"During this time the British army, following on the retreat of
part of the forces of Von Kluck, was able to make headway toward
the north. It was the same with the Fifth French Army. The British,
leaving behind it on September 6 the Rosoy-Lagny line, reached in
the evening the south bank of the Great Morin. On the 7th and 8th
they continued their march; on the 9th they debouched to the north
of the Marne below Chateau Thierry, flanking the German forces which
on that day were opposing the army of Manoury. It was then that the
German forces began to retreat, while the British army, pursuing
the enemy, took seven cannon and many prisoners and reached the
Aisne between Soissons and Longueval. The British army continued
till before Coulommiers, and after a brilliant struggle forced the
passage of the Little Morin. The Fifth French Army under General
Franchet d'Esperey made the same advance. It drove back the three
active army corps of the Germans and the reserve corps that it
found facing it. On September 7 it pressed forward to the
Courtacon-Cerneux-Monceaux-les-Provins-Courgivaux-Esternay line.
During the days that followed it reached and crossed the Marne,
capturing in fierce combats some howitzers and machine guns.
"General Foch showed admirable sang-froid and energy. At the most
critical moment, the decisive hour of the battle, he accomplished a
magnificent maneuver, which is known under the name of the _maneuver
of Fere Champenoise_.
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