Numerous defensive works surrounded this chateau and the farm belonging to it. These buildings, now entirely in ruins, occupied the site of an abbey founded in the 12th century. [Illustration: CHATEAU OF ST-CRÉPIN-EN-CHAYE. _January 1919._ _On the left: ruins of farm and bomb-proof shelter; on the right: trench leading to the Château seen in the background through the trees._] [Illustration: THE MAIL BEFORE THE WAR.] _After visiting Saint-Crépin, take the road (_V.O._ 15), along which ran strong defence-works and which leads to the Promenade du Mail. Follow the promenade towards the town as far as Pont-Neuf._ The Promenade du Mail, extending from the Hôtel-de-Ville to Vauxrot, contained a trench throughout its entire length which led to the front lines in the northern sector. The Mail, bordered by the river Aisne and planted with century-old trees, dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, and before the War was one of the finest public gardens in France. It was completely spoilt by formidable defence-works. A series of trenches, strengthened by defence-works of every kind and by strong points such as the Brasserie du Mail on the Bank of the Aisne, began in the middle of the Mail. They branched out at the end of the Promenade into a great number of outposts, blockhouses and observation posts, from which the naked eye could discern the entrenchments of the camouflaged German outposts on the right bank of the Aisne. Communication with the Allies’ bridge-head on both banks was ensured by foot-bridges, constantly under fire, and temporary ways over the two partially destroyed bridges. [Illustration: THE MAIL DURING THE WAR. _In the background: the band-stand near which General de Grandmaison was killed._] [Illustration: THE PONT-NEUF, BLOWN UP BY THE BRITISH.] _Cross the Aisne at the_ =Pont-Neuf=. The Pont-Neuf or Pont-du-Mail, over which passes the National Road (N^o 2) from Paris to Maubeuge, was built in 1903 of reinforced concrete. On September 1, 1914, the British blew up the middle arch. It was subsequently found possible to contrive a crossing over the broken arch, hidden from the view of the enemy by the gaily coloured tents of a travelling show which happened to be in Soissons when war was declared (_photo below_). [Illustration: THE PONT-NEUF CAMOUFLAGED.] [Illustration: THE DISTILLERY IN 1917. _The French First Line in the Distillery._] _From the Pont-Neuf, take the Avenue de Laon to the Place de Laon, then take the Avenue de Vauxrot on the left to Vauxrot and Pasly._ (_See map, p. _53 _and Itinerary, p. _52) _About half-a-mile from the Place de Laon_ are the ruins of a large =distillery= which formed the first French position and was strongly fortified. [Illustration: THE DISTILLERY IN 1918.] [Illustration: THE GLASS-WORKS AT VAUXROT. _In the foreground: A German grave._ _The German First Line in the Glass-Works._]