RUINS AT COURDEMANGES
We reach Huiron (53 km.) which was completely destroyed by the fire kindled by the Germans on September 7, after having taken the village from the 12th Corps. The interesting twelfth century church, and the ruins of the abbey buildings backing up to it, have been ravaged by the flames. The pillars of the nave have crumbled away, and in the photograph opposite fragments of broken columns may be seen scattered about. Huiron was only retaken on the night of the 10-11th.
FLOODS AT FOOT OF MONT-MORET
400 yards from the church turn to the right into G. C. 2; then after about 700 yards, turn to the left in order to enter the village of Courdemanges. This has suffered much from fire and bombardment. On the right of the street stood the castle, which has been completely destroyed.
GRAVES NEAR FRIGNICOURT
Courdemanges, which was occupied on the 6th by the 12th Corps, was attacked with great violence. It was abandoned at 5 p.m., and retaken during the night. Continuously shelled by the Germans on the 7th and 8th, it fell on the latter day into their hands. The 12th Corps counter-attacked energetically, but succeeded only on the 11th in re-entering the village.
After going as far as the church, return again by the same road to G. C. 2 and cross it in order to go straight towards Frignicourt. On the right is Mont-Moret which played an important part in the fighting in this region. The batteries of the 12th Corps were installed there on September 6. After heavy shelling and infantry attacks, Mont-Moret fell on the morning of the 8th, but units of the 12th Corps, aided by the Colonial Corps, counter-attacked with determination, and in the evening obtained possession of the ridge, capturing a few machine-guns. They remained there in spite of fierce assaults, which caused heavy losses to the Germans and gave no result.
The road crosses the railway in a low-lying plain often flooded by the Marne, as seen in the photograph on p. [216]; Mont-Moret can be distinguished in the background.