In the foreground of panorama I (pp. [182]-[183]) may be seen the houses of Mondement, which village was carried by the Germans at the same time as the castle and church, at daybreak on September 9. The French on their victorious return the same evening, drove out the remaining occupants, firing on them as they hastened down the slopes to the Marshes.

On the right may be seen Reuves and the road connecting it with Mondement. Oyes is visible on panorama II. We can easily follow the course of the German attack. After having crossed the marshes, the Germans drove Blondlat's Brigade of the Moroccan Division from these villages on the 8th. The following day the handful of Zouaves and sharp-shooters remaining in the castle, church and village, were forced to retire into the woods near Broyes.

On panorama II, the hill-top from which the panorama on pp. [170]-[171] was taken may be distinguished, as also the "Crête du Poirier" which carries it to the left towards Botrait Woods. This advanced line was, as we have seen, fiercely disputed, the bombardment being terrible. In his fine work on the Marshes of Saint-Gond, in which he relates the memoirs of M. Roland, schoolmaster at Villevenard, M. Le Goffie tells us that the percentage of German shells as compared with the French, was five to one, and he cites a detail which illustrates the German character. "The great '150' shells made a noise like a siren, and drew shrieks of joy from those assembled. 'Oh, Germany,' bleated an old doctor, lifting his eyes to heaven each time that one of these steel monsters went bellowing forth."

I. PANORAMA OF THE MARSHES OF SAINT-GOND.

This portion of the panorama fits on to the right of panorama II (p. [183]).