In 1914, the town was bombarded by the Germans on August 24, from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. the next day, and again on the 25th at 11 o’clock, with incendiary shells. [Illustration: ETAIN CHURCH. CENTRAL NAVE SEEN FROM THE CHOIR] Many of the inhabitants were killed on the 24th. On the 25th others, who had taken refuge in the cellars of the Town Hall, perished under the ruins of that building. 200 fled along the Verdun road. A girl telephonist remained at her post and kept in touch with Verdun every quarter of an hour. Her last message (on the 25th) was: “A bomb has just fallen on the office.” The same day French troops routed the German XXXIIIrd D.R. in a glorious battle at Etain. Nevertheless, the enemy occupied the town, which was systematically looted. Every two days train-loads of furniture, linen, wines, food, cloth, boots, tools and raw materials were sent to Germany. In April, 1915, French troops captured Hills 219 and 221, Hôpital Farm (formerly belonging to Order of St. Jean de Rhodes) and Haut-Bois Farm, reaching the immediate vicinity of the town, without, however, entering it. _In the_ partly destroyed town, _N. 18 is picked up again, which take to the left_. The greatly damaged church (_photos, pp. 141 and 142_) _is seen on the right_. Its belfry was torn open by the bombardments, leaving visible the interior, where the Germans had installed an observation-post. [Illustration: ETAIN CHURCH. LIGIER RICHIER’S “DESCENT FROM THE CROSS”] _Viollet-le-Duc_ considered the Church of Etain, with its three naves, as one of the five most remarkable churches in the Meuse province. Begun in the 13th century, it was completed in the 15th. The imposing choir, with its large, many-mullioned windows, is 15th century. In the right aisle are a remarkable holy-water basin, and a statue of Our Lady of Mercy by _Ligier Richier_. The basin is of bell-metal and, like those of Nevers and Bourges, shaped like a mortar, but the epitaph round it proves its sacred origin. The _Ligier Richier_ group (1528) represents the Virgin Mary gazing on the dead body of Christ. It differs slightly from that of Clermont-en-Argonne, attributed to the same sculptor. [Illustration: PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE MEUSE HEIGHTS] [Illustration: FIÉVÈTERIE FARM AND VILLAGE OF EIX _Seen from the Verdun road._] _Beyond Etain, N. 18 crosses the Orne stream (photo, p. 141) and the military defences of the town, of which several concrete works remain._ _The road crosses Woëvre Plain. Shortly before reaching the level-crossing, before arriving at the railway station and village of_ =Abaucourt=, the Meuse Heights can clearly be seen on the horizon, at the end of Woëvre Plain (_panorama above_). [Illustration: Abaucourt]