The elements of the great war

5–12 September 1914

First Battle of the Marne

THE BATTLE GENERALLY CON-

THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE I THE BATTLE GENERALLY CON- SIDERED _. : (1) The Numbers (2) The General Shape of the Ger- man Line before the Battle, and the Effect of that Shape . (3) The Battle of the Marne Was ““An Action of Dislocation ”’. What is ‘‘ An Action of Dislo- cation fs : (4) The Elements of the Battle Criticism of this Theory

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

It is the Battle of the Marne which is the main subject of these pages. Round it, and in connection with it, only can we read the corresponding events in the Eastern field of war and upon the sea. It is the Battle of the Marne more than anything else in this war which presents that strange atmosphere of fate never absent from the grave decisions of his- tory—an atmosphere which has persuaded mankind to its belief in Providence or con- firmed it therein. Therefore we must remem- ber, as we read the mere military details of the fashion in which this vast action was de- termined, that these are not all the story.

MARNE.

Nevertheless I shall attempt the task with the extremely imperfect means at my dis- posal, and that for two reasons. First, be- cause, in a current commentary upon war, if it is to appear at all, difficulties of this kind are inevitable, and must be met as best they can. Secondly, because, although we still know less of the Battle of the Marne than of any subsequent phase in the war (al-

THE GREAT, WAR 23

What were the forces opposed one to an- other at the opening of the Battle of the Marne, and during its progress?