During the German offensive of 1918, the town again came inside the German lines, but the enemy were driven out shortly afterwards, during the Allied offensive that led to the Armistice and to the consummation of victory. _Go through the Rue d'Estaires_, in which there is a large and very high armoured shelter that served as an observation-post. _Pass the ruined church_ (photo, p. 132), _then turn to the right into the Grande Place_. Inside a three-storied house, which later collapsed under the shell-fire (photo, p. 132), there was a German observation-post of concrete, armed with machine-guns. _On leaving La Bassée continue along N. 41_, with its fine trees cut down and left along the sides of the road. _Pass the first houses of_ =Illies= _village, on the left, and 100 yards further on, cross a large avenue_ (_leading to the Château de Varneton_). [Illustration: LA BASSÉE. STREET CAMOUFLAGED BY THE GERMANS (_Note the high poles on the left._)] [Illustration: LA BASSÉE. RUE D'ESTAIRES BEFORE THE WAR (_Compare with photo below._)] On the right, and connected with _N. 41_ by a small bridge, there is a large German cemetery with a monument to the memory of the soldiers of the XVth Regiment (Prinz Friedrich) (photo, p. 133). _The road leads to_ =Fournes=, _the outskirts of which are crossed by Rue Pasteur_. Pass an avenue of fine trees leading to the Château of Comte d'Hespel, accidentally burned down. At the cross-roads there is a bandstand erected by the Germans. A crude painting on the back of the stand represents a tug-of-war between a German and British, French and American soldiers, in which the German wins apparently with ease. Italy, depicted as a monkey, is seen clinging to the rope. After turning to the right the road passes the large Gambert Boarding School, which was severely damaged. Behind it is a large cemetery. _Follow the road to the badly damaged village of_ =Beaucamps=, where there are numerous concrete shelters in the houses. _At the cross-roads turn to the left._ A wayside-cross, ten yards further on, indicate the road. A short distance further on are the ruins of the Château de Flandre, the basement of which, in reinforced concrete, was used as a machine-gun emplacement. [Illustration: LA BASSÉE. RUE D'ESTAIRES IN 1919 (_Compare with photo above._)] [Illustration: LA BASSÉE. ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE CHURCH] The tourist next comes to what was =Radinghem=. _Beyond the ruined church_ (photo, p. 133), _turn to the right past an armoured shelter, which defended the road, pass under the railway, and at the hamlet of_ =La Vallée=, _beyond a chapel, turn to the right into_ =Ennetières=. _The road continues through the ruins of_ =Englos= _and_ =Haubourdin=. [Illustration: LA BASSÉE. CONCRETE OBSERVATION-POST BUILT BY THE GERMANS INSIDE A HOUSE WHICH, LATER, COLLAPSED] [Illustration: GERMAN CEMETERY ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD FROM LA BASSÉE TO TOURNES, 100 YDS. FROM ILLIES. (_See Itinerary, p. 108._)]