SCALE: 1: 200.000 (3·15 miles to the inch). On sale at Michelin stockists and booksellers. The tourist finds his way about easily =in town=, if he has a plan giving the names of the streets. He gets about with the same ease and certainty =on the road=, if he has a =Michelin map=, because it gives all the road numbers on the milestones and road-signs. [Illustration] =The “Michelin Wheel”= BEST of all detachable wheels because the least complicated _Elegant_ It embellishes even the finest coachwork. _Simple_ It is detachable at the hub and fixed by six bolts only. _Strong_ The only wheel which held out on all fronts during the War. _Practical_ Can be replaced in 3 minutes by =anybody= and cleaned still quicker. It prolongs the life of tyres by cooling them. =AND THE CHEAPEST= [Illustration] IN MEMORY OF THE MICHELIN WORKMEN AND EMPLOYEES WHO DIED GLORIOUSLY FOR THEIR COUNTRY SOISSONS BEFORE AND DURING THE WAR PUBLISHED BY MICHELIN & C^{ie}, CLERMONT-FERRAND (France). Copyright 1919 by Michelin & C^{ie}. _All rights of translation, adaptation or reproduction (in part or whole) reserved in all countries._ SOISSONS ORIGIN AND CHIEF HISTORICAL EVENTS Soissons derives its name from the _Suessiones_, a Belgian tribe who inhabited that part of the country during the Gallic period. At that time the City, then known as _Noviodunum_, was situated about two and a half miles north-west of the Aisne on the Pommiers Plateau. After Cæsar’s conquest of the country, the city was rebuilt on the banks of the Aisne, under the name of _Augusta Suessionum_. Of the Gallo-Roman epoch, only a small portion of the city ramparts (_p. _32) remains, but excavations have brought to light the site of a large theatre (_p. _51), and at the Mail, the foundations of what were luxurious villas. The greater part of the objects unearthed are in the Museum (_p. _41), with the exception of the famous group «Le Niobide et son Pédagogue», now in the Louvre. Christianity was first preached in Soissons at the end of the 3rd century, by two shoemakers, the brothers Crispin and Crispinian, who suffered martyrdom there. Soissons played an important part throughout the whole of the Frankish Monarchy. It was at its gates that in 486, Clovis won a decisive victory over the last Roman Count, _Syagrius_, thus causing the downfall of Roman domination in Gaul. It was after this victory that the famous episode of the Soissons Vase occurred. The Frankish King lived for a long time in the city, and at his death in 511, Soissons became the capital of the kingdom of one of his sons, _Clotaire I_, who ultimately became sole king of the Franks. Later, Soissons once more became a separate kingdom under _Chilperic_, and again under _Clotaire II_ (561–613). During this period, the rivalry of _Brunehaut_ and _Frédégonde_ gave rise to sanguinary episodes in Soissons and the surrounding country.