▁of ▁the ▁Railway ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁O HL , ▁suggested ▁three ▁alternatives , ▁a ▁front al ▁attack ▁from ▁the ▁new ▁positions , ▁a ▁defence ▁of ▁the ▁line ▁of ▁the ▁A is ne ▁while ▁res erves ▁were ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁right ▁fl ank ▁or ▁to ▁continue ▁the ▁withdraw al ▁and ▁compreh ens ively ▁re group ▁the ▁German ▁arm ies , ▁ready ▁to ▁conduct ▁an ▁off ensive ▁on ▁the ▁right ▁fl ank . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁September , ▁Fal ken h ay n ▁wanted ▁to ▁continue ▁the ▁withdraw al ▁and ▁ordered ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Army ▁to ▁fall ▁back ▁and ▁dig ▁in ▁from ▁Ar tem s ▁to ▁La ▁F ère ▁and ▁N ouv ion - et - Cat illon , ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁right ▁fl ank ▁from ▁a ▁French ▁off ensive , ▁while ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Army ▁moved ▁from ▁Lor raine ▁to ▁the ▁western ▁fl ank , ▁ready ▁for ▁a ▁general ▁off ensive ▁to ▁begin ▁progress ively ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁September ▁from ▁the ▁ 5 th ▁Army ▁in ▁the ▁east , ▁pin ning ▁French ▁troops ▁down ▁west wards , ▁until ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Army ▁en velop ed ▁the ▁French , ▁beyond ▁the ▁right ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Army . ▁The ▁plan ▁was ▁cancel led ▁soon ▁afterwards , ▁when ▁Ober st ▁( Col onel ) ▁Ger hard ▁T appen ▁( O HL ▁Oper ations ▁Branch ), ▁reported ▁from ▁a ▁tour ▁of ▁ins pection ▁at ▁the ▁front ▁that ▁the ▁French ▁were ▁too ▁exha usted ▁to ▁begin ▁an ▁off ensive , ▁that