▁( General ▁Paul ▁Super bie ) ▁with ▁the ▁ 8 th ▁Caval ry ▁Division ▁( General ▁Louis ▁A ub ier ) ▁on ▁the ▁fl ank . ▁The ▁French ▁advanced ▁from ▁B elf ort ▁to ▁Mul house ▁and ▁Col mar ▁ ▁to ▁the ▁north - east ▁but ▁were ▁ham per ed ▁by ▁the ▁break down ▁of ▁the ▁supply ▁service ▁and ▁del ays . ▁The ▁French ▁seized ▁the ▁border ▁town ▁of ▁Alt kir ch ▁ ▁south ▁of ▁Mul house ▁with ▁a ▁bay on et ▁charge ▁for ▁a ▁loss ▁of ▁ ▁killed . ▁ ▁On ▁ 8 ▁August , ▁B onne au ▁c aut iously ▁continued ▁the ▁advance ▁and ▁occupied ▁Mul house , ▁shortly ▁after ▁the ▁German ▁ 5 8 th ▁Infantry ▁Brigade ▁retre ated . ▁The ▁First ▁Army ▁commander , ▁General ▁August e ▁Dub ail , ▁preferred ▁to ▁dig ▁in ▁and ▁wait ▁for ▁mobil isation ▁to ▁finish ▁but ▁J off re ▁ordered ▁the ▁advance ▁to ▁continue . ▁In ▁the ▁early ▁morning ▁of ▁ 9 ▁August , ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁XIV ▁and ▁XV ▁Corps ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁ 7 th ▁Army ▁arrived ▁from ▁Str as bourg ▁and ▁counter - att ack ed ▁at ▁C ern ay . ▁The ▁German ▁inf antry ▁emer ged ▁from ▁the ▁Hard t ▁forest ▁and ▁advanced ▁into ▁the ▁east ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁city . ▁Communic ation ▁on ▁both ▁sides ▁failed ▁and ▁both ▁fought ▁isolated ▁actions , ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁making ▁cost ly ▁front al ▁attacks . ▁As ▁night ▁fell , ▁German ▁troops ▁at ▁the ▁sub urb ▁of ▁R ix heim , ▁east