The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-01-02
OVERCONFIDENCE LED
TO DEFEAT OF GERMANS
Continued from Pare OneA

into believing his army definitely
beaten and the British expeditionary
forces completely done for, letting
| them think all they had to do was to
let Paris 60 for the moment, follow
up the French and English and crush
them for good and all. Over-confident.
the Germans were caught on their
guard. just as Joffre expected they
would be and as he is believed to
have planned, and the so-called Battle
of the Marne ended in a victory for
the allies and the consequent saving
OF the capital.
How did Joffre lead up to his VIC
tory? BY refusing to play the grand
stand; by attending TO his job re-
CARELESS of what the public might
think.
The French commander-in-chief de-
cided to retire the bulk of his forces
east Of Paris to positions south OF the
Marne and the Ornain and there pre-
pare his offensive. On the first OF
September this movement was well
under way and, so far as | can gather.
IL was the rapidity of this moment
which fooled the German commanders
and led them into the error of believ-
ing the French and English armies 10
all intents routed
From this supposed definite retreat
of the allies, the German commanders
took their cue. They had two alterna-
tives before them-either they would
have to pursue the allies with the
bulk OF their armies, in the moment
neglecting Paris, or else let the allies
| 60 and take Paris. a result apparently
ardently desired from both military
and political points OF view. III they
chose the first course, they risked en-
velopmeht in a country cut by numer
GUS water courses-Marne. Grand Mo
rim, Petit NORM. etc.-but II they
chose the second such a vast number
Of troops would be necessary thai
elsewhere their lines would be sc
weakened that an offensive by the
allies might prove disastrous
go they chose the first course, since
apparently the allies were practically
defeated, determining TO pursue them
and annihilate both French and Eng
lish. Thus came TO be fought the Bat
tie OF the Marine, which was not really
the Battle OF the Marine at all, but OF
FIVE or six other rivers as wen.
The battle commenced around Sept
g. The danger OF the enveloping move
ment. probably foreseen by the Ger
mans but discounted because they
thought the allies definitely In retreat
and incapable of serious fighting. al
once became apparent. The French
and English pressed In from the west
making q pocket the bottom of which
was in the region of Coulommiers
Courtacon and Esternay, and here
Gems. Foch. d'Esperey and others, re
Stunning the offensive, began their
smashing blows. The rest OF the story
is known. The Germans retreated
precipitously, leaving behind consid.
cradle material. The French praise
the German commanders for escaping
at all. Under less able leaders, the
French say, they could not have ex-
treated their armies, so well prepared
we're the plans of Gen. Joffre.
Among military men. foreign as
we'll as French, Gen. Joffre is regard
ed as a fox for strategy and utterly
free from pose These two qualities
they say, permit him to plan his move
ments carefully and without an eye to
the bleachers OF an ear TO public opin
ion. He fights for France instead OF
for his own glory.