xpedition anglaise contre les Boers. Je suis donc sur d'avance que
je puis fermement compter sur l'entiere collaboration d'un chef tel
que vous.

"Vous savez que le General Commandant-en-Chef vient de faire placer
Paris dans la zone de ses operations. Je vous envoie donc les
dispositions que je viens de prendre, afin que vous soyiez bien
oriente a ce sujet, pour couvrir les fronts N. et E. de Paris qui
paraissent les plus exposes et d'autre part, pour attirer sur nous
les corps qui menacent le flanc gauche de notre armee.

"Je vous serais reconnaissant de vouloir bien me tenir au courant de
vos intentions et des dispositions que vous prendrez.

"Veuillez agreer, Monsieur le Marechal, l'assurance de ma haute
consideration et de mes sentiments profondement devouees.

"GALLIENI."

"Mortcerf,
"September 3rd, 1914, 12 noon.

"My dear General,

"I have received your very kind letter (with enclosures) for which I
beg to offer you my most sincere thanks.

"A French officer attached to my Staff is now going into Paris, and
will explain the situation of the British Forces and their intentions
fully to you.

"You may rely upon my most cordial and energetic co-operation with the
French Forces on my right and left.

"I have duly received Gen. Joffre's 'Instruction No. 4' and his 'Notes
pour les Commandants d'Armee' of September 2nd, and I fully understand
the Commander-in-Chief's plans and intentions.

"May I say what a keen pleasure and satisfaction it is to me and the
Army under my command to be fighting side by side with the Grand Army
of France!

"Believe me, My dear General,
"Yours most sincerely,
(Signed) "FRENCH, Field Marshal,
"Commander-in-Chief, British Forces."

From these documents it will be seen that the safety of the
capital was the paramount thought in the minds of the French Generals.

On September 2nd, the 5th French Army on my right and the 6th on my
left were retiring on Chateau-Thierry and Paris respectively, whilst
our own troops reached the line of the Marne towards Lagny and Meaux.
The 4th Division was, however, delayed by a small rearguard action and
passed the night south of Dammartin.

I had spent the greater part of the day in carefully reconnoitring the
best defensive positions south of the Marne,