Of this there is no doubt, but
even military necessity does not quite explain why General von
Buelow bolted so precipitately. His losses were fearful, and the
offensive of General Foch rendered it necessary for the Germans
to fall back on the Aisne.
The armies of the Duke of Wuerttemberg and of the crown prince may
be considered together, for they were combined in an effort to
pierce the French line near the angle at Bar-le-Duc. General Langle
held on desperately against the repeated attacks of the Duke of
Wuerttemberg. Ground was lost and recovered, lost again and recovered,
and every trifling vantage point of ground was fought for with a
bitter intensity. Though active, with all the other armies, on
September 5 and 6, 1914, it was not until September 7 that General
Langle found himself strained to his utmost nerve. If he could
hold, he could do no more, and when night fell on September 7, no
person was more relieved than General Langle. Yet the next day was
even worse. Instead of slackening in the evil weather, the German
drive became more furious. The exhausted Fourth Army fought as though
in a hideous nightmare, defended their lines in a sullen obstinacy
that seemed almost stuporous, and countercharged in a blind frenzy
that approached to delirium. It was doubtful if General Langle's
army could hold out much longer. But, when General von Buelow was
compelled to retreat, when General Foch turned his attention to
General von Hausen's Saxon Army, and when General Joffre found
himself in a position to rush reenforcements and reserves to the
aid of General Langle, a new color was given to the affair.
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