The Battle of the Marne by G.H. Perris — Read

The completest surprise naturally fell on the west wing of the Allies; and, had not the small British force been of the hardiest stuff, an irreparable disaster might have occurred. Here, with the heaviest preponderance of the enemy, there had been least preparation for any hostilities before the crisis was reached. On or about August 10, we war correspondents received an official map of the "Present Zone of the Armies," which was shown to end, on the north, at Orchies -- 16 miles S. E. of Lille, and 56 miles inland from Dunkirk. The western half of the northern frontier was practically uncovered. Lille had ceased to be a fortress in 1913, though continuing to be a garrison town; from Maubeuge to the sea, there was no artificial obstacle, and no considerable body of troops. [20] The position to be taken by the British Expeditionary Force -- on the French left near Maubeuge -- was only decided, at a Franco-British Conference in London, on August 10.

[21] On August 12, the British Press Bureau announced it as "evident" that "the mass of German troops lie between Liège and Luxembourg. " Three days later, a Saxon advance guard tried, without success, to force the Meuse at Dinant. Thus warned, the French command began to make the new disposition of its forces which has been alluded to.