We arrive at Betz (26 km.). Turn to the left near the church.
Betz did not suffer much from the guns, but some of its houses were burnt by the Germans, notably the Hôtel du Cheval Blanc (see p. [102]), which can still be recognised by its signboard.
HÔTEL DU CHEVAL BLANC AFTER THE FIRE
The castle was occupied by a German headquarters-staff, who left it in a deplorable state.
During the pursuit the French officers had to abandon the idea of lodging there: one of them records in his notebook: "The German officers have left disgusting traces of their passage; we see slices of melon, bearing the marks of their teeth, in the wash-hand-basins, and enormous heaps of empty and broken wine bottles."
The tourist will cross Betz by the main street, which is seen in the above illustration, and at the further end of the village he will go straight on under the railway, leaving the road to Nanteuil-le-Haudouin on the right.