_At the cross-roads at the entrance to the village, turn to the left towards the Marshes and Coizard, to which_ G. C. 43 _leads us_. [Illustration: VIEW OF THE MARSHES] The above photograph gives an aspect of this marshy region. The line of poplars crossing it follows the course of the Morin. The heights on the horizon are those of Toulon-la-Montagne and Vert-la-Gravelle. They were occupied on September 6 by the outposts of the 17th Division, who, however, could not hold them. The Germans then installed batteries there which swept all the south-east portion of the marshes. In spite of this fact, on the same day a battalion of the 77th Line Regiment tried to retake the heights. We are now following the course of the attacking troops who left Bannes under a murderous fire from the heavy artillery and machine-guns. When the road became too dangerous, they entered the marshes and advanced painfully up to their waists in water. Some disappeared suddenly, swallowed up by the bogs. They succeeded eventually in reaching Coizard and, after fighting in the streets and houses, drove off the Germans, and began to assail the slopes which dominate the village. But the enemy had here a crushing superiority, and after a seven-hours' fight the French were obliged to retire across the marshes, pursued by the dropping fire of the batteries on the northern bank which raked the narrow causeways. The Germans wished to push home their advantage and take foot on the southern bank, and accordingly began to cross the marshes by the Coizard-Bannes road. Their losses were heavy, for the machine-guns and "75's" directed a cross-fire on them. They came on nevertheless and reached Bannes, but when they endeavoured to advance on Mont-Août, they were met by so fierce a fire that they were obliged to draw back into the village. Mont-Août did not fall until September 9, having been outflanked on the south. [Illustration: DESTROYED BRIDGE OVER THE MORIN] Cross the Morin, whose bridge was destroyed at the beginning of the battle (photograph opposite), then leaving the soft ground of the marshes, cross one of the drained parts whose number increases every year; thus reducing considerably the original swamp which comprised all the hollow. [Illustration: COIZARD CHURCH] _On reaching =Coizard=, turn first to the left, then to the right in order to arrive at the church (24 km.)._ The villages on the north of the marshes suffered less than those on the south, for the French bombardment was less intense than the German. A few houses were however destroyed in Coizard (view above). _Turn to the left this side of the church (the road, is visible in the above photograph) and continue to follow_ G. C. 43 _for 1 km. as far as =Joches=. At the corner of the farm_, of which the view below shows the interior, and which was burnt by the Germans, _turn to the right towards Congy, thus leaving the marshes_.