By the end of August 1914, German forces were on their way to Paris after capturing friendly Belgium and advancing into northern France, propelled by brutal victories that forced five French divisions into exile. Gallieni anticipated that the Germans would reach Paris by September 5, but he did not want to sit back and wait for an assault. In order for him to fiercely defend the city in the first few days of September, he was able to persuade Joseph Joffre, the commander of the French army, to reserve him an armed force from the front. Gallieni's arguments convinced Joffre to boldly order his whole left wing to reverse course from their withdrawal on September 4, and to make a massive attack on the weak German right flank on September 6. While the French who were fleeing were able to dispatch forces by train to various sites inside the front-established radius, the German soldiers discovered that their progress was slowed by destroyed bridges and rail ties. As a result, the soldiers had limited access to food and supplies, and they also had to travel on foot. The First Battle of the Marne effectively pushed the Germans back across a distance of 40 to 50 kilometers, averting the capture of Paris. In this sense, it was a crucial tactical victory since it gave the French the determination to continue fighting. German forces began bombing Antwerp nonstop on September 28. On October 10, Antwerp was captured by German forces. The French had lost around 380,000 people to death and 600,000 to injury by the end of 1914; the Germans had suffered somewhat less. After the Battle of Ypres, when the German attempt to break through was repelled, both sides stretched-and-weary soldiers engaged in trench warfare.