JOFFRE AND PÉTAIN AT SOUILLY
During the great battle of Verdun in 1916 General Pétain had his headquarters at Souilly Castle. The photograph opposite shows the victor of Verdun in company with General Joffre.
Go straight through Souilly to reach Lemmes (48 km.), after twice crossing the railway. To the west of the road is the battlefield of the 67th (reserve) Division and the mobile defences of the entrenched camp of Verdun which, during the Battle of the Marne, worried the German communications by frequent raids against their flank.
TROOPS DISMOUNTING FROM MOTOR-BUSES
G. C. D. 6 rejoins N. 3 beyond the hamlet of Moulin-Brûlé (54 km.). The railway is again traversed by two level-crossings.
This little line, which comes from Bar-le-Duc, and which we have followed from Beauzée, was at the beginning of the Battle of Verdun the only one possible for victualling the troops. The main line from Châlons to Verdun was under the fire of the German artillery, and that from Bar-le-Duc or from Toul to Verdun was occupied in its centre, at Saint-Mihiel, by the enemy. The capacity of this single branch was so small that all the heroism of the defenders would have been vain, and the Germans would have entered as conquerors into the old city, if, by a remarkable feat, motors had not been able to replace the feeble railway. The road which the tourist followed on leaving Bar-le-Duc, and which he rejoined at Issoncourt, has been known since that epoch as the "Voie Sacrée" (the Holy Way). An average of 1,700 motors transporting troops, ammunition and stores, went by each day in both directions, making one vehicle every twenty-five seconds. The view below gives an idea of this line of cars winding across the country.
At the junction with N. 3, shortly after passing the spot where the railway crosses the road, turn to the right in the direction of Verdun (63 km.). This town and its entrenched camp, whose renown has become worldwide, are the subject of a special volume.
FLEET OF MOTOR-BUSES BRINGING TROOPS BACK FROM VERDUN