Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/488

WORLD WAB 418 WORLD WAR their retreat, having more troops, were better able to fight off attacks made by the enemy and suffered less in the retreat and by August 30 were again in good fighting condition. On the line of the Somme, the Oise, and the Aisne from Amiens to Verdun, the French were ready for battle. The British, however, had not yet recovered from their dis- astrous retreat and therefore J off re's armies continued to fall back to the south of Paris until September 4. Von Kluck, the German commander, believing Germans while another French army from the north threatened to flank the German positions. Von Kluck appreciat- ing his peril, and leaving only a cavalry regiment to hold the British, counter- attacked, and September 8-9 drove Man- oury back and so endangered the north- ern flank of the French army that it seemed Manoury would be forced to re- tire on Paris. On the night of Septem- ber 9 the Paris garrison stood to arms, and Manoury's troops awaited daybreak, expecting a crushing defeat, but by WAR ZONE AT THE DARDANELLES that he had to deal with beaten forces, but still formidable, had one objective; to smash the French before attempting an attack on Paris. He marched south- east to attack the French flank. In the Battle of the Gurcq which began Septem- ber 5, Manoury's army first encountered Germans among the hills of Monthyon and Penchard and on the following day in the valley of the Ourcq defeated the morning the Germans had begun their retreat to the Aisne. Manoury's attack in the Ourcq battle had dislocated Von Kluck's army, and forced von Biilow to the east to draw back to keep in line with Von Kluck, heavily hammered by the French who pursued. To the east Foch held the French center, and there the Germans struck with force driving the French south so far, especially on the