BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15834, 3 June 1919, Page 8

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

LORD FRENCH'S STORY. GERMAN STRATEGY CRUSHED. LONDON, May 9. A further instalment of lord French’s book on. the war is published in the Daily Telegraph. The Field-Marshall describes the Battle of the Marne, and claims that the fulfilment of the German strategic scheme was crushed forever in this battle; but, splendidly as the Allies fought.’ ft was the Germans themselves who deliberately threw away any chance of a decisive victory He expresses the opinion that the sudden change of von Kluck’s advance into a retreat was due to the fact that von Kluok and his staff never liked the mle forced on them hy the General Staff, and undertook the battle with wavering minds and heads half turned round. The Allies badly defeated an army not merely flushed with the knowledge of its''tremendous inroad into the enemy’s territory, but enjoying the incalculable advantage of a commander who was absolute sovereign. As regards the tactical aspect of the battle, Lord French believes that the name of Joffre will descend to posterity as one of the greatest commanders in history. He claims that the British Army carried out the role assigned to it, and that its rapid passage of the river lines and unexpected appearances on the lines of retreat of the forces opposing the French Fifth and Sixth Armies was practically decisive in the great result.