4th September
Western Front
Belgians open dykes and stop a German advance on Antwerp.
The troops of the German right, the French left and the BEF are in extreme stages of fatigue: ~a British officer writes “I would never have believed that men could be so tired and so hungry and yet live.” - Kluck reports to OHL that “the 1st Army… has reached the limit of its endurance.”
Advance of German First Army towards Paris diverted in a south-easterly direction.
Ignoring orders, Kluck pushes his 1st Army over the Marne
The BEF receives 20,000 replacements
The new 5th Army commander d’Esperey informs his staff that he will shoot any officer who fails in his duty
German 2nd Army erroneously reports that the French are falling back in disorder
The First Battle of the Marne (prelude). French and British aviators confirm that the German 1st Army’s right flank is exposed - without authorization, Gallieni begins preparations for an attack from Paris by the French 6th Army against Kluck’s 1st Army - GQG is informed of Gallieni’s proposed counterattack and debates the plan - d’Esperey meets with Henry Wilson at Bray and persuades him to support a counteroffensive, although the BEF continues to retreat - Gallieni confers with indecisive British Chief of Staff Murray at Melun and draws up plans for a counterattack - d’Esperey dictates a concise, well-conceived plan for a counteroffensive - Joffre commits to a general counter-offensive - Joffre receives d’Esperey’s plan and uses it as the basis for the Battle of the Marne - Joffre agrees to move the attack up to Sep.06 under pressure from Gallieni - Joffre signs General Order No. 6 for a counterstroke against the German right flank - Joffre learns that Sir John French is waffling about the proposed counterattack
Rupprecht and the Kaiser refuse to allow Moltke to transfer troops from 6th Army to the threatened German right wing
The Battle of Grand Couronné (4th - 13th September 1914) took place in the Meuse-Meurthe area of Lorraine between the French Second Army and the German Sixth Army. Following on from the failure of the French to hold the German advance at the Battle of Lorraine the French Second Army occupied an arc of high ground on a series of hills near Nancy. The German Sixth Army was aiming to capture the city, a prize which would be worthy of a grand entrance by Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Indeed, he arrived in his Royal Train to observe the German attack and to attend a victory parade in the captured city. The Germans caused damage to villages and to Nancy by artillery bombardments, but did not succeed in capturing the city. Pont-à-Mousson and Lunéville were re-occupied by the French and Nancy was securely held in French territory for the duration of the war.
Still optimistic, an OHL intelligence officer tells German 5th Army “We are advancing triumphantly everywhere”
Moltke fears a counterattack, and orders the German right to halt entirely abandoning the Schlieffen Plan.
Aviation
Dogfight occurs over the skies of Paris between German and French fliers, but no losses occur.
Eastern Front
In north Poland, von Hindenburg's 8th Army advanced against remnants of General Schneidemann's Russian 2nd Army. In heavy fighting the Germans took Mlava.
On the Southwest Front, the Russians began organizing a government of occupation for conquered regions in Galicia. Tsar Nicholas II issued an Imperial decree extending to the whole duration of the war the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Political, etc.
Great Britain: Mr Asquith at Guildhall justifies Britain's entry into the war.
German Government agree to observe "Declaration of London" if other belligerents conform thereto, and issue their list of contraband.
In Berlin, Princess Blucher writes “Nothing is talked of but the expected entry into Paris.”
...............Triple Entente 'No Separate Peace' Agreement...............
From the French Yellow Book.
With the war underway there was concern among the Entente Powers that none among them should attempt to negotiate a separate peace with the Central Powers, thus gravely weakening the ability of the remaining belligerents to continue the war.
Thus the 'No Separate Peace' agreement came about, agreed by Britain, France and Russia in Paris on 4 September 1914, barely a month into the war.
Declaration of London
M. Delcasse, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the French Ambassadors and Ministers abroad.
Paris, September 4, 1914
The following declaration has this morning been signed at the Foreign Office at London:
"The undersigned duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments hereby declare as follows:
"The British, French, and Russian Governments mutually engage not to conclude peace separately during the present war.
The three Governments agree that when terms of peace come to be discussed, no one of the Allies will demand terms of peace without the previous agreement of each of the other Allies."
Signed:
Paul Cambon
Count Benckendorff
Edward Grey
This declaration will be published today.
Delcasse
Naval and Overseas Operations
German Government agree to observe "Declaration of London" if other belligerents conform thereto, and issue their list of contraband.
Ship Losses:
Indian Prince ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) east by north of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm ( Kaiserliche Marine).
|