The New York herald., 1922-09-24
ERMANY LOST CHANCE
OF TRIUMPH AT MARINE
Capt. Ritter Thinks if the German High Command Had
Permitted the Battle to Be Fought Out Gen. Manou-
rvs Army Would Have Been Defeated, Though Final
Victory Was Doubtful Even if the French Forces
Had Been Destroyed

This Is the third article OF series
of trdnsldttons from "A Repictc Of the
World War By Capt. II. Ritter, for
nre7ly OF the German General Sto1.
The book has been described in Ger
many as "the best book about the
icdr." In this instdllment Capt. Ritter
discusses the mistakes OF both sides
In the battle OF the MGrne In 1914
and attributes the tragedy OF the
German oTenSire'' to inadequate
leadership. He doubts that Dictory
toonld haze been assured euen II the
French army had been destroyed.
NTTY HEN the first base of French
wv resistance had been broken
in the battles Of Mons.
Charleroi Samois and Longwy and it
was apparent that 1t was out Of the
question for the French to face the
Germans Immediately on account of
the continued outfianking maneuvers
of the First German Army. General
Joffre made a grand decision. He
planned to withdraw the defeated but
unbroken army from the German en-
emy and. having gained sufficient time
and having brought a certain distance
between the two opposing armies, oc-
cupy defensive positions.
HE had to do away-with the danger
of being outflanked. which was the
ultimate cause OF his past defeats. In
that task the fortresses of Paris and
Verdun offered themselves as points
Of support to his endangered wings.
At the same time he aimed at the re-
tablissemen. strategique', to regain the
initiative.
"Cleverly comprehending how pre-
carious the communications in the
rear Of the German armies We're, he
decided to attack the open flank of
Kluck commander of the First Ger
man Army. On August 25 the French
High Command ordered the Third,
Fourth and Fifth to retreat and or
ganize anew the Sixth army at
Amiens and vicinity.
The first action of the new Sixth
FRENCH Army caused the desired delay
to the First German Army. The Sec
ond German Army was held up longer
than necessary by the antiquated
fortresses of La Fere and Laon. At
the end of August and the beginning
of September, 1914, developments
seemed to offer the German High
Command a chance to force a favor
able decision, chance not considered
in Schlieffen's rules, an opportunity
to resort, instead of to Schlieffen's
outfianking strategy. to the opposite
strategem of breaking through the
center of the enemy's front. =.
The Crown Princes Army
Could Have Pushed Ahead
"The bulk of the army of the Crown
Prince of Bavaria could have pushed
ahead in the direction of Troyes and,
cooperating with the Second, Third and
Fourth German armies, administered
a gigantic 'Cannae' to the Fourth and
Fifth French armies, the new French
divisions which were being organized,
and the English expeditionary forces.
The fata morgana of breaking through
the center Of the enemy and OF subse-
quent1y surrounding each of the two
halves of the enemy's forces appeared
at the end of August, 1914, and from
day to day seemed nearer realization.
just as 1t did second time in the
spring of 1916.
"The German High Command was
willing to undertake operations never
considered before. manifesting more
agility and spirit of enterprise than on
August 20. when the opportunity of
isolating the Fifth French Army be-
tween Maubeuge and Civet was not
grasped. On September the German
High Command urged the Third and
Fifth armies to undertake most ener-
getic operations In a southerly direc-
ton, and ordered:
1.-The enemy will probably attempt
to march to the southwest. Early and
energetic action on the part of the
Fourth and especially the Third armies
in a generally southerly direction may
bring great success. West and east of
the Argonnes Forests French biv-
ouacs over large territory. Columns
of vehicles leaving I'm southwesterly
direction.
German Plan Proves
An Impossible One
'aThis time we had creative vision;
but the means to carry out the plans
were lacking. while on August 20 there
uyaa on abundance of means hrit the