By motor to the firing line

16 April – 9 May 1917

Second Battle of the Aisne

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French war plane in a wheat field of the Champagne district ... 74

BY MOTOR TO THE FIRING LINE

The line is supposed to be some three hundred and fifty miles in length, but with its various curves and salients it must be at least one hundred and fifty miles longer. Since I visited the western area in June and July of 1915 the line has been straight- ened out through the great offensive in the Battle of Champagne and again in the Franco-British assault near Souchez and up the valley in the re- gion about Loos to La Bassee. The complete devastation along this ragged scar between the lines would be distressing enough if it went no further. But the havoc wrought by shells and mines extends far beyond the confines of the trenches, back into the depots for reserves and mu- nitions and back into former peaceful little villages

AFTERWARD

Just west of Clermont is the shattered town of Ste. Menehould. I retain a pleasant memory of the place because of its clean little inn, the Hotel de Metz. The town is not without historic interest. On the Avenue Victor Hugo is the posting house where Louis XVI, on his attempted flight from France in 1791, was recognized by "Old Dragoon Drouet." Ste. Menehould is on the upper reaches of the Aisne. Follow the river north through the wooded slopes and knolls of the Argonne to the lines west of Ville-sur-Tourbe. Devastation far and wide marks this territory. In the great of- fensive of the Battle of Champagne the terrain was swept clear. There are no trees, no houses, the landscape is complete desolation. It marks, how- ever, the first substantial gain by the French over a length of front since the Marne. Running due

AFTERWARD

After passing the left wing of the French armies during the Battle of Champagne the old lines are about the same. They sweep through the flat country near Rheims between the Vesle and the Aisne and across the one time flying field of Betheny.