(Aug. 20.)

In Lorraine our offensive had first been brilliantly successful. On
Aug. 19 we had reached Sarrebourg, Les Etangs, Dieuze, Morhange,
Delme, and Chateau-Salins.

But on the 20th the enemy, strongly intrenched on thoroughly fortified
territory, resumed the offensive.

On the 22d, 23d, and 24th we were compelled to fall back on
Grand-Courenne de Nancy and south of Luneville.

On the 25th simultaneous counterattacks from the armies of Gens.
Dubail and Castelnau greatly strengthened our positions.

But seven or eight German army corps and four divisions of cavalry had
overcome the magnificent resistance of Liege. Every one knows of the
conditions under which the French took the offensive in Belgium with
the armies of Gens. Ruffey and Langle de Cary.

As soon as the English Army was ready in the region of Mons we took
the offensive in Belgian Luxemburg with the armies of Gens. Ruffey and
Langle de Cary. This offensive was at once checked, with great losses
on our side.

Here again the ground had been strongly fortified by the enemy. There
was also, in some of our army corps, a failure to transmit and carry
out orders (Aug. 21-23.)

On the left of these two armies and in conjunction with the English
army Gen. Lanrezac's army, anxious for its right wing, then fell back
(Aug. 24) on the line that stretches between Beaumont and Givet.

On the 25th and 26th the English army, kept in check at Landrecies and
Le Cateau, withdrew toward the Marne.

These days were marked by bloody contests. The enemy lost heavily, but
constantly gained ground.

At that time we either had to hold the ground under the perilous
conditions resulting from the retreat of our left wing or else retreat
along the whole front until it were possible to resume the offensive
under favorable conditions.

The Commander in Chief decided upon the latter alternative.

_The first object to attain was withdrawing in good order while
weakening and delaying the enemy by constant attacks. Several of these
attacks were brilliantly conducted, especially those of Lanrezac's
army at Saint-Quentin and Guise, of Langle's army on the Meuse, and of
Ruffey's army further east. They were supported from Nancy to the
Vosges by Castelnau's and Dubail's armies. In order to prepare for the
offensive a new army had been formed, that of Gen. Maunoury. It was
to be concentrated in the last days of August in the vicinity of
Amiens._

But the advance of the enem