I. | The French resistance on the Grand Couronni leads the enemy to believe that the French left at R is depleted. As a fact, there is a big French reserve forming at X (indicated by dots), of which the enemy knows nothing. |
II. | Consequently the enemy strikes down at R to envelop the supposedly weakened Allied wing, when he suddenly becomes aware (by September 5) that X is there, and will envelop him if he proceeds. Therefore he calls men back, and leads outward against X, in order to meet this danger. He succeeds, indeed, in pushing X back and partly surrounding him, but in doing so he produces the next situation. |
III. | By leaning thus over to the left he has strained his line. A gap appears at A; the French at B, under Foch, take immediate advantage of it. On the critical day of the battle, September 9, he has to fall back precipitately to the dotted line behind. |
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