ment. The series of
orders were contained in the "Bulletin des Armees de la Republique
Francaise," June 6, 1915, Sunday. The first of these orders, dated
August 25, 1914, runs as follows:

"The projected offensive movement not having been found possible of
execution, the consequent operations will be so conducted as to put in
line, on our left, by the junction of the Fourth and Fifth Armies, the
British army, and new forces recruited from the eastern district, a body
capable of taking the offensive while other armies for the needed
interval hold in check the efforts of the enemy...."

The retreating movement was regulated so as to bring about the following
disposition of forces preparatory to an offensive:

"In the Amiens district a new grouping of forces, formed of elements
conveyed by rail (Seventh Corps, four divisions of reserve, and perhaps
another active army corps), brought together from August 27 to September
2, 1914. This body will remain ready to take the offensive in the
general direction of St, Pol-Arras or Arras-Bapaume."

The same general instructions of August 25, 1914, marks out the zones of
march, and says:

"The movement will be covered by the rear guards spread out at favorable
points of vantage so as to utilize every obstacle for the purpose of
checking, by brief and violent counterattacks in which the artillery
will play the chief part, the march of the enemy or at least to retard
it."

(Signed) J. JOFFRE.

[Illustration: General Joffre.]

The object of this maneuver is thus already on August 25, 1914, clearly
indicated; it looked not to a defensive, but to an offensive movement,
which was to be resumed as soon as circumstances appeared favorable.
Much is made clear in these orders of General Joffre, which are
characterized by perspicuity, foresight, and precision.

The retreat was effected; but it was only a provisional retreat.
Whenever an occasion presented itself to counterattack the enemy for the
purpose of delaying his advance, that occasion was to be taken advantage
of. And that is, in fact, what took place.

Two days later, on August 27, 1914, General Joffre brought together,
using army corps and divisions recruited elsewhere, a supplementary
army, the Ninth Army, which was detailed to take its place between the
Fourth and Fifth Armies. He intrusted its command to a general, who,
while commanding the Twentieth Corps, had distingu