back; still fighting it fell back over the
Meuse. The pursuit by the Germans was punctuated by strong
counterattacks, which inflicted great losses on them. The Third Army was
similarly checked in its march on Neufchateau by the superior forces of
the crown prince and was thrown back on the Semoy. Thus the offensive
actions undertaken by the armies of the French center miscarried. Not
only were they unable to lend their aid to the armies of the left, but
they saw themselves obliged to retreat.

"The situation could only be reestablished by a victory on