VII. THE “EFFECT OF SUCTION”—— i. French and d’Espérey strike North 135 ii. Battle of the Marshes of St. Gond 142 iii. Defence and Recapture of Mondemont 148 iv. Foch’s Centre broken 155 v. Fable and Fact of a Bold Manœuvre 160 VIII. FROM VITRY TO VERDUN—— i. The Battle of Vitry-le-François 169 ii. Sarrail holds the Meuse Salient 175 IX. VICTORY 184 X. THE DEFENCE OF THE EAST 197 XI. SUMMING-UP 214 INDEX 271 NOTES AND REFERENCES The German Objective (p. 239); The Opposed Forces (p. 240); De Bloch’s Prophecy and French’s Confession (p. 242); Criticisms and Defence of the French Staff (p. 244); The Surprise in the North (p. 247); The Abandonment of Lille (p. 252); M. Hanotaux and the B.E.F. (p. 252); The Fall of Maubeuge (p. 256); Paris and the German Plan (p. 259); Some Books on the Battle (p. 263); General Bonnal and the British Army (p. 265); Scenes at Farthest South (p. 266); The Myth of the 42nd Division (p. 268). LIST OF MAPS 1. POSITION OF THE ARMIES AND LINES OF APPROACH _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE 2. BATTLE OF CHARLEROI–MONS 38 3. THE OURCQ FRONT, AFTERNOON, SEPT. 6 118 4. THE BRITISH TURN-ABOUT 122 5. OPENING OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE, SEPT. 6 136 6. THE MARNE RE-CROSSED, SEPT. 9, A.M. 142 7. FOCH’S FRONT, SEPT. 6 AND 7 146 8. FOCH’S FRONT, SEPT. 8 AND 9 156 9. FRONT OF FRENCH 4TH ARMY 172 10. THE VERDUN SALIENT 180 11. BATTLE OF THE GRAND COURONNÉ 206 12. CRISIS OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE 224 THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE CHAPTER I THE DELUGE August 25, 1914: three weeks after Von Emmich opened the war before Liège; five days after the French Army of Lorraine was trapped at Sarrebourg and Morhange; two days after Namur fell, and Charleroi and Mons were abandoned.