_Leaving Château-Thierry by the Avenue Clemenceau (N. 3), pass under the railway bridge_, taking another glance at the completely destroyed hamlet of Courteau on the left. At the top of the stiff rise, _leave the main road (which runs to the left), and go straight along G.C. 9 towards Belleau and Torcy_. On the left the road skirts the Roches Wood, where many shell-torn trees are lying on the ground. Numerous shell-holes are visible on either side of the road. The farm-houses around here are in ruins. The clumps of trees, alternated with fields, which skirt the road, all bear marks of heavy shelling. Shelters will be noticed all along the road. _Leave on the right the “Chemin Vicinal” (poor condition), leading to_ Etrepilly, which the Americans attacked and captured on July 20, 1918. At about 2-1/2 miles from the fork where the tourist left the N. 3, =Hill 190= becomes plainly visible on the right. It is a bare eminence, full of shell holes. The panorama on pages 50, 51 was taken from there. (_To reach Hill 190, leave the car at “milestone” No. 4, where the road, at the edge of a small wood, begins to descend. After following a hawthorn hedge for about five minutes the top of the hill will be reached._) [Illustration: VISIT TO BELLEAU WOOD (28 miles).] [Illustration: PANORAMA OF BELLEAU WOOD] In the above photograph (from left to right) are seen: the village of =Bouresches=, between two small hills; =Belleau Wood=, in the middle; the villages of =Belleau= and =Torcy=; and the hamlet of =Givry= on the right. This region was grimly defended on June 1, 1918, by the “Devil’s Regiment,” as the Germans surnamed the 152nd French line regiment, on account of its daring exploits. Outflanked on June 2, this regiment was forced to withdraw from Torcy and Belleau to =Belleau Wood=, which was abandoned only after a heroic defence, and when the position was on the point of being turned. On June 3, after reforming behind the line of support furnished by the Americans, they counter-attacked Belleau Wood, advanced in spite of fierce counter-attacks by the enemy, and held all gains until night-fall, when they were relieved by the Americans. On June 7, =Bouresches= was retaken by the Allies. On the 8th, the Americans repulsed a violent attack extending from Belleau Wood to Le Thiolet, along a two-mile front. On the 9th, they broke up a new German attack near Bouresches. From June 10 to 26, fierce fighting enabled them to improve their positions. On the latter date they took 240 prisoners south of Torcy and 264 in Belleau Wood. On the 25th, they completed the capture of this wood. THE CAPTURE OF BELLEAU WOOD.