Today is by common consent regarded as the third anniversary of the battle of the Marne, which must always be one of the great landmarks in human history. In that mighty conflict civilization was saved, and German aspirations for the domination of the world were irretrievably shattered. The Marne decided the subsequent course of the war, for it stemmed the tide of invasion in the West, and imposed upon the Germans a defensive attitude which they have never since been able to change.
It is not surprising that the true facts about the Marne have been successfully disguised from the German nation, and that large numbers of Germans are still unaware of the irrevocable outcome of the encounter. Their rulers remain unwilling to let them know that from the moment issue was joined on the Marne it became clear that, whatever happened afterwards, Germany could not possibly win the war. The interest of France centres to a great extent upon the triumph of Verdun, but we think that when a true perspective is restored it will be seen that the Marne must always be France’s greatest glory. Caught unprepared, hurled back ruthlessly from their own frontier, unaided save by the small British Army, the troops of France won deathless fame by defeating the hosts which for forty years had been making ready for that great day.
The fullness of the achievement of the Army of France is revealed only as it recedes, and as we are able gradually to measure all the consequences which flowed from it. September 6 is chosen as the anniversary, for upon the morning of that day Marshal Joffre struck with his full force. As a matter of fact, the battle hung in the balance until the evening of September 9, when the order for the German retreat was issued.
The movements which led to the battle really began on September 3, when General von Kluck and the German First Army changed front before Paris. Von Kluck, as we now know, had lost touch with the Second Army on his left. He swerved south-eastward and crossed the Marne, leaving a single Reserve Corps to guard his flank on the line of the Ourcq. The German General Staff thought he could disregard the British Army on the left of the Allied line, and evidently believed it to be out of action. His object was to envelop the French flank and roll up the French armies eastward while the rest of the German forces fell upon their front, Paris and the British could afterwards be gobbled up at leisure. We know the sequel. Neglected by the German calculations, the French Sixth Army was forming afresh on Paris. Directed by the rapid foresight of General Gallieni, led brilliantly by General Maunoury, the Sixth Army swept upon the Ourcq, where the battle actually began on the afternoon of September 5. Von Kluck skilfully recrossed the Marne when he realized his danger, but the German plans were by that time dislocated, for at dawn on September 6 Marshal Joffre had set his entire line in motion. The action of General Foch, who was handling the French centre, contributed greatly to the Allied victory, as did also the remarkable battle of the Grand Couronne de Nancy, fought by General Castelnau, which was still in progress.
The British Army played an important, prompt, and honourable part in the battle of the Marne. but its supreme achievement came less than two months afterwards at the first battle of Ypres. The Marne broke the Kaiser’s aims, and the first battle of Ypres sealed his doom. He poured out his hordes against our thin lines in the vain hope of reaching the Channel ports. On one black day he all but succeeded, and had not the heroes of our old Army died in their tracks the result of the Marne might have been undone. Ypres was the complement and the seal of the Marne.