In the Place de l'Église, turn to the right, then immediately afterwards to the left towards Champguyon. The road (G.C. 48) shortly afterwards traverses a level-crossing and passes alongside the cemetery which contains the remains of many French soldiers. This road was the one followed by the Germans when they fell back on Montmirail, before the French.
Traverse the long street of Champguyon (53 km.) which suffered much from the bombardment, but more from the fire started by the enemy. The view above was taken in the courtyard of a farm, which stands on the left of the road, a little this side of the church. The view below shows a ruined house, being one of a group about 1 km. further on.
Several of the inhabitants were murdered. The widow of one, Mme. Louvet, thus related the death of her husband:
BURNT HOUSES, CHAMPGUYON
"About 5 p.m. on September 6, my husband, whom the Germans were dragging along and striking with sticks, called to me, exclaiming: 'My wife, my poor wife.' I ran and kissed him through our garden gate, but was roughly repulsed by his captors, and fell. My poor husband was in a piteous state, blood streaming from his ears. He begged for mercy and asked: 'What harm have I done you?' He also cried out: 'Colonel, colonel.' I could not help him, for the Germans who were torturing him were from ten to fifteen in number, and kept their rifles pointed at my throat. They bore off their victim to the end of the village, doubtless to put an end to him. The next evening about 5 p.m., I found the unfortunate Louvet. His head was horribly smashed, one eye was out of its socket, and one of his wrists was broken. He was almost unrecognisable."
Continue to follow G. C. 48, then take, on the right at the cross-roads, G. C. 46 leading to Morsains (56 km.). Arrived at the latter, turn to the right beyond the church. This road is the G.C. 47. Cross through the village, and before arriving at Perthuis, turn to the left at the cross-roads. At Perthuis (58 km.) turn to the right, and, traverse the locality, turning again to the right on leaving it. We thus leave the theatre of operations of the First French Corps and enter that of the Tenth Corps. On the right of the horizon may be seen the Forest du Gault, on the borders of which the Tenth Corps engaged furious combats with the Tenth German (Reserve) Corps.
GRAVE IN A SAND-PIT
On reaching La Rue-le-Comte (59½ km.) traverse it throughout, as also a level-crossing, in order to arrive at Le Gault-la-Forêt (60½ km.). Pass through it. Several of its houses were burnt by the Germans, who also shot the old rural policeman.