What exactly could have happened if the German armies wheren't ordered to retreat? How long where the BEF and 5th French Army able to attack? What are the possibilities?
I guess it wasn't inpossible for Bülow and Kluck to repel the BEF attack, which wasn't realy in top condition and had to be realy pushed to join the attack at Marne. The French 6th Army was not able to stop the German 1st Army. But the real challenge was the combination of the three Armies. But Kluck could leave some forces in front of the 6th Army and attack the BEF in the back (simular to the sitiuation of 6th September). They and 5th French Army would have to retreat to prevent encirclement.
I guess it wasn't inpossible for Bülow and Kluck to repel the BEF attack, which wasn't realy in top condition and had to be realy pushed to join the attack at Marne. The French 6th Army was not able to stop the German 1st Army. But the real challenge was the combination of the three Armies. But Kluck could leave some forces in front of the 6th Army and attack the BEF in the back (simular to the sitiuation of 6th September). They and 5th French Army would have to retreat to prevent encirclement.