On the same day, the Germans carried the northern side of Château-Thierry, defended to the last by the French Colonial Division (General Marchand) and the motorised machine-gun battalion of the 3rd American Division which, later, prevented them from crossing the Marne. On the east, the fighting was less fierce, but the 120th Division (General Mordacq), in defending the wooded slopes in front of Cuchery, sustained very bitter fighting. At the end of the line the Colonials prevented any enemy advance in the direction of Rheims. On June 2 the enemy’s plan was made clear. While their principal efforts were directed westwards, south of the Aisne they reached Missy-aux-Bois, and lower down heavy fighting took place in the afternoon on both banks of the Ourcq. French cavalry, fighting on foot, drove back the enemy with fine dash to the south of Dammard, but were compelled to fall back in the evening, the enemy having received reinforcements. * * * * * On the 3rd the Germans launched a general attack against the Villers-Cotterets Wood, between the Aisne and the Ourcq. All their available reserves (three divisions of fresh troops) attacked with the first-line divisions. To the north, they carried Missy-aux-Bois and progressed beyond it, and after sustaining very heavy casualties reached Amblény and Dommiers, where they were checked by French reinforcements. Lower down, they reached Longpont, and advancing along the Ourcq, south of the wood, progressed towards La Ferté-Milon _via_ Troësnes. In the evening, after heavy losses, they were held up on the Montaigu-Dommiers-Longpont line, thus leaving Villers-Cotterets Woods still intact. [Illustration: GENERAL FOCH (_on the left_) AND GENERAL FAYOLLE (_on the right_).] On June 4, the fighting was less fierce. Combats still took place, but they had neither the scope nor the strategical importance of those of the preceding days. * * * * * The Crown Prince’s Army was now exhausted. On June 5, this army from the Oise to La Pompelle numbered thirty-four first-line divisions. All its reserves had been engaged, with the exception of seven divisions, of which two were inferior troops and two fairly good. Eight divisions had been withdrawn from the battle.