Leave Paris by the Avenue Jean Jaurès, Pantin Gate, and the National Road N. 3.
(At the Toll-Gate ask for a “bon de réintroduction” (free) for the gasoline in the tank and reserve tins. This will enable the tourist, on his return, to enter Paris with a similar quantity of gasoline free of charge.)
N. 3 goes straight ahead and is easy to follow, the “milestones” being plainly marked “N. 3.”
The localities of Pantin, Bondy, Livry, Villeparisis, and Claye are successively passed through, Meaux being afterwards reached by the Route de Paris and the Rue du Faubourg St. Remi.
(See the Michelin Illustrated Guide, “The Battle of the Marne, 1914,” for directions for visiting this beautiful, historical city, and for a detailed description of the fighting in this sector.)
Turn to the right, pass under the railway bridge, continue straight along the Rue St. Remi, skirt the Cathedral, then follow the Rue St. Nicolas and the Rue du Faubourg St. Nicolas.
The following villages are next passed through without difficulty: Trilport, St. Jean-les-deux-Jumeaux and Sammeron, after which the tourist arrives at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre. Turn to the left into the Rue de Condé, and again to the left into the Rue du Faubourg, cross the Marne, and continue straight ahead along the Rue du Pelletier and Rue du Limon. Crossing over the railway the road turns to the right, rising above the valley of the Marne. Montreuil is next passed through.
Just before entering Le Thiolet (the first ruined village on the tour), along the left side of the road, there is an American Cemetery.
Shortly after, Vaux is reached, but before coming to it, another American Cemetery will be seen to the left of the road.
This village, which is situated in a hollow, was literally wiped out (photo, p. 60). The ruins in the bottom of the valley, to the right of the road, are most impressive. (The tourist will visit them on his way to Essommes, as per the Itinerary.)