The Germans became more and more anxious, and rightly so, at the turn events were taking on their right where Von Kluck's army was beginning to be tightly squeezed between the armies of General Maunoury, the British and General Franchet d'Esperey. Von Kluck was forced to retreat and, in doing so, left exposed Von Bulow's army. The armies of Von Bulow and Von Hausen received orders to crush Foch and break through the French centre at all costs, so as to be able to turn Franchet d'Esperey's army on the west, and that of Langle de Cary on the east. The position was this: If the manœuvre succeeded, Joffre's entire plan would fall to pieces. If, on the other hand, it failed a general retreat on the part of the Germans would be inevitable. Foch's army received a terrible blow. It was forced back in the centre, and almost pierced on the right. However, Foch in no wise lost confidence, but pronounced the situation to be 'excellent.' The fact was, he clearly realised that these furious attacks were dictated by the desperate position in which the Germans found themselves. He rallied his troops, hurled them again against the Germans, but was unable to win back the ground which he had just lost. [Illustration] [Illustration: DE LANGLE DE CARY] Von Hausen's fierce thrust also made itself felt on Langle de Gary's left; the connection between the latter's army and Foch's was in great danger of being severed, and could only be maintained by the rapid displacement of troops, and by the intervention of a new army corps despatched by Joffre just in time to restore the balance. While Von Hausen was striking on the left, the Duke of Wurtemberg brought all his weight to bear on Langle de Cary's right, with the Crown Prince executing a similar manœuvre against Sarrail's left. The German plan was still the same, viz., to separate the two armies and, if possible, isolate Sarrail's army, so that the latter, attacked at the same time in the rear on the heights above the Meuse, where the Germans had begun to bombard the fort of Troyon, would find itself encircled and be forced to surrender. SEPTEMBER 9, 1914 On September 9, the battle reached its culminating point along the whole front. Under pressure from the right wing of Maunoury's army, and before the menacing advance of the British forces which had reached Château-Thierry, the Germans were obliged to withdraw from both banks of the River Ourcq. In order to make this retreat easier along the banks of the Ourcq Von Kluck, at the end of the day, caused an extremely fierce attack to be made against the French left, which bent beneath the shock and was almost turned. At that time, the situation was truly extraordinary: the Germans were already retreating, while the French, stunned by the blow they had just received, were in anxious doubt whether the morrow would not bring them disaster.