_The first object to attain was withdrawing in good order while weakening and delaying the enemy by constant attacks. Several of these attacks were brilliantly conducted, especially those of Lanrezac's army at Saint-Quentin and Guise, of Langle's army on the Meuse, and of Ruffey's army further east. They were supported from Nancy to the Vosges by Castelnau's and Dubail's armies. In order to prepare for the offensive a new army had been formed, that of Gen. Maunoury. It was to be concentrated in the last days of August in the vicinity of Amiens._ But the advance of the enemy, by stages of forty-five kilometers a day, was so swift that Gen. Joffre, in order to realize his plan for the offensive, had to order the retreat to be continued. The army should withdraw to the Aube, and as far as the Seine if necessary; everything should be subordinated to preparing a successful offensive. On Sept. 5 the conditions which the General in Chief sought to realize were fulfilled--our left wing (Maunoury's army, the English Army, the army of Lanrezac which was now d'Esperay's army) was no longer in danger of being cut off. On the contrary, the German right, (Gen. von Kluck,) marching to the south toward Meaux and Coulommiers, was exposing its right wing to Maunoury's army. On the evening of the 5th the General in Chief ordered a general advance, adding: "The hour has come to advance at any cost and to die rather than fall back." VICTORY OF THE MARNE. As early as Sept. 8 the menace directed by Gen. Maunoury against the German right was beginning to tell. The enemy brought back from the south to the north two army corps and wheeled about facing west. Thus it presented a weak point to the English Army, which, having advanced from the line stretching from Rozoy to Lagny, (on the 6th,) straightened its line toward the north, crossed the Marne on the 9th, thus flanking the German Army already battling with Gen. Maunoury. On the right of the British d'Esperay's army also crossed the Marne, forcing the enemy to retreat, and at the same time supporting the action of its neighbors, that is to say, the English Army on the left and Foch's army on the right. [Illustration: Map of Operations in France During First Four Months of the War (1) Point where Germans failed to hold Nancy, Sept. 12, 1914. (2) Extreme limits of the dash to Paris, terminating Sept. 8, 1914. (3) Point to which the first unsuccessful flanking movement against the French left wing extended, Aug. 30, 1914. (4) Point of extension of similar flanking operations, balked Nov. 12, 1914. (5) Scene of frustrated efforts to break through French centre, Sept. 26, 1914. (6) Line of attacks upon Calais and Dunkirk, defeated Oct. 18, 1914. (7) Ypres, where desperate and fruitless assaults, ending Nov. 15, 1914, were made by the Germans. (8) Intrenched line of battle, Feb. 1, 1915.]