Let us now see what generally were the movements of the German and of the Allied forces between September 3 and September 6 when the Battle of the Marne began.
Leaving two army corps, the 2nd and the[Pg 56] 4th Reserve corps, on the Ourcq to cover his flank and rear, General von Kluck struck south-east across the Marne with the 3rd, 4th, and 7th corps. The main body crossed the river at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, and took the main route to Sezanne. Others crossed higher up between La Ferté-sous-Jouarre and Château-Thierry. ???? For this purpose they threw bridges across the river. The Marne is deep and for 120 miles of its course navigable.
These movements were covered and screened by the 2nd division of cavalry, which advanced towards Coulommiers, and the 9th division, which pushed on to the west of Crecy. Both places are south of the Marne and east of Paris.
Writing of these events at the time, Mr. W. T. Massey, special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, observed that:
Leaving two army corps, the 2nd and the[Pg 56] 4th Reserve corps, on the Ourcq to cover his flank and rear, General von Kluck struck south-east across the Marne with the 3rd, 4th, and 7th corps. The main body crossed the river at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, and took the main route to Sezanne. Others crossed higher up between La Ferté-sous-Jouarre and Château-Thierry. ???? For this purpose they threw bridges across the river. The Marne is deep and for 120 miles of its course navigable.
These movements were covered and screened by the 2nd division of cavalry, which advanced towards Coulommiers, and the 9th division, which pushed on to the west of Crecy. Both places are south of the Marne and east of Paris.
Writing of these events at the time, Mr. W. T. Massey, special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, observed that: