_400 yards from the church turn to the right into_ G. C. 2; _then after about 700 yards, turn to the left in order to enter the village of =Courdemanges=._ This has suffered much from fire and bombardment. On the right of the street stood the castle, which has been completely destroyed. [Illustration: GRAVES NEAR FRIGNICOURT] Courdemanges, which was occupied on the 6th by the 12th Corps, was attacked with great violence. It was abandoned at 5 p.m., and retaken during the night. Continuously shelled by the Germans on the 7th and 8th, it fell on the latter day into their hands. The 12th Corps counter-attacked energetically, but succeeded only on the 11th in re-entering the village. _After going as far as the church, return again by the same road to_ G. C. 2 _and cross it in order to go straight towards Frignicourt_. On the right is Mont-Moret which played an important part in the fighting in this region. The batteries of the 12th Corps were installed there on September 6. After heavy shelling and infantry attacks, Mont-Moret fell on the morning of the 8th, but units of the 12th Corps, aided by the Colonial Corps, counter-attacked with determination, and in the evening obtained possession of the ridge, capturing a few machine-guns. They remained there in spite of fierce assaults, which caused heavy losses to the Germans and gave no result. _The road crosses the railway_ in a low-lying plain often flooded by the Marne, as seen in the photograph on p. 216; Mont-Moret can be distinguished in the background. 100 yards before arriving at Frignicourt, on the right and on the left of G. C. 14, are the graves depicted in the photos on this page. The soldiers who lie buried there are those who gallantly defended the passage of the Marne on September 6. The French troops, overwhelmed by the fire of the German artillery at Vitry, were obliged to fall back on Courdemanges and Mont-Moret. The Germans in their turn were violently shelled by the French guns, but succeeded in holding out in Frignicourt until the 11th. [Illustration: GRAVES NEAR FRIGNICOURT] _After crossing the Marne, enter =Frignicourt= (60 km.)_, whose ruins are being gradually reconstructed. _Turn to the left to reach Vitry-le-François_ (plan p. 218). _Passing through the toll-gate, take the Rue du Passage-Supérieur on the left, then, after crossing the railway, turn again to the left into the Avenue du Colonel-Moll. Cross the Boulevard François I, and take the Petite-Rue de Frignicourt on the left, which leads into the Rue de Frignicourt. Along this main road turn to the right to reach the hotel (62 km.)._ [Illustration: VITRY-LE-FRANÇOIS] VITRY-LE-FRANÇOIS ORIGIN AND CHIEF HISTORICAL FACTS [Illustration: NOTRE-DAME]