There were no bridges across the little river, nor were there boats enough to carry the army across. But under the direction of skillful engineers, the best in the world, pontoon bridges sprang up as if by magic. Before the Germans were fully aware of what was going on, several thousand men had been hurled across the little stream.
These—advancing in the face of the overwhelming force of Germans, rushed forward to check them—fought off the enemy while other British troops were poured over the Marne. Desperately did the Germans try to drive them back. Time after time they charged, only to be hurled back again by the British horsemen, and the infantry that now had had time to form after crossing the river.
Artillery was brought into action to force the British back across the little stream. But it was no use. The Germans had been caught unprepared. Already Gen. Von Kluck had weakened his defense by sending some of his men south to take their places in the force with which the Kaiser and his generals expected to execute their great coup.
Evidently the danger of a sudden attack had not been anticipated by the German general staff. That the British, without the support of their French allies, farther to the south, would take the offensive, was a factor that had apparently been overlooked.
The surprise was practically complete. The British army on the continent at this time numbered slightly more than 100,000 men. Probably two-thirds of this whole force was hurled across the Marne in this battle, which, starting as a skirmish, soon grew into one of the fiercest and bloodiest struggles of history.
Scotch Highlanders, Irish troops, Sikh legions, recently arrived from India, British troops from other of her foreign possessions and the English themselves stood shoulder to shoulder, fighting nobly and driving back the foe.
But the Germans contested every inch of the ground. Outnumbering the British as they did, however, they were slowly compelled to retreat, the British pursuing them relentlessly.
Apparently it was not General French’s plan to push the battle too strongly now. It was merely his intention to deliver such a blow as would make the coup planned by the Germans impracticable.