It was believed that only part of the BEF had been engaged and that there was a main line of defence from Valenciennes to Bavai and Kluck ordered it to be enveloped on 25 August.
Det mentes, at kun en del af BEF havde været indsat, og at der var en hovedforsvarslinje fra Valenciennes til Bavai og Kluck gav ordre til, at den skulle omsluttes den 25. august.