The “+” on the sketch-map above shows the spot from where the panorama should be viewed. The car in the photo came from Souville Fort, turning to the right towards Vaux Village.
After visiting the village return to the cross-roads and take the road on the right to Douaumont, seen on the left half of the above [panorama] (p. 66). The bombardments have left no trace of St. Fine Chapel.
IV.—From Souville Fort to Vaux Village and Pond
After visiting Souville Fort return to the cross-ways at St. Fine Chapel, seen in the above photo.
ATTACKING WAVES OF INFANTRY CROSSING FUMIN WOOD (Oct. 1916).
It was the ruins of this chapel that the enemy reached on July 12th, 1916, and that the 2nd regiment of Zouaves, at the order of General Mangin, recaptured in order to relieve Souville Fort.
At the cross-roads, take the I. C. 12 on the right to Vaux village. The road dips down into a gorge between the woods of Le Chapitre and Fumin.
Chapitre and Fumin Woods.—To the west and east of the road leading to Vaux village, these two woods cover the flanks of the plateau which dominates Vaux Ravine and supports Vaux Fort. It was there that the Germans sought to outflank the fort on the west to reach Souville, but they were held in check during May. From June, 1916, these woods were subjected to bombardments of incredible intensity. A powerful German attack on June 23rd failed, but another on July 12th enabled the Germans to get a footing in Fumin Wood. In August and September frequent enemy attacks gave them temporary local gains. On October 24th and 25th, and again at the end of the month, French counter-attacks captured the enemy strongholds and cleared the woods completely.