Several hundred yards after leaving the wood, take on foot the broken road to the "Cavaliers de Courcy," situated on the right, about 500 yards further on.
THE AISNE CANAL AT THE "CAVALIERS DE COURCY"
The "Cavaliers de Courcy"
To the north of La Neuvillette, the Aisne-Marne Canal is flanked on both sides by enormous artificial embankments planted with fir-trees and known as the "Cavaliers de Courcy." After their retreat in September, 1914, the Germans entrenched themselves there and clung to the east bank until April, 1917.
On April 16, 1917, the French 410th Regiment of the Line attacked the enemy's formidable positions there. This Brittany regiment set out from positions to which they had given names taken from the history of their country (Quimper Bastion, Auray, Redon Bastion, etc.). On the first day they carried three successive lines of defences, and advanced about a mile. On the 17th and 18th they left their zone of action, to ensure the liaison on their right, and to help a brigade in difficulties on their left. For eight days they held their positions against powerful enemy counter-attacks, after having progressed to a depth of two miles and captured more than 400 prisoners, 11 bomb-throwers, and an immense amount of stores.
These positions, like the neighbouring villages, were re-taken by the Germans in May and June, 1918, and finally by the Allies in October, 1918.
Return to the road and follow it towards Rheims. Leave on the left the devastated Aviation-ground of Champagne—now in a state of complete upheaval, due to the terrific shelling it received—then cross the Plain of Bétheny (photo, p. [157]).
The Plain of Bétheny was the scene of two important historical events: in 1901 the Tsar Nicolas II. reviewed a part of the French Army there; in August, 1909, the Great Aviation Week was inaugurated there, in the presence of an immense crowd of spectators.