_Follow_ N. 34 _for about 200 yards in Sommesous, then turn to the left into_ N. 77. The combats were particularly violent at the junction of these two roads. _Next, take the second street on the left, seen in the photograph below, in order to reach the centre of the village._ Sommesous was entirely destroyed by bombardment and by fire, but is slowly rising again from its ashes. [Illustration: RUINED HOUSE AT SOMMESOUS] [Illustration: THE CHURCH AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT] The church, of which the photographs on this page show the state after the bombardment, is on the right of the street, towards the end of the village. It is now being restored. [Illustration: THE CHURCH AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT] In going from Sommesous to Écury-le-Repos we traverse the line of the Somme which the Eleventh Corps and the 60th (reserve) Division defended so energetically. This line was formed by the river, and by the railway which follows it at a little distance, along the plateau of the left bank. On September 6 and 7 this position was held by the French against furious attacks by Saxons and Guards supported by artillery. On the 8th the French troops, heavily outnumbered, were obliged to withdraw to Connantray and Fère-Champenoise. September 9 witnessed Foch's counter-attack, which reached the Somme on the 10th and crossed it, on the 11th, in pursuit of the enemy. [Illustration: VASSIMONT] Naturally at the bridge-heads of Sommesous, Haussimont, Vassimont, Lenharrée, Normée, and Ecury some of the most obstinate fighting took place; thus the ruins there are numerous. _On leaving Sommesous, the road crosses the railway on the level and goes towards Haussimont, skirting the Somme, the valley of which lies to the left. At =Haussimont=, cross the Somme and turn to the right into G. C. 18 in order to enter and pass through the village._ A few houses are still in ruins, but many have been rebuilt. [Illustration: CASTLE OF CHAPELAINE] [Illustration: ROAD IN HOLLOW, LENHARRÉE] G. C. 18 _continues between the Somme and the railway towards =Vassimont= (where we cross the river again). Turn to the left in order to traverse this locality_, which was much damaged, as may be seen in the view on p. 190. _Leaving the village, take the first road on the left and cross the Somme. 500 yards further on is the hamlet of =Chapelaine=, with its castle of the same name (photograph p. 190)._ The fighting was intense at this point. _Return to_ G. C. 18 _and turn to the left towards =Lenharrée= (54 km.)._ Arriving there, we have on the left (_on the right in the view above_) the road, which descends to the river. The many graves around indicate the fierce struggle for the possession of the ford. [Illustration: GRAVE IN A FARM-YARD, LENHARRÉE] [Illustration: GRAVES NEAR THE SOMME]