Soissons before and during the war

by Unknown

THE MAIL DURING THE WAR.
In the background: the band-stand near which General de Grandmaison was killed.

THE PONT-NEUF, BLOWN UP BY THE BRITISH.
Cross the Aisne at the Pont-Neuf.

The Pont-Neuf or Pont-du-Mail, over which passes the National Road (N^o 2) from Paris to Maubeuge, was built in 1903 of reinforced concrete.

On September 1, 1914, the British blew up the middle arch. It was subsequently found possible to contrive a crossing over the broken arch, hidden from the view of the enemy by the gaily coloured tents of a travelling show which happened to be in Soissons when war was declared (photo below).

THE PONT-NEUF CAMOUFLAGED.

THE DISTILLERY IN 1917.
The French First Line in the Distillery.