The second and succeeding installments—­the first installment appeared in CURRENT HISTORY for April—­of the official French historical review of the operations in the western theatre of war from the beginning until the end of January, 1915—­the first six months—­are described in the subjoined correspondence of The Associated Press.

LONDON, March 18, (Correspondence of The Associated Press.)—­The Associated Press has received the second installment of the historical review emanating from French official sources of the operations in the Western theatre of war, from its beginning up to the end of January.  It should be understood that the narrative is made purely from the French standpoint.  The additional installment of the document dealing with the victory of the Marne, Sept. 6th to 15th, is as follows:

If one examines on the map the respective positions of the German and French armies on Sept. 6 as previously described, it will be seen that by his inflection toward Meaux and Coulommiers General von Kluck was exposing his right to the offensive action of our left.  This is the starting point of the victory of the Marne.

On the evening of Sept. 5 our left army had reached the front Penchard-Saint-Souflet-Ver.  On the 6th and 7th it continued its attacks vigorously with the Ourcq as objective.  On the evening of the 7th it was some kilometers from the Ourcq, on the front Chambry-Marcilly-Lisieux-Acy-en-Multien.  On the 8th, the Germans, who had in great haste reinforced their right by bringing their Second and Fourth Army Corps back to the north, obtained some successes by attacks of extreme violence.  They occupied Betz, Thury-en-Valois, and Nanteuil-le-Haudouin.  But in spite of this pressure our troops held their ground well.  In a brilliant action they took three standards, and, being reinforced, prepared a new attack for the 10th.  At the moment that this attack was about to begin the enemy was already in retreat toward the north.  The attack became a pursuit, and on the 12th we established ourselves on the Aisne.

LEFT OF KLUCK’S ARMY THREATENED.

Why did the German forces which were confronting us and on the evening before attacking so furiously retreat on the morning of the 10th?  Because in bringing back on the 6th several army corps from the south to the north to face our left the enemy had exposed his left to the attacks of the British Army, which had immediately faced around toward the north, and to those of our armies which were prolonging the English lines to the right.  This is what the French command had sought to bring about.  This is what happened on Sept. 8 and allowed the development and rehabilitation which it was to effect.

On the 6th the British Army had set out from the line Rozcy-Lagny and had that evening reached the southward bank of the Grand Morin.  On the 7th and 8th it continued its march, and on the 9th had debouched to the north of the Marne below Chateau-Thiery, taking in flank the German forces which on that day were opposing, on the Ourcq, our left army.  Then it was that these forces began to retreat, while the British Army, going in pursuit and capturing seven guns and many prisoners, reached the Aisne between Soissons and Longueval.