Trenches captured in August, 1917] [Illustration: Road to Montzéville Hill 304 Road to Esnes THE ROAD FROM CHATTANCOURT TO ESNES, AT THE FOOT OF HILL 275. In the background the road forks, that on the left going to Montzéville, the one on the light to Esnes. The tourist should take the latter.] IV.—From Mort-Homme to Esnes. _From Mort-Homme return to the starting-point at Chattancourt, and take on the right the road to Esnes (see photo at the bottom of p. 94)._ [Illustration: ESNES VILLAGE IN 1919. _On the left_, THE CASTLE; _on the right_, THE CHURCH.] This fairly steep road scales the northern slopes of Hill 275. Driving is rather difficult by reason of the numerous shell holes in the road. A pass is soon reached, from which Hill 304 can be seen opposite (_photo, p. 98_). [Illustration: ESNES IN JANUARY, 1916] This road crosses all the organisations of the first line shelters, posts of commandment, dressing-stations, etc. _Continue as far as a crossing_ (visible in _photo, p. 98_), _where turn to the right into_ =Esnes=. By reason of its position, S. of Hills 304 and 295, Esnes was an important base of operations during the Battle of Verdun. It was subjected to frequent enemy bombardments, of which the most violent occurred on March 20th and 21st, April 5th, 6th, 12th, 25th and 26th, and June 22nd, 1916. The three photographs on pp. 98 and 99 show the aspects of the village at three different stages of the battle. [Illustration: ESNES ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1916.] [Illustration: Mort-Homme Heights on the left bank of the river Hill 275 Road to Chattancourt Marre Fort Hill 272 Bourrus Woods Hill 310 FROM MORT-HOMME TO BOURRUS WOODS; PANORAMIC VIEW TAKEN FROM THE WAYSIDE CROSS AT ESNES (_see_ Outline-Map below).] [Illustration: OUTLINE-MAP OF THE GROUND COVERED BY THE ABOVE PANORAMIC VIEW.] V.—From Esnes to Montfaucon, via Hill 304 _After passing in front of the ruins of Esnes Church, continue straight ahead, taking the second road on the right (not the first, which leads to Béthincourt—see photograph above)._ _The road on the left ends in a very steep rough track and is impracticable for cars._ _The road to be followed zig-zags up to the_ =Wayside Cross of Esnes=, _from which there is a magnificent view of the battlefields on the left bank from Mort-Homme to Bourrus Woods (Panorama above)_. _At the Wayside Cross take the road to the right._ _The left-hand one (seen in the foreground on photo, p. 101) leads to Avocourt. The tourist will take it on his return from_ =Montfaucon=. _The one on the right (in the foreground on photo, p. 100) passes between_ =Hills 287 and 304= _(the latter of celebrated memory) crosses the ruins of_ =Haucourt and Malancourt villages=, and ends at =Montfaucon=. [Illustration: THE TOP OF HILL 304, SEEN FROM POMMERIEUX PLATEAU.] HILL 304