[Illustration: GERMAN PRISONERS PASSING THROUGH COEUVRES IN JULY, 1918,
ESCORTED BY AN AMERICAN CAVALRYMAN.]
_Return to_ St. Pierre-Aigle _and continue straight ahead towards_
Cœuvres. The ruined farm and Castle of Valsery on the far side of the
river are visible from here. In =Cœuvres=, _turn to the left and cross
the bridge_ to visit the church, the steeple and western portion of
which have fallen in.
_Return to the bridge and turn to the left towards_ Cutry (_do not cross
the river_).
Two lines of barbed wire entanglements crossed the road at the exit of
the village. _At the fork, turn to the right into I. C. 44 and cross the
river. More_ barbed wire entanglements here defended Cœuvres. _Climb
the zig-zag road as far as the_ church of =Cutry=, remarkable edifice
whose nave and apsis were destroyed. Very fine view.
In the Cemetery of Cutry are graves of French soldiers who fell in July,
1918.
[Illustration: RUINS OF CUTRY CHURCH.
From this church, built at the top of the hill, there is a fine view of
the Rû-de-Retz Ravine, which was so hotly disputed.]
[Illustration: AMERICAN CONVOY RESTING IN LAVERSINE VILLAGE.]
_Return by the same road to the fork._
(_N.B._--_A more direct road to the church is the steep, narrow lane
which branches off the route at the foot of the hill. If desired,
motorists may take this lane going, and return by the main road, or_
vice versa.)
From Cutry, _continue straight ahead to_ =Laversine=. _Pass through this
village by G. C. 17 in the direction of_ =Courtançon=. Before reaching the
latter enormous heaps of ammunition and débris will be seen. The trees
along the river are shell-torn.
After Courtançon, =St. Bandry= comes into view on the left. In the village
_turn to the left as far as the_ ruined church. In the cemetery are
graves of French soldiers who fell on July 18. At the side of the
church, beneath the ruins of the blacksmith’s house, are ancient,
deep-vaulted cellars. There are numerous similar cellars in the village,
which served as shelters for the troops.
[Illustration: RUINED CHURCH OF ST. BANDRY.
There are mediaeval cellars underneath the blacksmith’s house seen
behind the church.]
[Illustration: CHURCH AND FORTIFIED CASTLE DONJON OF AMBLÉNY.]
_Return to G. C. 17 and turn to the left towards_ =Amblény=.
Rather more than quarter of a mile after entering this village, _turn to
the left, then to the right_ towards the Fortified Castle. _Turn to the
right and descend alongside_ the Donjon and Church. _Continue straight
along, then turn to the right and cross the river. At the fork beyond
the river, turn to the left and skirt the cemetery._
[Illustration: THE NAVE OF AMBLÉNY CHURCH.