SEPTEMBER 8, 1914
During the night of September 7-8 Gallieni, who had been following carefully the different phases of the battle, despatched a division from Paris, in all haste, to Maunoury's left to assist in turning the German right.
To do this with maximum rapidity, Gallieni made use of an ingenious expedient, "a civilian's idea," as he termed it. He commandeered all the taxicabs in Paris. Those running in the streets were held up by the police, and the occupants made to alight. When the latter learned the reason, instead of grumbling, they gave a rousing cheer. Eleven hundred taxis made the journey twice during the night from Paris to the front transporting, in all, eleven thousand men.
Unfortunately, the effect of these reinforcements was fully counterbalanced by the troops which Von Kluck had brought up on the two previous days from before the British front, and only the extreme tenacity and courage of his troops enabled Maunoury to avoid being outflanked.
However, Von Kluck could not with impunity reduce his forces opposed to the British. The latter pulled themselves together, crossed the Petit Morin river and reached La Ferté-sous-Jouarre.
The danger feared by the German generals became apparent.
FOCH
VON HAUSEN
On this day of September 8, a German officer wrote in his notebook: "Caught sight of Von Kluck. His eyes usually so bright, were dull. He, who was wont to be so alert, spoke in dejected tones. He was absolutely depressed."
At the right of the British army, General Franchet d'Esperey continued his rapid advance and occupied the outskirts of Montmirail.
Moreover, his troops co-operated efficiently in helping to check the violent attacks of Von Bulow's army against Grossetti's division.
The Germans became more and more anxious, and rightly so, at the turn events were taking on their right where Von Kluck's army was beginning to be tightly squeezed between the armies of General Maunoury, the British and General Franchet d'Esperey. Von Kluck was forced to retreat and, in doing so, left exposed Von Bulow's army. The armies of Von Bulow and Von Hausen received orders to crush Foch and break through the French centre at all costs, so as to be able to turn Franchet d'Esperey's army on the west, and that of Langle de Cary on the east.
The position was this: If the manœuvre succeeded, Joffre's entire plan would fall to pieces. If, on the other hand, it failed a general retreat on the part of the Germans would be inevitable.
Foch's army received a terrible blow. It was forced back in the centre, and almost pierced on the right. However, Foch in no wise lost confidence, but pronounced the situation to be 'excellent.' The fact was, he clearly realised that these furious attacks were dictated by the desperate position in which the Germans found themselves. He rallied his troops, hurled them again against the Germans, but was unable to win back the ground which he had just lost.
DE LANGLE DE CARY
Von Hausen's fierce thrust also made itself felt on Langle de Gary's left; the connection between the latter's army and Foch's was in great danger of being severed, and could only be maintained by the rapid displacement of troops, and by the intervention of a new army corps despatched by Joffre just in time to restore the balance.
While Von Hausen was striking on the left, the Duke of Wurtemberg brought all his weight to bear on Langle de Cary's right, with the Crown Prince executing a similar manœuvre against Sarrail's left.
The German plan was still the same, viz., to separate the two armies and, if possible, isolate Sarrail's army, so that the latter, attacked at the same time in the rear on the heights above the Meuse, where the Germans had begun to bombard the fort of Troyon, would find itself encircled and be forced to surrender.