Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-14
ALLIES STRATEGY
SUPERIOR, REPORTS
SIR JOHN FRENCH
War Office Issues Field
Marshal's Statement Con-
cerning Last Weeks Ac-
ton Preceding German Re-
treat.
LONDON, Sept. Il.

LONDON, Sept H.
Tie official report of Field Marshal Sir
John French to the War Office on the
past weeks fighting in France, which
resulted in general retreat of the Ger
mans, was made public by the Govern
ment Press Bureau today.
1t shows that since the battle at Mons,
on August 23 the first German army has
been engaged in a colossal game of STRAIT
cgy, endeavOring to duplicate the battle
of sedan by outtlanking and enveloping
the left wing OF the allied army in order
TO cncirclc both French ana British and
drive them southwark.
Field Marshal French shows that the
Germans drove southwark with tremen-
dous force, attempting to throw a wedge
between Paris and the allied army, but
the strategy of the French and British
general STATS proved superior.
Sir John pointed out that the Germans
fully expected to carry out this envelop-
ing movement to a successful conclusion
and enter Paris. Letters found on the
bodies of German soldiers and officers
prove this, said the British general BY
their ability to move forward, day after
day on the big swing through northeast
ern France, the Germans had come TO
look upon victory as being within their
grasp, when the tide suddenly turned.
1t Will be remembered" says tine re-
port. that the general position of the
British troops on September 9th was
south of the Marne with the French
forces in line OH their right and left.
There had been practically no changes
since the Sd, which marked the end OF
the British troops long retirement from
the Belgian frontier.
"On the 4th 1t became apparent that
there was an alteration In the direction
of the advance of almost the whole ,rsr
German army. which had been endeav-
oring TO outfiank and envelop the left
OF the allies whole line in order TO drive
them southwark, The German forces on
posite the British were beginning 10
move in southeasterly direction in
stead ct continuing to the southwest 10
the French capital.
Leaving n strong rear guard along the
RIVER Ourcq to keep off the French sixth
Army. which Was northwest of Paris the
Germans began executing a flank march
dasonally across the British front. ie-
noring the British in an effort 10 attack
the left flank of the French main army.
which stretched In long curved line
from the British right towards the east,
and tried thereby to carry out the en-
yelopment, which has failed against the
combined forces OF the allies.
THE Germans continued the movement
on the NTH. Large advance parties
crossed the Marne, and there was con-
siderable fighting with the French Firm
Army on the French left which fell back
toward the Seine.
on the sixth heavy German forcss
crossed the Marne and pushed througb
CoulOmmiers, past the British right. Fur.
ther east they were attacked in The night
by the French Fifth Army, which cap-
tured three villages at the point of the
bayonet.
ION the Tth there was a general ad-
vance by the allies in this quarter, The
British forces which had been reinforced
pushed In norIheasterly direction in co.
operation with the advance of the French
fifth army TO the north. and the French
sixth army pushed eastward against the
German rearguard along the Ourco river
The Germans possibly weakened ~ the
detachment OF troops TO the aastsrn
theatre OF operations and realizing that
ths French and British advance eanLf5-
erably endangered their own aanklnz
movement, commenced 70 retire tovsFd
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