The coming into the line of the 42nd Division braced up their forces for the supreme effort asked by Foch. We are following the axis of the French march during this counter offensive, the first result of which was the relief of =Connantre=. _This village may be seen from the road, on the right, before traversing the level crossing. 100 yards further on is the entrance to Connantre Castle_, in which the Light Infantrymen took prisoner several hundred Guards. [Illustration: GRAVES IN FÈRE STATION] [Illustration: RUINS OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STATION] _The road goes straight towards Fère-Champenoise across the plain, which is dotted here and there with clumps of trees. At =Fère-Champenoise= (21 km.) turn to the left into the "Grand-Place" in order to reach the station, which is about 900 yards away_. This was much damaged by bombardment. _About 300 yards on the right, by following the railway lines, may be seen_ the grave in the photograph below. The fighting around the station was very violent. _We retrace our steps to the Grand-Place Square, turn to the left before the town-hall, and, passing it, take the first street on the right in the direction of Sommesous and Vitry-le-François._ In this street, on the left, are the ruins of the electric power station (view above), and on the right a few burnt houses. [Illustration: PLATEAU OF ROCHELLE SEEN FROM THE ROAD] Fère-Champenoise fell into the hands of the Germans on September 8 when the heroic defence of the Eleventh Corps had been broken on the line of the Somme, over which we are about to travel. The reserve of the guards pillaged as a matter of course, and celebrated noisily the German victory. Near the town-hall a piano was brought into the street to accompany the dance of the soldiers, attired in all sorts of headgear, taken from the window of a neighbouring hatter. Wine flowed, and the streets were strewn with empty bottles. It was in the midst of these rejoicings that the order to retreat arrived like a thunderbolt on September 9. On the 10th, General Foch made Fère his headquarters. _On leaving the town we come across fan-shaped cross-roads and take the road farthest to the left. 200 yards along this, take the lane on the right, following the edge of the hill which dominates the Vaure._ [Illustration: REVIEW ON THE PLATEAU OF ROCHELLE] _After climbing 2½ km. the summit of the hill is reached._ On the right of the road stretches the plateau of Rochelle, dotted with clumps of pine and covered with graves. _Leave the car at the spot indicated in the photograph at foot of p. 186 and set out on foot towards the centre of the plateau._