id to have concluded. As, however, the new alignments were
made mainly by reason of the topographical relationships of the Marne
and the Aisne Rivers and the territory contiguous thereto, it is perhaps
more in keeping with the movement to carry forward the German retreat
across the Marne as a part of the same group of conflicts.

CHAPTER XVIII

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE

In dealing with a battle as important as that of the Marne points of
view are valuable. We therefore follow with an account of its general
course and description of its main features by a French military writer,
whose knowledge is based on information that is official.

"Before the German armies," he says, "became engulfed in the vast
depression that stretches from Paris to Verdun, General Joffre with
admirable foresight had brought together a powerful army commanded by
General Manoury and having as its support the fortified camp of Paris.
As soon as General von Kluck, turning momentarily from the road to the
French capital and bending his march to the southeast, laid bare his
right wing, General Joffre vigorously launched against his flank the
entire army of General Manoury. The brilliant offensive of this army
achieved success from the beginning; it threw back the German forces.
Von Kluck perceived the danger that threatened him, and the danger was
serious, for it only required that Manoury should advance a little
further and he would have been almost totally defeated. Resolutely,
energetically, and with a sang-froid to which homage must be rendered,
Von Kluck proceeded to circumvent this danger. He ordered back to the
north two of his army corps, recrossed the Marne, and threw himself with
intrepidity on Manoury.

"But the retreat of these two army corps allowed General French and
General Franchet d'Esperey both to drive forward vigorously. Something
resembling the phenomenon of a whirlwind then took place in the German
ranks. The British army made progress toward the north, the Fifth French
Army, commanded by General Franchet d'Esperey, did the same. General
Manoury, assisted by all the troops that General Gallieni was able
rapidly to put at his disposal, made headway against the furious
onslaught of Von Kluck. Thus the entire German right found itself in a
most critical situation. It could not overcome Manoury, who was
threatening its communications, and on the other hand it found itself
powerless to resist the victoriou