On the other side of the level-crossing is =Charny=. It was at Charny that the Germans crossed the Meuse in 1870. Incidentally, they shot the former notary, M. Violard, under the pretext that he had aided an attack by the francs-tireurs of Verdun. In 1916, the village was frequently bombarded by the enemy, particularly on March 31st. [Illustration: THE CHURCH AND MAIN STREET OF CHARNY SEEN FROM THE OTHER SIDE IN MAY, 1919 On the horizon: Poivre Hill] [Illustration: MARRE VILLAGE IN RUINS. Beyond the Church take the road on the right to Cumières. That on the left, leading to Bourrus Woods, is impracticable for cars.] II.—From Charny to Cumières _Return to the level crossing, then turn to the right on leaving Charny. The road skirts the northern slopes of the hills on which stands the_ modern forts of =Vacherauville=, =Marre= and =Bourrus Woods=. _Cross through Marre village, in ruins. Beyond the ruined church follow the right-hand road (photo above) to_ =Cumières=. _Half-way between Marre and Cumières are (on the right) the station of_ =Chattancourt=, _(on the left) the road leading to that village_. [Illustration: CUMIÈRES IN MAY, 1916] Attacked on March 14th and destroyed by shell-fire on April 25th, =Cumières= was only captured by the Germans on the night of May 23rd. Three days later the French retook the eastern portion after a desperate combat. On May 29th and 30th, after two days of continual bombardment, they were momentarily driven back towards Chattancourt, but a vigorous counter-attack brought them back to the southern outskirts of the village. Caurettes Wood, to the S.W. of Cumières, remained, however, in the enemy’s hands. [Illustration: Haumont Wood Oie Hill Samogneux River Meuse National Road No. 64 Poivre Hill Talou Hill Champneuville Road from Champneuville to Vacherauville Froide-Terre Hill Champ Village Vacherauville Fort PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE RIGHT BANK OF THE MEUSE SEEN FROM OIE HILL (_see_ Outline Map below).] On August 20th, 1917, Cumières village and wood were retaken by a regiment of the Légion Étrangère, who attacked singing the famous popular song “La Madelon.” [Illustration: CUMIÈRES IN AUGUST, 1917.] [Illustration] _From_ =Cumières= _continue straight ahead to Oie Hill, from where the above panoramic view was taken_. [Illustration: CHATTANCOURT ON MAY 16TH, 1916. On the horizon: The slopes of Mort-Homme.] III.—From Cumières to Chattancourt and Mort-Homme _On leaving Cumières return to the Station of Chattancourt, and take on the right the road to_ =Chattancourt=, which is about 800 yards further on. This village was completely levelled (_photo below_). [Illustration: CHATTANCOURT IN 1919. Nothing remains of the houses and trees. The road seen in the above photo leads to Mort-Homme.] [Illustration: THE GERMAN ATTACKS OF MARCH 5TH–14TH, 1916, ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE MEUSE]