Rheims and the Battles for its PossessionPneu Michelin (Firm)
History
Rheims and the Battles for its Possession
Pneu Michelin (Firm)
Reims (France) -- Guidebooks; World War, 1914-1918 -- Battlefields -- Guidebooks
The road continues to climb the northern slopes of the Mountain of
Rheims. On a hill to the left, the =Chapel of St. Lié= dominates the
surrounding plain. There is a very fine view of Rheims from here.
_The top of the rise is reached soon afterwards. Descend the southern
slopes, passing between the sidings of an_ important material and
ammunition depot situated on the reverse side of the mountain out of
sight of the enemy's observation-posts. _On reaching the crossing
half-way down the hill, leave on the left the two roads leading
respectively to_ =Ville Dommange= _and_ =Courmas=.
_A short distance further on, after passing the road to Onrézy (on the
left), take the following narrow road on the left_, which passes between
clumps of trees that were cut to pieces by shell-fire.
_A little further on, on the right, is a_ cemetery containing the graves
of some two hundred French, British and Italian soldiers.
_Turn to the right after the cemetery._ The road crosses a fine avenue
bordered with shell-torn poplar trees, leading to the =Castle of
Commetreuil= _on the left_. _The village of_ =Bouilly= is reached soon
afterwards.
[Illustration: THE END OF BOUILLY VILLAGE
(_going towards St. Euphraise_).]
=Bouilly--St. Euphraise--Clairizet=
(_See pp. 131-132, and Itinerary, p. 122._)
Bouilly was burnt by the Germans on September 12, 1914, under the
pretext that the inhabitants had caused the death of two _Uhlans_ killed
the day before by French _Chasseurs_.
_Turn to the right opposite the Church of Bouilly._ There is a small
cemetery on the right, just outside the village, containing several
German graves.
_On reaching G.C. 6, leading to Rheims, turn to the right. Take the
first road on the left_, which passes through a small devastated wood,
where batteries of guns were posted. _Cross a small stream, and
immediately afterwards the railway, then turn to the left into the
village of_ =St. Euphraise=.
_Turn to the right in the village, opposite the church._ The road rises
steeply to the hamlet of =Clairizet=, which was almost entirely
destroyed. _Pass by a_ "Calvary," composed of four large trees
surrounding a cross, _then turn to the left into a small narrow street_.
[Illustration: RUINED CHURCH OF ST. EUPHRAISE]
[Illustration: COULOMMES VILLAGE SEEN FROM THE CHURCH]
=Coulommes-la-Montagne--Vrigny=
(_See Itinerary, p. 122._)
_The road rises, then descends to_ =Coulommes-la-Montagne=. _Turn to the
right at the entrance to the village._ The church, in ruins, is on the
left.
_At the cross-roads just outside the village take G.C. 26 on the left.
At first, the road dips rather abruptly, then rises to_ =Vrigny=.
The Church of Vrigny, entirely in ruins, is on the right at the entrance
to the village. _Pass the Town Hall, leaving a public washing-place on
the left, then turn to the right._
_On leaving the village, take G.C. 26 on the left to the village of_
=Gueux=.
[Illustration: RUINS OF THE CHURCH AT VRIGNY]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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