[Sailor Steve]

September 3:

At Pontoise German soldiers blow up a bridge over the Seine River. General Joseph Simon Gallieni, military governor of Paris, issues a proclamation: "I have received the order to defend Paris against the invader. This order I shall fulfill to the end." The newly-formed 6th Army under General Michel-Joseph Manoury is assigned to entrench its 80,000 men around Paris in support of Gallieni. Manoury had led the 14th Infantry Division's failed attempt to block von Kluck at Proyart on August 29th. General Joffe orders Gallieni to have Manoury's mobile units to attack von Kluck's right flank if the opportunity arises.

A British aerial reconaissnce report confirming von Kluck's movement to the south-east is forwarded from General French to General Joffre. This allows Joffre to make plans for a counter-attack on von Kluck's left flank. Joffre orders the attack to begin the following day.

It was later claimed that Joffre had high praise for the RFC: "The British Flying Corps had played a prominent, in fact a vital part, in watching and following this all-important movement on which so much depended. Thanks to the aviators he had been kept accurately and constantly informed of Kluck's movements. To them he owed the certainty which had enabled him to make his plans in good time."

SMS Karlsruhe captures and scuttles SS Maple Branch, but not before removing part of a cargo of ship's stores and livestock.

Off the coast of German East Africa, Captain Looff of SMS Königsberg hides his ship up the Rufiji River to overhaul her engines. This will take a very long time, as German supply ships have to elude the British patrol boat Pegasus. Fortunately for them Pegasus was the only ship the Royal Navy has in the vicinity, and she is old and worn out.