Meanwhile the French armies to the west of Sissonne advanced
rapidly, crossing the Oise and the Serre, and clearing the district between these rivers. Guise, one of the pillars of the enemy's resistance, was almost encircled on Wednesday. The Germans fell back in such haste that the French advanced five miles in a single day. The enemy's line, which had formed a triangular salient touching the Serre not far east of La Fare, was thus reduced to a flattened crescent from Guise through Marie to Rethel, which was barely thirty miles from the Hirson-Mezierea Railway. The enemy must check this advance of the Allied centre by throwing in his reserves, if his armies are not to run the risk of being separated into two groups. But the necessity of bringing up reserves at the very moment when he is trying to effect a retreat must be very unwelcome to him. Moreover, he cannot weaken his right or left wing to reinforce his centre without exposing himself to disaster in Flanders or in the Meuse Valley. Marshal Foch's plans are being worked up to an effective climax.
Previous page
