Mannekensvere was situated on the right bank of the Yser. The Pont de l'Union, which crossed the Yser 3 kms. from Nieuport, connected it with St. Georges, situated a little further back, on the left bank, along the Nieuport-Bruges Road. These two villages and the bridge were among the principal targets of the Germans. On October 18, 1914, Mannekensvere, an advance-post of the Belgian 2nd Division, was carried by the Germans, but recaptured shortly afterwards by the Belgian 7th Infantry Regiment (Major Evrard). Unfortunately, the German heavy artillery made the position untenable on the following day, and Major Evrard was forced to re-cross the Pont de l'Union, which he blew up. St. Georges, on the contrary, was captured only on October 23, after the crossing of the Yser by the enemy, and the loss of Groote-Hemme Farm which covered it from the south. [Illustration: +The Inundations near Dixmude.+] _Return to +Spermalie+, where turn to the right._ [Illustration: +Temporary foot-bridge across the inundations.+] The whole of the region now about to be crossed was flooded throughout the war. Today, the waters have receded, leaving it covered with reeds. _=Schoore= (1 km.)_, completely razed, _is next reached_. Schoore was situated slightly to the right of the Yser, on the road to Bruges. The Belgian 1st Division had its advance-posts there. The village was captured on October 18, 1914, by a battalion of the German IIIrd Corps, after a four hours' bombardment. [Illustration: +The Pont de l'Union, between St. Georges and Mannekensvere.+] [Illustration: +The Yser at Schoorbakke.+] _Cross the Yser at =Schoorbakke= (2 kms.)_ This village had a bridge across the Yser, at the end and to the west of the great bend in the river, beginning at Tervaete. This important strategical point was early threatened by the enemy. After the furious combats of October 15-22, the grand assault was launched on the night of the 22nd. A battalion of the Belgian 4th Infantry Regiment, though practically hemmed in by the enemy, defended it heroically, and only evacuated the position at dawn on the 23rd _(see p. 12)_. _Between the Yser and the shelters bordering its left bank, a foot-path on the right leads to +Groote-Hemme Farm+ (1 km. 300.)_ [Illustration] _Keep straight along the road. The first road on the left leads to =Stuyvekenskerke= (1½ kms.)_ of which only a few broken walls remain. _To the left of the church there is a temporary footway along the road_; today the latter is recognizable only by the stumps of the trees which formerly bordered it. _The footway leads to the site on which stood_ the Château of Vicogne, _and further on, to =Tervaete= (Photo, p. 117.)_