Throughout June and the first half of July, stiff fighting took place around the town, especially in =Courteau Wood= at the top of Hill 204. After being retaken by the Allies on June 6, this hill was constantly disputed, and repeatedly changed hands. The Germans, who were preparing their offensive of July 15, between Château-Thierry and Rheims, attached great importance to this position, which covered their right flank and dominated Château-Thierry. From July onwards the Allies, by a series of local operations, approached the town. On the night of July 1-2, the Americans captured the village of Vaux (_which the tourist passed through before entering Château-Thierry_), taking 400 prisoners belonging to the 201st German division. Enemy counter-attacks failed to win back the village. The Americans also advanced to the east of Hill 204, and finally recaptured it on July 9 during a night attack. The Allies’ successful counter-offensive of July 18 completely cleared Château-Thierry. On July 21, with their front pierced on the north and east, the enemy was forced to abandon the town, which was then entered by General Degoutte’s Army. CHÂTEAU-THIERRY PLUNDERED BY THE GERMANS. When the Franco-American troops entered Château-Thierry, the town had been methodically =sacked=. The enemy emptied the houses of everything portable, including mattresses, metallic articles, etc. The churches were likewise despoiled. In the case of St. Crépin’s Church the Germans had not time to carry off the whole of the plunder. The photograph, p. 43, shows what was hurriedly left behind, part being packed in cases, the rest, including a fireman’s brass helmet stolen from the fire-station, lying scattered about. [Illustration: THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, M. CLEMENCEAU, CONGRATULATING THE AMERICAN TROOPS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT CHÂTEAU-THIERRY. (_From “l’Illustration._”)] [Illustration: BOOTY COLLECTED BY THE GERMANS IN THE CHURCH OF ST. CRÉPIN.] That portion of the population which had remained in the town was locked up in this church on the night before the deliverance. The houses had literally been turned upside down, as the Americans, who entered the town with the French, can testify. Packing-cases full of clothing, linen, and all kinds of objects had been got ready to send to Germany, as the labels nailed on the cases prove. (_See official photos._) What the Germans could not carry away they broke, mutilated, or spoilt. Here was another example of their practice of spreading systematic ruin and desolation wherever they went. To use the ex-Kaiser’s own expression, the entire region was left “a barren waste.” Special detachments of troops had orders to collect and remove all machinery, tools, raw materials, furniture, food, etc., in the districts occupied. [Illustration: AFTER A VISIT FROM THE GERMANS! ROOM IN HOUSE AT NO. 26 RUE ST. MARTIN.] [Illustration: CHÂTEAU_THIERRY] VISIT TO THE TOWN.