While these events were in progress the battle of the Marne had been won. Sompuis was retaken amidst fierce fighting at 5 p.m. on the 10th by the 21st Corps, which freed another victim in the village itself: an old man of 70, named Jacquemin. He had been tied to his bed by a German officer and left there without food for three days. "_Each time that he asked for food or water_," declared his daughter-in-law, "_he was struck_." A shell fell on the house and killed the tormentor on the spot. The corpse of the officer was found in the house of his victim, who died two or three days after his deliverance as the result of the ill-treatment he had received. [Illustration: DOORWAY OF CHURCH HUIRON] _On leaving Sompuis, continue straight along_ G. C. 12 _to =Humbauville=._ On September 8 the heights seen on the right were gallantly defended against Saxon attacks by a detachment of Bretons. On the 9th the latter were thrown back in disorder by the 13th Division, which had been sent as a reinforcement. [Illustration: CHURCH AND ANCIENT ABBEY HUIRON] _At the entrance to Humbauville (42 km.) turn to the right, then, at the church, take on the left_ G. C. 14 _in the direction of =Huiron=._ We are now on the battlefield of the 17th Corps. G. C. 14 formed the French position at the beginning of the battle; on the 6th the road was left behind, and the Germans driven back northwards as far as the railway line going from Sompuis to Huiron. But on the 8th the 17th Corps was repulsed in its turn, and G. C. 14 became the German line. The French troops clung to the heights to the south of the road and particularly to Certine Farm, where General Dupuis was killed. The fighting was of a desperate character. The Germans, in their fury, revenged themselves on the wounded; eight badly hurt soldiers of the 88th Infantry Regiment, whom Sub-Lieutenant Baudens had been obliged to leave behind, were afterwards found with hands tied behind their backs, their bodies riddled with bullets and bayonet wounds. On the 9th and 10th the 17th Corps counter-attacked vigorously and, with the aid of the Goullet Division which had been attached to it, succeeded on the night of the 10-11th in re-crossing the railway line. [Illustration: NAVE OF CHURCH HUIRON] [Illustration: RUINS AT COURDEMANGES] We reach =Huiron= (53 km.) which was completely destroyed by the fire kindled by the Germans on September 7, after having taken the village from the 12th Corps. The interesting twelfth century church, and the ruins of the abbey buildings backing up to it, have been ravaged by the flames. The pillars of the nave have crumbled away, and in the photograph opposite fragments of broken columns may be seen scattered about. Huiron was only retaken on the night of the 10-11th. [Illustration: FLOODS AT FOOT OF MONT-MORET]