Having been privileged to watch the war in France from beginning to end, and to live with the French armies (as Correspondent attached to General Headquarters) for more than two years, the writer has also had exceptional opportunities of studying the terrain, and of discussing the drama as a whole and in detail with officers and men from the highest to the most humble. To name all those from whom he has received aid would be impossible; to name any might seem to associate them with conclusions for which he is solely responsible; but he may record his deep gratitude to the French Government, the Headquarters Staff, and the various Army Staffs, for the rare experience of which this volume is unworthy fruit. _February 1920._ _German units are throughout numbered in Roman capitals_ (“the XX Corps”), _Allied in ordinary figures_ (“the 20th Corps”). _The small figures in the text refer to “Notes and References” at the end of the volume._ CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v CHAP. I. THE DELUGE 1 II. A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS—— i. The German Plan of Campaign 10 ii. The Forces in Play 14 iii. The French War Doctrine 20 iv. The Three French Offensives 28 v. The Battle of Charleroi-Mons 34 III. JOFFRE STARTS AFRESH—— i. Ecce Homo! 46 ii. The Second New Plan 54 iii. Battle of the Gap of Charmes 61 iv. Battles of Le Cateau, Guise, and Launois 64 v. End of the Long Retreat 71 IV. THE GREAT DILEMMA, PARIS–VERDUN—— i. The Government leaves the Capital 76 ii. Kluck plunges South-Eastward 79 iii. Joffre’s Opportunity 84 V. THE ORDER OF BATTLE—— i. Gallieni’s Initiative 92 ii. General Offensive of the Allies 95 _Strength and Position of the Armies_ 97 iii. Features of the Battlefield 106 iv. The Last Summons 110 VI. BATTLE OF THE OURCQ—— i. A Premature Engagement 113 ii. The British Manœuvre 118 iii. A Race of Reinforcements 126 iv. The Paris Taxi-Cabs 129