VISIT TO THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS
OF THE
FOURTH AND THIRD FRENCH ARMIES
II.—FROM VITRY-LE-FRANÇOIS TO BAR-LE-DUC
(82 km.)
via Vauclerc, Écriennes, Favresse, Étrepy, Heiltz-le-Maurupt, Pargny, Maurupt, Cheminon, Trois-Fontaines, Sermaize, Vassincourt.
(See map inserted between pp. [212]-[213])
After leaving Vitry by N. 4, crossing the Marne and a level-crossing, Marolles (3 km.) is reached. In this village an old man of 70 years, M. Mathieu Coche, was seized by German cavalrymen and led away tied to a horse, with which he was obliged to keep pace. On arriving in the neighbourhood of Vitry-en-Perthois (nearly 30 km. to the north of Marolles) the poor old fellow's strength gave out, he fell and was dragged along by the horse until death ensued. His body was then left behind, and could not be buried until after the German retreat.
N. 4 next passes through Vauclerc (6 km.). On the left of the road a great number of new roofs are to be seen, although many of the houses are still in the same state as that in which the shelling and the fire left them. During the whole of the battle this village was the objective of the Lejaille Brigade. It was only retaken, by the Colonial Corps, on September 11.
About 1,300 yards beyond Vauclerc, where graves border the road on either side, is, on the right, a road leading to Écriennes. Before taking it, follow N. 4 for 400 yards further, in order to see a burying-place of the Colonials, shown in the photo below. The view gives an idea of the immense plain, where furious encounters took place between this crack corps and the troops of the Duke of Wurtemberg.
