"Your Highness, the pontoon bridge for the Second Corps has commenced construction. In one hour, the first bridge will be completed. At that point, our main forces will be able to cross the Marne and join the assault against the British-French coalition," exclaimed General von Below, the commander of the Second Corps, his face aglow with excitement.
Initially, they had anticipated significant losses in this battle along the Marne, but surprisingly, the defenses of the British-French forces had not posed a formidable challenge. Under the relentless German assault, they had effectively crossed the river. Now, with the construction of the pontoon bridges, more troops could be deployed to the southern bank, enabling them to execute their plan to defeat the coalition.
"Your Highness, the pontoon bridge for the Third Corps is also being constructed. Soon, our main forces will be able to cross the river," remarked Major General Haussen, commander of the Third Corps.
Duke von Furtensburg, commander of the Fourth Corps, added that by evening at the latest, their main forces would also have crossed.
Qin Tian felt a surge of joy; the current situation appeared decidedly favorable for the Germans. Although the formal attack had only commenced that day, the German forces had already achieved significant successes. The British-French defenses along the Marne, painstakingly constructed, seemed to crumble under the German onslaught.
Of course, all of this was made possible by the overwhelming firepower that the Germans had employed during the offensive. They had amassed not only a multitude of heavy artillery but also received substantial air support. The resultant barrage inflicted severe damage upon the British-French defenses, rendering them almost in shambles. This potent firepower also facilitated the infantry's crossing, leading to the breach of the first line of defense.
Without the extensive preparations made over the past six months, which greatly augmented the German firepower, none of this would have been achievable. Furthermore, the consumption of logistical supplies had reached astronomical levels.
Though the Germans had paid a hefty price, Qin Tian deemed every sacrifice worthwhile. Should they succeed in vanquishing the British-French coalition and securing victory in the war, all their efforts would have been amply rewarded.
"Yes, gentlemen, we must remain vigilant against a counteroffensive from the British-French forces. They will not accept the loss of their lines lightly. Once our main forces cross the Marne, they will be unable to withstand us," Qin Tian cautioned.
"Indeed, Your Highness," responded the three corps commanders in unison.
With the diligent efforts of the German engineers, pontoon bridges began to appear across the Marne. Waves of German soldiers crossed these bridges, reaching the southern bank, where they immediately engaged the British-French lines, intensifying the pressure on their adversaries.
The battlefield dynamics increasingly turned against the British-French coalition. General de Cassis-Ternaux, commander of the French Second Corps; General Robert George Nivelle, commander of the Fourth Corps; General Charles Mangin, commander of the Sixth Corps; and General Roy, commander of the British Expeditionary Force's Second Corps, all rushed to the command post to report the dire situation at the front to Marshal Joffre.
"Marshal, we have lost our forward positions. The second line is now under heavy attack from the Germans. They are crossing in force. If they succeed, our pressure will mount considerably, and our lines may be completely breached," General Roy said grimly.
Marshal Joffre's expression mirrored his officers' concerns. Over 800,000 troops across four corps could not hold for even a single day? How could they continue fighting under such circumstances?
"Gentlemen, this is only the first day of the German offensive. Are we truly unable to withstand it? At this rate, we might as well withdraw from the Marne defenses," Marshal Joffre declared angrily.
"Your Excellency, although the Germans began their offensive today, their artillery preparations commenced yesterday. Under the weight of their powerful bombardment and air strikes, our defenses have been devastated. Our soldiers have had to fight amidst the ruins of our fortifications, and to have held out this long is a testament to their desperation," General Roy retorted, visibly displeased by the Marshal's criticism.
Other French generals shared his sentiments, though they were reluctant to challenge their superior. General Roy, as the commander of the British Expeditionary Force, felt no such constraints.
"Indeed, Marshal. Our troops have been operating under relentless aerial bombardment. Countless soldiers have perished at the hands of German aircraft. In such circumstances, it is exceedingly difficult to resist their advance," General de Cassis-Ternaux added.
"Very well, what do you propose? Should we abandon the Marne defenses? This line is our strongest position. If we relinquish it, there will be no defensible ground between here and Paris," Marshal Joffre responded.
"Marshal, we certainly do not advocate abandoning the Marne. That would be tantamount to surrendering to the Germans. Given the intensity of their onslaught, we seek additional reinforcements to mount a counteroffensive and push them back across the river. Otherwise, we cannot hold out much longer," General Roy insisted.
"Are we prepared to deploy the Eighth and Ninth Corps immediately? We must consider that these two corps represent our final reserves," Marshal Joffre said, his countenance stern.
"Marshal, if we can repel the German advance, the Eighth and Ninth Corps can swiftly return to rest and continue as reserves. If we cannot halt their advance, then preserving our strong reserves becomes meaningless," General Roy argued.
After some contemplation, Marshal Joffre ultimately accepted this proposal. Given the Germans' formidable strength, if they could not maintain the front line, retaining strong reserves would serve little purpose.
After a thorough discussion, the French resolved to commit the two corps of reserves in the morning to launch an assault against the Germans who had crossed the Marne, aiming to drive them back across the northern bank. The four corps on the front would also engage their main forces in a desperate struggle against the Germans!