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 victorious
advance of Generals French and de Franchet d'Esperey.
"It was the critical moment of the battle. The German General Staff
decided that there was only one method of putting an end to it,
and that was to direct against the army of General Foch in the
center an offensive so violent that the center would be pierced
and the French armies cut in two. If this attack succeeded it would
free at once the German right and separate into two impotent parts
the entire French military force.
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