The photos opposite show that the roof of the church has disappeared, exposing the nave. The vaults of the transept and of the apse have resisted the flames. The Romanesque apse is very interesting; the vaulting is round-arched, and on the exterior are sixteen blind windows, also round-arched, separated from each other by small pillars. The old Romanesque tower was surmounted by a spire about 100 feet high built in the sixteenth century. It collapsed in the flames. The western doorway is also in the Romanesque style (photo below). The work of restoration is in progress, as may be seen in the photo opposite. [Illustration: APSE OF CHURCH] The Germans had installed at Heiltz-le-Maurupt an important heavy battery which, during the whole of the battle, seriously tried the French troops entrusted with the defence of Pargny, Maurupt, and Sermaize. _In order to regain the line of the Ornain and the Saulx, take the street on the right a little to the east of the church. On reaching the fork, again take the right, and follow the line of telegraph posts as far as Pargny._ [Illustration: DOORWAY OF CHURCH] [Illustration: THE CANAL AT PARGNY (looking westwards)] [Illustration: THE CANAL AT PARGNY (looking eastwards)] _The road passes over the Ornain then over the canal from the Marne to the Rhine, of which the two photographs opposite_ and _below_ give two views: the first to the west, the second to the east. The struggle was violent on the banks of the canal. The infantry of the Third Division was guarding the bridges, which were taken by the Germans on September 6, but the French, entrenched in Pargny (_towards which the road leads the tourist_), held out during the whole of the day of the 7th in spite of the terrific shell fire, which completely destroyed the little town. On the 8th, attacked on the north and east, Pargny fell. The next day, the valiant troops of the Second Corps re-took it. On the 10th it fell again into the hands of the Germans, to be definitely retaken by the French on the 11th. [Illustration: CHURCH AND RUINS OF PARGNY] =Pargny= church (33½ km.), in front of which we pass, had its roof pierced, and the vaulting broken in. The spire was truncated by shells. _After having passed the church, we reach the principal street, in which we turn to the left._ The scene is very desolate (_see pp. 226-227_). [Illustration: RUINS OF PARGNY] _Having followed the principal street, we take the first turning on the right towards the level-crossing. Immediately beyond the crossing, we turn to the right in order to reach =Maurupt= by_ G. C. 61. [Illustration: INTERIOR OF CHURCH, PARGNY]